Finley Drops 35 as Tigers Crush Trojans 63-33 in 5A Opener

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>LOS LUNAS, N.M.</em> — In a commanding opening-round performance at the 2026 Nusenda Credit Union Girls Basketball State Championships (Class 5A), the No. 6 Los Lunas Tigers roared past the No. 11 Mayfield Trojans 63-33 on Friday, March 6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What started as a gritty, hard-fought defensive battle quickly turned into a showcase of Los Lunas' depth and dominance. A lively crowd packed the gym as both teams battled fiercely, highlighted by an intense interior matchup between Los Lunas sophomore standout [player_tooltip player_id='1068499' first='Kayla' last='Finley'] and Mayfield senior [player_tooltip player_id='648234' first='Ceanna' last='McKines'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mayfield won the tip and jumped out to an early 6-4 lead, but the Tigers responded with an 8-4 run to close the first quarter ahead 12-10. The teams traded buckets in a tight first half, with Los Lunas taking a slim 22-20 advantage into the locker room.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third quarter was where the Tigers flipped the switch. Turning up the defensive intensity, they held Mayfield to just 9 points while pouring in 18 of their own to build a commanding 40-29 lead heading into the fourth. Los Lunas then exploded for 23 points in the final frame, sealing a convincing 30-point victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore phenom [player_tooltip player_id='1068499' first='Kayla' last='Finley'] was unstoppable, finishing with a game-high 35 points — including a blistering 23 in the second half. The versatile big scored at all three levels, dominated the glass, and made highlight-reel plays on both ends with her blend of size, speed, and skill. Finley was the only Tiger in double figures, but Coach Manny Vigil's balanced attack shone through with six players contributing scores in a true team effort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Mayfield (16-11 entering the game), senior [player_tooltip player_id='648234' first='Ceanna' last='McKines'] battled valiantly, pouring in a team-high 22 points — 12 in the first half — to keep her squad competitive early. She added 10 of the Trojans' 13 second-half points and was their lone scorer in the fourth, but the supporting cast couldn't keep pace against Los Lunas' suffocating defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The win advances the Tigers (now 24-5) to the quarterfinals, where they'll face No. 3 Rio Rancho on Tuesday, March 10, at 9:45 a.m. at UNM's iconic "The Pit." After upsetting Los Lunas 51-48 in overtime during the regular season on Jan. 10, Mayfield's season ends with a hard-fought playoff run under Head Coach George Maya.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->