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Articles written by Dave Wagner


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  • ENMU subdues Sul Ross State women 98-78

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 17, 2025

    On paper, it looked to be a break in the schedule after a recent rough patch against some of the better teams in the Lone Star Conference. It took a bit of doing, but Eastern New Mexico University’s women relied on hot shooting wire-to-wire and eventually pulled away to a 98-78 LSC victory over Sul Ross State on Thursday night at Steve Loy Arena. Off to a 10-1 start at the semester, the Greyhounds (12-4, 7-3 LSC) dropped a pair of Division I exhibitions over the break and had since lost three of four outings in the new y...

  • Lady Cats post pair of victories

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 7, 2025

    ALBUQUERQUE – It was a walk in the park for Clovis High's girls on Saturday. Senior guard Amanda De La Rosa scored 18 points and sophomore post Kerrington Goff added 10 as the Lady Wildcats improved to 13-3 with a 58-18 drubbing of the Lady Jaguars, who have lost 10 in a row since a season-opening 47-31 win over Valley. Atrisco managed to tie the score 5-5 late in the opening canto. Junior guard Andrea Chavez and freshman guard Camryn Morales delivered consecutive 3s for an 11...

  • Cats lead wire-to-wire in 75-62 win

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 7, 2025

    There haven't been many, if any, games this season in which Clovis High's boys have led wire-to-wire. Coming off a tiring trip to Albuquerque the previous night, the Wildcats accomplished that feat with a solid 75-62 win over Santa Fe High on Saturday at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. Senior forward/guard Jayden Cox led the way with 22 points, while junior guard Joseph "Jo Jo" Cavazos did much of the ballhandling for the Cats and chipped in a personal-best 16 – scoring four points i...

  • Cavemen pull away after half, subdue Rams

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 3, 2025

    Perhaps the worst thing that happened for Portales High’s boys in Thursday’s game against Carlsbad was halftime. PHS spent the final five minutes of the first half erasing a 10-point deficit, then tied the game on two free throws by senior guard Jase Hightower 16 seconds into the third quarter. Suffice it to say, not much went right for the Rams after that. They were outscored 19-2 by the Cavemen the rest of the period, and eventually were dealt a 68-39 setback on the opening night of the Portales Shootout at the Ram Ath...

  • Lady Rams overwhelm Miyamura in tourney opener

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 3, 2025

    After opening the campaign with 11 games against Texas competition, Portales High’s girls came back to the New Mexico side for the first time this season on Thursday night. Suffice it to say, the Lady Rams will be challenged the rest of the way more than they were by Miyamura. The Lady Patriots managed only two field goals and didn’t score over the final 20 minutes – much of it with a running clock – at PHS cruised 67-6 on the opening night of the Portales Shootout at the Ram Athletic Center. All Miyamura managed was a 3-poi...

  • Steers cruise past Spearman

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 31, 2024

    FARWELL – On paper, it looked like an even matchup. And for a half, it was just that. Leading by only three points at the intermission, Farwell outscored Spearman 42-13 over the final two stanzas to register a 69-37 win over the Lynx on Monday afternoon. Junior guards Braddock Foster (24) and Hudson Agee (15) and freshman guard Coy Miller (12) accounted for most of the scoring for the Steers (14-3), ranked 11th in Texas Class 2A by MaxPreps. Agee, scoreless at halftime, and F...

  • Lady Cats pull out late victory over Caprock

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 31, 2024

    As the old saying goes, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Down by a point and in need of a break in the closing seconds, Clovis High's girls got one when Amarillo Caprock's inbounds pass instead hit the bottom of the backboard with 5.2 seconds left, giving the Lady Cats the ball with no time coming off the clock. They took advantage of the opportunity. Senior guard Amanda De La Rosa found sophomore post Kerrington Goff with an entry pass, and she converted a 3-point...

  • Cats dig out of 16-0 hole

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 28, 2024

    Nothing went right for Clovis High's boys over the first five minutes of Friday's clash with Lubbock Cooper at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. The Pirates scored on their first six possessions and built a 16-0 lead. Meantime, the Wildcats didn't get on the board until senior guard Jayden Cox nailed a 3-pointer with two minutes left in the period. In a game featuring almost exclusively back-and-forth runs by both sides, the Cats (6-6) had the final answer, getting two free throws each...

  • Volcano Vista takes girls' crown

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 24, 2024

    Despite a 9-3 start to the season, veteran Clovis High girls coach Jeff Reed knows the Lady Wildcats are probably a ways away from competing with Class 5A's best. Saturday's finals in the Plateau Holiday tournament at Rock Staubus Gymnasium said as much. CHS held its own with Volcano Vista in the early going, but the Lady Hawks' pressure defense and 3-point shooting helped turn the game into a comfortable win for the Albuquerque-based squad, which pulled away to a 66-49...

  • No. 1 Hawks blitz Cats

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 24, 2024

    Clovis High's boys gave it everything they had in Saturday's finals of the Montano Construction Holiday tournament at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. Once the shots stopped falling, Class 5A top-ranked Volcano Visto took control. Senior forward Kenyon Aguino scored 25 points and led the unbeaten Hawks to a 69-39 win over the Wildcats in the tourney's championship game. Meantime, Class 1A Melrose played its third consecutive 5A opponent and the Buffaloes took Roswell High to the wire...

  • 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...

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