2025 Metro Tournament: Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 Metro Tournament was a multi-game in-season tournament held in Albuquerque, N.M. that featured 16 total teams. Due to multiple host-sites, all participating programs played four games in a five-day period.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a brief recap of what transpired from the Championship game and how each of the two teams got there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"textAlign":"center"} --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Final Results</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table {"align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1st: Hobbs Eagles</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2nd: Kirtland Central Broncos</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">3rd: Sandia Matadors</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">4th: Rio Rancho Rams</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">5th: Albuquerque High Bulldogs</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">6th: La Cueva Bears</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">7th: Cleveland Storm</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">8th: Volcano Vista Hawks</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">9th: Highland Hornets</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">10th: Cibola Cougars</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">11th: West Mesa Mustangs</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">12th: Eldorado Eagles</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">13th: Hope Christian Huskies</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">14th: Del Norte Knights</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">15th: Atrisco Heritage Academy Jaguars</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">16th: Rio Grande Ravens</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"textAlign":"center"} --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Title Game: Hobbs defeats Kirtland Central, 83-49</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Powerhouse programs Kirtland Central and Hobbs matched up in the Metro Title game on Jan. 11 -- Here's how they got there:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kirtland Central is an offensive juggernaut that likes to share and rotate the ball. Additionally, they have multiple players such as [player_tooltip player_id='1068199' first='Allyson' last='Tsosie'], [player_tooltip player_id='1058912' first='Elaina' last='Clani'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1058917' first='Zoey' last='Benally'], that can space the floor but also create off the bounce. Not to mention, 'glue-players' like [player_tooltip player_id='1221595' first='Krista' last='Tsingine-Yazzie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='893562' first='Haylee' last='Nocki']. The combination results in the Broncos being tough to contain in the half-court. Through the first three-rounds of the Metro Tournament, the Broncos averaged 59.6 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the flip-side, Hobbs was allowing just 32.6 points entering the title game. Anchored by [player_tooltip player_id='458555' first='Bhret' last='Clay'] and [player_tooltip player_id='467050' first='Kyndle' last='Cunningham'], the defensive intensity from Hobbs was outstanding and never declined. What's more, Hobbs frequently displayed the ability to closeout possessions in a variety of ways with either blocks, rebounds or steals. Finally, opposing ball-handlers had little to no separation due to the constant on-ball pressure and overwhelming speed out on the perimeter. The back-court rotation of [player_tooltip player_id='458556' first='Brynn' last='Hargrove'], [player_tooltip player_id='467055' first='Nakia' last='Mojica'], [player_tooltip player_id='831119' first='Matysen' last='Zapeda'], [player_tooltip player_id='831118' first='Aliana' last='Armitage'] and [player_tooltip player_id='467052' first='Carolina' last='Saiz'] gave Head Coach Joe Carpenter a plethora of choices to work with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table alignleft"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Results by Round</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Kirtland Central Broncos</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Hobbs Eagles</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1st Round</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">63-42 (W) @ Highland</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">65-31 (W) @ Hope Christian</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2nd Round</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">55-36 (W) vs La Cueva</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">67-37 (W) @ Volcano Vista</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">3rd Round</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">61-58 (W) vs Sandia</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">66-30 (W) vs Rio Rancho</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Championship game, the senior trio of [player_tooltip player_id='458555' first='Bhret' last='Clay'], [player_tooltip player_id='467050' first='Kyndle' last='Cunningham'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458556' first='Brynn' last='Hargrove'] combined for 52 points for the Eagles. All three generated and converted on clean open looks, playing within the flow of the game. Clay finished with a game-high 25 points, scoring the rock at multiple levels. Cunningham tallied 15 points and dominated the paint-area while Hargrove stretched the floor, chipping in with 12. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Broncos were led by their freshman standout [player_tooltip player_id='1068199' first='Allyson' last='Tsosie'] who started the game scorching hot. Tsosie scored all 15 of the Broncos first quarter points, connecting on multiple three-pointers that were heavily contested. However, not much else materialized the rest of the way for both Tsosie and Kirtland Central. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 34-point victory gave the Eagles their 16th straight win, which advances them to 16-1 overall. As for the Broncos, they now hold a 12-2 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Statistics via MaxPreps*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->