Cavegirls Top Goddard Rockets 44-40

By Don Eskins

Losing is never fun, no matter what the sporting event might be. However, avenging that loss always is!

Such was the case for the Cavegirl basketball team on Tuesday, December 16, in Carlsbad. The Cavegirls, who had been soundly defeated by the Lady Rockets earlier this year, 45-32, rallied to grab a tough-fought 44-40 victory over the Roswell-based ball club in the rematch.

“It did feel good to get the win,” said Cavegirl head coach Matt Enloe. “Goddard is really a very good team. So, getting by them in the rematch was definitely a confidence-builder for us.”

The Cavegirls led 20-19 at the half, 33-31 at the end of the third quarter, and then held on to outpoint the game Rockets 11-9 in the fourth to pick up their seventh victory of the year, versus four losses.

At the game’s end, a new name with 14 points topped the Cavegirl scoring chart, Mia Payanes.

“Mia, a senior, has been working really hard this season. She’s also been putting in quite a bit of overtime in practice,” said Enloe. “So last night, against the Goddard Rockets, I decided to give her a chance to start.

“Mia played the best game of her career, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for us,” said the Cavegirl coach. “We’re all really proud of her.”

Serenity Medrano also had a big game offensively. The freshman center scored 12.

On Friday, December 19, the Cavegirls will host the Artesia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are currently 3-5 on the year. The JVs will take the floor at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity at 6 p.m.

Cavegirls 2-1 at Brownfield

Following a near-miss loss, 44-40, to Hereford in the opening round of the Brownfield Invitational, the Cavegirls reeled off successive victories over Lake View High, 46-26, and Sudan, 57-16. The two wins upped their season record to 6-4. The tournament ran Thursday through Saturday, December 11-13.

Serena Carrasco, with 17 points, led CHS in their effort against Hereford. In their matchup with Lake View, Carrasco and Serenity Medrano each scored 12 to pace CHS’s attack. Medrano, with 13 points, also led CHS in their victory over Sudan.

The following are Cavegirl recaps:

Cavegirls vs. Goddard

December 16, Tuesday

GHS 10 9 12 9 40

CHS 11 9 13 11 44

Scoring: Mia Payanes, 14; Serenity Medrano, 12; Serena Carrasco, 5; Hayden Brose, 4; Juliette Licon, 3; Val Veloz, 3; Jayla Bragg, 2; Kendra Ortega, 1; FTs 14-24-58%.

Brownfield Tourney

Game 1, December 11

CHS 3 12 12 13 40

HHS 12 17 12 3 44

Scoring: Serena Carrasco, 17; Serenity Medrano, 15; Hayden Brose, 3; Thalia Payanes, 2; Kendra Ortega, 2; Faith Kluesner, 1; FTs 5-9-56%. (CHS Stats)

Game 2, December 12

LHS 7 9 4 6 26

CHS 7 12 19 8 46

Scoring: Serena Carrasco, 12; Serenity Medrano, 12; Libby Tyndorf, 8; Hayden Brose, 5; Jayla Bragg, 2; Mia Payanes, 2; Thalia Payanes, 2; Faith Kluesner, 2; Val Veloz, 1; FTs 9-15-56%. (CHS Stats)

Game 3, December 13

CHS 19 14 15 9 57

SHS 0 4 6 6 16

Scoring: Serenity Medrano, 13; Mia Payanes, 9; Serena Medrano, 8; Libby Tyndorf, 6; Bella Marquez, 5; Kendra Ortega, 5; Hayden Brose, 4; Juliette Licon, 2; Thalia Payanes, 2; Val Veloz, 2; FTs 10-12-83%.