By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Tiger Gym came alive with Tigerfest activities Saturday afternoon beginning with Mum presentations before the JV boys took to the floor for fast paced close game to get things started.
Springer took the lead in the JV game as Raton stumbled with bad passes and lots of fouls sending Springer to the line 25 times, fortunately for Raton Springer only made eight of those shots. Springer led 40-24 at halftime.
Third quarter action saw Raton come out and play the brand of basketball that they are very capable of playing and turned the game around as they outscored Springer 22-16. They followed that up in the fourth quarter with tough defense holding Springer to only 10 points while Raton stuffed in 26 for a 72-66 win.
The Lady Tigers took to the floor and it looked like they were going to run away with the game as they outscored Springer 20-7 in the first quarter as Baylor Walton dropped 11 of those points in the basket. Springer however found the groove on defense and shut Raton down in the second quarter holding them to only six and putting in seven of their own.
Second half action saw a continuation with both teams struggling to get the ball inside and in the hoop past tough defenses. AS the game drew to a close the first quarter lead that Raton had put on the board was enough to for the win at 44-26.
The Raton varsity boys put the first points on the board but had to battle the tough defense of Springer. The Raton defense also had to try and keep them from scoring as Springer hustled past Raton on the fast break several times during the game. Raton however answered often and kept the score close. Raton managed to take the lead going into halftime at 25-24.
It was a tough physical game and it stayed close throughout most of the game with Springer making an eight point lead at one time only to see it dwindle down. As the game neared the final buzzer Raton had pulled to within two with 1:15 to go in the fourth quarter. A couple of tough breaks and free throws ended the game for Raton and gave Springer another mark in the win column with a 49-44 score.
JV Boys game
Springer 22 18 16 10 66
Raton 12 12 22 26 72
Girls Varsity Game
Springer 7 7 12 0 26
Raton 20 6 9 9 44
Springer High Point
Adrianna Cruz 7 3 of 7 free throws
Free throws 9 of 25 attempts
Raton High Point
Baylor Walton 15 2 of 4 free throws
Kerrigan Weese 8
Free throws 7 of 10 attempts
Boys Varsity Game
Springer 14 10 15 10 49
Raton 9 16 8 11 44
Springer High Point
Owen Burton 10 2 of 4 free throws
Jose Urquijo 11 3 of 4 free throws 2x 3-pointers
Gabriel Garcia 10 3 of 5 free throws
Free throws 12 of 21 attempts
Raton High Point
Ismael Tafoya 11 2 of 2 free throws
Matthew Quartieri 12 1 of 2 free throws
Free throws 4 of 8 attempts
