2024 State Championships: Elite Eight Preview
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The 2024 Nusenda Credit Union Girls Basketball State Championships has now reached the quarterfinal round, resulting in the remaining teams from both the 5A and 4A levels moving one step closer to a Blue trophy. The Elite Eight features matchups…
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Continue ReadingThe 2024 Nusenda Credit Union Girls Basketball State Championships has now reached the quarterfinal round, resulting in the remaining teams from both the 5A and 4A levels moving one step closer to a Blue trophy.
The Elite Eight features matchups between programs filled with talented players and game-changers.
Here is the full Elite Eight schedule — matchups and times — for Tuesday.
TIME | CLASS | MATCHUP
8 a.m. | 4A | No. 3 Artesia vs No. 11 Deming
Deming got the upset win over No. 6 Albuquerque Academy, 56-35, in the Round of 16. The Wildcats, led by Jacqueline Aguayo Jacqueline Aguayo SG Deming | 2025 State NM ‘s 22 points, were the only team double digit seed in 4A to get a road win.
As for the Bulldogs, they defeated No. 14 Silver 61-33, at home. Artesia’s Lorin Wagner Lorin Wagner 6'0" | C Artesia | 2024 State NM , Hattie Harrison Hattie Harrison 5'11" | PF Artesia | 2025 State NM and Kailee Padilla Kailee Padilla 5'6" | PG Artesia | 2026 State NM are players to watch as each can take over for stretches in a game.
9:45 a.m. | 5A | No. 5 Mayfield vs No. 4 Volcano Vista
Mayfield dug deep and held on to advance to the Elite Eight, with a 31-28 win over No. 12 Clovis in the opening round. Forward Ceanna McKines Ceanna McKines PF Mayfield | 2026 State NM registered a Double-Double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Question is, can she do it again against the best big in the State, Taejhuan Hill Taejhuan Hill 5'11" | C Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM ? Hill is the senior leader for No. 4 Volcano Vista, who are fresh off a 75-47 (W) over No. 13 Cleveland.
11:30 a.m. | 4A | No. 7 Bloomfield vs No. 2 SPX
The Bobcats had two players — Aliya Quintana Aliya Quintana PF Bloomfield | 2024 State NM and Danielle Johnson Danielle Johnson 5'8" | PF Bloomfield | 2024 State NM — log Double-Doubles in the opening round. Quintana posted 18 points and 12 rebounds while Johnson totaled 14 points and 10 rebounds. Together the pair went 14/31 from the field leading Bloomfield to a 49-35 (W) vs No. 10 Los Alamos
SPX’s dynamic duo of Alyssa Maes Alyssa Maes 5'8" | SG St. Pius X | 2024 State NM and Catalina Anaya Catalina Anaya 5'5" | PG St, Pius X | 2025 State NM proved to be too much, as the No. 2 Sartans defeated the No. 15 Sundevils, 59-29. The backcourt tandem combined for 34 points, scoring 17 apiece.
1:15 p.m. | 5A | No. 7 Eldorado vs No. 2 Sandia
Sydney Benally Sydney Benally 5'9" | PG Sandia | 2025 State NM went bonkers in the Matadors Round of 16 win vs the tigers, logging a game-high 36 points. The junior PG went 15/20 from the field, including going 4/5 behind the arc. Benally also recorded 6 assists and 5 steals in Sandia’s 83-44 win vs No. 15 Alamogordo
Eldorado allowed just 4 FG in the second half of their Round of 16 match against No. 10 AHS. Forward Chioma Holyfield led the way for Eldorado with a game-high 17 points and 9 rebounds, going a perfect 8/8 from the field. Bella Hines Bella Hines 5'10" | CG Eldorado | 2025 State NM chipped in with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists
3 p.m. | 4A | No. 5 Portales vs No. 4 Gallup
Each club will enter Tuesday’s matchup with 20 or more wins overall. The Rams (20-8) and the Bengals (22-8) each have players capable of winning and dominating their individual matchups at their respective positions. For Portales, it is the versatile Myleigh Banda, who is a lefty SG listed at 5’8″ that can alter and block shots at a high level. For Gallup, it is their All-State Center Rylie Whitehair Rylie Whitehair 6'2" | C Gallup | 2025 State NM ; A bruiser in the interior who also has touch from the midrange.
4:45 p.m. | 5A | No. 3 Farmington vs No. 6 Organ Mountain
It was another great outing for the Anitielu sisters as the pair dominated vs No. 14 Los Lunas. Kjani Anitielu Kjani Anitielu 5'8" | SG Farmington | 2026 State NM had 22 points (3PT: 5/6) 6 rebounds and 5 steals while Kapiolani Anitielu Kapiolani Anitielu 5'10" | SF Farmington | 2024 State NM had a cool 18 points 7 rebounds and 6 steals in the 75-45 win.
Can Farmington repeat their success from earlier this season? On 12/16, the Knights made just one 3-pointer and took 5 altogether, as the Scorpions won 61-50. In that game, senior Yvanna Villareal Yvanna Villareal 5'6" | CG Organ Mountain | 2024 State NM scored a team-high 17 points for OM but was held without an assist, a rare occurrence.
6:30 p.m. | 4A | No. 1 Kirtland Central vs No. 8 Valencia
The Broncos held the No. 16 Tigers to 29 percent shooting (FG: 11/38) and forced 32 turnovers in their 57-25 opening round win. KC sits at 26-3 overall with several playmakers on their roster (Allyson Tsosie and Emilia Clani Emilia Clani PG Kirtland Central | 2024 State NM )
In a OT thriller, Valencia defeated No. 9 Lovington, 55-52 in the Round of 16. The Jaguars overcame a 7-point halftime deficit thanks to the tremendous play from Jadyn Montoya Jadyn Montoya SG Valencia | 2025 State NM and the Montgomery siblings — Jaiden Montgomery Jaiden Montgomery SF Valencia | 2026 State NM and Eden Montgomery — propelling Valencia into the Elite Eight.
8:15 p.m. | 5A | No. 1 Hobbs vs No. 8 La Cueva
As expected, Hobbs — the top overall seed — defeated No. 16 Las Cruces 68-29, in the Round of 16. Bhret Clay Bhret Clay 5'9" | SG Hobbs | 2025 State NM , Brynn Hargrove Brynn Hargrove 5'6" | PG Hobbs | 2025 State NM , Nakia Mojica Nakia Mojica 5'6" | CG Hobbs | 2025 State NM , Kyndle Cunningham Kyndle Cunningham 6'0" | PF Hobbs | 2025 State NM , Aliana Armitage Aliana Armitage SG Hobbs | 2026 State NM , Carolina Saiz Carolina Saiz 5'5" | SG Hobbs | 2025 State NM and Jayla David Jayla David 5'10" | PF Hobbs | 2025 State NM have been phenomenal all season long and are arguably the most skilled 7-player rotation there is.
As for La Cueva, the dynamic duo of Eva Love Eva Love 5'9" | SG La Cueva | 2024 State NM & Jordyn Dyer Jordyn Dyer PF La cueva | 2026 State NM combined for 44 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists and 8 steals in the Bears 66-50 (W) vs No. 9 Rio Rancho.
This is a must-see rematch from the Metro Tournament — Bears defeated the Eagles 57-54.