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  • Hounds return to winning ways

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 13, 2024

    After a couple of tough road losses, it didn't take Eastern New Mexico University's men long to right the ship on Thursday night. Six-foot-9 sophomore post Jose Murillo scored 21 points on 9-of-9 shooting from the floor, including dunks on ENMU's first two possessions, and the Greyhounds ran away from Cameron 105-84 in Lone Star Conference basketball at Greyhound Arena. The Hounds (9-4, 5-2 LSC) dropped three-point decisions at Texas-Permian Basin and at No. 11 Angelo State...

  • Lady Cats build toward district

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 13, 2024

    Slowly but surely, Clovis High's girls are working their way toward District 4-5A competition and a shot at the postseason. Friday night, the Lady Wildcats boosted their record to 12-3 with a workmanlike 60-39 victory over Espanola Valley at Rock Staubus Gym. Five games remain before district play begins on Jan. 30 against Carlsbad at The Rock. CHS is in the beginning of a stretch of eight of 10 games at home. This week, Clovis hosts West Las Vegas on Tuesday, Organ Mountain...

  • Lady Rams post sweep in Portales Shootout

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

    The Portales High girls certainly got rid of the bad taste in their mouths from a blowout loss on Tuesday at Texas Class 6A power Frenship. The Lady Rams completed a three-game sweep in the Portales Shootout on Saturday, cruising past Las Vegas Robertson 55-30 as junior guards Myleigh Banda and Angel Ornelas combined for 34 points. Portales (11-4) led just 33-27 late in the third quarter after 3-pointers by Robertson sisters Arianna and Natalia Martinez, but limited the Lady...

  • Lady Rams edge Cavegirls in OT

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 6, 2024

    Evannie Fulfer hardly qualifies as a 3-point shooter, but she shot one with a lot of confidence in overtime on Friday night. Senior guard Audrey Paden hit a 3-pointer less than 10 seconds into the OT and Fulfer added another on the next trip down, and Portales High's girls went on to a 47-41 victo4y over the Cavegirls in the Portales Shootout at the Ram Athletic Center. Staring at a 12-point deficit late in the third period and with nothing seeming to work, it was all...

  • Defending 1A champion Foxes subdue Texico

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

    TEXICO – When Texico scored the game's first six points, the Fort Sumner Foxes never blinked. The defending Class 1A state champions rode strong performances freshmen Aaron Torres and Tra'von Bonds to a 79-54 victory over the Wolverines on Saturday. The 6-foot-4 Torres scored 23 points while Bonds added 19 to lead four players in double figures for the Foxes (9-1), ranked third this season in 1A behind unbeaten District 6-1A rivals Logan (10-0) and Melrose (9-0). "We had a c...

  • Vixens top Lady Wolverines

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

    TEXICO – Defending Class 2A girls state champion Texico isn't far off where it was a year ago. At 3-7, that's not exactly the way you plan it. The question is whether the Lady Wolverines can mount another late-season run towards a championship. Playing without a couple of their key players due to family obligations, Texico gave Fort Sumner a decent battle on Saturday before the Vixens nailed down a 39-32 triumph. Last season, the Lady Wolverines were 6-12 in late January b...

  • Lady Cats cruise to win

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 30, 2023

    Really, there was never a doubt that Clovis High's girls were going to win Friday's matchup against Santa Fe High at Rock Staubus Gym. It certainly took the Lady Wildcats a while to get going, though. Trailing 7-3 early and leading only 16-11 with just over two minutes left in the half, CHS went to fullcourt pressure and allowed the Lady Demons to score on just two more possessions – a 3-point basket to open the second half and a four-point play in the final stanza – en rou...

  • La Cueva outlasts Cats

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 26, 2023

    In the end, Clovis High's boys didn't reach their goal of a three-game sweep in the Clovis Holiday Classic. What the Wildcats gained, though, may be more important in the long run. After surviving at the buzzer against Class 3A power Navajo Prep in the semifinals, the Cats came up short down the stretch in a 69-64 loss to La Cueva in the finals of Clovis' Holiday Classic at Rock Staubus Gym. Senior guard Dylan Chavez hit back-to-back 3-pointers to transform a one-point Bears...

