Texico posts sweep over Capitan

MESCALERO – After the first day of their two-day trip out west was postponed due to weather, Texico’s squads traveled to Capitan on Friday night and earned a pair of victories – the girls edging the Lady Tigers 31-29 while the boys won easily 68-35.

In the opener, the Lady Wolverines took a three-point halftime lead after outscoring Capitan 12-7 in the second quarter. High scorers for Texico (4-7) were senior Kaya New and sophomore Brylee Burgin with five points each, while junior Joni Foster paced the Lady Tigers (3-8) with nine points.

Texico’s boys opened a 28-4 lead after one quarter and cruised from there behind 12 points each from brothers Blake and Jett Curtis. Eleven players contributed to the scoring column for the Wolverines (7-5).

Freshman Donaven Robinson posted 15 points for the Tigers (4-5), while senior Edward Garcia added 11.

Texico’s Thursday tilts at Mescalero were snowed out. The schools will look for a possible makeup date.

In other girls action on Friday:

Tatum 55, Melrose 45 – In a battle of two of the top small-school teams in the state, the visiting Lady Coyotes (11-1), ranked first in Class 2A by MaxPreps, rode a 27-point performance from junior Louann Villasenor to victory over the Class 1A No. 2 Lady Buffs (8-2).

Leading 42-40, Villasenor scored Tatum’s first eight points of the final period. Senior Valeria Mariscal added 10 points for the Lady Coyotes.

Melrose was paced by four 3-pointers and 20 points from senior Graci Odom. Senior Karlee Elliott added eight points, going 6-for-8 from the free throw line.

Farwell 52, Panhandle 31 – At Farwell, the Lady Blue opened District 3-2A play with a resounding victory over the Lady Panthers, their 20th win of the campaign.

Panhandle (9-5 overall) cut a 14-point halftime deficit to four after three stanzas before Farwell, ranked fourth in Texas Class 2A by MaxPreps, went on a 20-3 surge in the final frame. Junior Bella Jaime scored eight of her game-high 15 points in that period for the Lady Blue (20-3), while juniors Makylee Baldwin and Landri Richey added 11 tallies apiece.

Junior Avery Cathey netted 10 points for the Lady Panthers, who came in ranked No. 10 in 2A.

Bovina 37, Amarillo Highland Park 30 – The host Fillies built a 12-point lead, saw the Lady Hornets (2-14) cut it to two in the third period and then pulled away down the stretch in the District 3-2A opener for both.

Senior Aaliyah Garcia carried Bovina (5-11) to the win with 17 points.

In boys tilts on Friday:

Farwell 52, Spearman 45 – At Spearman, the Steers (12-9) opened a 16-7 lead at the quarter and kept the Lynx (10-7) in check the rest of the way.

Junior Ryder McElroy paced Farwell with 14 points, followed by senior Corey Stancell with 12. For Spearman, junior Hector Diaz tossed in 18 points and senior Kason Vela added 11.

Melrose 54, Tatum 13 – The Buffaloes (10-0), ranked second in Class 1A behind district rival Logan, opened a 34-5 halftime lead and cruised past the struggling Coyotes (1-11).

Nine players contributed to the scoring column for Melrose, topped by juniors Cy Draper, Brayden Eldridge and Josh Roybal with nine points each, while senior Dathan Yeary and juniors Josiah Roybal and Chance Brittenum all finished with seven.

For the Coyotes, who have dropped 11 in a row since a season-opening 42-41 victory at Gateway Christian, sophomore Anthony Duffy had five points.

Happy 40, Bovina 32 – The host Cowboys opened a 29-11 halftime lead and turned back the Mustangs, who had won eight of 10 coming in.

Six-foot-4 junior C.J. Moore drained a trio of 3-pointers and led Happy (5-11) with 18 points, while 6-5 junior Tommy O’Mara added nine. Senior Miguel Lopez tallied 15 points for the Mustangs (8-12), and sophomore Angel Lara chipped in 10.