Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Fort Sumner sophomore guard Jude Segura tries to use a crossover dribble to get free during Saturday night's EPAC boys championship game against Texico at Greyhound Arena. The Foxes dropped a 48-37 decision to the Wolverines.
PORTALES — Another Eastern Plains Athletic Conference tournament in the books, another win for the Texico Wolverines.
The Wolverines used a dominating second quarter to beat the Foxes on Saturday night at Greyhound Arena and win their second consecutive EPAC boys title.
Texico (11-4) built a 16-point halftime lead by outscoring the Foxes 17-3 in the second period, and it was just too much for Fort Sumner (9-3) to overcome.
"We got open looks early, but they weren't falling and we weren't rebounding," Foxes coach Brad Holland said. "The second half, I thought we attacked the zone a little better and got in the paint more, and at least our 3s were coming from inside-out."
The Foxes shot a large volume of 3-pointers in the game. Brant West, who finished with 15 points, and Kreston Butterfield, who added 12, combined for all seven 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.
"We try to push it every time, and we knew Fort can shoot the ball," Texico coach Scott Karger said. "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 a while."
The Wolverines' zone also proved difficult for Fort Sumner to overcome, often times having to settle for the deep ball when no other choice was available.
"We are a zone team, that's what we do," Karger said. "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 Foxes also get a chance at some redemption when they host Texico on Tuesday night.
"We didn't quit," Holland said. "I though we kept coming, outscored them the second half.
"They (Wolverines) 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."
