5A Girls State Tournament Preview
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The New Mexico High School Basketball State Tournament starts this Friday March 4th, and this article will go over the Girls 5A Bracket consisting of 16 teams and 8 matchups. The First Round is Friday March 4th, the Quarterfinals are…
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Continue ReadingThe New Mexico High School Basketball State Tournament starts this Friday March 4th, and this article will go over the Girls 5A Bracket consisting of 16 teams and 8 matchups. The First Round is Friday March 4th, the Quarterfinals are Tuesday March 8th, the Semifinals are Thursday March 10th and the Championship games are Friday March 11th.
#1 Volcano Vista vs #16 Santa Fe
The 2021 defending 5A State Champions started their title defense this season by going 25-0 in the regular season, winning their district title by going 8-0 in district play than winning their district tournament. This team was led by NM Lobo Commits, Natalia Chavez Natalia Chavez 5'9" | SG Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM and Jaelyn Bates Jaelyn Bates 5'6" | PG Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM . Natalia averaged 17.2 points per game and Jaelyn Bates Jaelyn Bates 5'6" | PG Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM averaged 13.0 points this season. Jaelyn Bates Jaelyn Bates 5'6" | PG Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM was the district player of the year this season. Sophomore Taejhuan Hill Taejhuan Hill 5'11" | C Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM also averaged 11.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. This team also got strong contributions from the District defensive player of the year Kennedy Brown Kennedy Brown 5'4" | CG Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM , she is the type of player every championship team needs. Angelyn Aranda Angelyn Aranda 6'0" | C Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM also provides interior defense and rebounding inside the paint. Santa Fe went 18-9 this season,8-2 in district play and finished 2nd in their district. This team was led by seniors Olivia Montoya, Alexis Espinoza, Laisha Diaz, Sam Montoya, Kabreya Garcia Romero and Marisol Serna.
#8 Centennial vs #9 Mayfield
Centennial went 19-9 this season, 9-3 in district play and finished 3rd in district. This team was led by star Aspen Salazar Aspen Salazar 5'9" | SF Centennial | 2023 State NM who averaged 14.4 points per game this season. Joslyn Montez was the teams second leading scorer averaging 10.4 points per game this season. Mayfield secured the 9th seed by going 17-11 this season and went 8-4 in district play. Margarita Salas Margarita Salas 5'4" | CG Mayfield | 2022 State NM led the team in scoring averaging 12.3 points this season.
#5 Las Cruces vs #12 Clovis
The Las Cruces Bulldawgs had a solid regular season winning their district title. They went 21-7 this season and went 10-2 in district play. They were led by their scoring trio Emma Christiano Emma Christiano 5'4" | PG Las Cruces | 2023 State NM , Jaci Powers Jaci Powers 5'10" | SG Las Cruces | 2022 State NM and Lila Ashida. Emma averaged 14.5 points per game, Lila averaged 12.4 points per game and Jaci averaged 12.3 points this season. Las Cruces will be one of the favorites to win it all this season. Clovis secured the 12th seed by going 18-10 in the regular season and was led by Zarai Lewis Zarai Lewis 5'7" | SG Clovis | 2024 State NM who led the team in scoring by averaging 12.3 points per game.
#4 Farmington vs #13 Eldorado
Farmington went a solid 26-2 this season, went 8-2 in district play and finished second in their district. They won their district tournament championship to secure the #2 seed. They were led by one of the top players in the state, Kiiyani Anitielu Kiiyani Anitielu 5'7" | PG Farmington | 2022 State NM who averaged 20.2 points per game this season. Kamalani Anitielu Kamalani Anitielu 5'6" | PG Farmington | 2023 State NM averaged 12.9 points per game and Audrey Henderson Audrey Henderson 5'2" | SG Farmington | 2022 State NM averaged 12.1 points this season. Eldorado went 12-13 in the regular season, and secured the 13th seed in this years tournament. They were led by freshman Bella Hines Bella Hines 5'10" | CG Eldorado | 2025 State NM who averaged 22.8 points per game this season. Expect her to give Eldorado a chance in this matchup.
