Farwell sweeps Texico in Invitational title games

FARWELL — After losing earlier this month to Texico at home, Farwell’s basketball teams exacted a measure of revenge on Saturday night in the finals of the Farwell Invitational.

It’s entirely possible the schools could be headed for rubber matches in the upcoming Citizens Bank tournament at Texico at the end of December.

The Lady Blue opened a 20-8 lead at the quarter and went on to a 54-45 victory in the girls championship game, while the boys dominated in winning 64-46 and handing the Wolverines (6-1) their first loss of the season.

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Farwell senior Angel Graxiola goes up over a Texico defender for a layup during the second half of Saturday’s Farwell Invitational boys title game at Farwell. Farwell swept Texico in both championship games.

Junior Lindsi Coburn hit three of her five 3-pointers as the Lady Blue (9-5) opened a 20-8 lead at the quarter. She led four Farwell players in double figures with 16 points, while freshman Maria Maldonado added 15 and senior Brenna Jarman and junior Edie White chipped in 10 apiece.

Farwell handed the Lady Wolverines (4-1) their first loss of the season while reversing the result from last year’s final.

“We jumped out on top of them and played very good defense tonight,” Farwell coach Eddie Smith said. “The team defense was really what set us apart in the first quarter.”

The lead never wavered much after t he opening stanza. In fact, the teams played to 13-13 standoffs in both the third and fourth quarters.

Senior Brianna Reyna scored a game-high 20 points for the Lady Wolverines, but nobody else was able to generate more than seven points.

In the boys game, Farwell opened a 15-8 lead at the quarter and stretched the margin to 19 points by halftime. The Steers (9-1) avenged a season-opening 42-37 setback en route to a ninth consecutive victory.

Farwell converted eight 3-pointers in the contest, including three by senior Leo Cervantes, who finished with nine points. Junior Izaiah Benoit led Farwell with 18 points, junior Jace Perkins added 17 and junior Angel Graxiola added 10.

“Any time you make 3s, you make the defense come out and get you,” Steers coach Shane Perkins said. “I thought (defensively) we did a good job of staying on them and not letting them have open shots.”

The Wolverines were led by 12 points from sophomore Nathan Phipps and 10 points, including three 3-pointers from junior Braden Fraze.