Lady Rattlers fall to Tatum

The Tucumcari girls basketball team finished 2-2 last week, including a fourth-place finish at the Citizens Bank Classic tournament at Texico.

The Lady Rattlers (4-5), bedeviled by shooting woes, fell 53-38 to Tatum on Saturday in the third-place game of the event.

Tatum seized early control of the game, leading 17-5 after the first quarter and 31-8 at intermission.

"It was one of those game that we just couldn't get a shot to fall," Tucumcari coach Patrick Benavidez said. "Tatum was a solid rebounding team and was able to turn shots into points on the opposite end."

Alexus Lafferty and Caylee Benavidez led the Lady Rattlers with 13 points apiece.

Tatum improved to 3-3.

Farwell 64, Tucumcari 42

Farwell team jumped to a 32-15 lead at halftime and cruised the rest of the way during a 64-42 win Friday in the semifinals of the Citizens Bank Classic.

Farwell won the tournament crown with a victory over Tohatchi on Saturday.

Tucumcari was tied 10-10 in the first quarter but Farwell made a late 3-pointer during the period. The Steers made four more 3-pointers in the second quarter during a 17-5 run to seize control.

"Our girls got a little winded chasing around their 3-point shooters, but overall we played solid and was able to put up 42 points against an athletic, deep basketball team," coach Benavidez said.

Caylee Benavidez led Tucumcari with 14 points, and Alexus Lafferty added 12.

Tucumcari's July Lafferty and Haisley Huffman each grabbed seven rebounds, which impressed coach Benavidez because "they were really outsized."

Tucumcari 48, Jal 29

The Lady Rattlers took an early lead and continued to build on it during a 48-29 victory Thursday in the opening round of the Citizens Bank Classic in Texico.

Alexus Lafferty led Tucumcari with 22 points.

Coach Benavidez said his team was able to work on different options on offense and had a solid performance on defense.

"We gave up a few open shots on some confusion, but overall it was a good performance," he said.

Jal fell to 3-7.

Tucumcari 41, Raton 38

After a slow start, the Lady Rattlers rallied with its 3-point shooting and stout halfcourt defense during a 41-38 victory over Raton on Dec. 13 at the Snake Pit.

Alexus Lafferty, returning after an illness three days before, scored 22 points to lead Tucumcari. Caylee Benavidez added 10 points.

The Lady Rattlers made five 3-pointers during the game after spotting Raton an 11-5 lead in the first quarter.

"We had a hard time finding the net in the first half," coach Benavidez said. "But overall, it was a good game for us. We want these kind of games we can learn from, that will help us later on in the season."

Tucumcari ballooned its lead to 41-33 with less than a minute left. The Tigers made a charge, but it fell short.

"The girls near the end kind of panicked a bit and gave up some easy points on the other end," he said. "Our girls play 100% (on defense) the entire time; that's what keeps us in the game."

Raton fell to 5-3.