Let the madness begin.
State basketball brackets were released on Sunday in the state of New Mexico. And now, it’s time to play it all out, beginning on Friday with girls basketball first-round action, and Saturday with boys basketball first-round action. The following is a preview of the matchups in the Class 5A girls and boys bracket.
Boys Bracket:
#1 Volcano Vista Hawks vs. #16 Carlsbad Cavemen
Details: First meeting between these two teams this season
Volcano Vista: Record: 21-4 Overall, 6-2 in District 1 (District 1 Regular Season and Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: Greg Brown / Key Wins: Cleveland x3, Rio Rancho, Atrisco Heritage
Carlsbad / Record: 15-13 Overall, 1-5 in District 4 / Head Coach: Jamaal Brown / Key Wins: Onate, Clovis, Roswell, Gadsden
#8 Hobbs Eagles vs. #9 Clovis Wildcats
Details: Saturday, March 9th, 7:00 pm @ Ralph Tasker Arena at Hobbs High School / Head-to-head series this season is tied, 2-2
Hobbs: Record: 20-7 Overall, 5-1 in District 4 (District 4 Regular Season Champions) / Head Coach: Shelby Reeves / Key Wins: Onate, Clovis x2, Roswell x2
Clovis: Record: 20-8 Overall, 4-2 in District 4 (District 4 Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: Jaden Isler / Key Wins: La Cueva, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Roswell x2
#5 Santa Fe Demons vs. #12 Manzano Monarchs
Details: Santa Fe leads season series, 2-1
Santa Fe: Record: 21-7 Overall, 6-4 in District 5 (District 5 Regular Season Co-Champions and Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: Zack Cole / Key Wins: Capital x3, Los Lunas, Cleveland, Manzano x2
Manzano: Record: 14-12 Overall, 6-4 in District 5 (District 5 Regular Season Co-Champions) / Head Coach: Dominick Romero / Key Wins: Hope Christian, Santa Fe, ABQ High x2
#4 Eldorado Eagles vs. #13 Capital Jaguars
Details: First meeting between these two teams this season
Eldorado: Record: 21-6 Overall, 7-1 in District 2 (District 2 Regular Season Co-Champions and Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: Roy Sanchez / Key Wins: Atrisco Heritage, Hope Christian, La Cueva x2
Capital: Record: 21-9 Overall, 5-5 in District 5 / Head Coach: Ben Gomez / Key Wins: Santa Fe, Manzano, Espanola Valley
#3 Rio Rancho Rams vs. #14 Gadsden Panthers
Details: Saturday, March 9th, 7:00 pm @ Rio Rancho High School / First meeting between these two teams this season
Rio Rancho: Record: 19-8 Overall, 5-3 in District 1 / Head Coach: Wally Salata / Key Wins: Hope Christian x2, La Cueva, Atrisco Heritage x2, Volcano Vista
Gadsden: Record: 16-9 Overall, 8-4 in District 3 / Head Coach: Juan Gonzales / Key Wins: Onate, Mayfield, Valley
#6 Atrisco Heritage Jaguars vs. #11 Roswell Coyotes
Details: First meeting between these two teams this season
Atrisco Heritage: Record: 18-7 Overall, 5-3 in District 1 / Head Coach: Adrian Ortega / Key Wins: Rio Rancho, La Cueva, Cleveland x2, Volcano Vista
Roswell: Record: 17-10 Overall, 2-4 in District 4 / Head Coach: Moses Burrola / Key Wins: Capital, Carlsbad x2, Centennial
#7 Cleveland Storm vs. #10 La Cueva Bears
Details: Saturday, March 9th, 5:30 pm @ Cleveland High School / Cleveland leads season series, 1-0
Cleveland: Record: 24-6 Overall, 4-4 in District 1 / Head Coach: Sean Jimenez / Key Wins: Roswell, Atrisco Heritage, Rio Rancho x2
La Cueva: Record: 16-10 Overall, 7-1 in District 2 (District 2 Regular Season Co-Champions) / Head Coach: Frank Castillo / Key Wins: Hope Christian, Rio Rancho, Eldorado x2, Manzano
#2 Las Cruces Bulldawgs vs. #15 Onate Knights
Details: Las Cruces leads season series, 3-0
Las Cruces: Record: 28-0 Overall, 12-0 in District 3 (District 3 Regular Season and Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: William Benjamin / Key Wins: Atrisco Heritage, Roswell, Gadsden x2, Los Lunas
Onate: Record: 18-11 Overall, 7-5 in District 3 / Head Coach: Michael Nanez / Key Wins: Manzano, Eldorado, Silver, Roswell
Bracket Preview:
Another exciting field was produced on Sunday for Class 5A boys basketball, and it promises some great matchups starting on Saturday with the first round matchups, along with the potential of some highly-regarded quarterfinal matchups that could come from it.
