Goddard rallies to top Portales

PORTALES — Despite jumping out to a huge first quarter lead, the Portales girls basketball team couldn't stop a quality Goddard High team from a big comeback Tuesday night, falling 61-43.

Up 19-2 after the first period, the Lady Rams (10-6) looked primed to pick up a big win over one of the better teams in the state.

Unfortunately Portales found out why Goddard (13-6) is one of those top-tier teams, as the Rockets unleashed a barrage of 3-pointers and fast break opportunities to not only get the comeback, but walk away with an 18 point win.

Zamorye Cox led the Lady Rams with 14 points, while the Rockets were carried by five players, all of whom scored in double-digits. Goddard only played six players the entire contest.

Portales coach Wade Fraze said, "I think we played a quarter and they didn't, then they played three quarters and we didn't. To me, to beat a quality team like Goddard you can't play one quarter, and that's all we did."

The third quarter was when things turned south for the Lady Rams. The Rockets, who had been struggling from beyond the arc until the second half, really started to make the most of their possessions and would take their first lead of the game with three minutes remaining in the third.

Portales did have opportunities to get back in the mix, spending the entirety of the fourth putting on a full court press. While the pressure did occasionally did turn out favorably for the Lady Rams, Goddard showed poise with the ball and with trips to the foul line would make 12 of its 23 free throws in the final period.

Portales could simply not keep up with the Rockets' scoring to cut into the deficit, despite the effort.

The Rams are back in action Friday, when they begin district play at Moriarty in a doubleheader with the Portales boys.