2024 State Championships: Players to Watch from Each 5A Team

The 2024 State Championships will begin on March 8. The Round of 16 allows for the top 8 seeds to host a game before moving onto the Elite 8 held at 'The Pit', home of the UNM Lobos, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.   Listed below is a player from each team in the 5A class, that is either a household name or on the brink of becoming one.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Hobbs Eagles - [player_tooltip player_id='458555' first='Bhret' last='Clay']   Clay, the District 4-5A Player of the Year, is a physical slasher that welcomes contact. Bhret possesses good footwork and is strong at the point of attack. The junior is also a terrific weak-side rebounder that has the ability to take the ball coast-to-coast, doing so fairly often. Clay is a reliable double-digit scorer who can erupt for 20+ points on any given night.   Sandia Matadors - [player_tooltip player_id='391103' first='Sydney' last='Benally']   Knowing when to attack and when to facilitate is an aspect that may take time to develop or understand. In the case of Matadors junior PG, [player_tooltip player_id='391103' first='Sydney' last='Benally'], well let's say, she has it down. In addition to averaging 20.2 points per game this season, Benally has registered her third consecutive season totaling 100+ assists. Sydney has 111 in 27 games played, an average of 4.1 assists per game!   Farmington Scorpions - [player_tooltip player_id='391245' first='Kapiolani' last='Anitielu']   Kapiolani, an Eastern Wyoming College signee, is a multiskilled player with great length and speed. The soon to be Lancer has put up 17.1 points per game on 47 percent from the field. More than just a scorer, Anitielu is also a willing passer and plus defender for the Scorpions. Kapiolani totaled 104 assists and 109 steals, a 3.9 and 4.0 average, respectively.   Volcano Vista Hawks - [player_tooltip player_id='357657' first='Taejhuan' last='Hill']   Hill, a 6'0" senior signed to Adams State, made a career-high eight 3-pointers this year, albiet at 22 percent. It does however show that Hill continues to expand her game and is willing to take the shot, if opposing teams play drop coverage. Her bread and butter is still of course 'bully ball' down in the lane. Hill is strong and physical and is tough to keep off the glass and away from the restricted area. In 25 games played, Taejhuan has posted 16.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game for the Hawks thus far.   Mayfield Trojans - [player_tooltip player_id='391117' first='Jazlene' last='Ruiz']   An emerging two-way player averaging a career best, 12.9 points shooting 40 percent from the field. Ruiz is a strong physical guard that is very disruptive on the defensive end. The junior CG has active hands and puts herself in great position, jumping passing lanes with ease. Ruiz has 106 total steals which amounts to 4.1 per game!   Organ Mountain Knights - [player_tooltip player_id='357650' first='Caitlin' last='Turnbow']   Turnbow, the District 3-5A Player of the Year, was stellar for Organ Mountain during the regular season. Caitlin is a terrific glass cleaner who averaged 11.3 rebounds on top of her 17 points per game. The future Fort Lewis Skyhawk, has 50 career Double-Doubles in a Knights uniform and has a very high chance of being selected to an All-State team this year.   Eldorado Eagles - [player_tooltip player_id='370329' first='Bella' last='Hines']   The 5'9" guard has gone back to back seasons as the States leading scorer. Hines, the no. 31 ranked player in the <a href="https://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/rankings/_/class/2025">ESPNW Super60</a>, put up a cool 34 points per game on 41 percent from the field. Bella is an absolute sniper from deep, connecting on 127 3-pointers at a respectable 35 percent clip, in just 26 games played! Bella also happens to be the new All-Time Leading scorer at Eldorado -- regardless of gender -- at 2314 points and is the new APS All-Time Points leader for girls with 2110 points.   La Cueva Bears - [player_tooltip player_id='357673' first='Eva' last='Love']   The lone player from the 2024 class signed to play DI ball -- Air Force -- Eva is a skilled three-level scorer with a good feel and pace to her game. Love has made 160 field goals up to this point and is averaging 16.7 points per game for the Bears. La Cueva will look to get back to the Final 4 but will need Love to have numerous big outings, which she is fully capable of.   Rio Rancho Rams - [player_tooltip player_id='878758' first='Makenna' last='Lee']   Lee, a 5'8" forward, is a high energy player with a great motor. Makenna is one of the senior leaders for the Rams who are promising but inexperienced. With that said, anything can happen during the month of March. The Rams will enter Friday's matchup averaging 53.9 points per game while holding opponents' to under 43.   Albuquerque High Bulldogs - [player_tooltip player_id='648201' first='Lailah' last='Bouldin']   Bouldin, a First Team All-District selection, has averaged 14.3 points in 27 games played thus far for the Bulldogs. The sophomore SG can create off the dribble but also step out and hit the 3ball. Lailah has 41 3PM, which is a team-high for the District 5-5A Champions.   Carlsbad Cavewomen - [player_tooltip player_id='1054256' first='Abbey' last='Dugan']   Dugan is a backcourt player that is very flexible in terms of playing both on ball/off ball and defending multiple positions. The 5'9" junior anticipates well, has active hands and constantly looks for the throw ahead/kick ahead pass on the fast break. Abbey's playmaking will definitely be needed as Carlsbad enters the Round of 16, averaging 38 points per game across 28 games.   Clovis Wildcats - [player_tooltip player_id='357695' first='Zarai' last='Lewis']   So far in 2023-24, Zarai has averaged 16.4 points while shooting 41 percent from the field for the Wildcats. Employed as their first option, Lewis is at her best when she is able to operate in the midrange and as a baseline runner for Clovis. Her length creates problems for opposing defenders resulting in double-teams being sent her way. However, Lewis is a capable 3-point shooter who has 35 3PM in 28 games played.   Cleveland Storm - [player_tooltip player_id='370403' first='Kindyll' last='Sandoval']   Sandoval is a floor spacer, who is good on catch and shoot 3-point attempts. Kindyll has deep range which can be game-changing; Once in a rhythm, Sandoval is tough to contain out on the perimeter. Worth noting, is the fact that the 5'6" SG has played thru an injured shoulder all season for the Storm.   Los Lunas Tigers - [player_tooltip player_id='642725' first='Tessa' last='Jaramillo']   Tessa was an All-District First Team Selection out of District 5, who is quietly becoming a tenacious defender. Jaramillo is a great on ball defender with good lateral quickness and a superb motor. The 5'6" junior is constantly creating deflections and has no problem sacrificing her body for loose balls.   Alamogordo Tigers - [player_tooltip player_id='635354' first='Abby' last='Vazquez']   Vazquez is a seasoned SG with good length and speed. Vazquez flourishes in the open court both as a playmaker and as the 'trailer' in regards to stopping and popping, pull up transition 3's. The senior SG and member of the 1000 Point Club, has deep range and has no problem letting it fly in catch & shoot situations for the Tigers when in the halfcourt.   Las Cruces Bulldawgs - [player_tooltip player_id='814476' first='Bethzy' last='Quinones']   Bethzy is a hard-working SG that maximizes her minutes on the floor. Quinones is a fierce competitor who led the Bulldawgs in both scoring (10.1) and rebounds (5.0). The junior registered 272 total points and 135 total rebounds for Las Cruces in 27 games, making a tremendous stride in her development.

The 2024 State Championships will begin on March 8. The Round of 16 allows for the top 8 seeds to host a game before moving onto the Elite 8 held at 'The Pit', home of the UNM Lobos, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.