Resilient Rams: Behind second-half surge, Rio takes Mel Otero title over Bulldogs

RIO RANCHO — A day after a school-record setting performance from Madi Martinez, the Rams put on a different kind of display in Saturday’s Mel Otero Invitational championship. 

A display of resilience. 

Despite trailing at halftime behind a sluggish 13-point opening half, Rio Rancho battled back to defeat the Albuquerque High Bulldogs 46-30 to take the invitational title.

“We stayed disciplined on the defensive and offensive end,” said Martinez, a sophomore who scored 43 points in a semifinal win Friday over Kirtland Central. “We did a good job working together.”

Working together on Saturday was the name of the game for Lori Mabrey’s squad, with the duo of Madi and Larissa Martinez combining for zero points in the first two quarters. With the star duo starting cold, it was up to the Rams to find other options.

“Different matchups and styles took some time to adjust to,” Larissa Martinez said. “I feel like we took the right shots early, but some didn’t seem to fall.”

Junior guard Daysia Jack provided early stability on offense, putting together a 12-point afternoon with two threes, most of those shots coming when the Rams needed it most.

For the Bulldogs, the absence of a Heisman ceremony-bound Abby Pavia (brother Diego, Vanderbilt's quarterback, finished second) left senior center Savannah Combs to lead the way inside. It was up to the Rams’ McHugh sisters, Serena and Kaci, to contain and combat Combs, combining for 14 points against Combs’ 17-point day.

“It was definitely a team effort,” Larissa Martinez said. “We knew we just needed to keep playing our game and adjusting.”

Rio Rancho felt lucky to be down just two at halftime, 15-13, as the Bulldogs dominated in time of possession with almost double the open looks.

But coming out of the half, it would be Albuquerque High’s luck that would run out.

Madi and Larissa entered the second half with new life, combining for 18 points in the third and fourth quarters. The twins also began causing havoc for the ‘Dogs to cover, drawing a plethora of fouls on the once-leading, now-frustrated opposition. 

“I kept a positive mentality by keeping my energy high and encouraging the team,” Madi Martinez said. “Which gives my teammates and me a lot of motivation and confidence to try and boost ourselves up.”

A ramp-up in scoring led to dominance on the defensive end as well, using their newfound momentum to post a 21-9 third quarter and effectively pulling away.

“It was really important for me to be able to rely on my teammates,” Madi Martinez said. “Because without those extra plays they make or rebounds they get, we don’t win the game, so it means a lot when they step up.”

The resilient Rams celebrated on their home court after three wins in three days, improving to 7-0 on the season. Jack and Larissa Martinez were selected to the all-tournament team, with Madi Martinez taking player of the tournament honors. 

Though Madi had a school-record point total in the semifinals and the twins put on a three-point barrage in the first round, the championship win surely holds the most weight for the Rams. They not only showed off their depth, but also showed their fight.