NMPreps: Class 1A Quarterfinal Preview

The Elite Eight of the 2018 New Mexico High School State Tournament will take place on Tuesday, March 7th. Today, we take a look at the games to watch.

1A - Elite Eight Preview
(March 7th - Bernalillo High School)
#1 Elida Tigers (22-7) vs #8 Cimarron Rams (14-13), 11:30AM
#2 Melrose Buffaloes (21-7) vs #7 Grady Bronchos (17-11), 6:30PM
#3 Quemado Eagles (20-6) vs #11 Roy/Mosquero (16-10), 3PM
#4 Des Moines Demons (20-8) vs #5 Coronado Leopards (21-7), 8AM

Notes
Favorite: Elida. The Tigers are currently riding a 7-peat. That just sounds odd - a 7-PEAT! They are also the 1-seed again after a 21-win season and convincing first round win over Reserve, 45-8.

Contender: Melrose. Yes, it's easy to place the 2-seed as the contender in the conversation but the Buffaloes actually own the February 23rd win over Elida (36-32). This showdown is destined for a great finish. The Buffalos will have to take care of quarterfinal foe Grady first though.

Sleeper: Grady. Yes, this sets up the must-see game in 1A basketball this week. The Grady Bronchos are 17-11 on the season but they could be the most battled tested of the rest of the field. They have faced Melorse, falling twice (50-37; 39-31) but that's why we play to the tune of survive and dance.

Grine's Predictions:
Elida moves smoothly against Cimarron.
Des Moines moves past Coronado in the second half.
Roy/Mosquero the Cinderella story continues into the Final Four with a win over Quemado.
Grady also plays upsets with a win over Melrose.

Hair Thompson has stated the the MWC has had "exploitory talks" with 9 school regarding conference expansion. This is pretty big news as one of the schools confirmed is Gonzaga. Zags are not very happy with their NCAA funds going to bottom feeders as the often sole bid in the WCC. Something of note would be that current MWC by-laws require a member school to have football. Looks like the bylaws will have to change or Zags are gonna get on the gridiron...?

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...onzaga-mountain-west-sdsu-20180228-story.html

post updates from this week.

Read: https://nmpreps.rivals.com/news/brackets-boys-2018-new-mexico-high-school-state-tournament

*****FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD (MARCH 3RD)*****
6A - First Round
#1 Eldorado Eagles 65, #16 Piedra Vista Panthers 47, Final
#2 Las Cruces Bulldawgs 54, #15 Sandia Matadors 39, Final
#3 Atrisco Heritage Academy Jaguars 51, #14 Santa Fe Demons 48, Final
#4 Volcano Vista Hawks 52, #13 Onate Knights 43, Final
#5 Cleveland Storm 86, #12 Rio Rancho Rams 73, Final
#6 Valley Vikings 61, #11 Albuquerque Bulldogs 59, Final-OT
#7 Hobbs Eagles 95, #10 La Cueva Bears 87, Final-OT
#8 West Mesa 60, #9 Manzano Monarchs 53, Final

5A - First Round
#1 Espanola Valley Sundevils 68, #16 Valencia Jaguars 51, Final
#2 Los Lunas Tigers 64, #15 Goddard Rockets 48, Final
#3 Belen Eagles 56, #14 Grants Pirates 29, Final
#4 Capital Jaguars 78, #13 Miyamura Patriots 64, Final
#5 Artesia Bulldogs 58, #12 Lovington Wildcats 54, Final
#6 Roswell Coyotes 58, #11 Del Norte Knights 45, Final
#7 Kirtland Central Broncos 65, #10 Alamogordo Tigers 51, Final
#8 St. Pius X Sartans 58, #9 Gallup Bengals 47, Final

4A - First Round
#1 Bernalillo Spartans 83, #16 Hot Springs Tigers 34, Final
#2 Silver Colts 45, #15 Socorro Warriors 40, Final
#3 Hope Christian Huskies 95, #14 Robertson Cardinals 64, Final
#4 Moriarty Pintos 71, #13 West Las Vegas Dons 65, Final
#5 Taos Tigers 69, #12 Santa Fe Indian Braves 67, Final
#6 Portales Rams 45, #11 Navajo Prep 27, Final
#7 Shiprock Chieftains 66, #10 Ruidoso Warriors 52, Final
#8 St. Michael's Horseman 72, #9 Sandia Prep Sundevils 65, Final-OT

3A - First Round
#1 Texico Wolverines 73, #16 Monte Del Sol Dragons 18, Final
#2 Estancia Bears 91, #15 Dulce Hawks 71, Final
#3 Pecos Panthers 75, #14 Rehoboth Christian Lynx 37, Final
#4 Santa Rosa Lions 53, #13 Tucumcari Rattlers 37, Final
#5 Newcomb Skyhawks 84, #12 Clayton Yellowjackets 61, Final
#6 Cuba Rams 64, #11 Eunice Cardinals 59, Final
#7 Tularosa Wildcats 61, #10 McCurdy Bobcats 57, Final
#8 Dexter Demons 80, #9 Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins 45, Final

