Melrose squads cruise into semifinals

MELROSE – Nothing like starting off your season with a 30-point quarter.

Melrose’s boys, playing for the first time after winning the 8-man state football championship nearly a month ago, showed no signs of rust in rolling past Mountainair 80-33 in Thursday’s quarterfinal round of the American Bank Tournament.

Meantime, the Lady Buffs also made short work of their Mountainair opposition, trouncing the Lady Mustangs 69-34.

Junior Chance Brittenum scored a personal-best 18 points to lead four Buffs in double digits. Junior Brayden Eldridge added 17 while senior Michael Cardonita and sophomore Jaxon Odom finished with 13 points apiece for Melrose, which led 30-15 after eight minutes.

Leading scorers for Mountainair (0-3) were junior Omahne Nieto with 10 points and freshman Brody Brazil with nine.

Senior Graci Odom led the Lady Buffs to an easy victory, pouring in 27 points. Melrose opened a 20-7 first-quarter lead on the Lady Mustangs (1-4) and never looked back.

Senior Karlee Elliott and sophomore Skyla Wicker added nine and eight points, respectively, for Melrose.

In other girls’ contests on Thursday:

To’Hajiillee 50, Grady 48, overtime – Grady led 35-20 after three quarters before the Lady Warriors ran off a 26-11 spurt to force the extra session and remain unbeaten for the young campaign at 3-0.

To’Hajiillee was the Class 1A state runnerup last spring, but graduated seven players off that team.

Junior Juanita Ramirez led Grady (2-3) with 23 points, while senior December Garza finished with 15.

Also on Thursday, Gateway Christian defeated Hagerman 42-35 while Quemado downed Floyd 39-27.

In boys’ action:

Grady 49, Floyd 37 – Senior Zane Rush scored 17 of his 29 points in the first half and the Bronchos (3-2) were able to subdue Floyd, playing its season opener.

Freshman Zander Ciancio added nine points for Grady, while senior Isaias Nieto and 6-foot-4 sophomore David Melendez led Floyd with 14 and nine, respectively.

In other first-round tilts, To’Hajiillee defeated Gateway Christian 44-33 and Hagerman edged Quemado 57-56.