By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
It was a tough evening for Raton basketball as the Pecos Panthers and Lady Panthers came to town and prove they are the team to beat as they took all four games from Raton with commanding point spreads.
it took only minutes for the Lady Panthers JV team to break away with a strong defense that stole the ball and prevented Raton from getting inside for the shots or the rebounds. By halftime the Lady Panthers JV team had a commanding lead at 33-14.
Second half action wasn’t any better as the Lady Tigers struggled to get the ball in the basket. Pecos continued to score with both second half quarters in double digits. Raton on the other hand couldn’t break into double digits and as the final buzzer sounded it was a Lady Panther win at 60-28
Pecos 22 11 17 10 60
Raton 6 8 8 6 28
The Raton JV boys didn’t do any better than the girls as Pecos put on the pressure and forced the turnovers. Pecos also took the ball to the basket for points something Raton was unable to make happen. Even the shots Raton could get to the basket seemed to fall away. By halftime Pecos’ six man team had posted a 44 to 11 lead.
In the second half Pecos continued to pour it however had to back off some as one of their six players got into foul trouble and another got hurt. With just over a minute left in the Pecos had only four players on the court but even that was hard for Raton to break Pecos hustled to the ball and double teamed Raton’s ball handlers.
Pecos 20 22 8 22 72
Raton 7 4 16 10 37
Raton Lady Tigers managed to keep the game close but still had some trouble handling the press the Lady Panthers put together. Turnovers continued to be a part of the game for Raton but the Lady Tigers managed to make a few of their own but fell short on capitalizing on those turnovers. Early in the second quarter Raton had pulled to within two but by the halftime buzzer it was a 10-point Lady Panther lead.
Second half action saw Raton out score Pecos by one but fell short by three in the fourth. Again the Lady Tigers battled back to within four but once again the Lady Panthers proved to much to handle giving their coach Ron Drake his 554 career coaching win. Miles Waters who coached the Clayton girls to eight straight state tiles ended his career with 526 wins.
Pecos 12 15 13 16 56
Raton 7 10 14 13 44
Pecos High Point
Cassie Muller 16 2 of 3 free throws
Brooke Gallegos 15
Megan Armijo 12 1 of 2 free throws
Free Throws 4 of 9 attempts
Raton High Point
Andie Ortega 13 2 of 3 free throws
Estrella Vargas 10 0 of 1 free throws
Free Throws 4 of 9 attempts
Raton varsity boys managed to make the first quarter a closer game than the JV but once Pecos put on the real pressure and speed it was all over for Raton as the turnovers and steals cost them points. Pecos took control late in the first quarter and continued that pace into the second holding Raton to only six points in the second quarter. It was a physical game as both teams took it to the basket and bumped elbows on the way in. The big difference came from Pecos’ outside shooting with four uncontested 3-pointers and several 2-point shot just inside the 3-point circle. At half Pecos lead 38-17.
Second half action continued to see the same fast paced game with the Raton boys showing signs of fading from the pace. Pecos continued to harass the Raton ball handlers by double and triple teaming and a full court press. The turnovers that resulted often found the ball in the Pecos basket as the Panthers pushed into the lane. As the game came to a close Pecos had a 69-37 mark in the win column.
Pecos 19 19 16 15 69
Raton 11 6 8 12 37
Pecos High Point
Mario Archuleta 23
Carlos Cordova 13 4 of 4 free throws
Free Throws 8 of 12 attempts
Raton High Point
Jesse Espinoza 18 4 of 6 free throws
free throws 7 of 10 attempts
