Texico breezes into 2A semifinals

RIO RANCHO — Victoria Richards and the Texico Lady Wolverines don’t worry about the past. Pecos didn’t give them much to worry about, either.

Richards scored 17 points and Texico never trailed in an easy 57-8 victory over the eighth-seeded Lady Panthers in Tuesday’s Class 2A semifinal at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Texico (24-5) had a running clock early in the third period against the helpless Lady Panthers (12-11).

The win sets up an 11 a.m. Thursday semifinal against Penasco, also at the Star Center.

The scoring outburst was a good way for Richards to erase the memories of her last game at the Star Center, where she fouled out and was left to watch Texico’s three-peat bid come to an end against Lordsburg in last year’s state semifinals.

“My mom and dad were saying, ‘Don’t get in foul trouble,’” joked Richards, who went 3-of-3 on 3-pointers, pulled down five rebounds and committed just two fouls. “I said I wouldn’t, not at state.”

But Texico coach Keith Durham said the team doesn’t dwell on previous seasons.

“It’s in the past,” Durham said. “Our focus is making sure we’re as good as we can be, and I feel we can get better.”

Texico was more than good enough in Pecos’ mind.

“We didn’t scout them much,” Pecos coach Benny Gallegos said. “We just asked around the state and got a feeling of what kind of team they were.

“They came out and showed us what kind of team they were. After a while, we knew we were overmatched, but we kept our heads up.”

Texico’s defense held Pecos without a field goal in the second half and limited the Lady Panthers to seven percent field goal shooting (2-of-30).

“We put a lot of emphasis on ball pressure,” Richards said, “and as long as everyone does what they’re supposed to do, we should be fine.”

Nobody else reached double figures for Texico. Katlin Luscombe scored eight and Shannon Van Matre and Jaylyn Cooper each added seven for the Lady Wolverines.

Pecos, however, is now in the Texico history book, and Durham’s been clear on how he treats the past.

“I told them they’ve got until midnight to celebrate,” Durham said. “Then it’s on to Penasco.”