Who is the top multi sport athlete from the Class of 2017?

3 Finalist (no names)
1 NM Guy
1 Texas Guy
1 Unknown.

Final Interviews tomorrow

ELITE EIGHT TOP PERFORMERS

Will update here


FIRST ROUND TOP PERFORMERS

CLASS 6A
Jennifer Martinez (West Mesa) - 24 points
Sydney Candelaria (Eldorado) - 23 points
Amaya Lewis (Hobbs) - 22 points
Sarah Abney (Las Cruces) - 21 points
Estrella Avalos (Onate) - 19 points
Carsyn Boswell (Carlsbad) - 18 points
Delaney Markham (La Cueva) - 17 points
Cara Liggins (Sandia) - 16 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks
Kayla Nicolas (Onate) - 14 points
Jayce Gorzeman (Mayfield) - 13 points
Jayden Perez (Onate) - 12 points
Kim Best (Carlsbad) - 11 points
Shelby Bloom (Eldorado) - 11 points
Brooklyn Calderazzo (Centennial) - 10 points
Janessa Negron (Cibola) - 10 points
Kayla Martinez (Cibola) - 10 points
Maiah Rivas (West Mesa) - 10 points
Nikki Aragon (Las Cruces) - 9 points and 8 rebounds
Emily Burk (West Mesa) - 9 points
Kaya Ingram (La Cueva) - 9 points
Kaela Chavez (Centennial) - 8 points
Merrell Gomez (Centennial) - 8 points
Brooklyn Crawford (Highland) - 8 points
Esperanza Crespin (Highland) - 8 points
Noir Hawash (La Cueva) - 8 points
Sapirah Broussard (Sandia) - 8 points

CLASS 5A
Destiny Chavez (Grants) - 21 points
Micaela Kolker (Goddard) - 19 points
Haile Gleason (Kirtland Central) - 17 points
Desi Flores (Goddard) - 17 points
Leah DeAguero (Espanola Valley) - 16 points (4 3-pointers)
Kalisha Kinsel (Gallup) - 16 points
Kara Watchman (Bloomfield) - 16 points
Malakah Martinez (Del Norte) - 16 points
Camryn Villalpando (Goddard) - 16 points and 8 rebounds
Kaitlyn Holl (Roswell) - 16 points
Maya Trujillo (St. Pius X) - 14 points
Talia Ockerman (Kirtland Central) - 14 points
Kelsey Crist (ALBQ Academy) - 14 points
Azaria Stewart (Lovington) - 13 points
Ari Martinez (St. Pius X) - 13 points
Mica Jenrette (Los Lunas) - 13 points
Amber Trujillo (Los Lunas) - 13 points
Sophie Long (ALBQ Academy) - 13 points
Taylor Reed (St. Pius X) - 12 points
Jaedyn De La Cerda (Roswell) - 11 points
Alicia Candelaria (Del Norte) - 11 points
Makayla McCaskill (Aztec) - 11 points
Melanie Martinez (Roswell) - 11 points
Caroline Bachman (Grants) - 11 points
Philinda Nez (Farmington) - 11 points
Katherine Kolker (Goddard) - 10 points and 9 assists
Ashley Blackwell (Los Lunas) - 10 points
Alexis Burunda (Lovington) - 9 points
Tamia Pete (Farmington) - 9 points
Destiny Walther (Bloomfield) - 7 points
Calysta Jacob (Alamogordo) - 6 points
Darian Cosgray (Alamogordo) - 6 points

CLASS 4A
Madie Trainor (Sandia Prep) - 37 points
Mari Yepa (Sandia Prep) - 20 points
Alivia Lewis (Hope Christian) - 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks
Tanisha Begay (Shiprock) - 18 points
Samantha Jeffries (Sandia Prep) - 17 points
Melanie Secody (Shiprock) - 16 points
Brittany Payton (Wingate) - 15 points
Tori Tracy (Wingate) - 15 points
Hanna Valencia (Hope Christian) - 14 points
Aaliyah Quintana (Taos) - 11 points
Chelsey Gibson (Wingate) - 11 points

CLASS 3A
Cassie Vickery (Tularosa) - 16 points, 12 rebounds, 12 steals, and 10 assists
Talia Paytiamo (Laguna-Acoma) - 25 points
Sharmaine Benally (Santa Rosa) - 23 points
Bri Rodriguez (Loving) - 22 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals
Karla Santos (McCurdy) - 20 points
Alyssa Carrasco (Loving) - 15 points
Anaya Holder (Tularosa) - 13 points
Gracie Hooten (Tularosa) - 12 points
Bethany Betancur (Tularosa) - 10 points

CLASS 2A
Lauryn Yuzos (Mescalero Apache) - 16 points
Irielita Jake (Pine Hill) - 14 points
Janessa Melendrez (Mescalero Apache) - 14 points
Katelyn Yuzos (Mescalero Apache) - 11 points

Former Clovis standout Danni Williams named All SEC 2nd Team as a guard for Texas A&M Women's team. Congrats to a NM product.

