The 81st Annual Cowbell Tourney got underway in Sim Brown Gym Tuesday afternoon with the girls taking to the court first as Clayton played the Maxwell Lady Bears who return a girls team to the tourney after several years without a girl’s team.
Missing this year at the long standing tourney was the Des Moines Lady Demons and Demons who ironically won the first cowbell back in 1937. The Lady Bears come in with a very young team made up mostly of 8th graders while the Maxwell Bears return three of their starters from last years championship team. Also returning to the tourney after an absence of several years was the Clayton Yellowjackettes and Yellowjackets who also brought their JV teams to fill the brackets left open by Des Moines.
The Maxwell and Springer boys met in what was called the rematch game of the tourney as both teams traded wins last year all the way down to the state championship where Maxwell finally took the title win. This game was no disappointment for basketball fans as the lead changed a couple of times and the game came down to the final seconds when Springer came from behind by 10 and drew to within one in the final seconds of the game. Springer’s Gabe Garcia missed a couple of free throws that could have won the game for Springer and right after that attempt Maxwell’s Daniel Garcia missed free throws that could have put the game into a three point deficit to force Springer into a three point try to tie the game and send it into overtime. Gabe Garcia put the ball in the air as the buzzer sounded to end the game from the far end of the court and the ball hit the rim, had it been a few inches to the left it would have been the shot of the tourney.
The girl’s championship game brought together the Clayton Yellowjackettes and the Raton Lady Tigers for what turned out to be a very lopsided game as the the Lady Tigers lead early then something happened and Clayton simply dominated the remainder of the game playing strong on the boards and forcing the turnovers that resulted in points.
The boy’s championship game produced another great game for three quarters until both teams lost players to fouls and Maxwell began to take control as they adjusted to the Clayton offense. It was also a game of the big boys as both teams had two players well over six foot that battled under the basket for not only shots but rebounds. In the final quarter Maxwell showed what they still had from last year’s state championship team as they took control and pulled away to a 21 point lead and win.
Both 3rd place games also brought out the best as the Lady Wildcats battled with the Lady Rams and Springer battled Cimarron. The girls traded leads several times during the game and kept it close the entire four quarters. Questa however managed to get a couple of turnovers and made the shots they needed to pull out in front of Cimarron and hold on till the final buzzer sounded on the game. The boys game was another tight race to the end as Cimarron and Springer both lead during the game. It was the final quarter where Springer outscored Cimarron to take the win.
Maxwell’s big weapon on the court is Kolten Riggs, a 6 foot plus sophomore, who easily out jumps Ethan Lawerence on the on the opening jump ball to give Maxwell the first chance at a score.
Ethan Lawerence takes on Gabriel Pena during the second game of the 81st Annual Cowbell in Springer Tuesday evening.
Kolton Riggs goes up for the lay-up unopposed Tuesday evening during game two of the 2017 Cowbell Tourney.
Gabe Garcia gets a knee on the inbound pass to create a do over as the ball goes out of bounds early in game four of the 2017 Cowbell Tuesday evening in Sim Brown Gym in Springer.
Covered up by a host of Questa Wildcats Springer’s Gabe Garcia holds on long enough to go up for the shot and 2-points during game four of the 2017 Cowbell Tourney.
Brian Romero goes up for the shot followed by a couple of Questa Wildcats at the 2107 Cowbell in Springer Tuesday night.
Isiah Valdez goes up for the shot as Kobie Montoya attempts the block during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney in Springer Wednesday evening.
Kobie Montoya goes up with the ball as Nathan Eggart attempts a block during the 2017 Cowbell in Sim Brown Gym.
Nathan Eggart gets the head bump as he goes up for the shot during the 2017 Cowbell in Springer Wednesday evening.
Isiah Valdez goes in for the layup During the 2017 Cowbell in Springer Wednesday night.
Dyanne Montoya gets a hand on the ball as Camryn Mileta comes down the court and prepares to make a pass during the 2017 Cowbell in Springer Wednesday evening.
whoops there goes the ball as Raton’s Kerrigan Weese and Clayton’s Cassie Gonzalez(11) Maranda Arguello battle for the ball during the 81st Annual Cowbell Tourney in Springer Wednesday evening.
Jadyn Walton and Callie Bates(35) battle for the ball during the 81st Annual Cowbell in Springer Wednesday evening.
Autumn Archuleta and Tania Sheard take to the floor to gain possession of the ball during the 2017 Cowbell game in Springer Wednesday evening.
Another whoops there goes the ball as Naveah Ortiz and Callie Bates wrangle for the ball during the 2017 Cowbell.
Teyah Rodriguez(4) and Natausha Ortega tie up the ball during the 2017 Cowbell in Springer Wednesday evening.
Halle Medina and Samantha Ogata wrangle for the ball as Olivia Perryman looks on Friday night in Tiger Gym during the 81st Annual Cowbell Tourney.
