2018 New Mexico High School 2A State Championship
#nmpreps
#2 Fort Sumner/House uses 12 three-pointers to defeat #5 Menaul
It started off quick for Menaul jumping out to a 5-0 lead before Foxes head coach Brad Holland called timeout. Even after a Noah Maxwell three-point basket that got the Foxes back within two, Menaul would continue their opening run capped off with a Jason Huang basket to put the Panthers up 12-3. Menaul looked near flawless in transition early, including one fast break where the ball didn’t touch the floor. Fort Sumner/House though would continue to make key three-point baskets to keep the game from getting away. Menaul would take a seven point lead but Foxes’ Brant West would answer with a big basket against Menaul’s 6’9” center Michael Ou, to get Fort Sumner/House back within two points.But turnovers and poor transition defense would allow Menaul again to jump out to another big lead and this time by ten points at the break, 35-25.
Fort Sumner/House would continue their perimeter assault though as they went on a 6-0 run off two three-point baskets before Menaul would score. By midway through the quarter though, Fort Sumner had cut the lead down to two off a 10-2 run. Fort Sumner/House would tie the game at 37 before a Maxwell basket put the Foxes ahead for the first time in the game. Jude Segura would hit a big basket from distance and Fort would extend that lead to 44-39. A Noah Maxwell three-point basket would cap off a 22-point quarter for Fort Sumner/House where they knocked down five three-pointers to take the five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Menaul would get close again but costly turnovers for the Panthers on possessions when they had the opportunity to tie or cut into the deficit would be their undoing. Fort Sumner/House would close out the game behind 31-to-18 points second half and win their first co-op state championship.
*This is the second state title for Fort Sumner since 2009. The second for House since 1938. First co-op title for both schools.
STATS
Fort Sumner/House
Brant West – 21 points on 8 of 16 shooting (5 for 10 from 3-point line) and 7 rebounds
Noah Maxwell – 19 points on 6 of 12 shooting
Jude Segura – 12 points
Menaul
Carlos Fuentes – 18 points
Michael Ou – 13 points and 13 rebounds
Dereck Pyle – 10 points
TEAM STATS
Fort Sumner/House
FG% - 18/49 – 37%
3PT% - 12/27 – 44%
FT% - 8/18 – 44%
Menaul
FG% - 19/40 – 48%
3PT% - 3/12 – 25%
FT% - 12/20 – 60%
Other Notable Stats: 21 Menaul turnovers to 17 Fort Sumner/House turnovers
28 points in the paint for Menaul; 10 for Fort Sumner/House
8 fast break points for Menaul; 0 for Fort Sumner/House
