Playoff Week: The three biggest questions in 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the hardcore and true fans of the game of basketball, the month of March is the most exciting time of the year. Tomorrow, the Round of 16 begins, signaling to start of the 2025 State Tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are the 4A matchups — Plus an in-depth analysis of the three biggest questions heading into the playoffs!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Round of 16 </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*The higher seeded team, is listed at the top and is the home team*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 1 Kirtland Central (25-3)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 16 Goddard (13-14)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 8 Lovington (16-12)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 9 Hope Christian (17-11)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 5 Albuquerque Academy (23-4)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 12 Silver (17-11)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 4 Valencia (23-7)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 13 Highland (14-14)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 3 Portales (18-9)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 14 Shiprock (13-15)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 6 St. Pius X (18-8)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 11 Pojoaque Valley (19-10)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 7 Deming (20-7)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 10 Espanola Valley (20-9)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 2 Gallup (26-2)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No. 15 Artesia (10-16)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Three Biggest Questions</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Will Kirtland Central go back-to-back?</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thanks to steady all-around play, Kirtland Central has earned the No. 1 overall seed for the third consecutive season. The current 'Big 3' which consists of [player_tooltip player_id='1068199' first='Allyson' last='Tsosie'], [player_tooltip player_id='1058912' first='Elaina' last='Clani'] and [player_tooltip player_id='893562' first='Haylee' last='Nocki'], gives the Broncos, arguably the best back-court rotation in the 4A class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tsosie, Clani and Nocki each can space the floor and are skilled enough to create off the dribble. When all three are knocking down shots and getting to the cup, Kirtland Central is extremely tough to beat as demonstrated by their 25-3 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Can Albuquerque Academy and or Portales, extend their winning-streak?</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Academy has won their last 14 games, dating back to Jan. 10. Leading the way for Chargers, is the duo of [player_tooltip player_id='648196' first='Adeline' last='Spratley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1068212' first='Lily' last='Skarsgard'], who have combined to average 27.9 points per game this season. Spratley, the 4A leading scorer, is putting up 16.4 points per game on 50 percent shooting. In regard to Skarsgard, she is averaging 11.5 points per game, shooting 34 percent from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for Portales, the Rams are in the midst of a nine-game winning-streak. For the 2024-25 season, Portales is scoring 51.4 points per game and only allowing 36.3 points to opposing teams. The senior trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1054264' first='Myleigh' last='Banda'], [player_tooltip player_id='1218202' first='Evannie' last='Fulfer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1054292' first='Angel' last='Ornelas'] are names to watch in terms of their contributions on both ends of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Can Gallup win their third title in five years?</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In order for the Bengals to walk away as the 4A Champions, they will need the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='467051' first='Rylie' last='Whitehair'] and [player_tooltip player_id='901165' first='Kayden' last='Tsosie'] to have monster outings. A task the pair is well suited for. Both Whitehair and Tsosie, are skilled six-footers with great footwork and a feathery touch. Last season (2023-24), each was an All-State Selection at the 4A level and more than likely, will be again this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the moment, Gallup sits at 26-2 and is the No. 2 overall seed. Their only losses thus far are against their District rival, Kirtland Central. However, the Bengals defeated the Broncos in their previous matchup (73-69) during the 1-4A District Tournament. Overall, the season series is 2-1, in favor of Kirtland Central. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Statistics via MaxPreps*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->