Halle Medina and Samantha Ogata wrangle for the ball as Olivia Perryman and Zoe Salazar look on Friday night in Tiger Gym during the 81st Annual Cowbell Tourney.
Zoe Salazar reaches up for the block as Kerrigan Weese takes the shot Friday night during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney in Raton.
Its a struggle to control the ball between Jadyn Walton and Samantha Ogata Friday night in Tiger Gym during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney
Samantha Ogata draws the foul as Kerrigan Weese goes up for the shot Friday night during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney.
Bryan Romero goes in for the shot as Jeremy Archuleta sets to take the foul in what was called the State Championship rematch between Maxwell and Springer during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney.
2 of 2 Bryan Romero goes in for the shot as Jeremy Archuleta sets to take the foul in what was called the State Championship rematch between Maxwell and Springer during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney.
On the rebound, Kolten Riggs gets a hand on the ball as Bryan Romero works to maintain control during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney in Raton Friday night.
Jeremy Archuleta tries threading the needle between Gabe Garcia and Chase Casias Friday night in Tiger Gym during the 81st Annual Cowbell Tourney.
Chase Casias, Gabe Garcia and Jeremy Archuleta work for the rebound Friday night during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney.
Here, let me help you, as Bryan Romero gets an hand on the ball and helps Kolten Riggs out of bounds during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney in Raton Friday night.
Shiann Wiesdorfer(20) goes in between Callie Bates(35) and Dyanne Montoya(15) Saturday morning in Tiger Gym during the 2017 Cowbell
Dyanne Montoya and Shiann Weisdorfer battle it out for the ball during the 2017 Cowbell tourney in Raton Saturday morning.
Shiann Weisdorfer set the screen on Jaide Walker while Alexi Hoy drives around her to head to the basket during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney Saturday morning in Tiger Gym.
Its a battle of the fives as Clayton’s Dustin Poling goes up for the shot as Koen Overberger gets a hand on the ball at the 2017 Cowbell Tourney in Raton Saturday morning.
Geo Swagerty gets a hand on Matthew Libby as he tries to make a move with the ball Saturday morning during the consolation game at the 2017 Cowbell Tourney.
Its a scramble for the ball as Isiah Valdez and Geo Swagerty take tot he floor to gain possession of the ball during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney Saturday morning in Tiger Gym.
Riley Clavel drives between Odalis Tafoya and Shylow Saenz during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney in Tiger Gym Saturday morning.
1 of 2 Alicia Arias, with the ball, was going up for the shot but ends up surrounded by a whole host of Lady Blue, Baylee Horn, Kaylee Lewis and Hayley King as Shylow Saenz finds herself in the middle of things during the 2107 Cowbell Tourney.
2 of 2 Alicia Arias(30), with the ball, was going up for the shot but ends up surrounded by a whole host of Lady Blue, Kindel Smith(24) Baylee Horn(25), Kaylee Lewis(10) and Hayley King(35) as Shylow Saenz(23) finds herself in the middle of things during the 2107 Cowbell Tourney.
Aden Vanderwater takes the shot as Isaac Martinez works in for the block during the Consolation game of the 2107 Cowbell Saturday afternoon in Raton.
Richie Acevado looses the ball as Gabe Hernandez got a hand on the ball but it was Jonathan Rivera who made the pass during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney consolation game in Tiger Gym Saturday afternoon.
Enrique Vigil gets a hand on the ball as Darien Lewis goes up for the shot Saturday afternoon in Tiger Gym during the 81st Annual Cowbell Tourney.
Whoops there goes the ball as Angel Gonzales hits the floor surrounded by a host of Lady Wildcats Kiana Passino(21), Sasha Martinez(30), Anastasia Gonzales and Arianna Ortega with Analisa Maloney(25) going for the ball during the 81st Annual Cowbell Tourney
Larissa Passino and Olivia Perryman scramble for the ball as Zoe Salazar looks on during the 2017 Cowbell Tourney in Raton Saturday afternoon.
Larissa Passino and Olivia Perryman struggle to gain possession of the ball Saturday afternoon in the 3rd place game at the 2017 Cowbell in Raton.
Abby Lawerence and Hannah Johnson crowd Sydni Silva as she tries to grab the ball Saturday evening during the girl’s championship game of 2017 Cowbell Tourney in Raton.
Briana Fong, Abby Lawerence and Sydni Silva struggle for the rebound Saturday evening in the championship game of the 2017 Cowbell Tourney.
Jadyn Walton grabs for the ball as Hannah Johnson pulls it away during the girl’s championship game of the 2017 Cowbell Tourney, Camryn Mileta and Halle Medina are also there to help out.
2017 Cowbell Girl’s Consolation Winners Harding County Lady Blue 10-Kaylee Lewis 11-Kyra Maxwell 13-Amanda Rodriguez 14-Riley Clavel 24-Kindal Smith 25-Baylee Horn 35-Hayley King
