Texico boys post district-opening win over Clayton

TEXICO – When the going got tough in the final quarter, Texico's boys rode their two big guns to victory.

Senior Jahvon Askew and junior Cade Figg combined for all 21 of the Wolverines' points in the stanza, and Texico pulled away to a 63-51 victory over Clayton in the District 6-2A opener for both squads.

Askew finished with 30 points, getting 14 in the final canto, while Figg added seven of his 16 down the stretch.

Clayton (12-7 overall) led most of the way into the third quarter before the Wolverines put together an 8-0 spurt. Texico (12-8) carried a 42-40 lead i1nto the final eight minutes.

The Yellowjackets regained the lead with the first two baskets of the period, but were outscored 21-7 the rest of the way.

With a couple of players ill and two more declared ineligible, Texico went with six players the entire game. The Wolverines were able to stay out of foul trouble and won the game with the help of 17-5 edge at the free throw line.

"We played six guys, and they executed the game plan better than we have all year long," Wolverines coach Craig Cook said. "We limited the unnecessary fouls and still played good defense."

It didn't look good early, though, as the Yellowjackets scored the game's first eight points and led 23-16 after a Jonoven Hidalgo 3-pointer with five minutes left in the half.

Texico closed strong, though, and trailed just 30-29 at the break after Hidalgo hit a 3 from the left corner with six seconds left.

"We came out more aggressively (in the second half)," Askew said. "We caused a lot of turnovers and we got rebounds."

Clayton led 35-31 two minutes into the third frame, but Texico regained the lead with the next eight points as four players each contributed a basket. Figg's bucket tied it in the first minute of the final period, and Askew's fullcourt drive and a 3-pointer and two free throws from Figg put Texico in control.

"As tough as the district is, every game matters," Cook said. "I'll take a win regardless, but doing it against a very good team like that kind of makes a statement."

Six-foot-3 senior Rylan Ruf led Clayton with 16 points while Hidalgo finished with four 3s and 13 points.

Texico faced a quick turnaround with a late-afternoon game on Saturday at Santa Rosa.

"We'll be ready," Askew said. "It's not like we haven't done this before."

In other area boys Thursday action:

Dora 66, Gateway Christian 35 – The Coyotes held Gateway to just nine first-half points in cruising to a District 4-1A victory at Roswell.

Senior Steven Masini tallied 24 points for Dora (14-5, 1-0), while senior Kegan Rodriguez had 10 and sophomore Aaron Combs nine.

For the Warriors (2-13, 0-2), senior Hayden Wigley was the high scorer with seven points.

Fort Sumner 75, Clovis Christian 37 – In a District 6-1A matchup, the second-ranked Foxes (18-2, 3-0) opened a 42-18 halftime lead over the Eagles.

Four players scored in double figures for Fort Sumner, led by junior Cash Burney with 18 points. Meantime, junior Joaquin Segura had 14 and senior Clay Norman and junior Seth Saiz both finished with 12.

For CCS (13-6, 1-2), senior O.B. Blanco scored seven points.

Logan 66, Grady 59 – In another District 6-1A clash, the host Longhorns (15-6, 2-1) outlasted the Bronchos with four players reaching double figures – junior Brock Burns with 18, freshman Mason Wallin with 14, senior Park Strong with 12 and junior Hayden Bruhn with 11.

For Grady (5-10, 0-3), junior Zane Rush poured in 32 points while eighth-grader Zander Ciancio finished with 11. Both hit three 3s, with Rush scoring 20 points in the second half and Ciancio collecting all of his tallies in the opening two stanza.

In a Wednesday tilt:

Farwell 56, Panhandle 41 – In a battle for the District 3-2A lead at Farwell, the Steers rode a season-high-tying 22 points from senior Adrian Nunez and 19 from senior Alec Actkinson to victory.

Farwell (19-4, 4-0 district) opened a 25-14 lead at halftime and led by 16 heading into the final stanza.

The Panthers (15-6, 3-1) were led by 12 points from senior Landyn Hack and 11 from senior Korbin Preston.