Looking at 2017: Who is the best running back?

Please post nominations here.

SCORE: #12 Volcano Vista 47 - #2 Las Cruces 39


RECAP

Improbable? Maybe.

Unbelievable? Sure.

But to those who knew what the Volcano Vista Hawks could be, they say “Yeah, we knew.”


For the second straight year, a double-digit seed has claimed the 6A state championship. This year it was a 12-loss team from District 1 that began its run by knocking off the defending state champion Rio Rancho team in the first round. Then it proceeded to knock off the district champion fromm District 2 in Eldorado. Then they knocked off the district champion from District 4 in Atrisco Heritage. And on Saturday night, the claimed the final win over a solid Las Cruces team that beat them earlier in the season at Volcano Vista’s home court.

The Hawks jumped out to an early 7-3 lead, but that would soon evaporate as Las Cruces made a 6-2 run to tie it at 9. Then in the final seconds, Kyle Vargas hits the lay in at the buzzer to give Volcano Vista a 12-9 advantage after one. Then the Hawks would find some separation at 17-9 in the 2nd Quarter but not for long as Las Cruces battled back down eight to get within two at the break.

When play resumed in the third, both teams struggled to get a basket to fall. Even a point blank lay-in by David Cormier refused to roll in. For a stretch there, it looked as if Las Cruces had Volcano Vista rattled as they took a one point advantaged. That lead though was short lived as Volcano Vista rolled out to a 6-0 run to close out the third. In the final period, the Hawks gained momentum as numerous Cormier dunks would fire up the Hawks and they would not look back. Volcano’s lead would rise as high as 14 and despite Cormier fouling out, Volcano Vista would claim their first state championship in boys basketball.


STATS


Volcano Vista

David Cormier – 20 points on 7 of 11 shooting and 9 boards

Jalontae Gray – 11 points on 5 of 8 shooting and 9 rebounds

Jorell Phillips – 8 points

Kyle Vargas – 6 points


Team

FG% - 18/35 – 51%

3PT% - 2/11 – 18%

FT% - 9/15 – 60%


14 fastbreak points (4 for Las Cruces)


Las Cruces

RJ Brown – 13 points on 6 of 11 shooting and 5 rebounds

Vincente Johnson – 8 points

Markus Collins – 6 points on 2 of 9 shooting and 2 rebounds

Marcus Scott – 2 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists


Team

FG% - 17/50 – 34%

3PT% - 2/7 – 29%

FT% - 3/10 – 30%


9 bench points (0 for Volcano Vista)

Last Call!

Mention your nominees and make arguments for who you think should be Coach of the Year.


6A Coach of the Year Candidates
Lee Kettig - Sandia
Joe Carpenter - Hobbs
John Zumbrun - Carlsbad
Manny Otero - West Mesa
Lonnie Neal - Highland
Lori Mabrey – Cibola
Robert Perea – La Cueva


5A Coach of the Year Candidates
Jared Neighbors – Goddard
Fernando Sanchez – Roswell
Manny Vigil – Alamogordo
Taryn Bachis – Albuquerque Academy


4A Coach of the Year Candidates
Terry Heisey - Hope Christian
Larenson Henderson – Shiprock
Chris Salas – Silver
Leroy Barela – Robertson
Joe Bailey – Moriarty
JP Rael – Sandia Prep


3A Coach of the Year Candidates
Jimmie Jones – Eunice
Steven Gilbert – Laguna-Acoma
Gary Hittson – Tucumcari
Tanisha Bitsoi – Tohatchi


2A Coach of the Year Candidates
Elmer Chavez – Mescalero Apache
Greg Slover – Tatum
Tara Terrazas-Martinez – Escalante


1A Coach of the Year Candidates
Bob Libby – Roy/Mosquero
Alice Velasquez – Hondo Valley
Arrow Wilkinson – Walatowa Charter
Tracey Jackson - Animas


Coach of the Year Nominees
Lee Kettig - Sandia
Joe Carpenter - Hobbs
John Zumbrun - Carlsbad
Manny Otero - West Mesa
Lonnie Neal - Highland
Richard Luscombe - Texico
Lori Mabrey - Cibola
Jimmie Jones - Eunice
Steven Gilbert - Laguna-Acoma
Jared Neighbors - Goddard

