5A New Mexico State Quarterfinals - Matt's Headlines

<p>Friday March 3rd, signaled the beginning of the <em>2023 Nusenda Credit Union Girls Basketball State Championship </em>and the opening round for the 5A Class did not disappoint. Intriguing matchups' concluded and now it is time for the Quarterfinals which will be held at <em>The Pit</em> on Tuesday March 7th. </p>   <h2 class="has-text-align-center">Rematch of the Metro Championship</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/HobbsAthletics/status/1631844512535560192 </div></figure>   <p class="has-text-align-left">The Lady Eagles of Hobbs, the #1 overall seed in 5A, will face off against the #8 seed, the Sandia matadors in the quarterfinals of the 2023 State tournament @ 4:45 pm </p>   <p>This Quarterfinal matchup, is a rematch of the Metro Championship that took place earlier this season and it once again, features essentially eight of the top 25 players from the class of 2025. </p>   <p>The Hobbs Eagles (25-3), who are the District 4-5A Champions, are a versatile team that is well balanced on both ends of the floor. Possessing a perimeter threat in [player_tooltip player_id='458556' first='Brynn' last='Hargrove'], slashing scorers such as [player_tooltip player_id='458555' first='Bhret' last='Clay'] and imposing defenders like [player_tooltip player_id='467053' first='Jayla' last='David'] and [player_tooltip player_id='467050' first='Kyndle' last='Cunningham']. The Lady Eagles are now on their third separate winning streak of at least seven games this season! </p>   <p class="has-text-align-left">On the flip side, the Sandia Matadors "BIG 3" is putting up staggering numbers that makes them a very dangerous ball club. The Matadors "BIG 3" of [player_tooltip player_id='391103' first='Sydney' last='Benally'], [player_tooltip player_id='391104' first='Hope' last='Giddings'] and [player_tooltip player_id='391109' first='Audriana' last='Wright'] are combining for 50 points per game, over 17 rebounds, seven assists & more than seven steals on the year. Benally is the engine that drives the team. Giddings is a back to the basket wing player that can hurt teams down on the block. Hope does a great job of establishing position and utilizes a "drop step" very well. Wright is the "Glue-Player" that might just be their most valuable piece in terms of rotations, schemes and overall effort.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Player</td><td>PPG</td><td>RPG</td><td>APG</td><td>SPG</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Benally</td><td>25.0</td><td>7.7</td><td>3.4</td><td>3.5</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Giddings</td><td>14.4</td><td>4.4</td><td>1.6</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Wright</td><td>11.0</td><td>5.3</td><td>2.7</td><td>1.9</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stats via MAx Preps</figcaption></figure>   <p></p>   <p>Matadors star point guard [player_tooltip player_id='391103' first='Sydney' last='Benally'], scored 34 points in the opening round of the 2023 State Tournment vs #9 AHS on 3/3.</p>   <p></p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="has-text-align-center">North vs South</h2>   <p>A terrific quarterfinal matchup that features multiple players who are slated to be candidates for “All-State” teams in 2023. #2 Farmington vs #7 Las Cruces @ 8:15 pm</p>   <p>Farmington (25-3), features the Anitielu sisters, Kamalani, Kapiolani & Kjani; While Las Cruces (21-8) has [player_tooltip player_id='391179' first='Lila' last='Ashida'] and [player_tooltip player_id='353927' first='Emma' last='Christiano']. </p>   <p>The Anitielu trio is combining for 43 ppg and each are shooting 40% or better from the field! Eldest, Kamalani is a certified sniper that should not be left open. Youngest Kjani is a budding guard that provides spacing and a change of pace for the Lady Scorpions. Lastly there is Kapiolani who has absolutely certified herself this season as a superstar and an elite player. Before the season began, Kapiolani was projected to have a tremendous junior campaign ( see article <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/10/rising-2024s-that-are-ready-for-a-big-breakout-season/">https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/10/rising-2024s-that-are-ready-for-a-big-breakout-season/</a> ) and boy, did she ever deliver! </p>   <figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Player</td><td>PPG</td><td>FG%</td></tr><tr><td>(SR) [player_tooltip player_id='353913' first='Kamalani' last='Anitielu']</td><td>14.7</td><td>47%</td></tr><tr><td>(JR) [player_tooltip player_id='391245' first='Kapiolani' last='Anitielu']</td><td>18.2</td><td>46%</td></tr><tr><td>(FR) Kjani Anitielu</td><td>10.1</td><td>40%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stats