PHS boys take opener over Eunice

EUNICE – Things went pretty well for Portales High’s boys in Tuesday’s season opener.

Junior forward Paxton Culpepper, sophomore forward Carson Pfaffenberger and junior guard Jase Hightower combined for 44 points and just missed double-doubles as the Rams downed Eunice 58-51.

Culpepper scored 19 points – 10 in the first quarter and seven in the fourth – while Pfaffenberger added 16, both personal bests. Each played finished with nine rebounds.

“It’s a very different team (from last season), but this group enjoys being around each other and playing for each other,” Rams coach Randy McBroom said.

Meantime, Hightower led the team in rebounds with 10 and scored seven of his nine points in the third stanza. Portales posted a 43-28 advantage on the window.

Nine days after hosting the Class 4A state championship football game, the Rams were hardly a finished product on the court. But they got off to a 16-8 lead at the quarter and held off the Cardinals in the season opener for both teams.

Eunice wrested the lead from the Rams during the second stanza, but PHS regained a 28-26 margin at halftime and didn’t relinquish it after that.

McBroom said the 6-foot-4 Pfaffenberger and 6-2 junior Xavier Tarpeh were able to handle things inside.

“They stepped up and played really well,” McBroom said. “Their size was a game-changer for us.”

Eunice stayed in the game largely because of the 3-point line, hitting nine for the game. Seniors Billy Blevins with 18 points and Ashton Thompson with 10 paced the Cardinals, and they combined for five 3-point baskets.

The Rams, who don’t play at home until the Portales Shootout Jan. 4-6 at the Ram Athletic Center, participated in the Farwell tournament over the weekend. They return to action this weekend in a tourney to be hosted by Pojoaque.