Wednesday EPAC roundup

MELROSE - Hailey Martin had 21 points, including a pair of key layups in a 10-0 fourth-quarter run as fourth-seeded Melrose just held off former district rival Elida 44-42.

Fifth-seeded Elida, down seven in the game's last 90 seconds, got a pair of turnovers and a Cambree Bargas 3-pointer to close to 43-42 with just 8.9 seconds remaining.

Elida, however, didn't foul Nataley Mondragon immediately in hopes of getting a steal. A long 3-point attempt was off, sending the Tigers into the consolation bracket against Floyd.

"They executed better, but I feel like we did well with our rebounding and defense until that run in the fourth," Elida coach Keith Durham said.

Both Durham and Melrose coach Caleb King credted the Tigers - led by Alyssa Bargas' 14 points - for making the Buffaloes sweat things out after things were seemingly on ice.

"We settled down," King said of the key run. "They panicked a little bit, got out of what they were doing."

The Buffaloes moved on to face top-seeded Logan in the semifinals

"We may end up playing them five times," King said, noting the upcoming two District 6-1A matchups and the potential district and state tournaments.

Portales JV 41, Grady 36 - Kylee Rodriguez led a balanced effort with eight points, as the Ram junior varsity squad built a small lead with an 11-6 second quarter.

Adrianna Garcia added seven, while Adrianna Terrazas and Cashlin Fraze each scored six for Portales, which moved on to face second-seeded Texico in the winner's bracket Thursday night.

Teryn Foote had a game-high 14 points for the Bronchos, who went on to face Fort Sumner in a Thursday consolation bracket game.

Dora 46, Floyd 19 - Randi Crandall and Haileah Gramzow supplied all the offense Dora would need, combining for 27 points in the victory.

Crandall scored 17 and Gramzow 10, and Dora pulled away with a 14-3 second quarter after the teams were knotted 7-7 following the first period.

Lexie Miller and Anahi Chavez both scored six for Floyd, which hit three of its four field goals from beyond the 3-point arc.

Tatum 57, Fort Sumner 37 - Celeste Jimenez scored 17 of her game-high 24 points in the first half, and the Coyotes led 40-12 at the half.

Maddy Rice added 15 points and Taylor Graham eight for Tatum, which moved on to face the winner of the Thursday Texico-Portales JV game.

Rae-anne Williamson scored 12 points for the Vixens, with nobody else adding more than five points. Fort Sumner went to the consolation bracket for a Thursday battle with Grady.

Boys

Dora 59, Vaughn 45 - Haiden Padgett had 19 points, including three 3-pointers, and the seventh-seeded Coyotes ran away with things in a 22-12 fourth quarter.

Cache Skelley added 13 for Dora, which moved on to face second-seeded Fort Sumner Thursday night.

David Sanchez had a game-high 21 points for Vaughn, going 9-of-13 from the free-throw line. Morgan Berumen added 11 points, but only three other Eagles scored on the night and none more than five points.

The Eagles went to the consolation bracket for a Thursday game against Elida.

Logan 75, Elida 69 - Dante Sanchez scored 28 points, including an 11-of-14 night from the line, as the third-seeded Longhorns avoided the upset.

Kris Knight added 18 for the Longhorns, who moved on to face either Dora or Fort Sumner Friday at Greyhound Arena. The sixth-seeded Tigers moved to a Thursday night consolation bracket game against 10th-seeded Vaughn.

The game had a total 54 fouls called - 28 against the Tigers, 26 against Logan - and a total of 82 free throws. The Longhorns went 30-of-43, while the Tigers were 25-of-39. Only three of the 16 players who scored in the game did so without going to the line.

Dyson Day scored 11 for Logan, going 7-of-8 from the stripe.

Tyce Delk scored 23 to lead three in double figures for the Tigers. Cris Diaz scored 14 points and hit four of the Tigers' six 3-pointers.

Melrose 72, Tatum 51 - The inside-outside combo of Trace Jackson - or maybe it's Treys Jackson - and Tate Sorgen led the way for the tournament hosts, who earned a matchup against top-seeded Texico on Thursday.

Jackson hit eight of the Buffaloes' 10 3-pointers - four in the first and the other four in a 26-6 third - to help the fourth-seeded host win in impressive fashion. Sorgen had 23 points and hit all nine of his field goals from two-point range.

Sebastian Jimenez had 22 points and six 3-pointers for the Coyotes, who moved to the consolation round to face Floyd.

Grady 44, Floyd 28 - In a battle of Broncos vs. Bronchos, it was the latter taking the victory as Grady outscored Floyd 26-6 after the halftime break.

Chisum Rush had 16 to lead all scorers, while Isaiah Mitchell added 12 for Grady, which moved on to face top-seeded Texico in Thursday's championship bracket game.

Weston Whitecotton had nine points for the Broncos, who managed just two field goals and 2-of-4 shooting from the free-throw line in the second half. Eric and Patrick Terry each had four for Floyd, which faced Tatum in a Thursday consolation bracket game.