Texico tops Fort Sumner for EPAC boys title

PORTALES — Another Eastern Plains Athletic Conference tournament in the books, another win for the Texico Wolverines.

Defeating Fort Sumner 48-37, the Wolverines used a big second quarter to out pace the Foxes Saturday night to win their second consecutive EPAC title. The 17-3 run by Texico (10-5) in the second period was just too much for Fort Sumner (9-2) to overcome, despite outscoring the Wolverines for the remainder of the matchup.

Foxes coach Brad Holland said, “We got open looks early, but when they aren’t falling and we aren’t rebounding ... The second half I thought we attacked the zone a little better and got in the paint more and at least our 3’s were coming from inside out.”

The Foxes did indeed shoot a large volume of 3-pointers, sinking seven on the night. Led by Brant West with 15 points and Kreston Butterfield with 12, the two players combined for all of Fort Summer’s makes from beyond the arc.

With the volume 3-point shooting came a lot of long rebounds — something the Wolverines were able to take advantage of and push the ball on the fast break all night as the outrebounded the Foxes 44-32. Nathan Phipps and Braden Fraze each scored 12 points, while Dalton Thatcher added 10.

Texico coach Scott Karger said, “We try to push it every time, and we knew Fort can shoot the ball. Our plan was to give good closeouts and only allow one shot — not give second and third chances and get it out and let’s go. We probably did a better job tonight than we have in awhile.”

The Wolverines' zone also proved difficult for Fort Sumner to overcome, as the Foxes often settled for the deep ball when no other choice was available.

“We are a zone team, that’s what we do. We just have the philosophy of if you are going to beat us, you are going to have to knock it down from way out there to beat us . . . tonight our half-court pressure seems to work and I liked what I saw, so we just stayed in it.”

Holland was happy with his team’s second half performance despite the loss. The team will also get a chance at some redemption as they will host Texico Tuesday night.

“We didn’t quit. I though we kept coming, outscored them the second half,” said Holland. “They (Texico) slowed it down a little bit, I’m sure because of the score, but we didn’t quit and we just have to bounce back when we play them next week.”