Who wasn't sick for Mora?

There were those who didn't play because of the flu, the one who did and a coach who struggled through it as well.

But the team that struggles together often wins together, and the Rangers used 23 points from a recovering Tim Romero to score a 63-46 win over Santa Fe Preparatory in a District 2AA basketball matchup in Sen. Joseph Montoya Gymnasium on Thursday.

Thanks to the play of Romero and a healthy Lorenzo Chavez (21 points with four 3-pointers), the Rangers (17-2 overall, 2-0 2AA) were able to slow down the Blue Griffins' inside duo of Dan Van Essen and Will Lenfestey.

Van Essen had 22 points, and Lenfestey added 10, but Mora head coach James Branch, who is also battling illness, said Romero and Chavez were aggressive on the boards.

"We definitely did a good job boxing out and hitting the boards," Branch said. "Defensively, we shut them down as much as we could."

Romero was a last-minute insertion into the lineup as he was still feeling the lingering effects of the flu.

His presence became necessary when Jose Trujillo left school feeling sick and sixth man Cody Najar was in the locker room sleeping because of the flu as well.

"There was a point where I got really tired in the fourth quarter, but I knew I had to stick it out in order to hold on to the lead," Romero said.

Romero stayed around long enough to be named a prince in Mora's homecoming court after the game.

Mora used a 21-12 run in the second quarter to take a 29-22 halftime lead. The margin grew to 47-36 heading into the fourth.

Prep dropped to 15-4 and 1-1.

GIRLS

N.M. SCHOOL FOR DEAF 57, TIERRA ENCANTADA 38

The Lady Roadrunners were handing out double-doubles like Halloween candy against the Alacranes in a nondistrict game in Larson Gymnasium.

Kimberly Herrera scored 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the parade, while Caldonia Wilding went 14 and 13.

The last of the double-double gang was Rosina Garcia, who had 11 points and 13 rebounds.

NMSD (6-7) held Tierra Encantada to just five points in the third quarter.