  • Bears subdue Lady Cats in tournament finals

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 26, 2023

    Clovis High's girls got a taste on Friday night of what Class 5A postseason basketball might be like. Off to an 8-1 start, the Lady Wildcats certainly faced one of their toughest challenges of the season against La Cueva in the championship game of Clovis' Plateau Holiday Classic at Rock Staubus Gym. Senior forward/guard Eva Love scored 18 points to lift the Bears to a 51-41 victory. La Cueva's aggressive defense forced 20 CHS turnovers while the Bears committed just eight of...

  • Lady Cats' Lewis tops 1,000 mark

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 23, 2023

    Clovis High senior Zarai Lewis attained a personal milestone on Thursday. As for the Lady Wildcats, they cruised to a pair of victories to reach the finals of the Plateau Holiday tournament at Rock Staubus Gym. Lewis funneled in 14 points and reached the 1,000 mark with a basket early in the second period as CHS crushed Silver 63-18 in a semifinal tilt. The four-year varsity veteran ended the night with 1,007 points. "That's good for a kid," CHS girls coach Jeff Reed said of...

  • Cats outlast Eagles at buzzer

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 23, 2023

    A coaching move helped win Clovis High's game on Thursday against Navajo Prep. And it wasn't even authored by Wildcats coach Josh Mattox. After taking the lead on a layup by senior guard Keilyn Parker with 13 seconds left, Mattox, at the suggestion of senior guard Manny Gutierrez during a timeout, inserted 6-foot-2 junior J.J. Saiz for him when play resumed. It paid off when Saiz was able to get enough of the ball to force a held ball as Eagles senior Jude Thomas tried to go...

  • Hounds trounce NNMC

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 16, 2023

    The way things are going these days, Eastern New Mexico University's men might not want to take a holiday break. The Greyhounds (7-2) narrowly missed reaching the 100-point mark for the fifth time this season, but still had plenty to cruise past Northern New Mexico 97-67 in a game played at Clovis High's Rock Staubus Gym. Playing without regulars Greg Johnson (finger) and Blazej Czerniewicz (ankle) due to injury, ENMU shot 62 percent (23-for-35) from the floor in the opening h...

  • Buffs, Lady Buffs complete sweep of own tournament

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 12, 2023

    MELROSE – Things started poorly for Grady's boys in Saturday's American Heritage tournament finals, and they never got better. Senior standout Zane Rush picked up a foul on the first trip down the court, and Grady couldn't get anything going in a 65-25 loss to host Melrose. In the girls' title matchup, Melrose posted a 59-29 victory over Quemado. Despite their early issues, the Bronchos (3-3) managed to stay within hailing distance, trailing 32-15 at halftime. But Melrose t...

  • Big second half sends Lady Cats past Valencia

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 9, 2023

    All it took for Clovis High’s girls to run away from Valencia was a little more pressure. Tied with the Lady Jaguars at halftime, CHS opened the second half with a 16-0 run in just over five minutes and waltzed to a 60-27 win on Friday night at Rock Staubus Gym. The Lady Wildcats’ 1-2 punch of seniors Zarai Lewis and Kailyn Jefferson took over after the break. Each was limited to two points in the first half, but Jefferson scored 18 in the final two stanzas while Lewis – who sat the final 12 ½ minutes of the opening half a...

  • Cats blow past Goddard

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 9, 2023

    It was if Clovis High's boys played three games in one on Tuesday night. A 13-0 run put the Wildcats in command late in the opening stanza. Then, trailing 21-9, Roswell Goddard used surges of 8-0 and 6-0 to pull to 31-28 two minutes into the second stanza. With the lead at 34-30 and four minutes left in the third frame, the Cats suddenly regrouped. They held the Rockets to just two free throws the rest of the night and ran away to a 70-32 win at Rock Staubus Gym. "Once we...

  • Cats erupt in third quarter for 68-47 win

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 5, 2023

    As that old song says, what a difference a day makes. It did for Clovis High's boys, anyway. Coming off a season-opening, 15-point loss at Hereford on Friday night, the Wildcats rebounded with a strong third quarter to eventually subdue Rio Rancho 68-47 on Saturday at Rock Staubus Gym. Six-foot-7 senior center Marvin Cox was in the middle of it. With the Cats leading just 28-24 starting the second half, Cox hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points as Clovis quickly pushed...

