Big second quarter boosts Lady Rams

PORTALES — It took the Portales High Lady Rams a while to get going Tuesday night, primarily because of Roswell High’s style of play.

By the second quarter, though, they had things pretty well figured out. PHS outscored the Lady Coyotes 17-4 in the stanza and cruised from there en route to a 52-34 victory at the RAC.

“We had a slow start,” Lady Rams coach Wade Fraze said, noting his team led just 12-10 after the opening quarter. “Roswell’s very disciplined, and they controlled tempo (early) and executed their offense well.”

Senior guard Emma Gonzales hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help spark the Lady Rams’ second-period run, and finished with eight points.

“That kind of got it going for us,” Fraze said of Gonzales’ treys. “Emma Gonzales played her best game of the season.”

Senior guard Riley Shillings led PHS with a season-best 13 points, including two 3-pointers and 5-for-6 from the free throw line, and five assists. Senior guard Taris Rippee had 12 points, six rebounds and four steals, while senior post Kylyie Paden added 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists and senior post Adrianna Garcia had seven points and seven caroms.

For Roswell High, junior Daci Smith collected 11 points.

Hereford 57, Portales boys 29 (Tuesday) — The host Whitefaces took control from the start, hitting four 3-pointers en route to a 16-8 first-quarter lead.

For the game, six Hereford players combined for 12 3-point baskets, including three each from seniors Braedyn Mendoza and Marco Lucas. Only Mendoza with 11 points was in double figures, but eight others contributed to the scoring column for the Whitefaces (10-8).

Meantime, senior post Greydon Rigsby paced the Rams (5-6) with eight points.