Pecos overwhelms Mesa Vista 52-36 on rough day for Trojans; Panthers advance to championship vs. Tatum

RIO RANCHO It would have been impossible to draw up a more dismal scenario for the Mesa Vista girls to start Thursdays Class 2A state semifinal than the one that unfolded before their eyes.

Seeded No.

2 and playing regional rival Pecos before a bipartisan crowd at the Rio Rancho Events Center, the Trojans had everything that could go wrong actually go wrong in what became a 52-36 loss to end their season.

They had 18 possessions in the first quarter.

Seventeen of them produced zero offense; the lone exception coming on a 1-for-2 effort from the free throw line by Tana Lopez more than six minutes into the game.

There were 11 turnovers and six missed shots.

There was also a lower leg injury suffered by guard Aaliyah Boies that required a heavy helping of support tape around her left calf before returning in the second quarter.

It was probably one of the roughest [starts] Ive seen, said Mesa Vista coach Jesse Boies.

I dont know if we just came in too hyped up, maybe; it got into our heads too early.

The win sends No.

3 Pecos (26-6) into Fridays 2A championship against top-seeded Tatum (26-5).

Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

in The Pit.

Pecos guard Larycia Sena said she was feeling nervous before Thursdays game.

She admitted the nerves will be even more pronounced when she takes the floor for the championship.

I did it once when I was in eighth grade but I never played in the game, she said.

I think I might play in this one.

Its a safe bet she will.

Her 17 points led the Panthers.

She had five of her teams first nine points as Pecos opened the game on a tear.

Half a dozen Mesa Vista turnovers in the first six minutes were a big reason the Panthers were up 12-0 by the time the Trojans finally got onto the scoreboard.

Another factor was the box-and-1 defense they employed on Lopez.

Lopez managed a game-high 18 points and led a comeback that turned what had been a 13-point deficit into a single point early in the third quarter.

We started getting a little tired, which usually doesnt happen but Mesa Vistas so fast, said Pecos coach Lawrence Ragland.

We knew it would happen.

I told the team at our last practice that every team goes on runs.

They [Mesa Vista] is here for a reason and weve got to control ourselves, control our emotions and keep our composure.

Just like an NBA game where teams are known to make massive runs to get back into it before the energy subsides and the other team again pulls away, Mesa Vista did just that.

After the Trojans Aubrey Maestas missed the back end of a two-shot foul that would have tied it at 19 in the first minute of the second half, Pecos reverted to its first-quarter self.

The Panthers reeled off a 13-1 run that eliminated the suspense and set the stage for a one-sided second half.

The lead grew to 14 by the end of the third quarter and 20 in the waning moments of the fourth.

During a timeout with three minutes left, Boies said he looked into Lopezs eyes and knew the end was near.

Despite a short pep talk saying anything was possible, Lopez and the rest of the Trojans couldnt stop the Pecos train.

As the final buzzer sounded Boies, walked to mid-court, draped his right arm around Lopezs shoulders and shared a private moment as they walked back to the bench.

On the other side was the euphoric look on Natalia Stouts face.

Shed just poured in 13 points to go with 25 rebounds.

One of her last moments was a reverse fastbreak layup that had her smiling from ear to ear as she ran back down the floor.

Thats usually my shot, except I dont usually do a reverse, she said, pausing for a moment when told shed just pulled down a career-high number of rebounds.

Yeah, Ive never done that.

I wasnt keeping track, but, wow.

The teams combined for 56 turnovers and 68 missed shots.

...

Mesa Vista missed 11 of its 17 attempts from the free throw line and 11 of its 15 tries from 3-point range.

...

Boies said he approached Ragland after the game and told him the entire Mesa Vista program was rooting for the Panthers to bring the blue championship trophy back to the North.

Were all the North together and its all about supporting each other, Boies said..

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