For the Portales basketball teams it’s a chance to begin getting things tuned up for district play. For Portales fans it should be a chance to see a weekend chock-full of exciting basketball. The third annual Ram Basketball Shootout featuring four boys and girls teams is being held today and Saturday at PHS gym. “It’s going to be a great time for people to come out and watch some basketball,” Ram Coach Mark Gallegos said. “This year it’s not conflicting with the EPAC tournament, so we’re hoping for good crowds.” Gallegos said the shootout is a friendly tournament without awards or a champion being named, featuring four boys’ teams and four girls’ teams. The event has become more popular every year, to the point where Gallegos now has teams calling to get into the bracket. The Rams and Lady Rams went 1-1 in last year’s Shootout. The Rams lost to Taos and beat Socorro. The Lady Rams defeated West Las Vegas in the first game and fell by 20 points to powerhouse Trinity Christian. Lady Rams coach Clay Stout said he knows his team will have its work cut out for them, but after a disappointing appearance at the Plateau Holiday Classic in Clovis last week, he believes his girls are more focused and will step up to the task. “We’ve got some really good teams coming in, and it does you good to play good competition,” Stout said. “Both of these teams are fundamentally sound.” “One of the reasons we do this is to help us prepare for district season,” Gallegos said. “We bring in some teams we wouldn’t normally see.” “It’s going to be a tough tournament,” Stout said. “But we’ll sure be better coming out of it.” Friday Boys Artesia vs. Socorro, 4:30 p.m. Portales vs. Hatch, 8 p.m. Girls Trinity Christian vs. Hobbs, 3 p.m. Portales vs. Canyon, 6 p.m. Saturday Boys Hatch vs. Artesia, 3 p.m. Portales vs. Socorro, 6 p.m. Girls Canyon vs. Hobbs, 4:30 p.m. Portales vs. Trinity Christian, 8 p.m.