Maxwell Earns Another Title Shot, Des Moines Makes Elida Earn Theirs

By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media –

It was another big day for Northeastern New Mexico’s Class A basketball teams on Thursday, March 8th as the three remaining teams competed for a spot at the state title.

Thursday afternoon, it was the number four seed Lady Demons turn as they took on the number one seed and seven time state champion Elida Lady Tigers. The Lady Demons played exceptional defense the entire game, but couldn’t finish on several scoring opportunities giving Elida the hard-earned win. Des Moines held on strong in the first quarter as they ended to quarter only down by one 9-10. But the second quarter saw the girls bend under the full court press, commit several turnovers and Elida out-scored them 13-4 to go into the locker room up 23-13.

The Lady Demons however, were not done, as the pace of the game slowed down and their defense held the Lady Tigers to only four points in the third quarter with strong play under the net, and strong defense by Angie Lopez who blocked six shots total in the game and Taya Archuleta’s hustle. Elida began to play the clock and forced Des Moines to come get the ball. At the end of the third Elida was up eight.

By the middle of the fourth quarter Des Moines kept chipping away and cut a 10 point lead to within six. Fouling to get the ball back, Elida was able to put the free throws in and when the buzzer sounded it was Elida by nine 39-30 and the Lady Tigers were on their way to another title game on Friday.

The boys semifinal Thursday evening saw a rematch of last year’s state title game with Maxwell and Springer going head to head for the fifth time this season. The first quarter was a barn burner as would be expected of these two teams as the difference was a three-ball with Maxwell leading 14-11 after one.

Maxwell began to pull away in the second period, but Springer was still within striking distance, at halftime it was Maxwell leading 31-21.

The third quarter was the difference in the game as Kolton Riggs scored 14 and guard Jeremy Archuleta began raining down threes from the outside, notching three during the period, and Maxwell dumped in 26 points to Springer’s nine.

Both teams began to play the bench and but when the buzzer sounded on the game it was a 72-40 final score to send Maxwell on to its second consecutive title game on Saturday, March 10 in the pit.

Kolton Riggs with brother Kaden, dominated the boards, and as a team Maxwell out-rebounded Springer 50 to 24. Sophomore Kolton Riggs proved to be a complete player dominating the scoring putting down 32 points and grabbing 20 rebounds and adding three blocks and two steals.

Des Moines 9 4 6 11 30

Elida 10 13 4 12 39

Des Moines High Point

Grace Hall 15 2 of 2 free throws

Makenna Hittson 7

Angie Lopez 3

Natashia McDonald 3

Nataya Archuleta 2

Free throws 9 of 12 attempts

Elida High Point

Lacy Ferguson 10 4 of 5 free throws

Kasyn Creighton 10 4 of 7 free throws