Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press

HAGERMAN – After giving up 30 points in the first half against Hagerman, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt boys’ basketball team started to drive the ball and dominate in the paint in the second half.

The Colts outscored the Bobcats 31-10 in the final two quarters to come away with a 61-40 victory on Thursday night.

“It feels great to be 2-2 in this spot,” said NMMI head coach Connor Williamson. “I was aggressively reiterating that we need to refocus our defense here, put all our effort into that, stopping the ball and getting back to what we do well.”

Hagerman (1-1) held a 13-12 lead in the opening quarter. Jonah Bejarano scored six points for the Bobcats in the frame.

It was an evenly matched second quarter after the Colts narrowly outscored Hagerman 18-17 to head into the locker room tied up at 30-30.

Behind a scoring surge by Ricardo Mata, who had seven points in the third frame, NMMI knocked down six shots in the paint while getting a pair of three pointers from Mata and Daniel Ridley to take a 14-point lead into the final quarter of play.

The Bobcats were held to a three-pointer by Abel Alvidrez and a single free throw in the third quarter.

NMMI (2-2) made 11 shots in the paint in the second half, compared to just seven in the opening half.

Mata led the Colts with 19 points while Xibille added with 17. Jaikayo Brown and Gaston Peralta each tallied six points apiece.

Ridley finished with five points.

The Colts shot 10 of 17 from the free throw line while making five shots from beyond the arc.

Hagerman went 1 for 11 from the charity stripe.

Bejarano scored 12 points while Alvidrez and Jose Jamarillo each chipped in with eight points.

NMMI had a competitive start to its schedule playing three tough programs in Class 4A’s Artesia and Portales High along with Class 5A Roswell High.

The Colts have won two in a row after knocking off Portales in overtime on Tuesday night.

NMMI travels to Mescalero on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. tip off.

“I think playing those teams was a really good learning experience for us,” Williamson added. “We feel very confident moving forward. We just have to get better every single game.”

NMMI 61, Hagerman 40

NMMI (2-2)

Ricardo Mata 7 4-5 19, Jaikayo Brown 3 1-3 6, Carlen Hailey 1 0-0 3, Gaston Peralta 2 1-2 6, Daniel Xibille 6 4-5 17, Daniel Ridley 2 0-0 5, Pablo Davila 1 0-0 2, Jose Donnadieu 1 0-2 2. Totals 23 10-17 61.

Hagerman (1-1)

Sebastian Mireles 1 0-2 2, Roberto Delacruz 1 0-0 3, Abel Alvidrez 3 0-0 8, Jonah Bejarano 6 0-0 12, Romelo Salazar 1 0-2 2, David Chacon 2 0-0 4, Amen Gonzales 0 1-4 1, Jose Jaramillo 4 0-3 8. Totals 18 1-11 40.

NMMI……….12……18…..18…..13 -- 61
HHS…………..13…..17…..4……6 --- 40

3-point goals – NMMI 5 (Mata, Hailey, Peralta, Xibille, Ridley); Hagerman 3 (Delacruz, Alvidrez 2). Total fouls – NMMI 12, Hagerman 20. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.