Get-tough approach lifts Logan girls

LOGAN - An injury-depleted Springer girls basketball team fell victim to Logan's new, get-tough attitude during a 62-32 non-district loss to the host Lady Longhorns.

Logan and Springer sported nearly identical win-loss records going into Saturday's game. But the Lady Longhorns - especially on defense - took control early.

Logan surged to a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter and built on it. The Lady Longhorns led by 13 points at halftime and by 19 at the end of the third quarter.

"We'd been kind of preaching toughness all week and during the break," Logan coach Dustin Robertson said. "Our toughness has come out this weekend with better defense. I was proud of the girls, for sure."

Defense against opponents' transition game had been a sore spot for Logan until recently.

"That had been a big problem the first half of the year," Robertson said. "So we did a better job getting back tonight (on defense). The toughness we're working on translated to defense tonight."

Springer coach Jesus Urquijo noticed.

"Defense is all about attitude," he said. "If you get tough and have a good attitude, the defense will come."

Urquijo said knee injuries that sidelined senior guard Valeria Balderrama and 5-foot-10 sophomore forward Brenna Duran gave him a thin roster going into Saturday's game.

"When you play only six players and it's a young group, you get gassed," he said. "We got some young players out there, and when we get a healthy team back, we'll be pretty good."

Robertson agreed.

"That's a good team. If they get that other big girl back, they're going to be tough," he said.

Abigail Eppler, a 5-foot-9 sophomore, led the Red Devils with 14 points. Springer fell to 7-4.

Desta Rose led Logan with 18 points. Camryn Cantrell added 11 points, with Lizzy Horner and Marilyn Moreno each scoring 10.

The Lady Longhorns improved to 8-4 overall heading into this week's EPAC Tournament at Melrose. Logan was seeded third and will face sixth-seeded Grady at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Melrose landed the No. 1 seed, with Fort Sumner seeded second. Logan's semifinal would be at 6 p.m. Friday, with the championship at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Logan 59, Clayton 34

Twelve unanswered points in the third quarter helped the Lady Longhorns gain control during a 59-34 non-district victory Friday at Clayton.

Logan surged to a 15-2 lead at one point in the first period, but the Yellowjackets rallied to within 26-22.

"We did not play tough in part of the second quarter," Robertson said. "But they got back after it to finish strong, and we shot strong in the third quarter."

The Lady Longhorns responded with their 12-0 run and led 38-22 at the end of third period.

Rose led Logan with 18 points. Hailee Robertson added 11 points, and Moreno scored 10.

Clayton fell to 9-4 overall.