Springer girls and boys take runner-up
by Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
DES MOINES — The Lady Demons squeaked one out over the Springer Lady Red Devils in Des Moines Saturday evening in a game that went down to the wire and a free throw. The Demons’ McKenna Hittson put in the winning points from the free throw line.
The girls knew it could go either way as Cimarron, Des Moines, and Springer went into the tourney in a three-way tie. The point spread put Springer in third, while Cimarron and Des Moines battled for the top spot on Monday evening with Des Moines coming out on top 64-31. The last time Des Moines and Springer met, Springer won the game 42-40, while at their first district meeting, it was Des Moines winning it 64-46.
The game was a tight one all the way through, with lead changes and the score never getting more than four points apart. It came down to who made the mistake or caused the turnovers. As the girls took to the locker room at halftime, Des Moines only led by two, 27-25. At the end of the third quarter, it was 36-33. Hittson had the hot hand for Des Moines in the first half going four of five at the free throw line, but went cold in the third missing five out of six free throws and keeping the score close.
As the fourth quarter got underway, Des Moines managed to break away and extend the point spread to eight, and then 10. The Lady Red Devils, however, battled back with six quick points. Then, as the clock wound down, the score was tied on the free throw by Alicia Arias. Arias missed the second shot to take the lead with six seconds on the clock. As Hittson flew down the court with the ball, she was fouled. Cold in the third, she made up for it in the fourth going five of six before stepping to the line to put in the winning two shots. As the buzzer sounded, it was Des Moines 54-52, over Springer.
Springer’s high point players were Alicia Arias at 6 with two of four free throws, Katy Scott with 14 and four of six free throws, and Hannah Burton with 11 and six of nine free throws. As a team, Springer made 12 of 19 free throw attempts.
Des Moines’ high point scorers were Hittson with 31 and 12 of 21 free throws, and Natashia McDonald with eight and two three-pointers. As a team, Des Moines made 12 of 22 free throw attempts.
Springer 13 12 8 19 52
Des Moines 17 10 9 18 54
Maxwell boys win big
In New Mexico Boys District 5A basketball, Maxwell dominated the district, going undefeated throughout district play. As the district championship game got underway in Maxwell, the Springer Red Devils struck first but the Bears tied the game at five and took off from there, outscoring Springer 18-13 in the first quarter.
Maxwell’s Kolton and Kaden Riggs, both boys well over six feet tall, were hard to shoot over and thus redirected many shots to the outside where Springer fell flat. As the second quarter got underway, Coach Eloy Brazil made adjustments to his game plan and sent Kolton Riggs down the lane for the short jumper where he knocked down 12 points and helped with the 22-9 point spread.
Springer finally put things together in the fourth, outscoring Maxwell 19-14 with help from Owen Burton who sunk three 3-pointers. It was to little, to late, as Maxwell marked the win column and the championship 71-51.
Springer’s high point scorers were Burton with 15 and five 3-pointers, Gabriel Garcia with 14 and three of three free throws, and Bryon Romero with nine. He failed on his one free throw attempt. As a team, Springer made seven of eight free throw attempts.
Maxwell’s high point scorers were Kolton Riggs at 22, and zero for two on free throws, Carl Gonzales with 20 and zero for two free throw attempts, and Jeremy Archuleta with 14 and zero for two on free throws. As a team, Maxwell made six of 10 free throw attempts.
Springer 13 9 10 19 51
Maxwell 18 22 17 14 71
