Farwell boys take seventh straight win overall

FARWELL — Farwell’s boys rely on multiple players to be able to shoot 3-pointers and try to break down defenses. On Saturday, that strategy paid off handsomely for the Steers.

Senior Jonathan Mora and junior Grayson Waldrop each converted three of the team’s nine 3s, spread among four players, and the Steers posted their second win of the weekend and seventh in a row overall by beating Class 4A Dumas 59-46.

Seven of the trifectas came in the opening half, and helped the Steers (8-1) step out to a 12-point lead en route to a 33-27 halftime advantage. Mora’s final trey then broke a 38-38 tie with just under three minutes left in the third period, and Farwell limited the Demons (5-3) to eight points the rest of the way.

“We don’t mind shooting 3s,” Farwell coach Shane Perkins said. “The thing is we have a lot of kids that can shoot them. We can stretch you out from corner to corner, and we’re a pretty good passing team.

“I think we shot a pretty good percentage (on 3s). That helps open some gaps where you can drive and penetrate.”

Two baskets by junior Leo Nunez, who posted a team-leading and season-best 14 points, sparked an 8-0 surge that gave Farwell a 49-40 lead after three stanzas. The game never got closer than eight points after that.

“Tonight I felt like we played pretty consistent,” said Mora, who finished with 12 points. “Our shots were falling, and we rotated well on defense. We were pretty active.”

Senior Leefe Actkinson added 12 points for the Class 2A Steers, while Waldrop finished with nine.

“Every time they hit us with some punches, we responded,” Perkins said. “Having an older roster helps.”

Farwell, which blew out previously unbeaten Class 1A opponent Wildorado 67-34 on Friday night, played solid defense for the most part in Saturday’s win, forcing the Demons into 22 turnovers.

Dumas, which doesn’t have a senior on its roster, was coming off a one-point loss at Class 5A Amarillo Caprock the previous night.

“We scheduled these guys for a reason,” Demons coach Randy Ray said. “If you’re a 2A (school) or a 5A, all we’re trying to do is compete.

“They (Steers) do a good job of moving the ball. They were able to get it inside and pass it back out.”

Despite the loss, Ray said he thought his team got something out of it.

“I thought we got better today,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of blowout wins, and sometimes you don’t learn much from that.”

Junior Cristian Kelso led Dumas with 17 points, including four 3s, while junior Jonathan Reynaza added 12.

Dumas 54, Farwell girls 44 — The Demonettes erased a four-point deficit by outscoring Farwell 16-2 over the final five minutes.

Junior post Sheda Madit finished with 18 points for Dumas (4-7), which like its boys squad doesn’t have a senior on the roster. Junior McKenzie Johnson and sophomore Kamryn Cox each added 10 points for the Demonettes.

A technical foul in the middle of their late run helped the Demons take control.

“Our youth showed a little bit,” Lady Blue coach Mikel Tucker said. “We were making a good run, and then we lost our composure a little bit.

“It was just a learning experience for us. That’s why we schedule these tough teams now.”

Farwell (7-4) wiped out an eight-point deficit with a 20-5 run over the final 11-plus minutes of the half to lead 24-17. Dumas got back into it with a 13-2 blitz to begin the second half, but needed the late surge to pull out the win.

Senior Presley Agee finished with 16 points for the Lady Blue.

In other area games on Saturday:

Bovina boys 47, Whiteface 39 — The Mustangs opened a 20-10 halftime lead over the host Antelopes and played them relatively evenly through the second half.

Sophomore Darian DeLaRosa scored 23 points for Bovina (3-1), while senior Jose Mata added a dozen.

Whiteface 69, Bovina girls 30 — The Fillies might have kept up pretty well with the Lady Lopes (7-2), except for one player — senior forward Holli Scroggins.

Scroggins poured in 41 points for Whiteface, including 32 in the first half. The Lady Lopes have dominated virtually all of their wins this season, including two games in which they held their opponents to less than 10 points.

Junior Krista Saenz paced Bovina (3-3) with 12 points.