By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton basketball hosted Des Moines Saturday evening for the home and season opener at Tiger Gym.
It was a defensive slow start for the girls game as neither team could find the basket. Both teams took the ball up and down the court several times before the ball found its way through the hoop. By half time the scoreboard only showed Raton up by one at 11-10.
The second half of the game continued the slow scoring pace until the fourth quarter when Des Moines down by four found the basket for 16 points and the win. Des Moines new coach Amanda Boggs has her work cut out for her as she noted the team is young with only two seniors on the team in Kree Gates and Rayelle Rivale.
Raton hits the court without a senior on the team and sports mostly juniors and sophomores all of which played basketball last year. The problem coach Victor Esparza will have to deal with is getting the ball in the basket while Raton lead for most of the low scoring game they struggled at getting the shots to fall especially in the fourth quarter where Des Moines out scored them 16-7.
Des Moines 9 1 6 16 32
Raton 6 5 9 7 27
DM High Point
Rayelle Rivalle 10 6 of 10 free throws
MaKenna Hittson 7 1 of 7 free throws
Free Throws 8 of 21 attempts
Raton High Point
Estrella Vargas 8 2 of 2 free throws
Natasha Ortega 8
Free Throws 2 of 4 attempts
The boys took to the court for the second game of the night and in no way was it anything like the girl’s game as Raton started the scoring and didn’t look back. Des Moines coach Jared Archuleta is also looking at a very young squad with a couple of eighth graders on the seven man team.
Raton coach Jose Archuleta, also new to the head coach job has brought with him control and discipline to a team that returns many players from last year. Earlier Jose was pleased that the boys that turned out are there to play ball and Raton showed that as they easily outscored Des Moines in the first half.
The second half started with a running clock as Raton was well ahead of the 35 point spread required to keep the clock running. Jose played his bench extensively in the second half to get them playing time. Raton also brings some height to the court as half the team is close to or over the six foot mark.
Up and coming for both the girls and boys is the TSJC tourney and the Cowbell tourney where both teams will get tested as both tourneys are known for tough play.
Des Moines 8 6 1 1 16
Raton 28 27 6 11 72
DM High Point
Hayden Briesh 6
Free Throws 2 of 6 attempts
Raton High Point
Jesse Espinoza 10
Jonathan Cabrieles 14 2 of 3 free throws
Dustin Segura 11 3 3-pointers
Tyler Hightower 9
Free Throws 4 of 7 attempts
