Lady Rams bounce back for split in Shoot Out

Kirtland Central girls coach Mike Christie says that when junior guard Devin Diehl isn’t making shots, the Lady Broncos often struggle.

Diehl was certainly on her game Friday night in the Ram Shoot Out at the Portales High School gym, pouring in seven of Kirtland’s 11 3-pointers en route to a career-best 31 points in a 63-45 victory over the Lady Rams in a matchup of defending state champions — Kirtland Central in Class 4A, Portales in 3A.

Portales came back on Saturday night to gain a split for the weekend with a 49-44 victory over Las Vegas Robertson, which lost twice in the event after coming in with a 12-1 record.

Diehl hit four 3-pointers in the final five minutes of the opening quarter against Portales to help the Lady Broncos (11-3), who beat Hobbs 63-43 on Saturday, turn a 9-8 deficit into a 22-13 lead.

Christie said his team graduated two all-staters from last year’s squad, adding that Diehl averages around 17 points and had a previous high of 25.

“Diehl’s had to carry the load so much,” he said. “When she’s hitting, it opens other things up for us.”

The Lady Rams tried to hang close, but every time there was an inkling of hope Kirtland answered. Portales trailed 36-26 at halftime, but turned the ball over on its first three possessions of the third quarter and the Lady Broncos scored seven points — including a 3-pointer by Diehl — to all but put the issue to rest.

“We were in good position, and then we came out in the second half and didn’t have the intensity we should have had,” PHS girls coach Brenda Gomez said.

Still, Gomez acknowledged her team is slowly but surely heading in the right direction, and played much better than in a 35-29 loss at Carlsbad on Tuesday.

“Offensively, I thought we were more aggressive tonight, and moved the ball better,” she said. “But I know where we have to be, and we’re not quite there yet.”

Christie, whose team has lost twice to Gallup and once to Mayfield, said his team’s depth is starting to come around.

“The players we’re bringing off the bench are starting to develop,” he said. “We shot the 3 well tonight. We lack a post presence, so we have to do that.”

Junior Megan Kabrick was Portales’ only double-figure scorer with 14 points. She was perfect on eight free throw attempts, leading a strong PHS showing from the line (16-for-21).

PHS 49, Robertson 44 — The Lady Rams (7-8) opened an 18-8 lead at the quarter and stayed in front the rest of the way.

Seven players scored at least five points in Portales’ balanced attack, led by junior post Morgan Hill with 10.

“It was a really good win, but we’ve just got to get more consistent,” Gomez said.

Jessica Armijo carried the Lady Cardinals on her back, hitting four 3-pointers and 11-of-16 free throws for 27 points. But no one else had more than five for Robertson.

Friday

Kirtland Central 63, Portales 45

Kirtland Central (10-3) — Devin Diehl 9 6-7 31, McKenzie Crum 1 0-0 3, Alicia Smith 0 0-0 0, C.J. Hogue 1 0-0 2, Christy Yazzie 3 0-0 7, Toni Kaskalla 2 0-0 5, Kaitlynn Yazzie 0 2-3 2, Truitt Begay 0 0-0 0, Johniell Charles 4 0-0 8, Malori Johnson 0 0-0 0, April Christie 0 0-0 0, Tammy Benally 1 0-0 3, Ali Hathaway 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 8-10 63.

Portales (6-8) — Tara Johnson 2 0-1 5, Rebekah Gonzales 0 0-0 0, Briana Hernandez 0 0-0 0, Caroline Knudson 0 0-0 0, Stefanie Sharrock 0 0-0 0, Megan Kabrick 3 8-8 14, Patty Terry 0 0-0 0, Amanda Terry 3 0-0 6, Bethany Self 2 4-6 8, Morgan Hill 1 3-4 5, Dora Garcia 0 0-0 0, Ashleah Richards 3 1-2 7. Totals 14 16-21 45.

Kirtland Central 22 14 14 13 — 63

Portales 13 13 9 10 — 45

3-pointers — Kirtland Central (11): Diehl 7, Benally, Crum, Kaskalla, C. Yazzie. Portales (1): Johnson.

Saturday

Portales 49, LV Robertson 44

Las Vegas Robertson (12-3) — Melissa Abreu 2 0-0 4, Lauren Sanchez 0 2-2 2, Alyassea Vigil 1 1-2 3, Olivia Silva 1 1-2 3, Jessica Armijo 6 11-16 27, Alicia Duran 0 0-0 0, Daniel Lyster 0 0-0 0, Ashley Hurtado 0 0-0 0, Ashley Moore 1 3-4 5. Totals 11 18-26 44.

Portales (7-8) — Tara Johnson 3 0-0 7, Rebekah Gonzales 2 0-1 5, Briana Hernandez 1 3-3 5, Caroline Knudson 0 0-0 0, Megan Kabrick 2 3-6 7, Patty Terry 2 0-1 5, Bethany Self 0 2-2 2, Amanda Terry 1 1-1 3, Morgan Hill 5 0-0 10, Ashleah Richards 2 1-3 5. Totals 18 10-17 49.

Robertson 8 9 13 14 — 44

Portales 18 8 12 11 — 49

3-pointers — Las Vegas Robertson (4): Armijo 4. Portales (3): Gonzales, Johnson, P. Terry.