Scorpions Sting Rams: Farmington Claims 74-61 Thriller

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>FARMINGTON, N.M.</em> — In a heavyweight showdown between two of Class 5A's elite squads, the host Farmington Scorpions delivered a statement performance, defeating the visiting Rio Rancho Rams 74-61 on Thursday, Feb. 5, in a pivotal 5A District 1 clash.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams entered riding momentum: Rio Rancho (19-2 overall, 7-1 away) fresh off a seven-game winning streak and averaging 58.0 PPG under head coach Lori Mabrey, while Farmington (18-3, 9-2 at home) boasted a four-game win streak and a 59.0 PPG clip led by Thomas Adair. The rematch carried extra weight after Rio Rancho edged the Scorpions 55-54 back on Jan. 20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Farmington controlled the tempo from the opening tip, never trailing in a wire-to-wire effort. The Scorpions' versatile man-to-man defense (with occasional 2-3 zone looks) disrupted Rio Rancho's rhythm early, while their own man defense held firm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Scorpions built a 16-12 lead after one quarter and exploded for a commanding 33-23 halftime advantage. They pushed the margin further in the third, entering the fourth up 55-38 before cruising to the 74-61 final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Farmington's balanced senior core lit up the scoreboard, with four players in double figures combining for 61 points. [player_tooltip player_id='648195' first='Kjani' last='Anitielu'] led the way with a team-high 20 points (13 in the first half), dazzling with her handle in pick-and-roll sets, knocking down threes, and converting tough and-1s. [player_tooltip player_id='893565' first='Chenoa' last='Parrish'] poured in 18 (13 after halftime), stretching the floor with four triples. [player_tooltip player_id='828810' first='Caris' last='Dale'] added 13 points at all three levels, sealing the deal with a pair of highlight-reel fast-break layups. Off the bench, Amry Garfield provided a spark with 10 points, cleaning up inside for crucial buckets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rio Rancho battled back late, fueled by sophomore sensation [player_tooltip player_id='839457' first='Madilynn' last='Martinez']'s explosive 21-point night (17 in the second half). The speedy guard sliced through for coast-to-coast layups and drained pull-up threes to keep the Rams alive. Twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='1068445' first='Larissa' last='Martinez'] chipped in 11 points with strong transition and half-court playmaking, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='831120' first='Daysia' last='Jack'] added 10 (eight in the first half) and locked in on-ball defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Scorpions' depth and defensive intensity proved too much in this high-stakes rematch, handing Rio Rancho its first loss in eight games and solidifying Farmington's status as a serious contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What's Next</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rio Rancho (now 19-3) returns home to host Volcano Vista (10-11) on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7:00 p.m. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Farmington (now 19-3) hits the road to face Cleveland (10-11) on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7:00 p.m. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams remain primed for deep playoff pushes in what promises to be an electric 5A postseason!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->