Texico boys take pair

TEXICO — Opening night is always a special time for any sports team. Fresh start, 0-0 record, all that.

For the Texico boys basketball team, with a new head coach and so many new players, it was filled with even more anticipation Tuesday night at Texico High School, and even more excitement after the Wolverines pulled away from Tucumcari for a 74-50 victory.

“Opening night, it’s amazing,” Wolverines junior post David Davalos said. “It’s a thrill to play here for Texico, it’s a blessing, honestly. I don’t take anything for granted here.”

The young Wolverines turned a close game early into a rout that gave Craig Cook a victory on his first night as Texico’s head varsity coach, after having moved up from junior varsity head-coaching and varsity assistant positions to replace the retired Ty Thatcher.

Cook liked what he saw from the Wolverines on his first night as Thatcher’s successor.

“Well, for one week of practice I think they played pretty good,” Cook said. “I was impressed that with a new team and a new system, I think they bought into it and played to the best of their abilities.”

“We had our rough edges,” Davalos said, “but it all comes down to execution and getting stuff fixed and moving on to the next play.”

For Texico it was the start of a new era, considering it was Cook’s debut. But Cook didn’t quite see it that way.

“It’s just natural,” he said. “Like any other position, whether I’m jayvee or varsity head coach, I’m still pushing for those kids to win, getting ’em in the right position.”

“Coach Cook, oh man, he’s an amazing coach,” Davalos said. “He’s young, and I like his intensity; I think it makes me better as a player. Hopefully we can continue this intensity throughout the season.”

Tuesday’s game was tied at 11 late in the first quarter, and Texico still led only 14-11 by quarter’s end, thanks to a three-point play completed at the line by Texico senior center Ruger Horton.

Tucumcari actually led 15-14 after beginning the second quarter with two straight baskets from sophomore guard Jesus Ramos. On Texico’s next possession, though, freshman guard Jahvon Askew completed his own three-point play from the line, which handed the Wolverines a 17-15 lead.

It was the start of a 13-0 Texico run that continued with a Cade Collins left-corner trey, a field goal by Davalos, a Luke Phipps free throw, a Collins layup, and a driving shot by Anders Nelson. When the run was over, Texico led 27-15.

By halftime it was 32-21 Wolverines. Askew hit a three on Texico’s opening possession of the third quarter, followed by a Davalos two on the Wolverines’ next possession.

On Tucumcari’s next possession, Askew came up with a steal and was fouled driving for a layup. He hit 1-of-2 to make it 38-21, and a Phipps three from well beyond the right arc put Texico up by 20 for the first time this season.

“They kept scoring and we stopped scoring,” Tucumcari head coach John Span said. “And I got a couple of key kids in foul trouble, and then when I have to go to my bench it kind of hurts us a little bit because I have some young kids that don’t quite have the experience that we need right now.”

Toriano Lampkin finally ended Tucumcari’s drought with a pair of free throws that made it 41-23, but Texico quickly surged back into a 20-plus-point lead again, and led 54-33 by the end of the third quarter.

The Wolverines continued rolling in the fourth, toward their 24-point opening-night victory.

More of the same

TEXICO — Two nights later the Wolverines were back in their home gym, hosting Fort Sumner.

Again, Texico faced a close game early. Again, the Wolverines pulled away for a comfortable victory, this time 61-44.

By the end of the first quarter, Fort Sumner actually led 11-10. And early in the second, Jayden Cline stuck a three-pointer from far beyond the top of the key, making it a 14-10 game.

A Phipps putback closed Texico to within 14-12, and a bit later, a pair of free throws by Davalos, a pair by Collins, and a pair by Phipps, gave the Wolverines an 18-14 advantage.

Texico kept going, outscoring Fort Sumner 9-5 the rest of the half to take a 27-19 lead into the break.

A Nelson layup on Texico’s opening possession of the third quarter made it a 10-point game for the first time Thursday night, and the Wolverines rolled into 20-point-margin territory before the third period was over.

Texico stayed well ahead during the fourth quarter, and had soon improved to 2-0.

“I’m happy,” Cook said. “I told the kids that we celebrate the wins, but we understand the immature mistakes that we made at points in that game, and once we fix those, we’ll get there. But two games in, I’m excited.”

Texico competes in the Farwell Tournament this coming week.

“I like the Farwell Tournament, that’s one of the best,” Cook said. “And to back it up with our tournament right after that, you’ve got some good competition, get to see some mixture between Texas and Eastern New Mexico teams, some that travel from different places that we haven’t seen. So the talent’s there, the competition’s definitely there, and most importantly, the food at the hospitality room is the best thing.”