Rams' home finale canceled

PORTALES - The Portales High boys basketball District 4-4A and regular-season finale, scheduled for Friday night against Lovington at the Ram Athletic Center, was canceled on Thursday due to a COVID-19 contact issue within the PHS program.

The Rams, who lost at home to Artesia on Tuesday, thus finished their season with a 2-6 overall record, and 1-4 in district play.

In Tuesday's contest:

Artesia 68, Portales 54 - The district-champion Bulldogs (9-3, 6-0), who wrapped up the regular season with a 63-61 victory over Roswell Goddard on Friday night, took control of Tuesday's matchup at the RAC behind a 23-point first quarter and kept the Rams at bay the rest of the way.

"We didn't (rebound) well in the first half," Rams coach Rickie McBroom said. "We gave up way too many second opportunities (for Artesia). I felt like in the second half we got better."

Artesia led 37-22 at halftime. Only twice after that did the Rams have a chance to get it under double digits, and they came up empty both times.

Senior forward Jacob Creighton led the Bulldogs with 18 points, followed by senior guards Cord Cox with 14 and Johntae Rodriguez with 13. Artesia helped keep the lead comfortable by converting 20-of-27 free throws in the tilt.

For the Rams, senior post Kenevan Bailey and junior post Greydon Rigsby each finished with 13 points.