Rams hope experience will lead to improvement

PORTALES — After nine seasons as an assistant to his father, Randy McBroom took over as Portales High’s boys basketball coach last season.

Suffice it to say, it was a rugged year. The Rams finished 11-15, including 0-6 in District 4-4A.

“Last year was tough,” McBroom said as the Rams look ahead to Saturday’s regular-season opener against Hereford at the Ram Athletic Center. “We were in a senior-loaded district. We just lacked a lot of experience.”

That problem should be somewhat alleviated this year, although PHS still has just four seniors on the roster.

“That’s the hope,” McBroom said. “Lovington graduated seven of their top nine, and (Roswell) Goddard graduated six of their top nine.”

Only Artesia returns most of its core players, and McBroom said the Bulldogs should go into the campaign as district favorites.

But the Rams figure they can hang with about anybody, despite a relative lack of overall size.

“I think we could play with Artesia,” said senior guard Davian Lucero, an all-district selection last season. “They’re projected to be a top team in (Class 4A).

“I think we should be ranked higher. We’ve just got to prove it this year.”

Several others with significant starting experience return for Portales, including 5-11 junior center Emmanuel Diahn, senior guard Xodus (pronounced “Exodus”) Gomez and senior forward Markus Aranda.

McBroom is also high on junior forward Zane Mayberry, junior guard Braden Back, sophomore forward Paxton Culpepper and sophomore guard Jace Hightower. Mayberry, Beck and Culpepper saw time on the varsity last season.

“We’ve got some good young kids,” McBroom said. “A lot of the junior class were junior varsity last year, and they were tough.

“We’re not real big, and that’s the scary part. But we’ve got a lot of athleticism and speed.”

Lucero, who at 6-foot-1 is one of the taller players on the squad, doesn’t think lack of size is something the Rams can’t overcome.

“We should be good,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll get blown out of the water. We were small last season and played against some of the best teams in the state. We’ve just got to be able to rebound.”

McBroom said the team has set its goals high, and hopes to win with more of an up-tempo style than usual.

“Our goal is to win the district,” he said. “Going in, Artesia would have to be favored, but I’ll take our guys any day.

“The big thing for us is sharing the ball and attacking the rim. Portales is going to see a different style of ball this year.”

Lucero said his approach will be different as his responsibilities have changed.

“Last year I kind of let the game come to me, but this year I’m going to have to be more aggressive,” he said. “I have to be a leader for the team.”