  • Hounds throttle St. Ed's

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Last year, Junior Hodnett played mostly a bit role for the Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball team. Suffice it to say, that's changed this season. Hodnett, a sophomore guard from Rio Rancho, is delivering key points – mainly from the 3-point line – and has helped the Greyhounds get off to a solid start. He was one of six players in double digits on Thursday night as the Hounds (3-2) opened Lone Star Conference play with a 103-70 rout of St. Edward's at Gre...

  • Rams, Lady Rams get set to open 2023-24 season

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Portales High's basketball teams are ready to kick off the 2023-24 season this week. The boys travel to Eunice on Tuesday night, while both the Rams and Lady Rams will play in the Farwell Invitational from Thursday through Saturday. Only one starter returns for the boys from last year's 17-12 squad, which finished second at 3-3 in District 4-4A behind Artesia (19-10, 6-0). Meantime, the Lady Rams (14-15, 2-4 district) will be a bit on the young side but have more veteran...

  • Rams fall in 4A title clash

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 28, 2023

    Lovington used the run to keep Portales High's defense honest in Saturday's Class 4A state football championship game at Greyhound Stadium. Meantime, the Rams had no answers for the Wildcats' potent passing attack, led by senior quarterback Wyatt Gomez. Riding six touchdown passes from Gomez, including five in the first half, Lovington was simply overwhelming. The Wildcats scored on eight of nine possessions in the game en route to a 57-21 victory. If it weren't for...

  • Lady Cats to rely on seniors

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 25, 2023

    With an experience core to build around, veteran Clovis High girls basketball coach Jeff Reed is hoping the Lady Wildcats can reach heights they haven't made in almost a decade. "We've got a good group of seniors, and we've got our two leading scorers back," Reed said as the team prepared for its Tuesday season opener at Rio Rancho Cleveland. "I'm excited about having the opportunity to do some things we haven't been able to do in a while." Meantime, the CHS boys open their...

  • Last-minute TD sends Rams into 4A title clash

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 21, 2023

    Portales High senior Devin Diaz and junior Paxton Culpepper were having, shall we say, up-and-down days for most of Saturday's Class 4A state semifinal matchup against undefeated and top-seeded Bloomfield at Greyhound Stadium. Suffice it to say, the duo saved their best for last. Trailing 21-20 with just under two minutes to play, Culpepper directed the Rams into scoring position, going 3-for-4 through the air for 59 yards and scrambling for 16 yards to put PHS on the...

  • Buffs complete dominant season with 8-man title

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 14, 2023

    MELROSE – It took only one play Saturday to let you know where this matchup was headed. On the game's first play from scrimmage, Melrose senior Michael Cardonita caught a swing pass from junior quarterback Josiah Roybal and weaved his way down the right sideline and past Clayton defenders for a 62-yard touchdown. Suffice it to say, it didn't get any better for the Yellowjackets after that as the Buffaloes rolled to a 50-0 victory in the 8-man state championship game, which e...

  • Texico gears up for 2A run

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 11, 2023

    TEXICO – It hasn't been long since the Texico Lady Wolverines last garnered a state volleyball championship – other than, maybe, by their standards. Three years ago, Texico saw a run of six consecutive state titles under then-coach Kristan Scanlan – including four in what was then Class 3A – come to an end. Although they haven't won one since, the Lady Wolverines have reached the finals twice, including last season. This week, they're primed for a run at another title in Clas...

  • Rams advance to semis, shut out Bernalillo 17-0

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 11, 2023

    It was a bit of an unusual game – certainly by Portales High's lofty standards this season. After running roughshod through the first nine games of their season and then absorbing a loss at Lovington which cost them a potential top seed in the Class 4A playoffs, it took the Rams a while to put things together in Friday's quarterfinal tilt at Greyhound Stadium. Thanks to a last-ditch drive, helped by two late penalties on Bernalillo, the Rams broke the scoring ice on an u...

  • ENMU home for basketball openers

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Nov 7, 2023

    It’s basketball time at Eastern New Mexico University. ENMU men’s and women’s squads open the 2023-24 campaign at home this weekend, taking on Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference members Fort Lewis and New Mexico Highlands at Greyhound Arena in the South Central Region crossover event. Four games are scheduled each day, with ENMU’s women playing at 2:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The women face Fort Lewis on Friday and Highlands on Saturday while the men’s get Highlands first and then Fort Lewi...

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