Tularosa takes victory at Snake Pit

The Tucumcari boys basketball team's chances for a come-from-behind district victory Friday against Tularosa essentially evaporated when the Rattlers' leading scorer, Jesus Ramos, fouled out late in the third quarter.

The visiting Wildcats went on a 16-2 run after that, sealing a 76-57 victory at the Snake Pit. Ramos, a sophomore guard, scored a team-high 19 points despite sitting the entire fourth period.

"With him out, we're a very different team," Tucumcari coach John Span said.

Tularosa coach Sergio Castanon agreed with his rival's assessment.

"When Jesus went out, we gained a little confidence," he said. "He's a heck of a player."

A second straight loss in Class 3A's District 4 suffered by Tucumcari (6-13) during the week severely damaged its odds for a district title. Tularosa improved to 14-6 overall after its district opener.

Span lamented the home loss.

"In our district, you need to take care of home, and we didn't do that," he said. "So we're hoping to go back down to their place (Feb. 22) and take one back."

Tularosa converted five 3-point shots in the first half while staking an early double-digit lead. In the second half, the Wildcats repeatedly burned the Rattlers defense in transition.

Span acknowledged fatigue after a Wednesday night loss - rescheduled from Tuesday because of snow - at New Mexico Military Institute might have played a significant factor in his team's defeat Friday.

"We got back late," Span said, referring to the long bus ride from Roswell. "I didn't do much with the team yesterday because of the legs. I thought we had time to recover.

"I thought they outhustled us," he added. "They got to the loose balls. On transition, I thought they did a better job than we did."

To Castanon's eye, Tucumcari looked gassed in the second half.

"I think maybe they got a little bit tired, and we were doing a good job getting the rebound and pushing it (up the floor)," he said. "We didn't let them set up that press; it gave us some fits in the first half."

Tucumcari trailed 20-9 late in the first quarter when the Rattlers couldn't sink their 3-point shots.

"Like against NMMI, we had open shots, and we didn't hit," Span said. "We spotted them (an early lead)."

The Rattlers rallied in the second quarter to within 29-24 with strong inside play from Andrew Henderson-Clark, Dominic Jasper and Ty Lampkin. The Wildcats responded with an 8-1 run to fatten their lead back to double digits by intermission.

"It's going to be a game of runs," Castanon said. "Welcome to district."

Tucumcari rallied to within 52-45 on consecutive 3-pointers by Jasper and Alexander Lujan in the third quarter. The Rattlers trailed by nine when Jesus fouled out with 59.3 seconds left in the period, preceding a long and decisive offensive drought in the fourth quarter.

Ramos and senior forward Robbie Hartmann each were whistled for a technical after they fouled out. Span said they'd run laps as punishment in a future practice.

"The guys said they were talking to themselves, and their language was inappropriate," he said. "The officials heard it and T'd them up.

"I'm very disappointed in that. I don't condone it. If there's any technical, it had better be against me. If I get a technical, it's because I'm fighting for them. They said their guys were taking some cheap shots, the officials weren't calling it, and they were getting frustrated. But you still have to try to keep your composure."

NMMI 65, Tucumcari 59

Tucumcari fell behind early and never quite recovered during a 65-59 road loss Wednesday during its district opener.

The Rattlers fell behind by double digits during the first quarter, Span said.

"NMMI got off to a great start," he said. "I think they made five threes in the first quarter. They did a good job getting the shot off quick."

Span said his team twice narrowed the Colts' lead to two points in the second half but failed to score.

Ramos led the Rattlers with 24 points, while Lujan added 19 with the help of five 3-pointers.

Daniel Xibille led NMMI with 20 points and Ricardo Mata added 17.

NMMI improved to 11-5, 2-0 by week's end.