SCORE: #7 Sandia 57 - #5 La Cueva 53

RECAP
All season we've had the south booked for a showdown in The Pit for girls 6A. Well some of us (most of us) were surprised to see that it was instead a showdown of two district rivals from the metro area that would be featured in the Class 6A championship game. Enter the #7 Sandia Lady Matadors and #5 La Cueva Lady Bears who made it by way of defeating #1 Hobbs, #2 Carlsbad, #4 Las Cruces, and #6 Eldorado.
These two teams had plenty of talent on their rosters, but it would be La Cueva having to play without leading scorer Delaney Markham (injured). Off the tip, it would be Sandia getting out to an 11-4 lead before La Cueva would make an 11-4 run to take a short lead in the 2nd Quarter. The trio of Marisol Silva, Cara Liggins, and Sapirah Broussard offered multiple mismatches against the La Cueva rotation though. Silva who led with 12 points at the half played spectacular in the frontcourt against the likes of La Cueva's Brynn Wade and Brooke Mcgee. Silva would finish with a game high 18 points and 9 rebounds for the Lady Matadors.
The second half began with a Sandia onslaught that couldn't be stopped. Scoring only 7 in the 2nd Quarter, Sandia scored 23 points in the 3rd quarter and never looked back. La Cueva would threaten a few times and even get back within two points thanks in part to the freshman Kaya Ingram, but Sandia controlled the boards, hit key 3-point baskets, and knocked down free throws when they needed to. The win for Sandia is the 4th girls basketball state title in school history. Their last coming back in 2010.

STATS

Sandia
Marisol Silva - 18 points on 6 of 14 shooting and 9 rebounds
Cara Liggins - 14 points and 12 rebounds
Sapirah Broussard - 13 points and 5 rebounds
Inayah Broussard - 6 points on 2 of 3 shooting and 2 rebounds

Team
FG% - 19/49 - 39%
3PT% - 5/19 - 26%
FT% - 14/27 - 52%


La Cueva
Kaya Ingram - 14 points and 4 rebounds
Noir Hawash - 12 points and 8 rebounds
Brooke Nelson - 11 poitns and 3 rebounds
Brooke Mcgee - 6 points and 8 rebounds

Team
FG% - 19/54 - 35%
3PT% - 5/13 - 38%
FT% - 10/22 - 45%

20 bench points (vs. 1 for Sandia)

SCORE: #1 Hope Christian 58 - #2 Portales 46

RECAP
Set ‘em up and knock ‘em down. That’s seems to be Hope Christian’s mantra when it comes to playing in March. This year was supposed to different with a new district and a new crop of competitive opponents. This was confirmed when in the district championship, Portales defeated Hope Christian off a 3-point shot at the buzzer. Yet, when both teams met again for the 4A state title game, things took a turn for the worst for the Rams. The Rams went into the 4th Quarter 0-for-15 from the 3-point line, a rnage that has help them to the tune of 20+ wins this season. Carrying the load for the Rams was Jeremie Karngbaye who finished with 30 points to wrap up his career.

But the credit can’t be taken away from Hope Christian and Coach Murphy’s tutelage. The Huskies led by the ever reliable triumvirate of Medina-Yearout-Longmire kept the Rams in check on the defensive end and made them pay with timely buckets and outstanding ball management. Marcus Medina, probably one of the most athletic and best shooters in the state regardless of class finished the game with 17 points.

The Rams led in the 2nd for a short time at 19-17 but back-to-back 3-point baskets by the Huskies put Hope ahead. Hope would wrap up the 2nd Quarter on an 11-3 run and never look back. Hope would go on to finish shooting 7 of 14 from the 3-point line compared to 3 of 25 for Portales.

The win marks the 5th straight for Hope Christian and the 15th in the school’s history.

STATS

Hope Christian
Marcus Medina - 17 points on 3 of 11 shooting; 9 for 13 from the FT line
Chris Ward - 14 points and 7 rebounds
Preston Ulibarri - 10 points and 9 rebounds
Cole Yearout - 8 points and 12 rebounds and 6 assists

Team
FG% - 14/39 - 36%
3PT% - 7/14 - 50%
FT% - 23/35 - 66%

Portales
Jeremie Karngbaye - 30 points and 11 rebounds
Junior Ramirez - 9 points and 7 rebounds
Braden Bridges - 3 points

Team
FG% - 12/49 - 24%
3PT% - 3/25 - 12%
FT% - 19/26 - 73%

Next up in The Pit we have Pecos and Santa Rosa, so far this season the Panthers own two wins over the Lions. A 49-48 win in the Tri-Cities Tournament, and a 74-52 win in Pecos. Pecos only has one loss on the season which was to 4A West Las Vegas and have since won 28 straight games.

