Lady Rams struggles to score in loss

RIO RANCHO — Portales coach Clay Stout is hopeful the Lady Rams have already played their worst game of the season.

“Surely we can’t play like this again,” Stout said after his squad suffered a 28-21 loss to Montrose, Colo., in the first round of the Mel Otero Invitational. “It was bad.”

Gabby Garcia was the game’s only double-figure scorer with 10 on a night when Portales (1-2) didn’t have a field goal until the final three minutes of the game.

“They played man-to-man; we couldn’t score,” Stout said. “We missed inside shots, we missed layups. We could not buy a basket.”

Portales was blanked in the second quarter and trailed 22-3 going into the fourth quarter.

Kaylee Walker scored seven to lead Montrose.

Portales faces Rio Rancho Cleveland in a 3 p.m. consolation bracket game. The Storm lost 48-38 against Clovis.

Montrose, Colo. 28, Portales 21

Portales 2 0 1 18 — 21

Montrose 6 6 8 8 — 28

Leading scorers — Portales, Gabby Garcia 10. Danae Garza 4, Macy Mitchell 4. Montrose, Kaylee Walker 7.