By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
West Las Vegas traveled up the interstate for a weather delayed games with Raton and took home three very hard fought wins as Raton led and lost the lead late in the games Wednesday February 12, 2020.
Raton’s C-team defense held on and kept West from scoring until late in the first quarter but the Dons managed to hold Raton to only two in the first. Raton kept the game close often to within six points before West tapped the basket late in the fourth for the win.
The Jv Game was another close one with Raton taking the early lead. The Dons worked the ball and tied the game at 18 late in the second quarter. They ended the half with an eight point lead that they managed to hold on to and finish out the game by eleven.
It was a barn burner of a game for the varsity as Raton took the early lead playing a patient game working the ball around and leading 6-3 at 2:26 in the first. Then West exploded and sunk eight points to end the quarter up by six. Raton battled back and halfway through the second quarter tied the game at 14. The Don’s defense however prevailed and shut Raton out with only two more points to their 12.
Second half action continued with a fast paced defensive struggle that saw a four point game at the end of the third quarter. Two minutes into the fourth it was tied at 34 and Raton took a short lived lead that then saw West play a ball control game to run down the clock. With a tie at 36 West would again force the turnovers and get the shots to take the lead and the win as the final buzzer ended the game with a 43-36 score.
C-Team
WLV 10 4 20 13 47
Raton 2 6 18 13 39
JV
WLV 13 15 13 16 58
Raton 16 4 13 15 48
Varsity
WLV 12 14 8 9 43
Raton 6 10 14 6 36
West High Point
John Balizan 14 5 of 6 free throws
DJ Byron 10 1 of 2 free throws
Free Throws 14 of 19 attempts
Turnovers 7
Raton High Point
Ben Kamp 11
Matt Quartieri 9
Free throws 1 of 4 attempts
Turnovers 15
