Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
It was going to be a tall task for the New Mexico Military Institute Colt basketball on Thursday night.
Against the Class 4A Goddard Rockets, the Colts had a competitive first quarter but couldn’t finish strong as the Rockets won 70-47.
NMMI held a slight 6-4 lead with 5:08 in the opening quarter until Mitchell Schooley tied up the game with a layup.
Jameel Cannon forced a turnover that resulted in a breakaway layup by Schooley to give the Rockets an 8-6 lead.
Goddard then went on a 9-2 run to pull away.
Jerrick Mendoza knocked down two clutch three-pointers to finish with 12 points in the opening frame for Goddard.
Juan Ruelas scored eight of NMMI’s 14 points in the first quarter as he made a pair of three-pointers.
Ahead by 12 points, the Rockets got six points from Cannon in the second quarter and another three from Mendoza to outscore the Colts 14-8.
Jose Donnadieu and Victor Canchola each scored four points in the second quarter.
Mendoza led all scorers at the break with 15 points.
NMMI struggled to break the press as it was held to nine points in the third quarter. Mendoza kept up his scoring barrage, knocking down a three to score five points in the quarter.
The Colts got a big offensive performance from Humberto Romero in the final quarter as he scored eight points which included a clutch three-pointer.
NMMI managed to outscore Goddard 17-13 in the final frame.
Ruelas led the Colts with 14 points while Romero finished with 10. Donnadieu added with six.
Canchola and Matthew McCargish each had five points.
The Colts shot 10 of 24 from the charity stripe.
Mendoza finished with 20 points after making four 3-pointers while Schooley and Elijah Quiroz each had seven points.
Damian Aragon tallied eight points, five of which were scored in the first quarter. Rhett Price also added eight points, six were scored in the second half.
Goddard went 10 for 20 from the free throw line.
>> UP NEXT: NMMI travels to Hagerman for a 7 p.m. tip off Monday, Jan. 31.
Goddard 70, NMMI 47
NMMI (2-8)
Lance Miller 1 0-0 2, Juan Ruelas 6 0-0 14, Jose Donnadieu 2 2-3 6, Carper Lackey 1 0-3 2, Matthew McCargish 2 1-2 5, Humberto Romero 4 1-5 10, Victor Canchola 1 3-5 5. Totals 17 10-24 47.
GODDARD (11-9)
Damian Aragon 2 4-6 8, James Torrez 3 0-1 6, Elijah Quiroz 3 1-2 7, Mitchell Schooley 2 3-4 7, Jameel Cannon 3 0-0 6, Noah Reese 1 0-0 2, Rhett Price 4 0-0 8, Jerrick Mendoza 8 0-0 20, Chris Zapata 0 0-2 0. Totals 28 10-20 70.
NMMI……………14…..8…….9…..16 --- 47
GODDARD……..26……14….17…..13 --- 70
3-point goals – NMMI 3 (Ruelas 2, Romero 1); Goddard 4 (Mendoza 4). Total fouls – NMMI 21, Goddard 22. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.