Serving Eastern New Mexico and West Texas
Clovis High’s Tori Northcutt releases the ball over Aztec’s Rayla Doty during the first half of Friday’s game in the State Farm Classic at Rock Staubus Gymnasium(CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Jesse Wolfersberger: CNJ staff writer For the second-straight outing, the Clovis Lady Wildcats played a near-perfect first half. The Lady Cats jumped ahead […]
Freedom Newspapers LOVINGTON — Morgan Hill had 15 points to lead three Lady Rams in double figures, and Portales jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 71-42 victory over Lovington in Friday night’s District 4-3A opener. Portales (13-6) played an inside-outside game, with Hill scoring on the interior and her […]
Clovis Christian’s Sam Barnett is fouled by House’s Sara Lee as she drives to the basket during the first half of Thursday’s District 4-1A girls matchup at CCS. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Dave Wagner: CNJ sports writer Clovis Christian’s basketball teams got on the board in District 4-1A in a big way Thursday […]
CNJ staff ALAMOGORDO — Fatigue turned out to be no factor for Clovis High’s girls on Saturday night. Coming off a rugged 33-31 win at Amarillo High on Friday night, the Lady Wildcats made the four-hour bus ride to south-central New Mexico on Saturday and hammered Alamogordo 72-39, improving to 15-2 for the season. Senior […]
Mikal Monette spins toward the basket for a shot during Thursday’s Lone Star Conference crossover game against East Central. (Freedom Newspapers: Kevin Wilson) By Dave Wagner: CNJ sports writer PORTALES — Whatever had been ailing the Eastern New Mexico University men’s basketball team during a five-game losing streak certainly wasn’t in evidence Thursday night. Clicking […]
Game of the night — The Texico Lady Wolverines survived a cold-shooting night and came away with a 30-27 win over the equally shot-impaired Fort Sumner Vixens. Texico (12-3) shot 10-of-51 (20 percent) from the floor, including a two-point second quarter without a field goal. “It was just a situation where they were just trying […]
By Dave Wagner: CNJ sports writer As easy as their first-round game turned out to be, the Portales Lady Rams know the rest of Plateau Holiday Classic will be more challenging. Portales spotted El Paso Ysleta leads of 5-0 and 8-6, then controlled the rest of the contest in cruising to a 56-16 win in […]
Clovis’ Tori Quintana drives past Moriarty’s Brandi Valencia during the first half of their game earlier this month at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. (CNJ file photo) By Dave Wagner: CNJ sports writer The Clovis Lady Wildcats, only a desperation heave from being unbeaten, figure to become even more formidable heading into this week’s third annual Plateau […]
Freedom Newspapers TUCUMCARI — The Elida Lady Tigers overcame a slow start against Class 3A Raton at the Route 66 Tournament Friday to take a 45-28 win and advanced to today’s 6 p.m. championship game in the Route 66 Holiday Tournament against host Tucumcari. “We kind of fell off tonight,” coach Dan Howard said. “There […]
By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent SANTA ROSA — A pair of Class 1A schools went up a classification as Melrose and Fort Sumner voyaged to the Lady Lion girls basketball tournament in Santa Rosa on Thursday. For the Buffaloes, the trip was worthwhile. For the Vixens, not so much so. Melrose (1-5) won its first […]
CNJ STAFF LEVELLAND, Texas — After a 75-67 loss at Levelland, Clovis coach Jaden Isler was quick to put the result in perspective. “We played pretty well, but that is a tough team for us to play on the road,” Isler said. “They had 12 games already, they were more seasoned that we were, and […]
Eastern New Mexico University’s Erika Cook drives the baseline during the second half of Saturday’s game against St. Edward’s at Greyhound Arena in Portales. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Dave Wagner: CNJ sports writer PORTALES — With her team down 10 points, St. Edward’s women’s coach Jennifer White issued a challenge. Her team responded […]
By Kevin Wilson: Freedom Newspapers PORTALES — Whether it’s on the basketball court or in a conversation, Tiana Bryant knows exactly where Heather Brown is, and vice versa. With three players — Rochelle Vance, Elizabeth Richards and Riikka Lehtonen — suffering season-ending ACL injuries within a week of each other — the Brown/Bryant familiarity is […]
CNJ staff ARTESIA — It was a little rough around the edges, but it’s a win. Five days after the majority of their players were playing in the Class 5A state championship football game, the Clovis High Wildcats opened their season with a 58-48 win over Lovington on Thursday in the first round of the […]
By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent RIO RANCHO — Since Mayfield replaced Santa Fe in the field, the Mel Otero Invitational has been one of the toughest fields — save the postseason. But first-round games of eight-team tourneys, even difficult ones, can present some blowouts. Clovis delivered one such lopsided victory when the Wildcats demolished Del […]
Texico’s Andrew Schaap releases a shot over a Friona defender during the first half of their game Thursday in the Farwell Invitational Basketball Tournament in Farwell. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Jesse Wolfersberger: CNJ staff writer FARWELL — After three losses to start the season, the Melrose boys came out with a big first […]
By James Staley: Las Cruces Sun-News LAS CRUCES — Ah, the familiar sights of Mayfield football. During a recent practice Trojan coach Jim Bradley growled at his kicker as David Bustillos and Chris Hernandez perfected the chemistry that has made them arguably the deadliest quarterback-wide receiver duo in the state and helped boost Mayfield to […]
Clovis seniors Jonathan Sweet, left, and Jordan Moore talk during a break in practice Thursday at the high school. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Jesse Wolfersberger: CNJ staff writer Clovis High senior linebacker Jordan Moore was worried his year might be over when he dislocated his shoulder in the Wildcats’ season-opening loss at Mayfield. […]
By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent Just three years ago, Onate High in Las Cruces won a state football championship, beating Roswell Goddard in the finals … in Class 4A. This fall, increasing enrollment pushed the Knights into Class 5A, where they’ve already earned respect as one of the state’s elite in any classification. “They played […]
By Kevin Wilson: Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — Tested, but never bested. That’s how the Portales Lady Rams ended the Class 3A tournament this year, holding on Saturday for a 14-25, 25-18, 25-19, 21-25, 16-14 victory over third-seeded Pojoaque for the school’s sixth Class 3A volleyball title and fourth in six seasons. Megan Kabrick had a […]
