The Marfa Shorthorns opened their 2025–2026 girls basketball season on the road in Comstock, earning a strong 31-25 victory over the Panthers.
Coming off the recent conclusion of volleyball playoffs, the Shorthorns started the game slowly as they adjusted back to the pace and rhythm of basketball. Once they settled in, Marfa steadily gained momentum—especially in the second quarter—where they locked in defensively, forcing turnovers and creating fast-break opportunities that helped them pull away from the home team.
Offensively, Raven Martinez (12 points game high) led all scorers with a confident and aggressive performance, Marfa on both ends of the floor. Point guard Ava Flores (6 points) followed with a solid scoring effort of her own, pushing the tempo, distributing the ball, and capitalizing on transition opportunities created by Marfa’s defensive pressure.
Additional contributions came from Madison Cash (7 steals) and Lilliana Zubia (4 rebounds), Zoey Salgado (5 points), all playing key roles in Marfa’s win.
The Boys team faced a tougher matchup, falling to the Panthers. Despite the loss, the game provided valuable early-season experience as the team looks to regroup and prepare for their next outing.
Lady Horns Come Up Short Against Van Horn
The Varsity Lady Horns hit the road to Van Horn on Tuesday evening, where they battled hard but ultimately fell to the Lady Eagles, 25–35.
The game opened slowly, with both teams struggling to find rhythm. The first quarter ended with a low score of Marfa 1 – Van Horn 3. Point guard #0 Ava Flores set the tone with aggressive play, grabbing the majority of the team’s rebounds and adding 4 points. #5 Madison Cash also contributed 4 points to the Lady Horns’ effort.
Senior #23 Raven Martinez drew heavy defensive pressure, getting fouled three times throughout the game. She made 2 of her 6 free-throw attempts, helping keep the Lady Horns within reach.
The standout of the night was #2 Zoey Salgado, who led the team with 15 points, including a made three-pointer. Her offensive push kept the Lady Horns competitive until the final buzzer.
Despite their determination, the Lady Horns came up short. They’ll look to bounce back in their next matchup on Friday at home against the Presidio Blue Devils at 5 pm.
Boys take on Van Horn Eagles
The Marfa Shorthorns opened their season with a double-digit road loss last week against Comstock, but quickly bounced back in dramatic fashion by defeating the Van Horn Eagles 33–23 on the road Tuesday night.
The Horns saw strong contributions from Ayden Alvarez, who returned to action for the first time since an injury sidelined him during his sophomore season, and Coach Arron Luna stated Alvarez’s leadership was a difference maker for the Horns. Alvarez showed great focus on both offense and defense and is positioned to be a key contributor moving forward this year. Defensive leader, and senior standout, Garry “Gopher” Webb, lived up to his reputation with relentless, hard-nosed defense, and played a gritty effort on the boards shutting down Van Horn’s second-chance opportunities, giving Marfa control of the paint all night.
Head Coach Arron Luna showcased excellent play-calling and strategic adjustments, keeping Van Horn guessing and unable to anticipate the Shorthorns offensive attacks. Coach Luna stated: “We started off slow and a little sluggish, settling for bad shots early on. But in the second half, the boys completely turned it around. They came out more aggressive, locked in on defense and held Van Horn to zero points in the third quarter. That was the difference.” He added, “We saw some much-needed leadership step up tonight, especially from Ayden Alvarez, who embraced a serious role for us. And on the defensive end, Gopher Webb set the tone with tremendous hustle and effort. His energy carried the team.”