Texico squads roll to season-opening wins

TEXICO — Texico’s basketball teams had a quick turnaround from fall sports seasons on Monday.

No problem, though. The Texico boys, who played Eunice in a New Mexico Activities Association sponsored bowl game on Friday dominated the final three quarters en route to a 61-37 win over Tucumcari while the Lady Wolverines claimed a 44-16 victory over the Lady Rattlers three days after playing in the Class 2A state volleyball finals.

There’s no rest for the weary, either. Texico teams faced Clovis on Tuesday night and take on Portales on Thursday.

Texico trailed the Rattlers 13-11 at the quarter in the boys matchup, but the Wolverines dominated the final three stanzas to the tune of 50-24 to win going away. Senior David Davalos was the only Texico player in double figures with 16 points, but 15 others played and eight scored.

For the Rattlers (0-1), whose roster includes only one senior, leading scorers were junior Andrew Henderson-Clark and sophomore Curtis Gonzales with eight points apiece.

The Lady Wolverines led 20-12 at halftime, but limited Tucumcari (0-2) to just four third-quarter points the rest of the way. Senior Rachel Phipps had 17 points and senior Riley Rohrbach added 10, while Tucumcari got 11 points from sophomore guard Alexus Lafferty.

In games on Saturday:

Grady boys 66, Elida 44 — The host Bronchos jumped out to a 16-4 lead after one quarter and kept the Tigers at bay the rest of the way.

The game was pushed back a day to allow for the Tigers playing in an NMAA bowl football game on Friday night.

Three players scored in double figures and accounted for all but six of the points for the Bronchos (1-1), led by junior Jordan Verble with 27 points and three of the team’s four 3-pointers. Freshman Zane Rush added 18 points, and senior Isaiah Mitchell scored 15.

Sophomores Dalyn Taylor and Mason Pritchett each finished with 10 points for the Tigers (0-1).

Grady girls 67, Elida 24 — The Lady Bronchos improved to 2-0, putting together a 46-point first half and cruising behind 15 points from senior Taryn Foote and 13 from senior Krissy Grau.

Sophomore Timberlyn West and freshman Taylea Nelson each had six points for the Lady Tigers (0-1).