Hobbs Eagles Claim APS Metro Title in Gritty 56-45 Win

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- </em>In a tense, low-scoring defensive struggle that gradually opened up, the Hobbs Eagles (now 15-2) powered past Albuquerque High 56-45 to claim the APS Metro Championship on Saturday at Del Norte High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 16-team tournament, featuring 12 Class 5A squads and four from Class 4A, showcased the area's top talent in a multilevel bracket format with multiple consolation rounds. Both teams entered riding strong momentum. Hobbs carried a five-game winning streak after dominant wins over Atrisco Heritage (64-21), La Cueva (67-35), and a tough semifinal victory against Kirtland Central (68-63). Albuquerque High brought a four-game streak, having handled Cibola (58-11), Cleveland (61-29), and Rio Rancho (52-40).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first quarter set the tone as a true defensive showcase, with Hobbs edging ahead 9-5. Turnovers and missed opportunities kept Albuquerque High within striking distance, and the Bulldogs battled back to make it a one-point game at halftime, 16-15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hobbs pulled away in the third quarter, building an eight-point cushion at 32-24 thanks to sharper execution and relentless work on the offensive glass. The Eagles were especially lethal converting second-chance opportunities, turning kick-out passes into timely three-pointers that stretched the lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Albuquerque High showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with offensive hesitation, often passing up open drives and shots while committing costly turnovers. The Bulldogs leaned heavily on their star duo. [player_tooltip player_id='1356317' first='Abrielle' last='Pavia'] dazzled with crafty drives to finish with a game-high 22 points, while [player_tooltip player_id='648197' first='Savannah' last='Combs'] dominated the paint with 21 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Together they accounted for 43 of the Bulldogs' 45 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Hobbs, the victory was a true team triumph with four players reaching double figures in a balanced attack. [player_tooltip player_id='831118' first='Aliana' last='Armitage'] delivered 12 points and served as a constant spark plug around the ball, disrupting plays until she fouled out at the 3:36 mark. [player_tooltip player_id='583274' first='Kacelynn' last='Muniez'] poured in 12 points — all in the second half — draining clutch three-pointers and battling relentlessly on the boards. [player_tooltip player_id='831119' first='Matysen' last='Zepeda'] added 12 points with steady, reliable guard play that kept the offense flowing. Kareli Rivera contributed 10 points and proved automatic from the free-throw line when the game tightened.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach Joe Carpenter's Eagles showed championship poise, transforming a defensive grind into a complete performance when it mattered most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What's Next</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hobbs (15-2) travels to face Las Cruces (10-4) on Tuesday, January 13 at 6:00 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Albuquerque High (now 10-3) visits Cleveland (8-6) the same evening at 7:00 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->