Longhorns stay undefeated

LOGAN - If any team hopes to conquer Logan's unbeaten boys basketball team at this week's EPAC tournament, it had better slow the Longhorns' high-octane offense.

The Longhorns (12-0) rang up 32 points in the first period to take control during a 97-33 non-district victory Saturday over Springer (4-7). Logan led 56-29 at intermission and held a 45-point advantage after three quarters.

Logan scored almost 100 despite plenty of substitutions and a running clock in most of the second half.

Springer coach Johnny Chavez said Logan was the best team he'd seen all season.

"These guys are tough," he said. "Logan's pretty special. They're the real deal."

Logan is averaging over 77 points a game this season and became the only undefeated team left in the EPAC tournament field after Des Moines - which Logan rallied to defeat on Dec. 16 - downed Melrose 63-53 on Saturday.

Logan landed the No. 1 seed at the EPAC Tournament at Melrose and faces eighth-seeded Floyd in the opener at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Logan's semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Friday would be against the winner of the Texico-Grady game. The championship game would be at 8:15 p.m. Saturday.

Fort Sumner is the No. 2 seed, and Melrose is seeded third.

Logan coach Kyle Griffiths said he has reminded his team of the burden of being unbeaten.

"We know people are going to give us their best shot in every game," he said. "I told them a few minutes ago the real season probably starts next week. We'll need to be ready to play going into EPAC."

Griffiths, though pleased as usual with his team's offense, indicated he especially was happy with his team's defensive effort against the Red Devils. Logan held Springer scoreless during the third period and to just four points in the entire second half.

"We haven't had any trouble scoring with the basketball all season. We have a lot of threats out there," he said. "Defensively, we still have some things to work on. Tonight, especially in the second half, we locked in defensively and decided to get some stops."

Logan's 6-foot-4 sophomore center, Mason Wallin, led his team with 22 points. His 6-foot-5 teammate, Hayden Bruhn, scored most of his 19 points on offensive rebounds.

"He's long and athletic down there," Griffiths said of Bruhn. "He's a great rebounder, always has been. Having him and Wallin down there on rebounds at the same time, it's definitely a bonus for us."

Brock Burns added 16 points for Logan, and Kaeden Stoner scored 14.

Chavez said he had two players, including his leading scorer, absent from the game. But he didn't blame that for the loss.

"The way Logan played tonight, there's no way it would have been any different," he said. "We might have scored 50 points instead of 30."

Logan 81, Clayton 51

Logan used a 25-point third quarter to blow open what had been a somewhat close game during an 81-51 non-district victory Friday at Clayton.

The Longhorns led 40-29 at intermission, then used a 25-9 run in the third period to take a commanding 65-38 lead.

"We just tightened up our defense a little bit in the third quarter and strung some stops together," Griffiths said.

Stoner scored 20 points to lead Logan, while Burns and Wallin each added 18.

"We shot the ball well tonight, which was great for our guys' confidence," Griffiths added. "They played played hard and together well."

Clayton fell to 6-8.