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Articles written by Dave Wagner


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  • Rams hold on down stretch, top Los Alamos

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 3, 2024

    Style points were probably a bit in short supply on Monday night. No matter. Portales High's boys escaped, holding on late to edge Los Alamos 49-45 in their season opener at the Ram Athletic Center. Leading 21-17 at halftime, the Rams built a 12-point lead with an 18-10 surge in the third stanza. Meantime, the visiting Hilltoppers (0-2) returned the favor with the same advantage in the final frame, pulling within a point with just over a minute left. "We were fighting to...

  • Hounds roll past Justice College

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 3, 2024

    For just a brief time, it looked like Justice College might be able to hang with Eastern New Mexico University's men on Saturday. That notion ended quickly, though, and the Greyhounds rolled to an 88-45 victory over the Chandler, Ariz.-based Lions at Steve Loy Arena. Junior guards Treyvon Byrd and Isaiah Randolph finished with 20 and 14 points, respectively, while junior guard Cooper Jackson posted 12 points and seven steals. All told, 11 of the 12 Hounds who saw action...

  • ENMU women notch 91-38 triumph over Panhandle

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 3, 2024

    Julieta Ceja has waited a long time to get back on the basketball coach. The Eastern New Mexico University sophomore from Jiquilpan, Mexico, has wasted little time making her presence felt. After sitting out all of the 2023-24 campaign due to an ACL injury suffered in warmups during the season finale the previous year, Ceja has started all seven games for the Greyhounds and on Saturday recorded her first double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) in a 91-38 blowout of Oklahoma Panhandle State at Steve Loy Arena. Ceja was one of f...

  • PHS squads set to begin new seasons

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 29, 2024

    While Portales High’s girls have a veteran leader in Wade Fraze, the boys enter the 2024-25 basketball season with a new coach in Ty Thatcher. Both teams kick off their campaigns this week. The Rams welcome Los Alamos to the RAC for a 5:30 p.m. tip on Monday, while the Lady Rams start play on Thursday in a tournament at New Home, Texas. Girls – Fraze begins his 12th season at the helm with a squad that returns four starters from last season’s 20-9 (4-2 District 4-4A) contingent. “Hopefully, that experience will help us this...

  • Buffs repeat 8-man title with dominating victory

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 26, 2024

    MELROSE – Heavily favored to repeat its 8-man football championship from a year ago, Melrose had just a little bit of trouble getting out of the gate on Saturday. Not to worry, though. The Buffaloes scored the final 40 points of the contest and throttled District 3 compatriot Mesilla Valley 62-12, the game ending about five minutes into the final stanza on the 50-point mercy rule. Senior quarterback Josiah Roybal threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for two more, giving h...

  • Hounds post 93-84 win over No. 19 Metro State

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 23, 2024

    Metro State finally met its match in the Lone Star Conference. Coming in at 3-0 with all three coming against LSC opponents, the 19th-ranked Roadrunners saw that streak end on Wednesday night with a 93-84 loss at the hands of Eastern New Mexico University at Steve Loy Arena. Metro had previously beaten Sul Ross State (89-61), Texas-Tyler (62-59) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (88-77). Five players were in double figures for the Greyhounds (3-1), including junior guard Jaden Clarke...

  • Cats, Lady Cats set to open seasons

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 23, 2024

    Clovis High’s basketball teams are gearing up for the start of the 2024-25 basketball season this week, both featuring many new faces on their rosters. The boys play at home on Tuesday against Albuquerque-based Atrisco Heritage at The Rock, then visit Rio Rancho on Saturday afternoon. Meantime, the Lady Wildcats’ opener is set for Saturday afternoon at Valencia. Boys – Corey Pickett, who has spent 11 years as an assistant coach in the Wildcats’ program, takes over a team this season which was 20-9 overall and 4-2 in Distric...

  • Wolverines blitz Navajo Prep, advance to Class 2A semifinals

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 19, 2024

    TEXICO – To say Texico barely broke a sweat on Saturday would probably have to be classified as a huge understatement. The Wolverines, defending Class 2A state champions and the top seed this year, ran nine plays in the first quarter – all in Navajo Prep territory – and scored five times en route to a 52-0 win over the Eagles in a quarterfinal round matchup ending at halftime on the 50-point rule. Next up for Texico (10-0) is a trip to fifth-seeded Eunice (9-3), a remat...

