Portales survives Tucumcari in overtime

TUCUMCARI — Taris Rippee was already having a career night. Then she topped it off in overtime.

The sophomore guard collected three steals in the extra session, the final one setting up her game-winning field goal with five seconds left as Portales High’s girls outlasted Tucumcari 60-58 on Friday night.

Rippee, who tied the game with a basket on the previous trip downcourt, finished with a personal-best 23 points as the Lady Rams (14-6) wrapped up pre-district play with a hard-fought win. Portales begins its District 4-4A slate on Tuesday night at Roswell Goddard.

Sophomore Kylyie Paden added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. PHS led by 10 points in the first quarter before Tucumcari (13-7) started chipping away, but the Lady Rattlers were never able to mount more than a two-point lead.

“It was really a total team effort,” PHS girls coach Wade Fraze said. “They’re a good team. At the end, Taris just made some things happen. There’s no quit in these kids.”

Rippee also connected on three of the team’s four 3-point baskets.

Senior forward Jasmine Jones took game honors with 26 points for Tucumcari, while freshman guard Juli Rivera added 14 points. Senior guard Ashley Shipley converted a 3-point play for the Lady Rattlers with 15 seconds left to send the game into OT at 53-53.

Sophomore Riley Shillings collected five assists for the Lady Rams, who committed just seven turnovers in the contest while forcing Tucumcari into 16. The Lady Rattlers stayed alive by converting nearly 90 percent of their free throw opportunities (26-of-29).

Fraze said the Lady Rams are ready to take on their six-game district slate, which includes home-and-homes against Goddard, Lovington and Artesia.

“I like where we’re at, but every game will be a battle,” he said. “There won’t be any off nights in the district.”

Portales 44, Taos 38 (Tuesday) — A poor second quarter almost got the best of the Lady Rams on Tuesday night.

But PHS put together a 15-6 run during the final canto to pull out a 44-38 neutral-court victory over Taos in a game played at West Las Vegas H.S.

Rippee (17) and sophomore guard Teagan Faust (11) combined for 28 points and the Lady Rams erased a three-point deficit entering the final stanza. They actually trailed 21-14 at halftime after getting outscored 11-2 in the second period.

“We just did not come ready to play, and it almost cost us,” Fraze said. “They (Lady Tigers) played pretty well. They’ve got speed and size, and they shoot the ball pretty well.”

Taos (7-11) knocked down three of its six 3-pointers in the second period to move in front, but the Lady Tigers were held without a field goal in the final stanza.

Junior Alexis Ryen had a team-high five rebounds for PHS, while Faust led the squad in assists with four. Four players — Rippee, Faust, Shillings and junior Kinzie Davis — each finished with three steals, and Fraze also noted that Faust took two charges.

Senior Ariana Aguilar paced the Lady Tigers with 12 points, followed by senior Andrica Quintana with 11.