The Maxwell Bears boys basketball team battled back from a third quarter deficit, but lost a 47 -37 semi-final decision to Ft. Sumner and were denied a 3rd straight berth in the Class A NM State Basketball Championship.
Played on Thursday, March 14 at the Santa Ana Star Center, the Bears started hot with a 9 -0 run to begin the game as junior Wesley Jeffery nailed two early three pointers. The Foxes though countered with threes by Jude Segura and Cory Terrel and Maxwell lead by three going into the second period.
Maxwell’s offense went dark in the second period, mustering only four points, all from sophomore Kaden Riggs and the Foxes had several second chance put backs along with six points from senior Noah Maxwell and Ft. Sumner lead the Bears by only five at half-time.
The second half started slowly for the Bears and at one point they were down by 17. But, with a little over 2 minutes left in the third, Jeffery hit another three and the momentum shifted back to the Bears. They cut the Fox lead to three at one point in the fourth quarter, but Ft. Sumner hit 4 of 5 free throws and Noah Maxwell continued his hot hand for the 10 point win.
The Maxwell Bears finished the season at 22-5 and won both the District 5A regular season and Tournament Championships. They will lose only one senior, but Jeremy Archuleta has been an important part of the recent success as the point guard will graduate after helping the Bears win the 2017 State Tournament as a sophomore with a 65- 53 win over Springer.
Maxwell 13 4 10 10
Ft. Sumner 10 12 13 12
Maxwell Kaden Riggs 13
Kolton Riggs 11
Wes Jeffery 9
Jeremy Archuleta 2
Caden Floyd 2
can you post a box score of the maxwell/ft sumner game?