Way-Too-Early: 2024-25 Season Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024-25 season for girls' high school basketball tips off in just 97 days and will feature changes to the landscape of Districts across the State due to rearrangement. Also with the emergence of preparatory schools for basketball, several prospects have transferred, forgoing in some cases, their senior and junior campaigns at the public school level. SO what will District play look like? We got you covered. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PLUS important dates that you need to know AND the teams looking to go back-to-back, as State Champions!</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">Important Dates</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First practice for the 2024-25 season may be held No. 18, 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 State Championships: March 7-15, 2025. </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">District Realignment</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A District 1: Cibola, Cleveland, Farmington, Piedra Vista, Rio Rancho &amp; Volcano Vista</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A District 2: Capital, Eldorado, La Cueva, Manzano, Sandia &amp; Santa Fe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A District 3: Alamogordo, Centennial, Gadsden, Las Cruces, Mayfield &amp; Organ Mountain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A District 4: Carlsbad, Clovis, Hobbs &amp; Roswell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A District 5: Albuquerque High, Atrisco Heritage, Los Lunas, Rio Grande &amp; West Mesa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4A District 1: Aztec, Bloomfield, Gallup, Kirtland Central, Miyamura &amp; Shiprock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4A District 2: Espanola Valley, Los Alamos, Moriarty, Pojoaque Valley &amp; Taos</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4A District 3: Chaparral, Deming, Santa Teresa &amp; Silver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4A District 4: Artesia, Goddard, Lovington &amp; Portales</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4A District 5: Belen, Grants, Highland, St. Pius X &amp; Valencia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4A District 6: Albuquerque Academy, Bernalillo, Del Norte, Hope Christian &amp; Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3A District 1: Crownpoint, Navajo Prep, Newcomb, Thoreau, Tohatchi, Wingate and Zuni</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3A District 2: ATC, Robertson, SFIS, Santa Fe Prep, St. Michael's and West Las Vegas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3A District 3: Cobre, Hatch Valley, Hot Springs and Socorro</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3A District 4: Dexter, NMMI and Ruidoso</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3A District 5: Bosque, CCP, Cuba, East Mountain and Sandia Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2A District 1: Dulce, Hohzo, Laguna Acoma, Navajo Pine, Ramah and Rehoboth Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2A District 2: Jemez Valley, Legacy, Menaul, Monte Del Sol, NACA and Oak Grove</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2A District 3: Capitan, Cloudcraft, Lordsburg, Mescalero Apache and Mesilla Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2A District 4: Eunice, Hagerman, Jal, Loving, Tatum and Texico</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2A District 5: Escalante, McCurdy, Mesa Vista, Mora, Penasco and Questa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1A District 1: Northwest, Pine Hill, To'hajiilee and Tse'Yi'Gai</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1A District 2: Animas, Cliff, Magdalena, Quemado and Reserve</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1A District 3: Alamo Navajo, Carrizozo, Coroana/Vaughn, Hondo Valley and Mountainair</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1A District 4: Dora, Elida, Floyd, Gateway Christian, Lake Arthur, Melrose</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1A District 5: Cimarron, Des Moines, Maxwell, Roy/Mosquero, Springer and Wagon Mound</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1A District 6: Clovis Christian, Fort Sumner/House, Grady and Logan</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">Defending Champions</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Sandia | Kirtland Central | Navajo Prep | Penasco | Fort Sumner/House</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5A | Sandia Matadors: 2023-24 Record (28-3, 9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning for the Matadors, is the 'Core-Four' which consists of [player_tooltip player_id='391103' first='Sydney' last='Benally'], [player_tooltip player_id='391104' first='Hope' last='Giddings'], [player_tooltip player_id='391109' first='Audriana' last='Wright'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1068188' first='Kaiyah' last='Benally']. Sydney is the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year in New Mexico, while Giddings and Wright are both All-State talents in their own right. As for Kaiyah, she is a budding two-way star with numerous Division 1 offers thus far. Together, the four accounted for 50 points, 17 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 10.3 steals per game this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4A | Kirtland Central Broncos: 2023-24 Record (29-3, 9-1)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>KC will have multiple rotation pieces coming back such as [player_tooltip player_id='1068199' first='Allyson' last='Tsosie'], [player_tooltip player_id='1058912' first='Elaina' last='Clani'], [player_tooltip player_id='1058917' first='Zoey' last='Benally'] and [player_tooltip player_id='893562' first='Haylee' last='Nocki']. The Broncos will be a younger team this upcoming season but that should not be worrisome as KC has proven to be battle tested, time after time. Anticipate the Broncos playing at a faster-tempo due to Tsosie, Clani, Benally and Nocki being viable threats out on the perimeter who can each hit the 3ball with supreme confidence. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A | Navajo Prep Eagles: 2023-24 Record (25-9, 11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The expectation is that this upcoming season, Navajo Prep will be led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1054281' first='Shiloh' last='Conn'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1056573' first='Kameron' last='Dale']. Conn occupies the SG position while Dale is at the SF spot. Together the tandem can expect an increased workload and a chance to become primary options as opposed to being recipients of broken plays in the half-court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2A | Penasco Panthers: 2023-24 Record (21-11, 8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The unquestioned leader of the Panthers is none other than [player_tooltip player_id='648193' first='Rochelle' last='Lopez'], who happens to be one of the most experienced players regardless of class at the varsity level. Still only a junior, Lopez is coming off a stellar year in which she earned an All-State Selection. Additional returners are [player_tooltip player_id='814479' first='Alexuis' last='Romero'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1054276' first='Alyssa' last='Atencio'], two role players that were VITAL to Penasco's title run a season ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1A | Fort Sumner/House Vixens: 2023-24 Record (23-7, 4-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vixens should be title contenders once more as they are led by the Dynamic Duo of [player_tooltip player_id='888500' first='Allyssa' last='Casaus'] and Emmarie Casaus. In the Championship game versus No. 3 Logan, the pair combined for 33 points, 18 rebounds and 8 assists, dominating both ends of the floor. The belief is that the all-around play from the Casaus siblings, will only be more imposing with another year of development under their belts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->