Boys favorites dominate second day of EPAC

MELROSE — As far as boys action was concerned Wednesday in the Eastern Plains Athletic Conference tournament, chalk was the talk, and the high seeds spoke loudly.

All four top seeds advanced, winning by an average of more than 33 points, in the quarterfinal round of the boys tournament at Melrose High School.

CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Dora freshman Kevyn Ferriera makes a pass to a teammate in the first half of the Lady Coyotes' game Wednesday against Texico in the EPAC Tournament in Melrose. Texico beat Dora 43-27.

Top seed Logan cruised to a 56-29 win over Tatum, and that was the closest the underdogs got, with Dora beating San Jon 71-41, Texico routing Grady 60-25 and Fort Sumner posting the biggest win of the night with a 71-29 defeat of Eunice.

In girls action, Floyd withstood a late Elida charge for a 50-49 win and top-seeded Tatum rallied past pesky Melrose 43-28. In other games, Fort Sumner upended third-seeded Logan 49-43, while Texico had little trouble in a 43-27 win over Dora.

The Texico boys (7-3) had little trouble early, but pushed the game to the mercy rule running clock with a 17-1 third quarter. Miguel Reyna had a game-high 17 points, while Justin Rucker added 12 points for the Wolverines. In all, 10 Wolverines scored in the blowout. Trenton Jones led Grady (5-5) with eight points.

In a matchup of Coyote squads, Dora's trio of Jake Taylor and brothers Dylan and Dalton Privett outscored San Jon's entire roster on their own, and Dora (7-3) led San Jon 51-12 at the break before taking the foot off the gas pedal in the second half. Matt Evans was San Jon's only double-digit scorer with 14 points.

Shilo Boyle scored 26 points, and the Foxes needed little else to dispatch Eunice. Nick Sanchez added 14 for Fort Sumner (8-3), which owned a 45-14 lead at the half. Tyler Montoya led the Cardinals (4-4) with seven points.

The defending 1A champion Longhorns had no problems with Eunice, taking a 14-2 lead after the first quarter and rolling behind Hayes Frost's 20 points. Jacob Gudgell scored 11 and Wyatt Strand 10 for Logan (7-3), in its first year under Rafael Roybal. Tatum (3-5) was led by Seth Stoner's 12 points.

On the girls' side, Floyd (9-3) trailed late but took the lead for good with 49 seconds left on Taryn Lee's third basket of the night. Led by Tessa Nall's 10 points, the Broncos held off a 14-8 fourth quarter from the Tigers. Elida (6-4) got 15 from guard Shealton Veo-Chenault and nine each from Reda Allison and Kaylen Jasso.

CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Dora senior Jake Taylor goes in for a layup past San Jon freshman Joseph Benavidez in the first half of Wednesday's EPAC action at Melrose High School.

Angelica Torres had 14 points, and LaNay Crenshaw hit a 3-pointer with 6:15 left to put Fort Sumner (8-2) up for good in the night's lone bracket upset. Brooke Rachor and Shanna Sorrels had 13 each for Logan (7-3).

Brianna Reyna had 12 points, and Texico (6-4) jumped out to an 18-6 lead at the half. Jasi Roberts scored 12 for Dora (6-4).

In a rematch of the Class 1A title game, post Devanne Sours had 11 and forward Tierra Gray had 10 as the Coyotes (8-1) pulled away with a 14-4 fourth quarter.

Melrose (3-6), led by Cara Barnard's nine, went to the line just four times on the night, hitting three. The Coyotes went to the line 24 times and hit 12.

CMI Staff Photos: Tony Bullock

Composite: Philip Hall

EPAC Tournament

at Melrose

BOYS

Wednesday

Quarterfinals

Dora 71, San Jon 41

Fort Sumner 70, Eunice 29

Logan 56, Tatum 29

Texico 60, Grady 25

Today

Consolation quarterfinals

Melrose vs. Eunice, 3:30 p.m., old gym

Tatum vs. Elida, 6:30 p.m., old gym

Clovis Christian vs. Grady, 8 p.m., new gym

San Jon vs. Floyd, 5 p.m., new gym

CMI Staff photo: Tony Bullock

Composite: Philip Hall

GIRLS

Wednesday

Quarterfinals

Floyd 50, Elida 49

Fort Sumner 49, Logan 43

Texico 43, Dora 27

Tatum 43, Melrose 28

Today

Consolatiuon quarterfinals

Eunice vs. Logan, 3:30 p.m., new gym

Dora vs. Clovis Christian, 6:30 p.m., new gym

San Jon vs. Melrose, 8 p.m., old gym

Elida vs. Grady, 5 p.m., old gym.