In the left side of the bracket, the matchups are headlined by the overall #1 seed, Volcano Vista Hawks, who were able to sneak into that seed thanks to their strength of schedule and MaxPreps rankings. They’ll take on the last team in the field, the #16 seed Carlsbad Cavemen, who look to gain some momentum after a rough district stretch. Winner of that matchup will face off with the winner of the #8 vs. #9 matchup, which see district foes in the Hobbs Eagles and Clovis Wildcats square off. The two teams split their season series and will get a clear winner of their season series when they take each other on. The Santa Fe Demons snagged onto the #5 seed in this year’s tournament, and will also face a fellow district competitor in the #12 Manzano Monarchs. The Demons currently have the upperhand in their season series, 2-1 to be exact. And to round out the left side, the #4 seed Eldorado Eagles, fresh off of their district tournament championship win, will take on the #13 seed Capital Jaguars, who enter their first playoff since moving up classifications.
The excitement couldn’t be contained when the right side of the bracket was revealed, showcasing teams that bring excitement every time they step foot onto the court. Leading off the field is the #3 Rio Rancho Rams who will take on the #14 Gadsden Panthers. The Rams want to break off the three-game losing streak they closed their season out with, while the Panthers seek the upset and showcase their skillset. The winner will face off with the winner of the matchup between the #6 Atrisco Heritage Jaguars and the #11 Roswell Coyotes. The possibility of the two nearby district foes in Rio Rancho and Atrisco Heritage looms, and fans could expect to see that in Dreamstyle Arena come quarterfinals on Wednesday. But the Jaguars and the Rams must get past their first opponents. Roswell is another team that enters the field for the first time since moving up classifications. On the lower half of the right side of the bracket, the Cleveland Storm, who unfortunately for them dropped to a #7 seed because of their district finish, face off with the #10 seed La Cueva Bears, who still possess some momentum despite dropping the district tournament championship to Eldorado. Rounding out the field of 16 is the undefeated, #2 seed, Las Cruces Bulldawgs, who take on fellow district competitor, #15 seed Onate Knights, who the Bulldawgs have beaten three teams previous. The second quarterfinal possibility of Cleveland and Las Cruces at Dreamstyle Arena on Wednesday has fans excited about the chance that those two teams could meet so early in the tournament.
First round matchups in Class 5A boys basketball will begin on Saturday at each higher seed’s home court. The quarterfinals, which will be brought to you here on 101.7 The TEAM, will start Wednesday from Dreamstyle Arena. Semifinals will precede the action on Thursday, followed by the championship game on Saturday at 8:00 pm.
Girls Bracket:
#1 Hobbs Eagles vs. #16 Deming Wildcats
Details: Friday, March 8th, 6:00 pm @ Ralph Tasker Arena at Hobbs High School / First meeting between these two teams this season
Hobbs: Record: 26-2 Overall, 5-1 in District 4 (District 4 Regular Season Co-Champions and Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: Joe Carpenter / Key Wins: Carlsbad x3, Mayfield, Clovis x2
Deming: Record: 16-11 Overall, 5-7 in District 3 / Head Coach: Kimberly Garcia / Key Wins: Roswell, Alamogordo, Centennial
#8 La Cueva Bears vs. #9 Rio Rancho Rams
Details: Friday, March 8th, 7:00 pm @ La Cueva High School / La Cueva leads season series 1-0
La Cueva: Record: 18-7 Overall, 3-5 in District 2 / Head Coach: Robert Perea / Key Wins: Volcano Vista x2, Mayfield, Rio Rancho, Farmington
Rio Rancho: Record: 17-11 Overall, 7-2 in District 1 (District 1 Regular Season Co-Champions) / Head Coach: Scott Peterson / Key Wins: Centennial x2, Onate, Volcano Vista, Cleveland x2
#5 Volcano Vista Hawks vs. #12 Alamogordo Tigers
Details: Friday, March 8th, 6:00 pm @ Volcano Vista High School / First meeting between these two teams this season
Volcano Vista: Record: 21-5 Overall, 8-1 in District 1 (District 1 Regular Season Co-Champions and Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: Lisa Villareal / Key Wins: Rio Rancho x3, Cleveland x3, Cibola x2
Alamogordo: Record: 21-8 Overall, 8-4 in District 3 / Head Coach: Manny Vigil / Key Wins: Centennial, Onate x2, Las Cruces x3
#4 Carlsbad Cavegirls vs. #13 Centennial Hawks
Details: Friday, March 8th, 7:00 pm @ Carlsbad High School / Carlsbad leads season series, 1-0
Carlsbad: Record: 24-5 Overall, 5-1 in District 4 (District 4 Regular Season Co-Champions) / Head Coach: John Zumbrun / Key Wins: Onate, Mayfield, Hobbs
