Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari's Kaden Brown makes a move to the hoop while being trailed by Santa Rosa defender Nicolas Chavez during a non-district game at the Snake Pit.
A fast start by a talented Clayton boys basketball team was all it needed during a 61-46 non-district victory over Tucumcari on Friday.
The host Yellowjackets, ranked fourth in Class 2A by MaxPreps.com, raced to a 13-0 lead and held a 29-15 advantage at halftime.
"We couldn't throw it in the ocean," assistant coach Gary Hittson said of his team's shooting woes during the first quarter. "We played with no energy, and the turnovers ... oh my goodness, the turnovers killed us.
"We got down by 15, and it stayed at 15."
Hittson guided the Rattlers for the second consecutive game. Longtime Rattlers head coach John Span, suffering from an illness, was scheduled to undergo surgery Friday in a hospital in Amarillo.
Kamren Apodaca led the Rattlers with 16 points, and Curtis Gonzales added 15. Tucumcari fell to 5-11. Hittson said one of Clayton's key players, senior Ryan Ruf, returned to the lineup Friday after being sidelined with an injury for two weeks. Ruf scored 31 points against the Rattlers.
"He went off on us," Hittson said. "His first step is so quick."
Clayton improved 12-5 overall.
Tucumcari hosts Melrose, ranked third in 1A, on Thursday for its annual Homecoming game, then begins its district schedule with another home game against Dexter on Friday.
Santa Rosa 61, Tucumcari 52
State-ranked Santa Rosa scored eight unanswered points to start the fourth quarter, cementing a 61-52 non-district victory on Jan. 17 and repel Tucumcari's bid for an upset.
It appeared to be a mismatch on paper. Tucumcari had lost four of five, and Santa Rosa was ranked second in Class 2A by MaxPreps.com.
But the Rattlers proved up to the challenge in a contest at the Snake Pit that featured six lead changes and four ties.
Gonzales scored a game-high 26 points for Tucumcari. Apodaca added 10 points and made his presence felt on defense with at least five blocked shots.
Hittson, who led the team after Span was hospitalized with to an illness, gave his team an "A" for effort against the Lions.
"Everybody played their butts off," he said. "You can't take that away from them."
Hittson said the first part of the fourth quarter was the key to the outcome. Jykub Gage made a pair of 3-pointers during Santa Rosa's eight-point surge. Meanwhile, Tucumcari made only one field goal for five minutes during the period.
"In the fourth quarter, we just couldn't make a basket," Hittson said.
Josh Cordova led the Lions with 15 points, and AJ Romo added 14. Santa Rosa improved to 13-4.
