THS girls fall to Jemez Valley

The Tucumcari girls basketball team's inability to make 3-pointers and free throws proved decisive during a 45-34 loss Saturday to unbeaten Jemez Valley in the championship game of the Lady Lion Classic tournament at Santa Rosa.

Caylee Benavidez and July Lafferty each were named to the all-tournament team for the Lady Rattlers. Benavidez scored a team-high 16 points with 10 rebounds and seven steals Saturday. Lafferty totaled eight points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

"Caylee and July really showed their leadership and put the team on their shoulders," THS coach Patrick Benavidez said. "In the books, it shows that we lost. However, our team gained the much-needed experience in a championship game."

The Lady Rattlers (3-1) and Warriors (4-0) seemed to match up well defensively, with both teams forcing turnovers and contesting shots.

But Jemez Valley made six 3-point shots, especially when it surged to double-digit leads in the second and third quarters.

Tucumcari attempted shots behind the 3-point arc but made none.

The Lady Rattlers also hurt themselves by going 4-of-17 from the free-throw line, including missing their first nine attempts.

"We had some shots that just wouldn't fall for us, and we got to the free-throw line but just couldn't capitalize on those opportunities," coach Benavidez said.

During the second period, Tucumcari made just two field goals. Jemez Valley sank three 3-pointers during the quarter amid a 15-4 scoring run to take a 29-16 halftime lead.

The Lady Rattlers twice in the second half rallied to within five points.

But the Warriors closed the game with an 8-2 run.

Tucumcari was without starters Cambree Benavidez and Haisley Huffman in the game.

Benavidez injured her knee Thursday, and the extent of the injury won't be known until she undergoes an MRI this week.

Huffman bruised her knee in the semifinal game and was held out for precautionary reasons. She is expected to be ready to play by Tucumcari's next game.

"I thought we played good for a team with two starters out," coach Benavidez said. "We kept playing hard and battled back to give us a shot in the fourth quarter. With my two quickest players out, we couldn't press like we were hoping to. Jemez Valley did a good job moving the ball against us and making shots."

He also praised Alexis Ramirez, Kirksey Smith and Aubri French for providing quality minutes.

Tucumcari 41, Estancia 36

Playing their first game without one of their key players, the Lady Rattlers came from behind to gut out a 41-36 victory Friday over Estancia in the semifinals of the Lady Lion Classic.

Caylee Benavidez scored 11 of her team-leading 20 points in the fourth quarter - including two 3-pointers - to lead the Lady Rattlers' rally.

Tucumcari trailed 32-26 early in the fourth after a trio of 3-pointers by the Lady Bears.

The Lady Rattlers responded with 10 unanswered points and never trailed again, handing Estancia (3-1) its first loss.

Tucumcari was without starting freshman forward Cambree Benavidez, who injured her knee during the previous game. She was on crutches Friday, cheering her teammates from the bench.

"We pulled it together with a hard-fought game where we got into foul trouble," THS coach Patrick Benavidez said. "We struggled trying to adjust to not having Cambree's defense and transitional offense. We talked about everyone having to play to their best ability."

He said junior forward Aubri French also played a role in settling up the comeback.

"In the pregame we talked about everyone stepping up, and Aubri did that in the third quarter with two big baskets with Caylee on the bench with four fouls when we were struggling to score," he said. "She got herself in position to take good shots and did very well."

Tucumcari 58, Cottonwood Classical 20

Tucumcari took an early 20-0 lead during a 58-20 victory Thursday over an overmatched Cottonwood Classical Prep team in the first round of the Lady Lions Classic.

The Lady Rattlers, however, lost one of their top scorers midway through the fourth quarter when freshman forward Cambree Benavidez suffered a knee injury while being fouled on a fastbreak. Benavidez had scored 31 points in the first two games of the season.

Benavidez cried in pain after the injury, and she was unable to stand for her free-throw attempts. (Alexis Ramirez made both foul shots in her place.) Benavidez's father and coach, Patrick, carried her off the floor.

July Lafferty scored 18 points to led Tucumcari, many of them on steals or transition plays. Kyla Lopez added 12 points, and Caylee Benavidez totaled 11.

Tucumcari 50, Texico 36

Tucumcari's defense frustrated the state-ranked Wolverines during the Lady Rattlers' 50-36 season-opening road victory on Dec. 5.

Cambree Benavidez scored 21 points to lead the Lady Rattlers. Kyla Lopez added 12.

The Lady Rattlers' press and double teams forced turnovers and enabled them to score easy baskets in much of the game.

A 9-2 scoring run in the first quarter gave Tucumcari a 15-8 lead. That advantage grew to double digits in the second period after 10 unanswered points.

Texico, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A in the coaches poll, rallied to within five points in the fourth quarter after Haisley Huffman and Caylee Benavides got into foul trouble. Lopez also exited the game for a few minutes after becoming ill on the floor.

But the Lady Rattlers closed with a 13-4 run to put the game out of reach.

"Getting a win against the defending 2A champions is always a good way to start the season," THS coach Patrick Benavidez said. "The girls did a good job with our press and created some easy baskets. We did a good job driving to the basket and keeping their defenders moving.

"We did have some first-game fatigue, but that will improve as we play more games."