4th-Quarter Leads Disappear on Rams

Rio Rancho High School’s boys basketball team has lost three of its last four games.

The Rams were beaten 55-52 last Saturday at home to Mayfield, and then dropped a 66-60 decision at La Cueva on Tuesday night.

In both games, Rio Rancho had a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter.

“It’s a learning process we’ve had to go through the last two years,” Ram coach Wally Salata said. “We haven’t been in many close games. But we have to learn how to finish.”

Against the Trojans, the Rams got down 12 at halftime, but used a big third quarter to take the lead. At the end, Rio Rancho had the ball with a chance to tie, but Mayfield’s defense held.

On Tuesday night, the Bears shot 33 free throws to six for Rio Rancho, and that was the difference. La Cueva outscored the Rams from the stripe 24-5.

Josh Lucero led Rio Rancho in scoring in both games. He had 17 against Mayfield, 18 versus La Cueva.

The Rams play host to No. 3-ranked Eldorado tonight.

♦ Cleveland, which lost 72-50 at sixth-ranked Clovis last Saturday, is back on the floor tonight at No. 7 Sandia.

♦ Bernalillo’s boys opened District 2-4A play Wednesday night by rallying for a 51-48 win over visiting Los Alamos.

Brandon Saiz had a team-best 20 points for the Spartans, who are 13-6 overall. Bernalillo is at Capital on Tuesday night.

GIRLS: Rio Rancho continues to run hot. After a 1-10 start, the Rams have won five in a row.

On Tuesday night, Rio Rancho beat Valley 50-36. Last Saturday, the Rams went on the road and pounded Gadsden 52-32.

Junior guard Ally Salata had a big game in Anthony against the Panthers, with 26 points, including five 3-pointers. She led the Rams with 13 points against the Vikings.

“We’ve been getting a lot of really good guard play,” Ram coach Pat Puentes said. “And I just think the kids have gained a little confidence in themselves. Everybody is on the same page, so to speak.”

Rio Rancho is in Clovis on Friday and Saturday for a small, round-robin event. The Rams take on the third-ranked Wildcats at 7 p.m. Friday, and play Roswell (the No. 4 rated team in 4A) at 5 p.m. Saturday.

♦ Cleveland’s girls came off a 10-day break and were worked at home, 64-41 by visiting Sandia on Tuesday night.

The seventh-ranked Storm (9-7) was without senior post Sara Hattis for the first three quarters of that game, and she was missed as the sixth-ranked Matadors went inside effectively.

The Storm (9-7) visits 4A’s third-ranked Gallup tonight.