Centennial: Record: 14-13 Overall, 7-5 in District 3 / Head Coach: Louie Laborin / Key Wins: Piedra Vista, Alamogordo, Clovis
#3 West Mesa Mustangs vs. #14 Onate Knights
Details: Friday, March 8th, 7:00 pm @ West Mesa High School / First meeting between these two teams this season
West Mesa: Record: 24-3 Overall, 6-2 in District 2 / Head Coach: Manny Otero / Key Wins: La Cueva x2, Farmington x3, Volcano Vista
Onate: Record: 15-13 Overall, 6-6 in District 3 / Head Coach: Evelyn Reyes / Key Wins: Deming x2, Centennial, Las Cruces x2
#6 Mayfield Trojans vs. #11 Sandia Matadors
Details: Friday, March 8th, 6:00 pm @ Mayfield High School / First meeting between these two teams this season
Mayfield: Record: 23-5 Overall, 12-0 in District 3 (District 3 Regular Season and Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: George Maya / Key Wins: Alamogordo x3, Onate x3, Rio Rancho
Sandia: Record: 19-6 Overall, 10-0 in District 5 (District 5 Regular Season and Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: Lee Kettig / Key Wins: Onate, Las Cruces, Manzano x4
#7 Farmington Scorpions vs. #10 Cleveland Storm
Details: Friday, March 8th, 7:00 pm @ Farmington High School / Cleveland leads season series 1-0
Farmington: Record: 21-8 Overall, 4-4 in District 2 / Head Coach: Larenson Henderson / Key Wins: Piedra Vista, La Cueva x2, Rio Rancho
Cleveland: Record: 19-10 Overall, 4-4 in District 1 / Head Coach: Susan Kubala / Key Wins: Onate, Farmington, Centennial
#2 Piedra Vista Panthers vs. #15 Eldorado Eagles
Details: Friday, March 8th, 5:00 pm @ Piedra Vista High School / Piedra Vista leads season series, 2-0
Piedra Vista: Record: 24-3 Overall, 7-1 in District 2 (District 2 Regular Season and Tournament Champions) / Head Coach: Joe Reed / Key Wins: La Cueva x2, Farmington x2, West Mesa x2
Eldorado: Record: 9-16 Overall, 0-8 in District 2 / Head Coach: Richard Harbin / Key Wins: Centennial, Cleveland, Rio Rancho
Bracket Preview:
The Class 5A girls basketball action is already shaping up to bring some exciting matchups to the table, surely playing out a potential exciting field heading into the semifinals and championship Saturday.
Leading off the field of 16 in Class 5A girls basketball on the left side of the bracket is the #1 Hobbs Eagles, who will face off with the #16 seed Deming Wildcats. The Eagles were able to break out of a regular season tie with Carlsbad to put themselves in the one seed, while the Wildcats look to get back on the winning track after ending district on the wrong feet with three straight losses. They’re paired up with the winner of the #8 vs. #9 matchup, which features the La Cueva Bears and the Rio Rancho Rams at LCHS. The Bears ran into one of the toughest districts in 5A girls basketball this year, finishing fourth in the district, while Rio Rancho competed tightly with the members in their district, but came up short of a district tournament run. The Rams struggle on the road, posing a 2-6 record to be exact. Also on the left side of the bracket is the #5 Volcano Vista Hawks, as they take on the #12 Alamogordo Tigers, making their first playoffs since moving up classifications. The Hawks were able to secure their district tournament championship to ensure a good seed. They’ll match up with the winner of the game between the #4 Carlsbad Cavegirls, and the #13 Centennial Hawks. The Cavegirls were regular season co-champions in a packed District 4, while Centennial was able to put together a good season thanks to a solid district record.
On the right side of the bracket, the matchups are headlined by the #3 seed West Mesa Mustangs, who will face off with the #14 seed Onate Knights, and whoever wins that matchup will take on the winner of the game between the #6 seed Mayfield Trojans and the #11 Sandia Matadors. The Mustangs and the Trojans have met earlier on in the regular season, a game West Mesa won handily. The lower half features the #2 Piedra Vista Panthers matching up with the #15 Eldorado Eagles, a district foe that the Panthers have beaten twice already, and they’ll be matched up with the winner of the #7 vs. #10 matchup, which features the Farmington Scorpions and the Cleveland Storm. The Storm was able to “upset” the Scorpions earlier on in the season.
The first round of the girl’s bracket will begin on Friday at each higher seed’s home site, followed by the quarterfinals at Dreamstyle Arena on Tuesday. The semifinals will then proceed the action on Thursday, followed by the championship game on Saturday.
101.7 The Team will bring you coverage of the state basketball tournament starting on Wednesday, March 13th from Dreamstyle Arena, The Pit. Coverage will continue all day on Thursday, March 14th, all leading up to championship Saturday on March 16th. Our crew will bring you all the action you will be looking for.