Texico tops Rattlers

The state-ranked Texico boys basketball team owned a size advantage against Tucumcari and used it during a 64-45 victory Thursday at the Snake Pit.

The Wolverines' varsity roster listed players at 6-foot-4, 6-foot-3, 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-2, while the Rattlers don't have one player that tall.

Still, Tucumcari coach John Span said his squad could have done a few things to counter Texico's height advantage.

"I think their size bothered us a little bit," he said. "But when you play a team like that, you have to box out right away as soon as the shot goes up. We gave up the baseline too much. We've got to work on some discipline things we've got to correct, because we I think we could have saved some baskets."

"The game was closer than the score," Span added. "You've got to play four quarters; that's what this game is all about. We didn't play four quarters."

Tucumcari( 1-4) was led by TJ Lampkin's 21 points, while Jesus Ramos added 14. Texico, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, improved to 6-1 overall. The Wolverines were led by Skyler Davis' 19 points and Luke Phipps' 18. Texico raced to an 18-8 lead late in the first period and commanded a 35-20 advantage at intermission.

The Rattlers rallied in the third period with a variety of 3-pointers and driving baskets, closing the gap to eight points.

Tucumcari closed to within 45-38 early in the fourth quarter. But Texico went on a 19-7 run to put the game out of reach.

"We need to be a little more aggressive going to the basket," Span said. "In the second half, we didn't shoot any free throws at all. And we have to do a better job making open shots. We had several; they did a better job hitting open shots than we did."