Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Win likely cements No. 2 seed for Portales; girls lose 67-50 to Hope
ALBUQUERQUE — It took three tries, but the Portales High boys basketball team finally overcame Hope Christian, beating the Huskies 59-56 on Saturday in the finals of the District 4-4A tournament.
The matchup lived up to its billing, with the game going down to the final seconds. Tied at 56-56, the Huskies had the ball with a chance for the last shot, when Portales got a steal and hit Jase Wallace for a buzzer-beating 3-point bank shot to win the game.
In the girls finale, the Huskies got big games from three seniors and pulled away to a 67-50 win over Portales.
For the boys, Jeremie Karngbaye led Portales with 18 points, Jase Wallace added 15 and Junior Ramirez finished with 14 for the Rams. Portales had an efficient night at the free throw line, going 19-for-26.
While the two previous meetings were close games and ultimately gave Hope Christian (22-5) the district title, this win is a big one for the Rams (22-4).
Because the Huskies won the regular-season title, they likely will earn a No. 1 seed for the state tournament, while Saturday’s win should cement the Rams in the No. 2 spot, according to Rams coach Rickie McBroom.
“(My) kids played with their hearts tonight,” he said. “They gave everything they had, and I’ve never been more proud of them than I am right now.”
While a Hope Christian-Portales rematch in the state tournament is likely, McBroom pointed out that the Class 4A is full of parity, and there are a handful of teams that can win on any given night. He said his team is focused on its next game at the moment, not a possible rematch.
“Hope is behind us right now, so we are focused on the round of 16,” McBroom said. “We have a game Saturday and as the old coaching adage goes, right now it’s one game at a time because its one-and-done from here on.”
Hope Christian 67, Portales 50 (girls) — Alivia Lewis, Christine Helsey and Hanna Valencia combined for 51 points and 28-for-31 from the free throw line for the Huskies (25-2), who beat the Lady Rams for the third time this season.
PHS coach Wade Fraze, though, said he was pleased with his team’s overall effort.
“The difference in the score came late,” he said. “They were a little scared this time. The girls did what they needed to do.”
Sophomore Taylee Rippeed scored 19 points and junior Zamorye Cox added 13 for the Lady Rams, and both had seven rebounds and four steals.
