For the Mountain Mail
SOCORRO -- After nine straight games on the road, the Socorro boys basketball team garnered its first victory at home in 2010. The Warriors defeated the fourth-ranked Robertson Cardinals 69-63 Tuesday night in the Warrior Dome. The win came on the heels of a 61-58 victory against the 10th ranked Portales Rams and a 66-50 loss to the Artesia Bulldogs last weekend in the Ram Shootout in Portales.
The Warriors will travel to Chapparal on Friday, Jan. 15 to take on the Lobos. Socorro will be back at home Saturday Jan. 16 and will host the Wingate Bears.
Coming off two big wins against two top 10 teams in the last week, the Warriors look as if they are starting to gel as a unit three weeks before opening up district play.
“I think we are starting to gel and we are starting to believe in one another,” Head Coach Lawrence Baca said. “We are starting to show that we are the team I know we can be.”
Against the Bulldogs (7-6), the Warriors trailed 30-26 at halftime.
“Even though we were down four at halftime we were still not playing very well,” said Baca. “We came out very lethargic. We just could not buy a shot and we got frustrated then they (Artesia) just pulled away.”
Artesia remained consistent throughout the second half, outscoring the Warriors by six points in both the third and fourth quarter to give the Bulldogs a 66-50 win.
Three-point machine Jared Marquez was held to just 2 of 7 from the three point line and was held to 8 points, well behind his 18.3 points per game.
Senior Erik Garcia led the Warriors with 10 points.
On Saturday against the Rams, the Warriors scored the game’s first 12 points and maintained the lead the entire game. The Warriors led 31-23 at halftime before Portales tried to make a run. Portales cut the lead to just three points with a minute left in the game. After some key Warrior free throws and a couple baskets by the Rams, Portales found themselves down three with the final possession and a chance to tie the game. The Rams failed to tie the game giving the Warriors a 61-58 win.
“Going into the game I knew it was going to be a tough game looking at their (Portales) schedule. We came out ready to play with a lot of energy. Jared, Zach, and Michael made some key free throws at the end that helped us get the win”
Marquez was 5 of 8 from three point land, scoring a game high 20 points. Garcia shot 60 percent from the floor and made 5 of 8 free throws for 17 points as well as seven assists. Michael Contreras only missed two attempts from the floor scoring 11 points.
On Tuesday night the Cardinals came to Socorro riding a 10 game winning streak and had only 1 loss all season. The Warriors refused to let Robertson leave town with their 11th straight victory.
The game was a back and fourth battle from the opening tip. There were 6 lead changes and five ties in the first half alone. Socorro held a 19-15 lead after the first quarter.
Socorro held the lead in the second quarter until the Cardinals made a 6-1 run the final two minutes of the half, taking the lead going into halftime 32-31.
“This is a game that can change our season. This could be the game that puts us on the right path. The most important part of this game is the first three minutes of the third quarter that would determine the game.
Junior Zach Esquivel scored 10 of the Warrior first 12 points in the second half helping them to their largest lead of the game at 43-36. Robertson came roaring back, regaining the lead at 51-50 before a technical foul was called on the Robertson coach. Two free throws by Marquez and a basket on the following possession by Andrew Contreras gave the Warriors a 54-51 lead after three quarters.
Socorro never relinquished the lead the remainder of the game. Robertson was able to cut the Warrior lead to 65-63 just under a minute to play, however, Socorro made four out of five free throws to secure a 69-63 win.
“Any time you give up points to a technical foul it hurts,” said Baca. “One of the biggest keys to the game was three guys stepping up and playing big. Once we are full strength we will be alright.”
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