Five area teams win in quarterfinals

RIO RANCHO – Five of the six area teams involved in state basketball tournament quarterfinals were able to win their games and move on to semifinal action.

In girls matchups:

Mesa Vista 38 (Tuesday, Class 2A) – Senior Catelyn Breshears scored 21 points, including 13 from the free throw line, and the seventh-seeded Lady Wolverines overcame a seven-point, first-quarter deficit against the second-seeded Lady Trojans at Rio Rancho Event Center.

Texico (15-13) pulled ahead by a point at halftime, then went on a 20-10 run in the third quarter to take control for its fifth consecutive win and ninth in 10 games.

"We came out in the second half and played really well on defense," Texico coach Jaylyn Cook said. "I was really proud of the kids. I thought we adjusted well."

Senior Maya Holman added two 3-pointers and 12 points for Texico. Sophomore Tana Lopez led the Lady Cougars (26-7) with 15 points, while senior Amarissa Quintana finished with nine.

Melrose 44, Springer 33 (Wednesday, Class 1A) – At Bernalillo H.S., the top-seeded Lady Buffs (26-1) built a 32-17 halftime lead, then survived a two-point third quarter with the help of solid defense to turn back the Lady Devils (21-7) and extend their winning streak to 20 games.

"We played pretty well," Melrose coach Kevin Lackey said. "They're a very athletic team and they hurt us in transition a little bit."

Junior Graci Odom connected on a trio of 3-pointers and finished with 20 points for the Lady Buffs, while senior Isabelle Sena added 10 points. Junior Fatima Levario led the Lady Devils with nine points.

To'Hajiilee 69, Dora 42 (Wednesday, Class 1A) – Also at Bernalillo, the 12th-seeded Lady Coyotes (19-10), coming off a first-round win over No. 5 seed Alamo Navajo, hung with the fourth-seeded Lady Warriors (26-1) for most of three quarters before fading.

To'Hajiilee, which outscored Dora 23-6 in the final stanza, got 21 points from senior Donata Secatero, 14 from sophomore Kaidyn Wilson, 12 from senior Tyler-Rose Apachito and 10 from senior Cadence Secatero.

"We just hit a wall," Dora coach Clay Ferguson said. "They have seven seniors and they're really good. This is the third year in a row that same group of girls has made it to the state semifinals."

Junior Faith Jasso led the Lady Coyotes with 20 points.

In boys action, all on Wednesday:

Clovis Christian 61, Cliff 45 (Class 1A) – The 13th-seeded Eagles (20-10) notched their second consecutive upset, pulling away in the second half at Bernalillo.

Four players reached double figures for CCS, with seniors Carter Teune and Noah Gershon scoring 17 points each and seniors Jaden Martinez and O.B. Blanco chipping in 12 apiece. Gershon, though, received a second technical foul in the final minute and was ejected, making him ineligible for Thursday's semifinal matchup against top-seeded Magdalena.

Eagles coach Trent McKay, whose team lost to Cliff 36-34 in the finals of a tournament in mid-December, said the difference this time was having Blanco in the lineup after he missed the earlier meeting with an injury.

"We had O.B., and we could rebound," McKay said. "It made all the difference in the world. We were able to dictate the pace of the game."

Seniors Coy Judd and Jaiden Clifton tallied 13 and 12, respectively, for the Cowboys (21-7).

Melrose 66, Alamo Navajo 49 (Class 1A) – The Buffaloes built an 18-point, second-quarter lead and maintained a double-digit margin the rest of the way in setting up a semifinal match against second-seeded District 6-1A rival Fort Sumner.

"We had stretches where we played well," Buffs coach Drew Hatley said. "We know we'll have our hands full (with the Foxes)."

Freshman Jaxon Odom had four 3s and 16 points for the third-seeded Buffs (23-6), while junior Michael Cardonita added 11. The Magdalena-based Cougars (24-5), who upended Dora in the opening round, got 13 points apiece from senior Mike Monte and junior Jacob Apache in seeing their 12-game winning streak come to an end.

Texico 70, Escalante 57 (Class 2A) – At Rio Rancho Events Center, sophomore Alex Fuentes scored eight of his personal-best 20 points in the fourth quarter to help the third-seeded Wolverines (17-12) upend the No. 6 Lobos (20-8), snapping Escalante's 10-game winning streak.

"He played like a senior today," Texico coach Craig Cook said of Fuentes. "He stepped up big-time."

Normal scoring leaders Jahvon Askew (nine) and Cade Figg (13) were held somewhat in check by the Lobos, who saw their 10-game winning streak end. Senior Tomas Atencio had 17 points while junior Greysen Horan tallied 16 for Escalante.