Marcus Pena makes a lay-up against the tight defense of Vega’s Dillon Selman in Friday’s semifinal matchup in the Farwell Invitational.

FARWELL — Friona and Texico are set for a rematch of last year’s boys championship game in the Farwell Invitational basketball tournament.

The defending tournament champion Chieftains pulled away in the second half to beat Farwell 60-47 while Texico avenged a loss 11 days ago in its season opener at Vega by pounding the Longhorns 59-33.

Farwell (4-6) will meet Vega for third place at 5 p.m. (CST) today, while Texico (5-1) and Friona play at 8 p.m. in the championship matchup.

Sophomore Nick Ortiz had five 3-pointers and 23 points while junior Matthew Stanberry added 16 points for the Chieftains, who led 30-29 at the end of a seesaw first half.

Rane Carpenter, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, was Farwell’s lone double-figure scorer with 12 points.

Texico, which lost 54-41 at Vega on Dec. 2 — three days after winning the New Mexico Class 2A state championship in football — wasted no time taking charge in this one. The Wolverines stormed to a 29-9 halftime lead and were never in trouble.

Junior Seth Bailey had a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for Texico, which got at least six points from five other players.

High man for the Longhorns was junior Brady Harwell with nine points.

In consolation semifinals on Friday:

* Bovina (6-5) built a 13-point lead through three quarters and held off Grady 58-54 behind 34 points from junior guard Jesus Rocha. Seniors Tanner Allen (21) and Alex Sotelo (20) combined for all but 13 points for the Bronchos (3-5).

* Junior Clint Barnard scored 20 points and Melrose (3-1) had no problem with Amherst, winning 59-20. The Buffaloes also got 15 points from junior Sammy Lawrence and 11 from junior Haden Huber.

Sophomore Brice Gale was the high scorer for the Bulldogs with nine points.

Grady and Amherst play for seventh place at 11 a.m. (CST), with Bovina and Melrose tangling for fifth at 2 p.m.