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By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Dec. 6 -- The Pecos Eagles spent Thursday afternoon stealing
basketballs from Prowlers, and in the process, grabbing their first
victory of the 1996-97 season.
The Eagles' full court press was able to force Fort Stockton into
turnovers throughout their first round game at the West Texas Shootout
in Crane, and after a slow start, they began converting the turnovers
into points on the way to a 55-27 victory in the girls' division of the
tournament.
Pecos will take on the host Golden Cranes at 6 p.m. tonight in the
tournament semifinals. Crane defeated Fort Davis in their first round
game Thursday, 61-37.
"We missed a lot of lay-ups in the first quarter, but at least now
we're getting their on (stealing) passes," said Eagles' coach Patty
Hall. "We're getting more steals and being more aggressive."
Annette Marquez had five of her team-high 11 points in the second
period, when the Eagles opened up a 28-16 halftime lead. Pecos had led
early by an 8-1 score, but Fort Stockton was able to rally and cut that
margin to 10-7 by the end of the period, thanks to Pecos' missed scoring
chances.
But after Elisa Espino hit a jumper to cut the lead to 10 as the third
period opened, guard Marisol Arenivas hit three straight baskets, and
the Prowlers were held to only an Angela Granado free throw for the
remainder of the period.
"Fort Stockton wasn't as quick as they looked in the scrimmage (last
month)," Hall said. "I think he (Prowlers' coach Gabe Espino) said he
had some girls hurting."
The Prowlers had a hard time until the closing minutes of play getting
the ball through the Eagles' press, and in the middle periods rarely got
off more than one shot when they did get the ball downcourt.
"Our rebounding looked better tonight, and we came out in the third
quarter with a lot more intensity than we did in the third quarter
against Midland High," Hall said, referring to last week's 67-48 loss to
the Bulldogs.
The Eagles were able to control the boards despite foul problems for
junior posts Lori Marquez and Ivy Thorp. Both picked up their fourth
fouls in a 45 second span of the third period, but Jennifer Barrera
would score off a rebound lay-up moments after Thorp left the game, to
give the Eagles a 38-19 lead.
Missed free throws by the Prowlers kept them from cutting into the
lead, and in the final quarter, the Eagles would add to their margin,
going up by as much as 30 on two Annette Marquez foul shots with 1:14 to
play.
Granado was the only Prowler in double figures with 10, while Arenivas
also hit for 10 for the Eagles, as 10 of Pecos' 11 players got on the
scoreboard. After three losses to Class 5A teams, Thursday's win gives
Pecos a 1-3 season record while Fort Stockton's record fell to 3-3 going
into their game today against Fort Davis.
"I think they were a little more confident today. They feel like
they're finally playing somebody on their own level," said Hall, who
also got her first victory as the Eagles' varsity coach.
The winner of tonight's Pecos-Crane game will face either Seminole or
Monahans in Saturday's 6 p.m. title game. Seminole downed Greenwood,
53-41, while Monahans routed Kermit, 48-19, in Thursday's other
tournament openers.
PECOS (55)
Arenivas 5 0-0 10; Carrasco 0 2-2 2; Camarena 1 2-2 4; A. Marquez 3 5-8
11; Armstrong 3 0-0 6; Orona 0 0-0 0; L. Marquez 2 1-2 5; Bell 0 2-2 2;
Matta 2 1-3 5; Barrera 3 0-1 6; Thorp 2 0-0 4. Totals 21 13-20 55.
FORT STOCKTON (27)
Hughes 2 2-2 6; Sepulveda 1 0-0 2; Lujan 0 2-4 2; Espino 1 1-2 3; Acosta
0 0-1 0; Lemons 0 0-0 0; Valencia 0 0-0 0; Granado 4 2-5 10; Robledo 0
0-4 0; Creech 1 0-0 2; Pando 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 7-18 27.
Pecos 10 18 13 14 --55
Fort Stocton 7 9 3 8 --27
Three-point goals: None. Fouled out: None. Total fouls: Pecos 18, Fort
Stockton 17.
PECOS, Dec. 6 -- The Balmorhea Bears got their 1996-97 basketball
seasons off to a delayed start Tuesday night by splitting their home
games against the Valentine Pirates.
Balmorhea's girls dropped a 50-37 decision to Valentine, while the boys
edged the Pirates by a 69-67 final score.
Tonight, the Bears play their first road game of the season, as they go
to New Mexico for games against Carlsbad Victory Christian at 6 and 7:30
p.m.
Boys' coach Michael Barrandey said his team "Had only one day practice,
so we played O.K. considering that."
Girls' coach Ennis Erickson said the Bears teams took Thanksgiving week
off, and the boys had just gotten out of football prior to that.
"We have to scramble around for games, and it's tough scheduling anyone
early, because of the playoffs. There's always the chance we'll be in it
and would have to cancel on them," Barrandey said.
One of the few Bears not in football, Kevin Castillo, led the way in
Tuesday's win, scoring 21 points, while Debiasie Mendoza added 18 for
Balmorhea.
Valentine's Gabe Calderon scored 26 to lead all scorers. The loss left
the Pirates with a 5-3 season mark.
In the girls' loss, Cherry Garcia led Balmorhea with 14 points, while
Valentine was led by Wendy Brown's 25 points. Erickson said the Pirates
"were ahead pretty well throughout. It was 32-13 at the half."
Erickson said having already played three weeks worth of games helped
Valentine. "We were fairly nervous to begin with and made several
mistakes early."
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