2018 New Mexico High School State Basketball Championship. #nmpreps
#1 Elida 58, #2 Melrose 44
Many will tell you that it's hard to win one state title let alone eight in a row. But the Elida Lady Tigers have become a staple in the small school divisions for the past 8 seasons. And they've won fairly convincingly in each title game. This game though proved to be a send-off to a Elida senior guard Lacy Ferguson who finished with 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Early in the game, it looked as though Melrose would be a handful as they forced two Elida turnovers and took a 5-0 lead. But a 7-0 Elida run capped off with a Ferguson three point basket would ignite the Elida offense. Melrose matched up well with the size of the Elida frontcourt, but would have trouble defending the Elida guards through much of the first half.
In the second quarter, it was a coming out party for Elida freshman Alyssa Vargas who finished with 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting. She 9th grade guard ducked and weaved through the Melrose defense, giving her defender fits on where she was on the floor. Her 11 points that quarter gave Elida the cushion they needed heading into the break up, 31-17.
After the break, Melrose did a better job keeping Ferguson in check and scoreless in the third quarter. It was the work of both Kasyn Creighton and Cambree Bargas who combined for eight points to push the Lady Tigers through the quarter and hold off a rallying Melrose. The fourth quarter Melrose would actually outscore Elida and get within nine with 3:32 left to play. But it was the down the stretch clutch play of Ferguson, who would have her own 11-point quarter, help close out the game for Elida.
PLAYER STATS
Elida: Lacy Ferguson - 22 points on 5 of 9 shooting. Alyssa Bargas - 15 points and 5 rebounds. Kasyn Creighton - 12 points and 6 rebounds. Cambree Bargas - 7 points
Melrose: Brette DeVaney - 13 points and 8 rebounds. Landry Widner - 12 points. Hailey Martin - 8 points and 12 rebounds. Nataley Mondragon - 8 points
TEAM STATS
Elida
FG% - 19/38 - 50%
3PT% - 3/5 - 60%
FT% - 17/23 - 74%
Melrose
FG% - 14/49 - 29%
3PT% - 8/21 - 38%
FT% - 8/10 - 80%
