By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton basketball took the short trip down the “I” to take on Maxwell where the boys would battle it out for possession of the Cowbell Saturday afternoon January 7, 2023.
The ladies took the court for the first game of the afternoon and while both defenses did their job the offensive play yielded only single digit scores for both teams. At halftime Raton lead the game by only three points 11-8. Third quarter action was the turning point for the Lady Tigers as they came out and took control of the game dropping in 16. The fourth quarter was the turnaround for Maxwell but it was to little to late to mark the win column. Maxwell outscored Raton by seven in the fourth. Again free throws could have made this a different game as Maxwell only made eight of 20 attempts.
The boys took to the hardwood and set it on fire with a fast paced and aggressively played game as the Cowbell was at stake which Maxwell brought home from the Cowbell Tourney in December 2022. It was a back and forth game in the first quarter until the Maxwell defense broke the Raton scoring drive and took a three point lead. After a hard fought second quarter Maxwell lead the game by five going into halftime.
Third quarter action was another battle that Maxwell won by three extending their lead. Raton seemed to falter a bit in the fourth and started committing fouls that lead to Maxwell points. Raton only made seven trips to the charity line while Maxwell’s Tristen Pierce and Oren Floyd made four each adding eight points to the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. Another major factor in the game were shots from three point territory with Raton unable to drop a single three point shot with Maxwell dropping in seven for 21 points. At the final buzzer Maxwell clanged the bell with a 61-45 win.
Girl’s Game
Raton 6 5 16 7 34
Maxwell 1 7 5 14 27
Raton High Point
Giana Marez 13 3 of 9 free throws
Reyna Marquez 9 1 of 2 free throws
Free throws 6 of 16 attempts
Maxwell High Point
D’ Laney Petrini 11 5 of 6 free throws
Kiara Hoy 11 3 3-pointers
Free throws 8 of 20 attempts
Boy’s Game
Raton 12 12 12 9 45
Maxwell 15 14 15 17 61
Raton High Point
WD Hyer 11 1 of 2 free throws
Jacob Mattorano 8 0 of 1 free throws
Anderson Weese 8
Chase Walton 8
Free throws 3 of 7 attempts
Maxwell High Point
Tristen Pierce 23 9 of 11 free throws 4 3-pointers
Orren Floyd 14 5 of 6 free throws
Free throws 18 of 23 attempts
