Loboettes turn back PHS for second time

LEVELLAND — Playing the sixth-ranked team in Texas Class 4A girls basketball for the second time in 12 days on Tuesday, Portales High couldn’t overcome a slow start as the Loboettes handed them a 49-42 loss.

This one, though, was much closer. Down 24-9 at halftime, PHS (6-2) pulled even 31-31 with about three minutes left before the Loboettes (16-2) used free throws down the stretch to pull away.

Levelland beat Portales 69-45 in a game played at Denver City on Dec. 3.

“I’m glad we got a chance to play them again and gauge ourselves,” Portales girls coach Wade Fraze said. “It was an extremely physical game, and the kids stepped up to the plate.”

Senior guard Taris Rippee provided most of the offense for Portales with 20 points, including 10 in the third-quarter surge. Senior post Adrianna Garcia had six points.

Senior post Kylyie Paden topped the team with 11 rebounds. Rippee and senior guard Teagan Faust were each credited with five steals, and Paden added four.

The Lady Rams held senior guard Emma Kent, who scored 21 points in the first meeting, to just five this time and senior guard Myka Graf to nine, 10 points less than the earlier tilt. Junior forward Laci White paced Levelland with 10 points.

Portales opens its home slate on Monday with a 4:30 p.m. matchup against Brownfield at the Ram Athletic Center.

Rams’ game postponed — The PHS boys were slated to travel to Littlefield on Friday, but the Wildcats weren’t able to field a team due to illness. The teams hope to come up with a makeup date after the new year.

PHS (3-2) also had a Tuesday game against Clovis High postponed due to illness within its team ranks. That contest has been reset for 6 p.m. on Jan. 12 at the RAC.

Portales’ game against Lubbock Christian, scheduled for Saturday, was moved from the RAC to Lubbock. The Rams are also slated to play their first home game on Monday, welcoming Farwell for a 6 p.m. tipoff in a rematch of the recent Farwell Invitational championship game, won by the Steers 56-44.