Melrose, Fort Sumner advance

No. 5 Buffaloes are one win away from their third state title in four seasons

RIO RANCHO — Melrose is one win away from its third state basketball championship in four seasons.

The fifth-seeded Buffaloes (24-7) got double-doubles from Tate Sorgen (16 points, 13 rebounds) and Devon Bailey (12 points, 10 boards) in their 58-45 Class 1A boys semifinal victory on Thursday over topseeded Quemado at the Santa Ana Star Center.

The lone team in the way of a Buffalo stampede is Fort Sumner, the second-seeded team, which managed to grind out a 47-37 victory over Maxwell in the other semifinal.

The championship game is at 6 p.m. Saturday at Dreamstyle Arena — the Pit. No. 5 MELROSE 58, No. 1 QUEMADO 45: The Buffaloes broke up a close game with 11 consecutive points in the fourth quarter, and they held Quemado to 26 percent (18 of 70) from the field.

Dylan Valentine added 13 points for Melrose. Adrian Lackey scored 23 on 10-of-29 shooting for Quemado.

It was a disappointing finish for the Eagles (28-2), who heaved up 42 3-pointers and connected on only eight. Their lone other loss was 56-52 to Magdalena on Jan. 8. Among Quemado’s 28 wins this season were two over Melrose, both in tournament action. No. 2 FORT SUMNER 47, No. 3 MAXWELL 37: Noah Senior scored a game-high 17 points and the Foxes (23-8) won despite 28 percent (17 of 61) shooting from the field. But Fort Sumner was fairly efficent with the basketball, committing only six turnovers, and hit 10 of 13 free throws.

Kaden Riggs had 13 points and Kolten Riggs added 11 for Maxwell (22-5).

The Bears were held to four points in the second quarter.