Pecos, Dulce set to meet in semifinals
Texico, Santa Rosa also earn victories
RIO RANCHO — No. 2 Texico and No. 4 Dulce had impressive highlight-reel stretches on their way to Class 3A boys quarterfinal victories Wednesday.
Dulce faces No. 1 Pecos in today’s 8:15 p.m. semfinal at the Santa Ana Star Center. Texico and overtime winner Santa Rosa first play at 4:45 p.m. No. 2 TEXICO 83, No. 7 ESTANCIA 71: For one strong first-half stretch at Cleveland High, the Wolverines showed what it truly meant to click — and it was a sight to behold.
Down 18-12 late in the first quarter, Texico (23-7) erupted for a 24-0 run that ended with 3:47 remaining in the half. By the time Estancia’s Carlos Parra hit a jumper to stop the bleeding, the Wolverines were up 36-20.
“We just started running and we started playing defense. When we do that, we get some turnovers and are able to get us out in transition,” Texico coach Scott Karger said. “That was the difference in the game right there. The second quarter, just putting them away.
“When we get firing like that I feel like that’s when we’re at our best.”
The Bears (18-12) had no answer for Texico junior post Braden Phipps, who finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and anchored his team’s interior with eight blocks. When Phipps wasn’t working inside, the tandem of Braden Fraze (19 points) and Dalton Thatcher (16 points) attacked from the perimeter. No. 3 SANTA ROSA 69, No.
11 CLAYTON 68 (OT): Joaquin Romo made a free throw with 6.7 seconds remaining as the Lions held off the Yellowjackets at Cleveland.
Clayton (13-15) had one final chance at victory, but an open 3 attempt by Anthony Gallagher rimmed out as time expired. Santa Rosa (20-8) just missed a chance to win at the end of regulation when Christian Chavez’s drive to the right side of the rim spun out at the buzzer.
Chavez earned redemption with the ball in his hands in the waning moments of overtime, as he found Romo with a pass near the basket, allowing his teammate to draw a foul to set up the decisive free throw.
Joseph Esquibel hit three of his six 3-pointers in the fourth period and led Santa Rosa with 18 points. Kobe Leal topped Clayton with 21 points and 16 rebounds. — Tristen Critchfield No. 4 DULCE 94, No. 5 CUBA
76: Anfernee Callado scored a game-high 32 points to lead the Hawks (21-6) over the Rams (25-7) at Rio Rancho High School.
Dulce was clinging to a 48-45 lead entering the second half, only to erupt in the third quarter behind five 3-pointers to take a 76-56 lead into the fourth.
“A lot of times, our individuals players, they feed off their offense,” Hawks coach Shane Valdez said.
“If they score, we get a little more hustle. We were moving the ball, we were getting good looks. We weren’t forcing the ball.”
Dulce will advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2002, when Callado’s father played for the team, Valdez said. No. 1 PECOS 79, No. 8 EUNICE 42: Junior Mario Archuleta scored 28 points as the Panthers (27-1) rolled past the Cardinals (15-13) at Rio Rancho High.
Juniors Carlos Cordova added 22 points and Josh DeHerrera chipped in 16 for Pecos.
The Panthers were only up 17-11 at the end of the first quarter before going on a 15-1 run to start the second quarter.
“It was a tough, physical game,” Pecos coach Ira Harge Jr. said. “It started off we weren’t getting rebounds, we weren’t defending like we normally do. Eunice hung in there with us, and they’re a very good team. It took us a little while to get going.”
Senior Brandyn Miller led Eunice with 11 points and eight rebounds.