Another rematch for Texico boys

SANTA ROSA — For Texico’s boys basketball team, it’s a week book-ended by rematches.

Last Saturday the Wolverines visited Santa Rosa, the team they beat to win last year’s District 5-3A championship. This Saturday beginning at 5 p.m., the Wolves are hosting Pecos — the team that beat them in last year’s state 3A championship game, denying them a 30-0 season.

Texico (19-3 overall, 2-0 district) would like the second rematch to go like the first, which they won 55-49 in overtime.

“Definitely Santa Rosa was prepared for us,” Texico boys coach Ty Thatcher said, “and we had to make a lot of adjustments throughout the course of that game to get where we needed to be at the end of that game. The kids did a great job of making game-time adjustments and found a way to get the game tied up at the end of regulation.”

Texico was down three possessions late in the fourth quarter “and really tightened up in our half-court defense,” Thatcher said, “and caused a few turnovers and got the ball out in transition.”

And forged a 49-all tie as a result. In overtime, senior forward Cole Rohrbach gave the Wolverines an early edge, setting the tone for the extra period and giving the Wolves enough momentum to outscore Santa Rosa 7-1 in that frame.

“We’ve consistently gotten great play out of Cole Rohrbach,” Thatcher said. “He showed up early and late in the game and did what he does best. He got to the free-throw line and gave us a one-possession lead and we were able to get the ball to our other scorers and put in the basketball.”

Those free throws accounted for Rohrbach’s only two points of the night, but may have been the most significant two points in the game. He also finished with five rebounds and a steal.

Texico had led 18-16 after one quarter, 27-24 at halftime. But the Foxes outscored the Wolves 17-10 in the third and carried a 41-37 lead into the fourth quarter, before Texico staged its comeback to force overtime.

“It was a pretty good job of overcoming on the road and finding a way to come out with the victory,” Coach Thatcher said.

Dalton Thatcher led the way for Texico with 20 points, including four baskets from beyond the arc, shooting 58 percent from the field and 67 percent from three-point range. He also had three steals, three assists and three rebounds.

Skyler Davis and Luke Phipps contributed 12 points each for Texico. Davis had team-highs in rebounds (six) and steals (four) to go with two assists. Phipps had a steal. David Davalos registered five rebounds.

Texico won’t have another game between rematches, getting all week to prepare for Pecos (17-3 overall, 2-0 district).

“I’m excited about it,” Coach Thatcher said. “We luckily have time to prepare for them. We’ve spent a little time already ... coming up with a couple different strategies.”

The teams last played at the Pit in Albuquerque 11 months ago, with Pecos transforming a 37-35 end-of-third-quarter deficit into a 58-44 state-championship-winning victory. Saturday, the teams will play at the friendly confines of Texico Sports Arena.

“That home-court advantage has been pretty good to us in the past,” Coach Thatcher said, “and we feel like that gives us a bit of an edge going in.”

Thatcher thinks there shouldn’t be too many surprises regarding Pecos’ approach. “They run the same stuff and they have the same philosophy,” he said. “They have two or three key players back. They shoot the ball well. Pecos is a school that doesn’t play football at all so they spend their time running cross country and shooting the basketball. Those two have proven to be a pretty good combination, being able to run forever and being able to shoot the ball.”

After Saturday’s game, the Wolverines won’t have to wait as long for the next rematch because offseason realignment placed the teams in District 7-2A together. They’ll play another regular-season game at Pecos on Feb. 22. They could see each other in the district championship game, something that wasn’t possible last season. And they might even have another state-title matchup in Albuquerque next month.

“It’s a totally different situation than last year where it was going to come down to one game,” Coach Thatcher said. “Where this year it’s going to be a three- or four-game series.”

Which isn’t the only change. “We’ve both had some graduations,” Coach Thatcher said, “but it’s definitely going to be a good fight and we’re excited for it.”

Melrose 64, Dexter 43

MELROSE — Melrose notched its first District 6-1A victory in resounding fashion, walloping Dexter by 21 Friday night at Melrose High.

Though only leading by a modest 12-6 count after one quarter, the Buffaloes dominated Dexter 19-2 in the second and built a 31-8 halftime lead. By the third quarter’s end it was a 50-22 game.

Tristan Sena led Melrose (14-5 as of Tuesday afternoon) with 21 points. Tate Sorgen joined him in double figures, scoring 19.

Despite Dexter’s struggles, the Demons’ David Miramontes led all scorers with 24 points.

Girls

Texico 53, Santa Rosa 30

SANTA ROSA — Fresh off winning their District 7-2A opener over Clayton on Friday at Texico High, the Lady Wolverines made it 2-0 in district play when they dispatched Santa Rosa by 23 a day later.

Saturday’s victory was the Lady Wolves’ eighth in a row, improving them to 17-3 overall.

Texico led 10-4 after the first quarter and 31-11 by halftime, then stayed in command throughout the second half.

Baylee Sours was the lone Wolverine in double figures, knocking down 18 including a pair of treys. Beyond that, Texico had balanced scoring to augment Sours’ night.

The Lady Wolves have a week off to prepare for a home game against Pecos this Saturday, beginning at 3:30 p.m. As of Tuesday, Pecos had the same overall (17-3) and district (2-0) marks as Texico.

Melrose 71, Dexter 34

MELROSE — The Lady Buffaloes continued to soar through their District 1-6A schedule Friday by routing Dexter 71-34 at Melrose High.

With the victory, Melrose improved to 3-0 in district play and 14-5 overall.

No further information from Friday’s game was available at press time.