Rams limit Cibola girls to one field goal and 14 points

RIO RANCHO – You might think a 66-14 drubbing would be a record, but it’s not.

There are quite a few times a Rio Rancho High School girls’ basketball team has held an opponent to 15 or fewer points. In a game in the 2004-05 season, the Rams whipped West Mesa 66-7.

This time, the Rams (14-6, 2-0 in District 1-5A) allowed only one field goal to visiting Cibola (4-16, 0-3) the evening of Jan. 30. The outmanned Cougars, once led by Rams coach Lori Mabrey, went 13:36 into the lopsided contest before Isabella Mills connected for a 2-pointer.

That made the score 42-8, and that bucket came shortly after a 25-1 run by the Rams, whose defense helped force many of the Cougars’ 29 turnovers.

Cibola is expected to finish last in the five-team district, and the margin of victory would have been much more if Mabrey hadn’t emptied her bench every quarter.

“Everybody works hard in practice, and everybody deserves to play,” Mabrey said, “and this was a game that we could afford to get everybody in. … It’s a chance and opportunity for somebody else to step up, for sure.”

The No. 10 Rams led 17-5 after the first period, and 49-11 at halftime. In light of the 35-point mercy rule, the second half didn’t last long. Rio Rancho led 58-12 heading into the fourth quarter, after Cibola had managed one point in the third period and went on to double that in the fourth.

Madi Martinez and Jemma Estrada shared scoring honors with 13 apiece, and Kaci McHugh came off the bench to add 10, which included a 4 for 4 outing at the foul line.

There was one loss for the Rams: Sophomore guard Daysia Jack got hurt on her way to a layup in the third period and had to be helped off the floor; after the game, her left knee was covered.

“I’m hoping it’s not her knee,” Mabrey said, expecting to know more later.

The Rams are home again Thursday, Feb. , at 7 p.m. to face Volcano Vista.