The Mora Rangerettes slipped by the McCurdy Lady Bobcats with 17 seconds left to play in the Northern Rio Grande Tournament championship game Dec. 13 at McCurdy.
Mora’s Melanie Romo scored two points under the basket with only seconds left on the clock to put Mora up by one, 30-29. The Bobcats had a chance to score but came up short after leading most of the game.
“This was a chess match between two good teams,” Mora coach Mark Cassidy said. “I knew it was going to be a good game after watching McCurdy play against Mesa Vista. We played McCurdy nine days ago and beat them, but they have come a long way. Once they learn Coach Abeyta’s style of play, I expect to see them in the state tournament.”
The Rangerettes scored the first bucket of the contest, but thereafter trailed the majority of game. The defense on both teams kept scoring to a minimum, which in return caused turnovers and missed shots by both teams. Mora had 17 turnovers and missed 32 shots, while McCurdy had 15 turnovers and missed 27 shots.
At the end of the first quarter, the Bobcats were up 10-4. The Bobcats’ zone defense kept the Rangerettes from going inside to Romo, forcing Mora to shoot from the outside. The missed shots resulted in only four points for Mora in the first quarter.
At the end of the second quarter, the Bobcats were up 17-11. Mora’s tight zone defense kept the ball from reaching Bobcat center Brenda Avila most of the game, but Avila did manage to score four points under the basket accompanied by Kim Trujillo’s three-pointer, which ended the first half.
“We weren’t even suppose to be in the championship game,” McCurdy coach Johnny Abeyta said before the game. “We were seeded fifth (Mora was third) in the tournament. We are improving with each game and I am expecting us to peak at the right time.” Both teams came out after halftime with energy to burn. Set plays by McCurdy were designed to go inside to Avila, but the tight defense of Mora allowed only two points in the third quarter. McCurdy also put the pressure on and allowed Mora only five points. At the end of the third quarter, McCurdy was up 19-16.
To start the final quarter, Avila scored two points under the basket. Jessica Garcia answered for Mora by scoring on a drive and then making a free throw after being fouled. With 5:44 left, the score was tied 21-21.
McCurdy’s Alexandria Martinez went to the foul line twice and Avila scored two buckets underneath to put the Bobcats up 27-21 with 3:41 left to play. Mora kept setting up plays to go inside which eventually caused Avila to foul out with 2:57 left.
“The turning point was when Brenda Avila fouled out,” Cassidy said. “We were able to make plays under the basket after she fouled out.”
Mora pushed the ball to Romo who scored two points followed by an outside three-point shot by Amanda Padilla to get the Rangerettes within one point of the Bobcats with 1:05 left to play.
The tensions ran high and both teams were calling time outs in the final minute. The Bobcats’ set play ended up with a missed shot from the top of the free-throw line. Mora rebounded, called a set play, and pushed the ball around the top of the key looking to go inside. With roaring fans screaming and yelling, the Rangerettes got the ball to Romo who scored two points putting them ahead with 16 seconds left in the game. With four seconds left, the Bobcats forced up the final shot, which came up short.
“We are still learning how to win,” said Coach Abeyta.