  • Steers roll to bi-district win

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 16, 2024

    MULESHOE – Farwell football coach Darren Kelley said he tried to put together a challenging pre-district schedule to help the Steers get ready for the postseason. It appeared to do that on Friday night. Senior quarterback Jonathan Armstrong ran for two touchdowns and threw for one and Farwell built a 22-point, first-half lead en route to a 41-20 victory over Sudan in a Class 2A Division II bi-district matchup. The Steers (5-6) advanced to a 7 p.m. (CST) area round clash on F...

  • Falcons flatten Hounds

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 12, 2024

    It's been a rough season for Eastern New Mexico University's football team. It only got rougher on Saturday afternoon at Steve Loy Stadium. Texas-Permian Basin dominated from start to finish, piling up 575 total yards en route to a 64-14 Lone Star Conference trouncing of the Greyhounds. UTPB (6-4, 5-3 LSC) posted its second-highest yardage output this season and went over 500 yards of total offense for the eighth time in coach Kris McCullough's two campaigns at the helm. "I'm...

  • Lady Coyotes complete season district sweep district

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 9, 2024

    It's been a bit of a dream season for Roswell High's volleyball team, which has won 22 consecutive matches since being swept at Los Lunas in the season opener. In Thursday night's regular-season finale, the Lady Coyotes struggled at times but still posted a fairly comfortable 25-18, 25-12, 22-25, 25-21 victory over Clovis High at Rock Staubus Gymnasium, completing a perfect run through District 4-5A (6-0). Roswell High now awaits the release of the 5A state tourney bracket by...

  • Lobos turn tables on Rams

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 9, 2024

    Chaparral, which squeezed into the 12-team Class 4A playoffs as the No. 12 seed, completely flipped the script against Portales High on Friday night at Steve Loy Stadium. After losing to the Rams 44-19 in the District 4-4A and regular-season finale a week earlier, the Lobos made the cross-state trip again, this time scoring on their first two possessions and making it stand up for a 10-0 victory. With the win, Chaparral (4-7) advances to a 6 p.m. quarterfinal game on Friday...

  • ENMU teams open season in Colorado

    Dave Wagner, the Staff of The News|Updated Nov 5, 2024

    Eastern New Mexico University’s basketball teams are slated to open the regular season this weekend in a South Central Region crossover event at Durango, Colo., matching teams from the Lone Star Conference against foes from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Both Greyhounds squads play host Fort Lewis and New Mexico Highlands, in reverse order. The men face Fort Lewis at 7 p.m. on Friday and NMHU at 4 p.m. on Saturday, while the women take on Highlands at 1 p.m. on Friday and the Skyhawks at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Men ...

  • Lady Rams keep share of 4-4A lead

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 2, 2024

    There’s still work to be done, but Portales High’s volleyball team put itself in good position in District 4-4A on Thursday night. After dropping the first set, the Lady Rams came back for a 19-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-22 victory over Artesia at the Ram Athletic Center. PHS (13-8, 3-1 district) completed a three-match season sweep of the Lady Bulldogs (11-10, 2-2), including a victory in a midseason tournament. The Lady Rams stayed tied for the top spot with Roswell Goddard (11-10, 3-1), which thrashed winless Lovington 25-...

  • Rams pull away late, thrash Chaparral

    Dave Wagner, the Staff of The News|Updated Nov 2, 2024

    Portales High was all but assured of a berth in the state Class 4A football playoffs before Friday night. Now, after a 44-19 District 2-4A win over Chaparral at Steve Loy Stadium, the Rams are thinking possibly a fourth seed and first-round bye could be in store in the 12-team bracket. Ranked sixth in 4A coming into the game by MaxPreps, Portales was to learn its fate when the New Mexico Activities Association releases playoff pairings this morning. PHS (6-4, 4-2 district) led only 17-13 after three periods but added four...

  • No. 2 Hawks blank Cats 49-0

    Dave Wagner, the Staff of The News|Updated Oct 26, 2024

    Clovis High figured out a way to move the ball against Class 6A second-ranked Centennial on Friday night. The Wildcats just couldn't push it in the end zone. Suffice it to say, the Hawks could. They scored on their first seven possessions, all of them needing five plays or less, before backing off in the second half and claiming a 49-0 District 3-6A victory at Leon Williams Stadium. Prior to the game, the field at the stadium was named in honor of legendary CHS football coach...

  • Cats top Coyotes, await 5A soccer selections

    Dave Wagner, the Staff of The News|Updated Oct 26, 2024

    With a 14-5 overall record, which includes five one-goal defeats with three in overtime, the Clovis High boys soccer team believes it deserves a spot in the upcoming Class 5A state tournament. For now, though, the Wildcats just have to wait. Selections will be made today by the New Mexico Activities Association and, despite their record, the Cats entered the week ranked 15th. They last made the 5A state meet in 2018, when they reached the semifinals. The biggest question mark for Clovis is its overall strength of schedule....

