Class AAA semifinal: No. 2 St. Michael's vs. No. 3 Portales

It's a very good crowd for the Horsemen, with about 6,000 in the stands clad in blue-and-white.
Portales does have a size advantage. But St. Michael's has advanced this far the last four years. Experience can only help at this point.

First quarter
Both teams are off to slow starts. Turnovers and bad shots fill the first couple of minutes. Finally, a breakthrough. Elijah Garcia makes a nice down cut and gets a Michael Yardman-Frank pass for a layup. MY-F then adds a 3 sandwiched around a William Archibeque layup for Portales.
Timeout, Rams.
St. Michael's leads 7-2.
Jordan Romero is getting to the free-throw line. He has hit six straight freebie and now the Horsemen lead 11-2 with less than 3 minutes to go.
The game has stalled as both teams have traded a couple of turnovers. Marcus Slocum finally hits a free throw after four tries and the quarter ends with a Patrick Griswold miss from the corner.
St. Michael's 11, Portales 3

Second quarter
Repeat of the first quarter. Slow starts before the Horsemen get going. A 3-plus minute drought ends with Patrick Griswold putting in a second offensive rebound and getting fouled. He misses the free throw.
Gabe Ortiz then gets fouled and hits two free throws.
St. Michael's up 15-4 with 5:26 to go.
It's getting away from the Rams very quickly here. Garcia hits a pair and then Romero hits a corner 3 that forced Portales head coach Mark Gallegos to call a timeout.
20-4, St. Michael's at the 4:28 mark.
It gets worse. A Justin Smith breakaway layup is followed by a baseline floater by Romero. The Rams, who were 1-for-9 from the field by this point - get back-to-back baskets from Nick Bliss. After a timeout, Jeremy Romero scores.
26-8, St. Michael's. 2:30 left.
And the half ends with a bang. Romero hits two free throws then a buzzer-beating 3 that brings the Horsemen hopeful alive.
Halftime
St. Michael's 33, Portales 11

Third quarter
Portales made a short run, getting to within 34-18 with the help of five free throws and a layup, but the Horsemen again took control of matters. St. Michael's easily broke the Portales press and got layups from Griswold, Jordan Romero and two free throws from the senior. The free throws got Romero to the 20-point threshold for the second straight game.
The quarter ends with Portales failing to get a shot off.
St. Michael's 44, Portales 19

Fourth quarter
The storm has slowed for the Rams, but the margin did get to 48-20. The seniors are coming out now. Romero will finish with 20 points and a chance for a third state title in his career. The rams have closed the gap to 51-31, but it is too little, too late.
Tomorrow's championship will be at 12:30 p.m.
Jeff Najjar is on the floor, and that means only good things.
He has hit two of four free throws, the Rams continue to cut the margin, but clock is too fast.
Time runs out and the Horsemen win, 53-36.
St. Michael's plays Hope Christian, which beat Sandia Preparatory in overtime this morning.