Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari girls basketball squad stormed to a 56-21 victory Saturday over Academy for Technology and the Classics to secure a fifth-place finish and consolation bracket title at the West Las Vegas Brian Gallegos Memorial tournament.
The Lady Rattlers (2-1) jumped out to an 18-4 lead after one quarter, 35-13 at halftime and 53-14 after three quarters.
Caylee Benavidez scored 24 points to lead the Lady Rattlers, while younger sister Cambree added 10 points. Kyla Lopez totaled 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“We had a strong first two quarters, and I was able to get some of the younger players some good playing time, which is going to be important as the season goes on,” THS coach Patrick Benavidez said.
Caylee Benavidez and July Lafferty made the all-tournament team for the Lady Rattlers.
ATC fell to 1-3 overall.
Tucumcari 57, Newcomb 46
A fourth-quarter surge helped the Lady Rattlers secure a 57-46 victory Friday over Newcomb in the consolation semifinal of the West Las Vegas tournament.
Tucumcari clinged to a 37-36 lead after three quarters, then outscored the Skyhawks 20-10 the rest of the way.
Lafferty totaled 15 points and 15 rebounds. Maaja Anaya and Caylee Benavidez each scored 13 points. Cambree Benavidez added nine points and nine rebounds.
“We played well and settled into our offense early, but got into foul trouble,” Coach Benavidez said adding that Newcomb hit a few 3-pointers in the second period.
He said going into the fourth quarter, “we were able to set up a halfcourt press that Newcomb couldn’t handle. … Caylee and July handled Newcomb’s press and kept the game under control so we had a chance to finish.”
Newcomb fell to 0-2.
Santa Fe Indian 56, Tucumcari 40
Santa Fe Indian surged to a 9-0 lead early — all on 3-point shots — and kept that advantage during a 56-40 victory Thursday over Tucumcari in the Lady Rattlers’ season-opener at the West Las Vegas tourney.
“We played catch-up the rest of the game,” Coach Benavidez said of the Lady Braves’ hot early start. “We handled their press really well, but then took early shots and didn’t run our offense the best we could.”
The THS coach said his Lady Rattlers struggled to finish shots during the second quarter, which turned into quick points for SFIS.
Tucumcari’s press defense helped cut Santa Fe Indian’s lead to 10 in the second half, but that was as close as the Lady Rattlers got.
“Even though the result wasn’t in our favor, I am glad we had this game,” he said. “It was good to have Cambree back on the floor and to get Maaja Anaya her first varsity game against a top 3A team.”
Lafferty led THS with 15 points. Caylee Benavidez added 11 points, and Cambree Benavidez totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds. Lopez grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds.
Tucumcari was hoping to exact revenge on SFIS after a quarterfinals loss in last season’s Class 3A tournament.
The Lady Braves improved to 2-1 overall.
Santa Fe Indian lost the tournament’s title game to host West Las Vegas 31-30.