By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
After a tough weekend in Tucumcari both Raton varsity teams come home to play for the win against a couple of very good Primero teams Thursday evening in Tiger Gym.
In the girls game it was a slow start for the Lady Bulldogs as Raton scored first and went on to extend the lead but never really dominated the court. The Lady Bulldogs kept things close as play continued through the first half of play in part because Raton had problems getting the ball to fall. Raton took to the free throw line 13 times in the second quarter versus three times for the Lady Bulldogs. The problem for Raton was that they only dropped in six of those 13 free throws. The aggressive play by Primero kept the game close as the halftime buzzer sounded with a Raton 22-16 score.
Raton once again started the scoring in the third and extended the close game to a 12 point lead. Primero however worked their way back closing the game to six. Raton worked the ball and played a more patient game and managed to work the ball inside for points. Turnovers afflicted both teams with Primero loosing the ball a total of 21 times while Raton turned it over 17 times during the game.
Primero 6 10 9 9 34
Raton 10 12 15 7 44
Primero High Point
Madison Dasko 12 2 of 3 free throws
Free throws 11 of 18 attempts
Raton High Point
Andie Ortega 16 2 of 7 free throws
Estrella Vargas 9 1 of 2 free throws
Free throws 12 of 26 attempts
Raton struck first but Primero was right there as the boys game never took more than a six point separation with the lead changing a few times during the game.
Raton came home after a 58-17 loss to Tucumcari where scoring was not in the order of the day for Raton, however with Primero the boys came in and played a more controlled game working the ball till they could get a shot. Both teams played a good defensive game not allowing a lot of points. Raton who has had problems rebounding in past games managed to pull the ball in yet were not as successful in converting it for points. When the halftime buzzer sounded it was a 20-20 ballgame.
The second half saw Primero score first taking the lead which would go back and forth a few times but it was the free throw line that made the difference in the second half. Primero did not go to the line once in the second half as Raton dropped in seven of 10 attempts with Jonathan Cabrieles making one in the final second to make it a 2-point game. It was Vince Damelio that kept Primero in the game during the second half as he put in 17 points.
In the final seconds Primero took the lead but it was one of those 11 turnovers that allowed Justin Segura to make it a 49-48 game with the lay-up. As Primero gets the ball back down court another scramble for the ball puts it out of bounds and makes it a Raton ball. After a couple of strategy time outs it was a long in bound pass down court to Jonathan Cabrieles that Vince Damelio attempted to get a hold of that puts Cabrieles on the floor and at the free throw line. Cabrieles hits one of the double bonus shots and makes it a 50-48 game and the win as the buzzer sounds on the Primero in bound pass.
Primero 8 12 12 18 48
Raton 11 9 9 21 50
Primero High Point
Vince Damelio 21 2 of 7 free throws
Free Throws 6 of 15 attempts
Raton High Point
Jonathan Cabrieles 16 4 of 5 free throws
Jesse Espinoza 11 3 of 3 free throws
Austin Jones 9 3 of 5 free throws
Jason Parker 3 3-pointers in the fourth quarter
Free Throws 10 of 13 attempts