via Max Preps</figcaption></figure>   <p>Lila & Emma are combining for over 32 points per game from the back court positions making them one of the deadliest duos out on the perimeter to guard. The Bulldawgs "motion" offense allows Lila to cut and slash her way to the basket or block, an area she excels in due to her great footwork. Emma is as fast a player there is; She easily gets into the lane where she likes to pull up for floaters and jumpers. When the defense collapses, She often dishes to Lila for corner and wing 3s. </p>   <p>Bulldawgs Star [player_tooltip player_id='391179' first='Lila' last='Ashida'], scored 21 points which included five 3s, against #10 Clovis in the opening round of the 2023 State Tournament on 3/3.</p>   <p></p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="has-text-align-center">District Champions will clash in the 5A quarterfinals </h2>   <figure class="wp-block-embed alignright is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/CHSLadyHawkBBal/status/1631874832731340800 </div></figure>   <p></p>   <p>The back-to-back defending 5A State champions, Volcano Vista Hawks, who are the District 1-5A Champs, will look to come away victorious as they battle the District 3-5A Champs, the Centennial Hawks from Las Cruces @ 1:15 pm</p>   <p>Volcano defeated Centennial earlier this season back in December - 51 to 45 - on a neutral court as it was apart of the Joe Armijo Classic held at Albuquerque Academy.</p>   <p>All season, Volcano has had a nice 1-2 punch in [player_tooltip player_id='357657' first='Taejhuan' last='Hill'] & [player_tooltip player_id='391323' first='Mila' last='Espinoza']. Each are reliable double digit scorers that compliment one another's ability. Hill is an interior force that causes havoc while Mila is a perimeter player that can stretch opposing defenses well beyond the 3pt line. When Volcano is firing on all cylinders, they are extremely fun to watch. Coach Villareal and the Volcano Vista Hawks (25-3) are currently in the midst of a 12 game winning streak with an average margin of victory exceeding 20 points. </p>   <p>For the Centennial Hawks (21-8), it might come down their ability to not let the Hawks defensive pressure throw them off their game plan. Star player [player_tooltip player_id='353908' first='Aspen' last='Salazar'] is having a season that might land her Gatorade player of the year honors! Salazar is essentially averaging 20/5/5/4… I REPEAT 20/5/5/4 !!! IF Aspen produces any type of stat line reflective of her season averages come Tuesday, Centennial could advance to the next round with ease.</p>   <p></p>   <figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='353908' first='Aspen' last='Salazar']</td><td>PPG</td><td>RPG</td><td>APG</td><td>SPG</td></tr><tr><td>2022-23</td><td>19.9</td><td>5.4</td><td>4.6</td><td>4.3</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stats via Max Preps</figcaption></figure>   <p></p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="has-text-align-center">Sleeper Teams in 5A</h2>   <p>Four versus five matchups are always intriguing and this should be no different. #4 Carlsbad takes on #5 La Cueva in what should be a defensive battle @ 9:45 am!</p>   <p>Carlsbad is allowing less than 33 points per game to opposing teams while the La Cueva Bears (22-7) are forcing north of 11 steals per game!</p>   <p>Bears star guard [player_tooltip player_id='357673' first='Eva' last='Love'] missed 1/3 of the regular season which led many to think the Bears would falter. Ultimately that was not the case as the Bears went on to win the District 2-5A Tournament. They easily handled #12 Mayfield in the opening round and are back to full strength. With a rotation of Love, Freshman Jordyn Dyer, wing players in [player_tooltip player_id='459604' first='Karleigh' last='Gutierrez'], [player_tooltip player_id='459605' first='Alexis' last='Ayers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='459603' first='Olivia' last='Haddock'], Coach Cogan has to like her chances. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/_NMAA/status/1631859652718919680 </div></figure>   <p>As for Carlsbad (24-5), they have quietly been cruising all season and even handed #1 overall seed, Hobbs their lone in-state defeat. Carlsbad is a big team with five players listed at 5'10" or taller. They are led by Senior [player_tooltip player_id='458570' first='Mariana' last='Sepulveda'], a versatile player that can score in a variety of ways - pull up jumpers, hard takes, etc. </p>

Friday March 3rd, signaled the beginning of the 2023 Nusenda Credit Union Girls Basketball State Championship and the opening round for the 5A Class did not disappoint. Intriguing matchups' concluded and now it is time for the Quarterfinals which will be held at The Pit on Tuesday March 7th.