2023 APS Metro Girls Basketball Tournament Preview
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The APS Metro Basketball Championships are played every season to start the New Year in January. This is the largest mid-season tournament in New Mexico consisting of sixteen teams. This event is from Tuesday January 3rd to Saturday January 7th.…
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Continue ReadingThe APS Metro Basketball Championships are played every season to start the New Year in January. This is the largest mid-season tournament in New Mexico consisting of sixteen teams. This event is from Tuesday January 3rd to Saturday January 7th. In years past, the Metro Tournament consisted of teams mostly in the Metro Area. This year’s Metro Tournament has new teams participating in this event. Before the start of the tournament, we will preview each First Round Matchup.
Hobbs (10-2) vs Rio Rancho (7-4) at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
The Hobbs Eagles are one of the newest teams in the Metro Tournament. They started the season off strong at 10-2 coming into this tournament and are led by their young sophomores; Bhret Clay Bhret Clay 5'9" | SG Hobbs | 2025 State NM , Brynn Hargrove Brynn Hargrove 5'6" | PG Hobbs | 2025 State NM and Kyndle Cunningham Kyndle Cunningham 6'0" | PF Hobbs | 2025 State NM . They are the early season Title favorites and can strengthen their argument by winning this Metro Tournament against some of the state’s top teams in the Metro Area.
La Cueva (6-3) vs Cibola (1-9) at 7:15pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
The La Cueva Bears ended the year of 2022 off strong winning their last three games and winning the Holiday Hoopla Tournament in Las Cruces. The La Cueva Bears made it to the Metro Championship last year vs the Volcano Vista Hawks. In this year’s Metro Tournament, they look to have similar success. They will be led by Jordyn Dyer and Eva Love Eva Love 5'9" | SG La Cueva | 2024 State NM , who are both averaging double figures in points per game. It’s likely the Bears will face Hobbs in the Metro Quarterfinals which will be a fun matchup vs Bhret Clay Bhret Clay 5'9" | SG Hobbs | 2025 State NM and Brynn Hargrove Brynn Hargrove 5'6" | PG Hobbs | 2025 State NM .
Cleveland (8-5) vs West Mesa (5-3) at 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
This will be one of the most even matchups in the First Round of the Girls Metro Tournament. Both the Cleveland and West Mesa teams have a similar record in terms of winning percentage. This matchup can go either way. The attention will be on West Mesa’s duo; Cece Thrasher and Destiny Jackson Destiny Jackson 5'8" | CG West Mesa | 2024 State NM who combine for almost 30 points per game; (15.8) & (13.6). If those two get going, it will be a long night for the Cleveland Storm.
Santa Fe (3-7) vs Eldorado (3-4) at 7:00pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
Both the Santa Fe Demons and Eldorado Eagles have three wins on the season and will face off in the first round of this Metro Tournament. The spotlight will be on Bella Hines Bella Hines 5'10" | CG Eldorado | 2025 State NM ; the states leading scorer at 28.7 points per game. She is more than capable of exploding in this tournament and helping the Eagles make an unexpected run. When she gets in the zone, theirs almost nothing you can do.
Gallup (7-2) vs Hope Christian (6-4) at 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
The Gallup Bengals and the Hope Christian Huskies are two of the newest teams competing in this Metro Tournament. It will be exciting to see which team can get their first metro win in school history. Keep your eyes on the Huskies Star duo of; Kathleen Obisike Kathleen Obisike 5'11" | C Hope Christian | 2023 State NM and Alyssa Vigil Alyssa Vigil 5'8" | SF Hope Christian | 2023 State NM . They’re one of the state’s most dangerous duos and complement each other well. After a slow start to the season, they ended 2022 with three straight victories to close out the year. Kathleen Obisike Kathleen Obisike 5'11" | C Hope Christian | 2023 State NM is averaging a monster double-double; 20.6 points per game and 15.5 rebounds per game. Alyssa Vigil Alyssa Vigil 5'8" | SF Hope Christian | 2023 State NM is averaging a solid 17.0 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 3.0 assists per game. Hope Christian might be one of the most underrated teams in this tournament.
Atrisco Heritage (4-3) vs Highland (4-7) at 7:15pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
Two teams that are familiar with the Metro Tournament, Atrisco Heritage and Highland faceoff in a contest that can go either way. This will be about Janessa Gallegos Janessa Gallegos 5'2" | SG Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM and Aaliyah Nevarez Aaliyah Nevarez 5'10" | SF Highland | 2023 State NM ; the two stars from each team. Which can lead their team to victory. Janessa Gallegos Janessa Gallegos 5'2" | SG Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM from Atrisco Heritage is averaging 18.0 points per game and Aliyah Nevarez averaging 14.0 points per game, including 6.0 rebounds per game. Which player will outduel the other?
Volcano Vista (10-1) vs Albuquerque (9-1) at 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
This might be the best matchup of the First Round of the Girls Metro Tournament and may be one of the best matchups of the tournament in general. It’s a shame both teams got paired up right away because both of these squads are more than capable of winning this tournament. These are two similar teams with great post players: Taejhuan Hill Taejhuan Hill 5'11" | C Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM and Leilani Love Leilani Love 6'1" | C Albuquerque | 2023 State NM . Taejhuan Hill Taejhuan Hill 5'11" | C Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM is averaging 16.5 ppg & 10.8 rpg while Leilani Love Leilani Love 6'1" | C Albuquerque | 2023 State NM is averaging 18.2 ppg & 9.8 rpg. Each team has sensational guard play with: Mila Espinoza Mila Espinoza 5'4" | CG Volcano Vista | 2025 State NM and Ariana Sanchez Ariana Sanchez 5'10" | CG Albuquerque | 2023 State NM . Both guards are their respective teams second leading scorers at 14.5 ppg and 14.2 ppg. Both teams are well coached and if there’s a game you should go to in the First Round, this is the one. This game could go either way between two of the state’s top contenders.
Sandia (7-1) vs Valley (7-3) at 7:15pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
This is a battle between two seven-win teams from the 5A and 4A Classes. This can be a defensive type of game between two good defensive teams. This matchup will come down to if the Valley Vikings can keep up scoring with Sandia. The Sandia Matadors average 69 points per game as a team while the Valley Vikings average 46.6 points per game. Sandia plays faster and a more up-tempo offense while the Vikings play the opposite. Which team will control the pace? If the Matadors Big Three gets rolling, it will be a long evening for the Vikings. Sydney Benally Sydney Benally 5'9" | PG Sandia | 2025 State NM is averaging 25.1 ppg, Hope Giddings Hope Giddings 5'8" | SG Sandia | 2025 State NM is averaging 16.8 ppg and Audriana Wright Audriana Wright 5'10" | SF Sandia | 2025 State NM is averaging 11.6 ppg. They have arguable the best trio in the Metro Tournament.