  • AREA ROUNDUP: Buffs keep rolling in 8-man

    Dave Wagner, THE STAFF OF THE NEWS|Updated Oct 19, 2024

    MELROSE – Melrose thought it came out perhaps a little lethargic on Friday night. You'd have had a hard time selling that to the Lordsburg Mavericks. Senior Brayden Eldridge and junior Jaxon Odom had three touchdowns apiece, and the Buffaloes cruised to a 52-0 win over the Mavericks in 8-man District 3 action. The game ended with just over seven minutes left on the 50-point lead rule. Melrose (9-0, 5-0 district), ranked No. 1 in 8-man and the defending state champion, p...

  • Lady Cats move to 2-0 in district

    Dave Wagner, THE STAFF OF THE NEWS|Updated Oct 19, 2024

    Clovis High's volleyball team is sure glad to have Ashlynn Evans back. The senior outside hitter missed four matches with a shoulder issue before returning this week to help the Lady Wildcats win a pair of District 4-5A home matches. Evans compiled 19 kills, three blocks, seven digs and a couple of aces on Thursday night as CHS defeated Hobbs 18-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-18 at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. The Lady Cats (9-9 overall) now take on sixth-ranked Roswell High (18-1, 2-0) in...

  • Hounds score late to edge OC

    Dave Wagner, THE STAFF OF THE NEWS|Updated Oct 19, 2024

    For all the world, it looked like Eastern New Mexico University and Oklahoma Christian were headed to a scoreless draw in Wednesday’s Lone Star Conference men’s soccer tilt at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. But the Greyhounds upped their pressure as the match headed into the final stretch, and sophomore forward Robin Vandewalle was able to break through from point-blank range with just under eight minutes left for a 1-0 victory over the Eagles. ENMU (4-3-4, 2-1-1 LSC) is currently tied for fourth place in the 11-...

  • Lady Rams turn back Texico

    Dave Wagner, THE STAFF OF THE NEWS|Updated Oct 15, 2024

    TEXICO – Whenever Portales High's volleyball team needed a key point on Saturday, the Lady Rams knew where to go. Five-foot-11 junior middle hitter Skyler Massey compiled 19 kills, and the Lady Rams turned back defending Class 2A state champion Texico 25-17, 25-23, 18-25, 25-18 in a battle of top-five teams. Portales (10-7), ranked fourth in Class 4A by MaxPreps, erased an early five-point deficit in Game 4 after it looked like the Lady Wolverines (12-3), No. 3 this week in 2...

  • Lady Buffs turn back Elida in district tilt

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 12, 2024

    MELROSE – They've got a ways to go to return to the glory days of seven consecutive state small-school volleyball championships (2010-16), but it's clear the Elida Lady Tigers are headed in the right direction. Still, Melrose has been the dominant program in this decade, winning three of the last four Class 1A titles, and the Lady Buffs handed Elida a 25-18, 25-15, 25-23 District 4-1A setback on Thursday night to move ahead of the Lady Tigers for the early lead in the district...

  • Cats, Lady Cats drop 2-1 verdicts to Roswell High

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 12, 2024

    MELROSE – They've got a ways to go to return to the glory days of seven consecutive state small-school volleyball championships (2010-16), but it's clear the Elida Lady Tigers are headed in the right direction. Still, Melrose has been the dominant program in this decade, winning three of the last four Class 1A titles, and the Lady Buffs handed Elida a 25-18, 25-15, 25-23 District 4-1A setback on Thursday night to move ahead of the Lady Tigers for the early lead in the district...

  • Sartans cruise past Rams

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 12, 2024

    After three possessions, it looked like anything but an offensive eruption for St. Pius. The Sartans surrendered a safety less than a minute into the game, followed by punts on their next two tries. Then sophomore running back Hershul Olloway Jr. broke off a 62-yard touchdown run, and the floodgates opened. St. Pius piled up 511 total yards and rolled to a 48-18 District 2-4A victory over Portales High on Friday night at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. Olloway netted 160...

  • Rams look to stay in district race against Sartans

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Oct 8, 2024

    After fighting through an injury-plagued start to the football season, Portales High finds itself with a chance to either win the District 4-2A championship or at least earn a trip to the postseason. On Friday night, the Rams face district co-leader St. Pius in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. “They’re a good football team,” Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said of the Sartans (4-2, 2-0 district). “We’re out to get better every week. We’re starting to get healthy.” St. Pius currently shares the top spot in t...

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