NM State Tournament First Round: Top Performers

The New Mexico high school basketball state tournament started this past Friday March 4th. We had 40 games across the state between the 1A-5A classes which included 80 teams from around New Mexico. With so much excitement throughout the state, there was several great performances that were displayed on the biggest stage of the season. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="357657" first="Taejhuan" last="Hill"]- 5’11 Center "Volcano Vista" Class of 2024</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="357657" first="Taejhuan" last="Hill"] had a great performance in the first round of the 2022 state tournament. She had a monster double-double vs Santa Fe. She scored 21 points on 8/17 shooting from the field and grabbed 18 rebounds in the 72-28 win vs #16 Santa Fe.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://x.com/505_podcast/status/1500150367887273985?s=20&amp;t=XSVbV90-EUtq2QBs_MpOVQ" /></video> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="391108" first="Jadyn" last="Montoya"]- Guard "Valencia" Class of 2025</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Freshman [player_tooltip player_id="391108" first="Jadyn" last="Montoya"] was one of the top scoring freshman averaging 9.5 points per game this year and had her best performance of the season in the first round of the 2022 state tournament. She scored a game high 22 points and to lead Valencia to a 59-43 win vs #9 Hope Christian.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://x.com/505_podcast/status/1500160551711911936?s=20&amp;t=2ITPUWBYa_I8KkggI6IQxQ" /></video> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="353683" first="Juliana" last="Aragon"]- 5’5 Point Guard "Bernalillo" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="353683" first="Juliana" last="Aragon"] had a strong performance in the first round of the 2022 state tournament. She helped lead #3 Bernalillo to a 62-24 win vs #14 Silver. She scored over 20 points and had 9 assists in the teams victory.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://x.com/505_podcast/status/1500138365370437639?s=20&amp;t=2ITPUWBYa_I8KkggI6IQxQ" /></video> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="391183" first="Donata" last="Secatero"]- 5’5 Forward "To’Hajiilee" Class of 2023</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Donata led To’Hajiilee to a narrow 43-39 home victory vs #9 Reserve this past Friday March 4th. She scored 14 points to help lead To’Hajiilee to the state quarterfinals this Tuesday March 8th. This season she has averaged 11.3 points per game.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="391106" first="Tana" last="Lopez"]- 5’4 Guard "Mesa Vista" Class of 2025</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">This season freshman [player_tooltip player_id="391106" first="Tana" last="Lopez"] has averaged 13.4 points per game which led Mesa Vista in scoring. This past Friday, March 4th she led #10 Mesa Vista to an upset victory on the road vs #7 Santa Rosa 64-57. She scored a game high 26 points.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="391177" first="Amarissa" last="Quintana"]- 5’6 Shooting Guard "Mesa Vista" Class of 2023</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Mesa Vista captain [player_tooltip player_id="391177" first="Amarissa" last="Quintana"] played a huge role in the teams upset victory vs #7 Santa Rosa. Mesa Vista defeated Santa Rosa 64-57 on the road this past Friday March 4th. Amarissa was the teams second leading scorer with 17 points in the first round of the 2022 state tournament.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="353694" first="Natalia" last="Chavez"]- 5’9 Shooting Guard "Volcano Vista" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Defending state champion [player_tooltip player_id="353694" first="Natalia" last="Chavez"] led the #1 seeded Volcano Vista Hawks to a 72-28 victory vs #16 Santa Fe. Natalia scored 16 points on 7/17 shooting from the field and made a pair of three-pointers.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="353744" first="Denice" last="Ryan"]- 5’2 Point Guard "Highland" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Highland star [player_tooltip player_id="353744" first="Denice" last="Ryan"] led #5 Highland past the first round vs #12 St.Pius 48-45. Denice scored 16 points on 4/9 shooting from the field, shot 8/11 from the free throw line, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 4 assists.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="353693" first="Jaelyn" last="Bates"]- 5’6 Point Guard "Volcano Vista" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Defending state champion [player_tooltip player_id="353693" first="Jaelyn" last="Bates"] helped #1 Volcano Vista move past the first round this past Friday March 4th. [player_tooltip player_id="353693" first="Jaelyn" last="Bates"] scored 15 points as Volcano Vista defeated #16 Santa Fe 72-28.</p>