Coyotes Roll Past Panthers 44-31 in District Clash

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>JAL, N.M.</em> — The Tatum Coyotes kept their winning ways rolling with a commanding 44-31 victory over the Jal Panthers in a fast-paced 2A District 4 matchup on Monday, Feb. 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tatum (now 19-4 overall, 9-2 away) never trailed, jumping out to a quick 10-4 lead and carrying momentum through every quarter. They led 16-6 after the first, 24-16 at halftime, and 33-26 heading into the fourth. Head Coach Michael Davis' squad suffocated Jal with relentless full-court pressure, forcing turnovers and disrupting the Panthers' rhythm all night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore Kolbi Henard was unstoppable, pouring in a game-high 18 points with smooth midrange jumpers in transition, half-court sets, and baseline out-of-bounds plays. Senior Sydni Rice complemented her perfectly, attacking the rim relentlessly for 14 points while drawing fouls and keeping defenders off-balance. Together, the dynamic duo combined for 32 points and controlled the game's tempo from start to finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jal (15-9, 7-4 at home), coached by Gary Simmons, fought hard and showed flashes of brilliance but couldn't overcome Tatum's defensive intensity. Sophomore Natalia Rivera led the Panthers with 9 points, while junior Mayrin Nieto and freshman Kaedyn Lujan each added 7. All three had moments where they sparked runs and broke free for big plays, but the Coyotes' pressure proved too much to handle consistently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This win avenges nothing from earlier — it's a fresh statement for Tatum after their 46-35 victory over Jal on Feb. 10, showing continued dominance in the district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What's Next</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tatum (19-4) heads to Loving (3-18) on Tuesday, Feb. 17 for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jal (15-9) travels to Eunice (11-10) on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6:00 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Coyotes look locked in as district play heats up — expect more high-energy battles ahead!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->