2A - First Round
#1 Magdalena 68, #16 Navajo Pine Warriors 36, Final
#2 Fort Sumner Foxes 67, #15 Mesa Vista Trojans 46, Final
#3 Mesilla Valley SonBlazers 77, #14 To'hajiilee Warriors 38, Final
#4 Mora Rangers 80, #13 Alamo Navajo Cougars 58, Final
#5 Menaul Panthers 72, #12 Cliff Cowboys 60, Final
#6 Logan Longhorns 64, #11 Tse' Yi' Gai Dine Warriors 50
#8 Gateway Christian Warriors 46, #9 Dora Coyotes 44, Final
#10 Escalante 48, #7 Tatum 36, Final

1A - First Round
#1 Melrose Buffaloes 86, #16 Santa Fe Waldorf 73, Final
#2 Maxwell 76, #15 Walatowa 50, Final
#4 Quemado Eagles 65, #13 Elida Tigers 40, Final
#3 Reserve Mountaineers 72, #14 Coronado 47, Final
#6 Springer Red Devils 53, #11 Animas Panthers 46, Final
#7 Floyd 55, #10 Cimarron 41, Final
#9 Grady 54, #8 Vaughn 43, Final
#12 Evangel Christian 52, #5 New Mexico School for the Deaf 37, Final

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Hope no injuries to anyone were serious.

What game are you at?

What do you have?

Predict an entire bracket from the first round to the state champions!

By: Chantz Atcitty
Read: https://nmpreps.rivals.com/news/updated-girls-state-tournament-bracket

What did you learn from the first round?

2018 STATE TOURNAMENT - 5A

Link: 5A First Round Preview

FIRST ROUND
#1 Espanola Valley Sundevils (25-1) vs #16 Valencia Jaguars (8-19), 7pm
#2 Los Lunas Tigers (22-5) vs #15 Goddard Rockets (12-15), 6pm
#3 Belen Eagles (22-7) vs #14 Grants Pirates (11-15), 7pm
#4 Capital Jaguars (21-7) vs #13 Miyamura Patriots (15-13), 7pm
#5 Artesia Bulldogs (19-7) vs #12 Lovington Wildcats (14-15), 7pm
#6 Roswell Coyotes (19-8) vs #11 Del Norte Knights (11-15), 6pm
#7 Kirtland Central Broncos (19-10) vs #10 Alamogordo Tigers (15-12), 5pm
#8 St. Pius X Sartans (15-10) vs #9 Gallup Bengals (19-10), 7pm

Read: https://nmpreps.rivals.com/news/staff-picks-2018-state-tournament

Grine: I could be sitting at the state tournament with my 6A champion at home or by March 12th I could have them playing on the final day. There have been times when I reach and nail. There have been times that I reach and fall on my face. However, I would say since I started working the state tournament for NMPreps.com (2011) I have been right more times than wrong. Saying that I will miss more than I ever do. Therefore I apologize to those teams that I picked.

other notes I would like to welcome back Anthony Johnson and Chantz Atcitty back to the team for the week. The two hoops junkies killed it last season with non-stop coverage, videos, and stats the entire week. They, like us, love this damn week. I'm glad to have them helping us out this week.

PS. I would like to meet more NMPreps poster this year. So reach out and come say hi. Thanks for another great year. I can't believe it's been 8 years since I watched Onate beat Manzano for the 2011 state title working the sidelines for Preps. It's been a fun ride!

2018 STATE TOURNAMENT - 6A

Link: First Round Preview

FIRST ROUND
#1 Eldorado Eagles (23-2) vs #16 Piedra Vista Panthers (13-14), 5pm
#2 Las Cruces Bulldawgs (27-1) vs #15 Sandia Matadors (10-16), 7pm
#3 Atrisco Heritage Academy Jaguars (22-3) vs #14 Santa Fe Demons, 5pm
#4 Volcano Vista Hawks (19-6) vs #13 Onate Knights (18-10), 7pm
#5 Cleveland Storm (19-9) vs #12 Rio Rancho Rams (16-12), 5pm
#6 Valley Vikings (18-8) vs #11 Albuquerque Bulldogs (15-11), 7pm
#7 Hobbs Eagles (20-9) vs #10 La Cueva Bears (18-10), 6:30pm
#8 West Mesa (18-9) vs #9 Manzano Monarchs (15-10), 5pm

2018 STATE TOURNAMENT - 4A

Link: First Round Preview

First Round
#1 Bernalillo Spartans vs #16 Hot Springs Tigers, 6pm
#2 Silver Colts vs #15 Socorro Warriors, 3pm
#3 Hope Christian Huskies vs #14 Robertson Cardinals, 5pm
#4 Moriarty Pintos vs #13 West Las Vegas Dons, 6pm
#5 Taos Tigers vs #12 Santa Fe Indian Braves, 6pm
#6 Portales Rams vs #11 Navajo Prep, 5pm
#7 Shiprock Chieftains vs #10 Ruidoso Warriors, 5pm
#8 St. Michael's Horseman vs #9 Sandia Prep Sundevils, 6pm

