Frenship overwhelms shorthanded Portales squad

PORTALES — The biggest silver lining in the storm that was the Frenship Tigers? It could have been worse. A lot worse.

The visiting Tigers, ranked No. 8 in the nation by MaxPreps, made quick work of a shorthanded Ram squad Tuesday night with a 17-2 first and eventually went on to a 59-15 victory.

Cassandra Awatt scored 14 points and had five of the 22 total steals for Frenship (17-1), which had 10 players register on the scoreboard but only Awatt notching more than seven.

Portales coach Wade Fraze said it was clear Frenship coach Trent Hilliard took the foot off the gas pedal in the second half.

“They’re the no 8 team in the nation,” Fraze said. “They were the no 3 team in the nation until they got beat last week. Out of how many high schools in the nation? If you’re No. 800, you’re pretty good.”

“If you can handle their full court pressure, you can do some things. But as young as we are, we had a tough time against it.”

The Rams (3-5) knew they were going in shorthanded, with Taylee Rippee recovering from a dislocated shoulder and both Marisela Garcia and Aaliyah Austin out with concussion protocol. But Portales found out they were down another starter when Mattison Blakey went home in the afternoon with illness.

Five players scored for Portales, with Alexis Ryen and Kinzie Davis both posting four points.

Fraze said he was proud of his team for never letting the score affect their willingness to work.

The Rams face Muleshoe Thursday morning to open the Littlefield Tournament.