Portales senior Andrew Villanueva rises for a jumper last week against Roswell. The Rams open district play Saturday at Ruidoso.

(Editor’s note: The games were originally scheduled for Friday but rescheduled due to closure of Ruidoso schools under recommendation from Gov. Susana Martinez.)

Boys

Portales (12-7) at Ruidoso (10-10, 0-1 District 4-3A)

4 p.m. Saturday

• Last time out: Portales lost to Roswell 70-61. The Warriors defeated New Mexico Military Institute 61-50.

• Last meeting: February 2010, 61-49 Ruidoso.

• So far in 4-3A: Lovington defeated Ruidoso 62-42 last Friday.

• Key players: Daniel Salazar, 6-6, Sr., P; Terrance Shields, 5-10, Jr., G .

“He’s kind of an inside-outside player,” Portales coach Mark Gallegos said of Shields. “He’s more of a guard; he’s going to pretty much shoot it from anywhere.”

• About the Warriors: “They’ve struggled a little bit,” Gallegos said. “They’re just really up and down. It’s a scary game, because any time you play at Ruidoso, they play really well at home.”

Gallegos said the Rams might be a little rusty, because weather cancellations have also canceled practices, and the team has only worked for 45 minutes in the last two days.

Girls

Portales (12-7) at Ruidoso (14-7, 0-1)

2:30 p.m. Saturday

• Last time out: Ruidoso lost at Lovington 75-63 last Friday. Portales has been idle since losing 29-23 at Hobbs Friday.

• Last meeting: Feb. 2010, 32-19 Portales.

• Going in: Portales, since winning six straight from Dec. 28 through Jan. 8, has lost three of its last five — all to 4A and 5A clubs.

• Ruidoso players to watch: Sr. F Sydney Gonzales, 5-10; Sr. G Audrina Ward, 5-4.

• About Ruidoso: Portales coach Clay Stout didn’t see film of the Lovington game, but has seen other games and is impressed with the seventh-ranked Warriors.

“They’ve got a pretty nice team. They’ve got some really quick guards that drive and penetrate a lot, and they’ve got a couple of big post kids.

Ruidoso runs a lot of different presses, Stout said, so keeping turnovers down will be a key.

“They rebound extremely well,” Stout said. “They’re one of the best offensive rebounding teams I’ve seen.”