By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
NM State basketball playoffs are in full swing with three area teams headed on to the quarterfinals of play in Bernalillo on Wednesday, March 13 and for the boys and it will be the sixth time this season that Cimarron and Des Moines will meet after both teams won their first round games Saturday evening.
#3 Des Moines hosted #14 Elida winning the game 79-58. The game stayed close in the first quarter with Des Moines warming up from outside the three point line and then Calder Green extended that streak into the second quarter by hitting three 3-pointers while Noah Johnson added a 3-pointer in each quarter. Tiger Seth Jimenez gave the Demons fits under the basket with rebounds and shots adding 15 points to the Tiger total. As the half came to a close Des Moines bested Elida by 10.
Des Moines continued to spread out their lead in the third quarter spreading out the scoring among the whole team. The physical game continued into the fourth quarter with Des Moines losing Caleb Sumpter with five fouls while Elida lost Hardy Fraze to the foul monster. Des Moines also spent more time at the free throw line in the second half going to the charity stripe 21 times missing only three shots. Elida went to the line 11 times and sunk six. Overall Des Moines added 23 points to their total from the charity stripe showing how important those free throws can be.
Down in Cimarron, #6 Cimarron hosted #11 Pine Hill and marked the win column with a 69-43 victory. The Ram’s defense held Pine Hill at bay, and according to Coach Eloy Brazil, the height advantage that the 6’9″ Demetrius Jackson had was a bit intimidating for the Warriors. The Warriors only scored four points in the first quarter from the field and added four from the free throw line. The Rams dropped in four 3-pointers and did one of two free throws. The Warrior defense stepped up a bit in the second quarter holding the Rams to 11 while they scored 13. At half time the Rams had a 30-21 lead.
Cimarron once again put up a stiff defense and held the Warriors to single digits in the third. The fourth quarter saw Cimarron take off and drop 22 points to the Warriors 14. The Rams also proved how helpful the charity line can be by dropping in six of seven free throws.
In their five previous meetings this year, Des Moines has beaten Cimarron everytime this season, but the last two games were toss-ups with Des Moines winning by five and three points respectively.
They will play Wednesday morning March 13, 2024 at Bernalillo High School at 9:45 a.m. while the Roy/Mosquero Lady Blue will meet Corona/Vaughn at 8:00 a.m. at Bernalillo High School.
Also on Saturday, #16 Maxwell travelled down to #1 Magdalena where they ended their season with a strong effort, trailing by only a point at halftime and the Magdelena pulled away in the second half for a 58-38 win for the Steers. #12 Roy/Mosquero travelled to #5 Logan and ended their season with a 81-66 loss to the Longhorns.
Elida 14 15 14 15 58
Des Moines 17 22 20 20 79
Elida High Point
Seth Jimenez 28 4 of 7 free throws
Gage Hartman 8 0 for 1 free throws
Free throws 7 of 14 attempts
Des Moines High Point
Caleb Sumpter 14 4 of 7 free throws
Nash Trujillo 14 7 of 7 free throws
Calder Green 16 4 3-pointers
Noah Johnson 19 3 3-pointers 6 of 8 free throws
David Cisneros 10 2 of 4 free throws
Free throws 23 of 30 free throws
Pine Hill 8 13 8 14 43
Cimarron 19 11 17 22 69
Pine Hill High Point
Channing James 14 3 of 3 free throws
Free throws 10 of 17 attempts
Cimarron High Point
Urijah Martinez 15
Isaiah Salazar 19 4 of 4 free throws
Demetrius Jackson 20 4 of 7 free throws
Free Throws 8 of 15 attempts
Des Moines for the first round of state playoffs.
