Staff Report
Chaves County Sports Report
Coyote Tara Shields (25) shoots for two while Bulldogs J.D. Madrid (15) and Jenna Elkins (12) get ready to rebound.
(CCSR photo by Steve Notz)
ARTESIA — It wasn’t a wide margin, and a lack of shooting from the line almost gave the game away, but the Roswell girls made it 2-for-2 in district Tuesday with a 42-37 victory over the Bulldogs in Artesia.
The Lady Coyotes didn’t close out the game well in the fourth quarter, coach Joe Carpenter said.
“Basically, the first half we tried to press them and get them up tempo a little bit,” he said. “And they were very patient, staying in the game. Then we had a decent third quarter.”
The teams were even at 13-all after one, then the Coyotes held the ’Dogs to three points in the second to go up 23-16 at the half.
That “decent third quarter” saw Roswell go up 37-27, but then things changed.
“The fourth quarter came and it got real physical and crazy and chaotic and we only made one free throw in the fourth quarter, and it just killed us,” Carpenter said. “It let them stay in the game.”
Overall, Roswell was a mere 7-of-22 from the line, while Artesia was 9-for-16.
Natalie Mendoza (22) looks for a way around Bulldog Jenna Elkins (12).
(CCSR photo by Steve Notz)
And while neither side put much in in the final stanza, Artesia outscored Roswell 10-5 to close the final margin to five.
That was as close as the Lady ’Dogs ever got, and the biggest Roswell lead was 12.
“So it was a good game all around,” Carpenter said. “Artesia did an outstanding job of game planning and preparing for it. But we were able to score early and the press generated some easy baskets for us, so I was pleased with the effort. The kids gave a lot of effort and that’s all you can ask.”
Shanice Steenholdt led all scorers with 16. Marika Trujillo had 11; Tara Shields and Desirae Allen five each; and Dianna Carillo three.
The game was the last regular-season matchup on the road for the Coyotes, which makes Carpenter happy.
“All of our road games are over with, so we’ve got two home games in district left, and one with Clovis at home, so we’re very happy to be at home from here on out,” he said.
That game against Clovis — a team that broke Roswell’s five-game win streak Feb. 6 — is set for Friday at 5:30 p.m.
“We’ve got our hands full with them guys,” Carpenter said. “It would be nice to get them back at home. We’ll be more comfortable at home, not traveling.”
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