Clayton ousts Tucumcari in quarterfinals
Top-seeded Texico, Tularosa, Tohatchi advance to semis
RIO RANCHO — It’s almost a shame that the Tucumcari Rattlers and the Clayton Yellowjackets won’t be district opponents again next season. The four meetings between the two sides this season were decided by a total of 24 points.
However, you’d understand if Tucumcari Rattlers girls basketball would be reticent to see the Clayton Yellowjackets anytime soon. The Rattlers (25-5) suffered three of their five losses to the Yellowjackets.
No. 5 seed Clayton (19-9) defeated No. 4 Tucumcari on Tuesday afternoon 57-47 in a quarterfinal matchup at the Santa Ana Star Center. Clayton plays No. 1 seed Texico on Thursday in the semifinals. Tularosa and Tohatchi will meet in the other. No. 5 CLAYTON 57, No. 4 TUCUMCARI 47: Brianna Fong had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Clayton, which had an 18-8 edge in secondchance points and forced 24 Tucumcari turnovers to ignite a second-half comeback.
Tucumcari went on an 11-2 run to close the first half and take a 30-25 lead into the break. The lead grew to eight, but Clayton refused to go away. Yellowjackets junior Keegan Geary hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give Clayton a 44-40 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Arias knocked down a deep jumper, grabbed a key rebound and connected on four straight free throws on a personal 6-0 run late in the fourth. That decisive spurt stretched the Clayton advantage to 53-44 and Tucumcari was left with too much to do.
Aliyah Herrera’s 12 points led Tucumcari (25-5). — Noah Seligman No. 1 TEXICO 54, No. 8 PECOS 34: Baylee Sours scored 15 points with nine rebounds to help lead the Wolverines (24-4). They built a 25-11 halftime lead and then withstood a brief Panthers (24-5) run before coasting.
Texico post Maryelle Dickerman finished with 11 first-half points before leaving with an ankle injury that kept on the trainer’s table most of the second half.
Mackenzie Myers added 10 points with seven rebounds for the Wolverines. Trinity Herrera had 10 points and seven boards for the Panthers. — Glen Rosales No. 6 TULAROSA 50, No. 3 EUNICE 31: Shacie Marr had 18 points and seven rebounds, both team-highs, as Tularosa (20-7) handled the Cardinals.
Tularosa won despite shooting only 26 percent (14-of-53) from the field — and 21-of-40 from the free-throw line in the foul-plagued (53 in all) contest.
Xitaly Ontiveros had team highs of 10 points and nine rebounds for Eunice (20-7). No. 2 TOHATCHI 67, No. 7 DULCE 45: Defending champion Tohatchi kept its bid of a repeat championship alive.
Kalian Mitchell scored 22 points to lead the Cougars (23-6), who knocked down 10 3-pointers to extend their winning streak to 16 games. Brannon Vigil led Dulce (19-9) with 14 points. — Pat Newell