TigerFest Festivities highlight Friday Basketball Games

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

Friday’s activities began midday as Raton High students, faculty and staff gathered for a pep rally just after noon Friday in Tiger Gym to begin TigerFest activities and crown a new king and queen.

The Cheer and Dance teams performed for the crowd and then the basketball teams were presented and finally Royalty made their way on court with Dion Padilla being crowned King and Sabrina Valdez receiving the crown for Queen. The Royalty attendants were Brent Trujillo, Brianna Pais, Christian Granado, Natalie Castellini, Christian Trujillo, Kate Little, Danny Record, Renee Martinez.

After the coronation Mums and boutonnières were presented to parents. The early presentation was a break from year’s past when parents were presented before the varsity games.

Raton JV boys once again played their game at Raton Middle School and come away with another whipping as they too had a hard time handling the strong Clayton defense. The final score at the buzzer there was a dismal 75-14.

The JV girls played their game at Tiger Gym and they too struggled with the man to man defense that Clayton brought on. Quite often the aggressive defense would create turnovers that resulted in points for the JV Yellowjackettes. When the final buzzer sounded on game it was 73-17 trouncing.

Coach Victor Esparza noted this will be another game this young team will want to forget. The Lady Tigers struggled with the aggressive man to man defense the Yellowjackettes brought to Raton Friday night. Coach Esparza was a bit disappointed in the way the girls played with the number of turnovers and again the Lady Tigers couldn’t buy a basket as shot after shot bounced around and out. Esparza also noted the girls had a hard time getting inside for rebounds.

Esparza is hoping the Lady Tigers will regroup and give Santa Rosa a run for their money and take that into the district tourney beginning this week.

The varsity boys took to the court and from the jump ball struggled, as the 6’4″ Mark Craine easily handled over a shorter Dillon Lemons. It was turnover after turnover and the boys too struggled with putting the ball in the basket. As coach Gilbert San Roman after the game we couldn’t buy a basket.

The Yellowjackets also played an aggressive man to man defense that Raton struggled with. By the fourth quarter Clayton was playing the bench and Raton seemed to make some headway as they worked the ball inside to Austin Jones who was able to take it to the basket with a short turnaround jumper. Senior Connell Ware back after missing several games took the roll of primary ball handler for the Tigers, yet he and Jodus Gonzales Raton’s other ball handler struggled with the Clayton defense.

The Tigers will start the district tourney play on Tuesday.

JV Games

Girls

Clayton 17 17 20 19 73

Raton 4 10 2 1 17

Clayton High Point

Bri Fong 11 1 of 2 free throws

Mason Crisp 12 0 for 1 free throw

Abby Lawerence 10

Kameryn Valdez 14

Amber Crisp 19 1 of 2 free throws

Raton High Point