Lady Rams bounce back to beat Roswell High 35-33
Jan. 24—ROSWELL — Despite a short turnaround, the Portales High girls basketball team was able to bounce back on Saturday after a tough loss the previous night.
Trailing by two points, the Lady Rams held Roswell High to just two points in that stanza and scored just enough points themselves to pull out a 35-33 victory.
On Friday night, carrying a two-point lead into the final quarter at the Ram Athletic Center, PHS was overwhelmed as Clovis High outscored them 20-3 to notch a 42-27 victory.
Sophomore Myleigh Banda capped a game-ending 6-0 run against the Lady Coyotes, hitting a wing jumper with 1:30 left, and the Lady Rams made it stand up.
"It was a good win," PHS girls coach Wade Fraze said. "I didn't know how much gas we had left in the tank (after Friday), but it was a good one to get going into district."
Banda finished with 14 points for Portales, and she posted a double-double with 12 to lead the Lady Rams to a 40-26 margin in that category. Junior guard Audrey Paden added eight points, while junior guard Angel Ornelas collected five assists.
Roswell High (9-11) was led by senior Daci Smith's 13 points.
PHS opens District 4-4A action on Friday night against Roswell Goddard at the RAC.
Portales 67, Dexter 45 (boys, Saturday) — The Rams continued their winning ways with a dominating victory over the Demons at the RAC.
Coach Randy McBroom said his squad is playing well at it gets ready to host Goddard on Friday.
"We've always played hard and with high energy," he said. "The kids are excited for district (play). We want to have a good week of practice."
Senior center Emmanuel Diahn, held out of the previous game after tweaking his knee, posted a season-best 17 points. McBroom said it was his best game of the season.
Rams senior guard Xodus Gomez sat out with a minor injury, McBroom said, but should be good to go on Friday.
Senior forward Markus Aranda, who also missed the previous game, posted 11 points and sophomore Paxton Culpepper 10 for the Rams. High scorers for the Demons (6-14) were junior Julian Sanchez with 16 points and eighth-grader C.J. Granados with 10.
