Mattie Dale had not practiced all week.
Dulce’s forward aggravated her right ankle in Dulce’s first-round win over Texico. She battled through a bit of a limp, which got worse when she again twisted it just before halftime.
But through the pain, Dale had a huge game.
“Falling on it didn’t really help,” she said. “But I think adrenaline did help me.”
Dale scored 19 points with eight rebounds, but it was not enough. The No. 7 seed Dulce Hawks (19-11) lost 55-45 to No. 2 Tatum (27-2) on Tuesday morning in the state quarterfinals at the Rio Rancho Events Center.
After the game, the seniors were overcome with emotion, and the team stayed in the locker room for over 30 minutes.
“All the emotions,” Dale said. “Grateful, happy, sad. Going through all the memories of the year. Just hitting us.”
“It’s not the outcome we wanted,” said senior Bailey Vigil.
Dulce turned the ball over 35 times, proving to be the difference in the game. Tatum grabbed 19 offensive rebounds against the normally strong rebounding Dulce team.
Also a factor was the officiating, which allowed a lot of contact to result in no-calls, even when Dulce often got deep into the post. Total, Tatum shot 23 free throws to Dulce’s 14 (and the Hawks had none in the first half).
“It was a little upsetting, and it did get to us,” Dale said. “We did speak to each other and say, just go up strong. Don’t expect a call every time. Go for the shot, don’t go for the foul.”
That also allowed starters on both teams to avoid foul trouble and play as much as they could. Tatum’s leading rebounder Avery Henard was on the bench for just 65 seconds of the game.
“Not getting the calls, that’s something that definitely can take a toll on you mentally,” said Dulce coach Alyssa Veneno.
Dulce shot 18-for-50 in the game (36 percent), and 1-for-12 from deep (8 percent). Tatum made 22 of their 61 shots (36 percent), and none of their five 3-point attempts. The Events Center, with its bright lights under the basket, is known for creating poor shooting games.
“It’s different with different kids, with the high ceiling,” said Tatum Coach Greg Slover.
Tatum scored first and led 6-2 early in the game. There was a delay in the first quarter when some of the padding on a backboard came loose, requiring a ladder and a duct tape fix.
Dulce struggled to get past Tatum’s strong and sound defense throughout the game. All of their early points came on fast breaks and second chances as they fell behind 10-6 after the first quarter, and 16-6 early into the second.
Dale led a big second-quarter run for Dulce to get them within three points, though they fell back behind by nine into halftime, down 26-17.
“For being a young team, I think we regained our composure better,” Slover said.
Dulce had 18 turnovers in the first half and 17 in the second half. For their part, they forced 25 turnovers, with three steals each by Bailey Vigil and Aliani Vigil.
The Lady Hawks had one plan to try to get past the press: going over the top. All week, they practiced long inbounds passes into the frontcourt to try to beat Tatum’s man defense. Often, it worked (though, again, the no-calls hurt what they could do on offense), though it also led to plenty of turnovers.
Dulce kept pace for much of the second half, but was unable to ever make a run as Tatum led wire to wire. Tatum led by 13 points in the fourth quarter.
“We just told them to play with their heart,” Veneno said. “It showed a lot in some of the bigger games that we’ve played this year. A lot of it just comes back to them playing for each other.”
The Hawks lose a talented six-member senior class, including all five starters. But some talent will look to step up to replace them, including freshman Mattison Vigil and eighth-grader Amari Castleberry.
“I’m excited for them,” Bailey Vigil said. “Just wishing them the best.”