2018 STATE TOURNAMENT - 3A BASKETBALL

Link: First Round Preview

FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE
#1 Texico Wolverines (26-0) vs #16 Monte Del Sol Dragons (13-13), 5pm
#2 Estancia Bears (26-1) vs #15 Dulce Hawks (12-15), 6pm
#3 Pecos Panthers (24-3) vs #14 Rehoboth Christian Lynx, 5pm
#4 Santa Rosa Lions (17-9) vs #13 Tucumcari Rattlers (10-17), 6pm
#5 Newcomb Skyhawks (20-7) vs #12 Clayton Yellowjackets (12-14), 5pm
#6 Cuba Rams (23-6) vs #11 Eunice Cardinals (14-11), 5pm
#7 Tularosa Wildcats (17-7) vs #10 McCurdy Bobcats (18-8), 6pm
#8 Dexter Demons (18-9) vs #9 Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins (14-8), 6pm

2018 STATE TOURNAMENT - 2A

Link: First Round Preview & Game Times

#1 Magdalena (26-1) vs #16 Navajo Pine Warriors (15-12), 6pm
#2 Fort Sumner Foxes (20-6) vs #15 Mesa Vista Trojans (13-15), 6pm
#3 Mesilla Valley SonBlazers (21-2) vs #14 To'hajiilee Warriors (17-12), 5pm
#4 Mora Rangers (20-7) vs #13 Alamo Navajo Cougars (15-12), 6pm
#5 Menaul Panthers (23-5) vs #12 Cliff Cowboys (13-14), 5pm
#6 Logan Longhorns (13-11) vs #11 Tse' Yi' Gai Dine Warriors, 6pm
#7 Tatum (16-8) vs #10 Escalante Lobos (14-13), 1pm
#8 Gateway Christian Warriors (20-8) vs #9 Dora Coyotes (17-11), 6pm

2018 STATE TOURNAMENT

Link: 1A First Round Bracket
Link: 1A First Round Preview
Link: 1A Top Players To Watch

*****GIRLS: FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD (MARCH 2ND)*****

6A Bracket
#1 Cibola 59, #16 Cleveland 48
#2 Hobbs 86, #15 Atrisco Heritage Academy 51
#3 West Mesa 59, #14 Onate 50
#4 Carlsbad 37, #13 Volcano Vista 36
#5 Las Cruces 66, #12 Clovis 41
#6 Rio Rancho 47, #11 La Cueva 31
#7 Eldorado 60, #10 Mayfield 52
#8 Piedra Vista 51, #9 Highland 47

5A Bracket
#1 Los Lunas 71, #16 Deming 27
#2 Bloomfield 56, #15 Lovington 27
#3 Gallup 79, #14 Capital 49
#4 St. Pius X 54, #13 Roswell 36
#5 Kirtland Central 54, #12 Farmington 45
#7 Espanola Valley 49, #10 Belen 42
#8 Alamogordo 51, #9 Artesia 40
#11 Miyamura 38, #6 Goddard 26

4A Bracket
#1 Portales 71, #16 Bosque 31
#2 Robertson 58, #15 Taos 15
#3 Moriarty 61, #14 Hatch Valley 45
#4 Shiprock 63, #13 St. Michael's 35
#5 Silver 70, #12 Navajo Prep 35
#6 Santa Fe Indian 61, #11 Socorro 56
#7 Pojoaque Valley 45, #10 Cobre 31
#9 West Las Vegas 59, #8 Hope Christian 39

3A Bracket
#1 Texico 66, #16 Santa Rosa 28
#2 Tohatchi 69, #15 Loving 51
#3 Eunice 52, #14 Newcomb 29
#4 Tucumcari 71, #13 Rehoboth Christian 46
#5 Clayton 50, #12 Dexter 30
#6 Tularosa 61, #11 McCurdy 50
#7 Dulce 74, #10 Cuba 69
#8 Pecos 64, #9 Tierra Encantada 32

2A Bracket
#1 Logan 57, #16 Navajo Pine 32
#2 Mescalero Apache 59, #15 Escalante 42
#3 Penasco 76, #14 Questa 42
#4 Fort Sumner 60, #13 Cliff 52
#5 Tse' Yi' Gai 60, #12 Jemez Valley 52
#6 Magdalena 47, #11 To'hajiilee 37
#7 Lordsburg 59, #10 Pine Hill 40
#8 Tatum 41, #9 Dora 37

1A Bracket
#1 Elida 45, #16 Reserve 8
#2 Melrose 60, #15 Walatowa 36
#3 Quemado 54, #14 Floyd 19
#4 Des Moines 68, #13 Clovis Christian 23
#5 Cornado 62, #12 Vaughn 25
#7 Grady 40, #10 Springer 33
#8 Cimarron 73, #9 Hondo Valley 45
#11 Roy/Mosquero 40, #6 Animas 37

What game are you attending?

Looking more at next week and games at the PIT/Santa Ana.

Favorite seat? Where do you sit?
Any traditions?