#3 La Cueva vs #14 Sandia
La Cueva was one of the best teams this season with their consistent play. La Cueva went 19-6 this season, won district with a 9-1 record and secured the 3rd seed. They were led by sophomore Eva Love Eva Love 5'9" | SG La Cueva | 2024 State NM who averaged 13.5 points per game and senior Rylie Ottmann Rylie Ottmann 5'7" | PG La Cueva | 2022 State NM who averaged 11.2 points per game this season. Carolina Romero provided solid three point shooting and Teona Savic Teona Savic 5'7" | SF La Cueva | 2022 State NM provided solid mid range scoring. Olivia Haddock and Alexis Ayers also gives this team depth and energy throughout ball games. Sandia has a young up and coming team on the rise to keep our eyes on for the next several years. They are led by their two freshman Sydney Benally Sydney Benally 5'9" | PG Sandia | 2025 State NM and Hope Giddings Hope Giddings 5'8" | SG Sandia | 2025 State NM . Sydney leads the team in scoring averaging 15.5 points per game and Hope is the teams second leading scorer averaging 11.3 points this season. They also have some experience and leadership led by Mariah Maes Mariah Maes 5'9" | SF Sandia | 2022 State NM and gets strong contributions from their other freshman Adriana Wright. This is the fourth matchup between these two district rivals. La Cueva won the series 3-0 winning the three matchups 54-25, 53-41 and 60-45.
#6 Organ Mountain vs #11 Albuquerque
Organ Mountain went 21-8 this season, finished second in district by going 9-3 in district play. This team was led by their scoring duo Harmanie Dominguez and Caitlin Turnbow Caitlin Turnbow 5'10" | PF Organ Mountain | 2024 State NM . Harmanie was one of the top leaders in scoring per game this season averaging 21.0 this season. Caitlin averaged 12.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this season. They will be a tough matchup for any team in this years tournament. Albuquerque went 20-6 this season, won their district title by going undefeated at 10-0 in district play. They were led by one of the top players in New Mexico, Lelani Love. She averaged a double-double in the regular season averaging 19.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game this season. Ariana Sanchez Ariana Sanchez 5'10" | CG Albuquerque | 2023 State NM was the teams second leading scorer averaging 11.0 points this season.
#7 Carlsbad vs #10 Cleveland
Carlsbad went 21-7 this season, 4-2 in district play and finished second in district this season. They were led by Alexa Dugan, Morgan Boatwright and Charlize Lopez. They will be one of the tournaments most underrated teams. Cleveland secured the 10th seed after going 16-11 in the regular season and 5-3 in district play. They were led by their two highly rated players Angelique Abeyta Angelique Abeyta 5'3" | PG Cleveland (RioRancho) | 2022 State NM and Allyson Frank Allyson Frank 6'0" | PF Cleveland (Rio Rancho) | 2022 State NM .
#2 Hobbs vs #15 Piedra Vista
Hobbs went 20-7 during the regular season, won their district title by going 6-0 in district play. They will be one of the early favorites to win this 5A tournament. They were led by their highly rated players Arilyn Hall Arilyn Hall 5'4" | CG Hobbs | 2022 State NM , Rozlynn Ramsey, Araceli Torres, Leilani Clay and Bianca Guerra. Piedra Vista went 16-11 in the regular season and secured the 15th seed in this years tournament. They were led by their scoring trio Lanae Billy Lanae Billy 5'8" | SF Piedra Vista | 2022 State NM , Andreanna Eaton and Doniah Gruber. Lanae Billy Lanae Billy 5'8" | SF Piedra Vista | 2022 State NM averaged 20.9 points per game, Andreanna Eaton averaged 12.2 points per game and Doniah Gruber averaged 10.2 points this season. They should be a tough matchup for Hobbs.