By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The JV Lady Tigers and JV Tigers had a tough go as the Lions from Santa Rosa dominated the court Thursday evening, January 28th as Raton began district play this week.
The boys played their game at the Russell Marcy Academy while the girls were in Tiger Gym. The boys kept it close for a quarter before the Lions turned up the heat and in the third quarter ran off with the game scoring 26 points in the quarter.
The girls also struggled as turnovers and missed opportunities turned into points for the Lady Lions. The second half of the game Raton was held to only eight points while Santa Rosa knocked in 24 for the win.
JV Girls
Santa Rosa 17 15 11 13 58
Raton 12 9 3 5 29
JV Boys
Santa Rosa 14 12 26 15 67
Raton 7 7 9 13 36
During the girl’s varsity game the Lady Lions played a tight defense that held Raton to single digits scoring in the first half of the game. When Raton managed to get the ball down the court, turnovers or missed shots resulted in the Lady Lions taking it back down court for points. The second quarter was the toughest for Raton as they were held to only four points while Santa Rose dropped in 20.
The Lady Tigers did better at the line posting a 9 of 16 shots while Santa Rosa could only muster 7 of 19 attempts on the night. The Lady Lions held Raton scoring to a minimum as none of the girls managed to score more than seven points in the game. The second half of play was a closer scoring game as Raton stepped up the defense and held Santa Rosa to only 10 points in the third and 14 in the fourth. Despite the much better play in the second half the second quarter deficit was to much to overcome for Raton and when the final buzzer sounded it was a win for the Lady Lions.
Varsity
Santa Rosa 13 20 10 14 57
Raton 8 4 11 10 33
Santa Rosa High Point
Sharmaine Benally 19 3 of 5 free throws
Free Throws 7 of 19 attempots
Raton High Point
Andie Ortega 7
Free Throws 9 of 16 attempts
The Raton varsity boys started the game out better than any of the other teams, but it wasn’t long into the first quarter before Santa Rosa put on the press and started to pull away. By the end of the first quarter the Lions had taken a 15 point lead. The Santa Rosa press forced Raton to turnover the ball often and when Raton did get down the court the Lions out rebounded the Tigers missed shots. By the end of the first half it was a 52-24 game.
Second half action for Raton was a turnaround game as they came out and started finding the basket and working the ball inside. Raton broke the lion press and managed to put in 18 points with nine of those coming from Jason Parker who popped in three 3-pointers before the Santa Rosa defense could figure out a way to slow him down.
The Tigers continued their scoring ways into the fourth and the defense began to work as they outscored the Lions 13 to 7. But once again that first half was more than the Tigers could come back from with the final buzzer sounding a 74-55 win for the Lions.
Santa Rosa 25 27 15 7 74
Raton 10 14 18 13 55
Santa Rosa High Point
Christian Chavez 23 5 3-pointers
Javante Chavez 20 4 of 4 free throws
Free Throws 10 of 14 attempts
Raton High Point
Jonathan Cabrieles 18 1 of 6 free throws
Jason Parker 13 3 3-pointers
Jesse Espinoza 12 1 of 5 free throws
Free throws 4 of 17 attempts
What incredible photographic talent, Marty Mayfield.