Post nominations here

2017 Championship Saturday

SCORE: No. 2 Maxwell 63 - No. 5 Springer 53

RECAP
A young roster that only suited up eight players, the Bears of Maxwell once again defeated district opponent Springer for the Class 1A Championship.
The Red Devils of Springer came out to start the game red hot thanks in part to Estevan Romero's 3-point shooting. At one point, Springer held a 10-point lead at 14-4. But the Bears would not let up. Despite trailing 33-31 at the break, Maxwell would use an 18 point 3rd quarter and hold Springer to 3 of 15 shooting in the quarter to rally and take a tight lead heading into the fourth. Superb play by guards Jeremy and Andrew Archuleta helped seal the win for the Bears as they claim their 1st state championship in boys basketball in their first title appearance since 1960. The title marks Maxwell head coach Eloy Brazil's 4th title in his career as he goes 4-for-4 in state championship games. His last two were with Springer in 2004 and 2002.

STATS

Maxwell
Aaron Salazar - 17 points (on 3 of 8 shooting/8 of 10 from the line)
Carl Gonzales - 16 points (7 of 20 shooting) and 6 rebounds
Andrew Archuleta - 13 points
Kolten Riggs - 10 points and 14 rebounds
Jeremy Archuleta - 7 points and 10 rebounds

Team
FG% - 19/46 - 41%
3PT% - 4/14 - 29%
FT% - 21/30 - 70%

Springer
Estevan Romero - 20 points on 7 of 18 shooting (4 of 11 from 3pt) and 6 rebounds
Bryan Romero - 13 points on 5 of 11 shooting
Isaiah Garcia - 12 points and 7 rebounds

Team
FG% - 20/64 - 31%
3PT% - 7/25 - 28%
FT% - 6/11 - 55%

Who is your nomination?

Who do you have winning it all today?

Man I have never remembered a time where there were so many upsets in the state tournament.

6A girls - top 4 teams out (3 on the first day)
6A boys - #1 loses early
So forth, so forth....

Goes to prove anything can happen on any given day especially in the large school divisions.

Big 12....#1 Kansas goes down courtesy of TCU

Coming up next

SCORE: #1 Tatum 43 - #6 Escalante 30

RECAP
All good things must come to an end and so it did for the Lady Lobos of Escalante. They definitely gave Tatum a scare though early on as the Lady Lobos took an early advantage thanks to some key offensive possessions with perfect ball movement. Sarah Hurd and Tori Salazar led Escalante early battling on the boards and limiting Tatum to one shot possessions.
At the start of the 2nd half, Tatum began gaining momentum. Once Escalante's Sarah Hurd went down with an injury though Tatum sprung on the Lady Lobos. Led in part by the all-around play of Celeste Jimenez, Tatum would battle back and jump out to a double-digit lead thanks to scoring efforts from Kenna McNeil and Bailey O'Connor. By the time, Hurd returned in the fourth the lead was too great for Escalante to overcome and Tatum would move on to win only their 3rd state championship.

STATS

Tatum
Kenna McNeil - 15 points
Celeste Jimenez - 8 points and 11 rebounds
Adriana Duran - 7 points
Madison Rice - 7 points
Bailey O'Connor - 4 points and 7 rebounds

Team
FG% - 12 of 50 - 24%
3P% - 1 of 11 - 9%
FT% - 18 of 27 - 67%


Escalante
Sarah Hurd - 8 points and 8 rebounds
Tori Salazar - 7 points and 13 rebounds
Ephernie Domingo - 6 points and 3 rebounds
Alex Marquez - 5 points and 5 rebounds

Team
FG% - 13 of 47 - 28%
3P% - 1 of 6 - 17%
FT% - 3 of 11 - 27%

Who do you see winning a title first?

Las Cruces or Mayfield

Belen or Los Lunas

St. Mikes or Robertson

Hobbs basketball has been struggling over the past few years. Yes they won State 2 years ago but even before that it has been a struggle! Especially when they make it to the pit. Teams around the state seem like they have Hobbs figured out and the basketball program is on a decline. Even Tasker Arena is on a decline. The stands look like a bunch of bottomless pits.
I really hope this program is not heading down to where the Football team is at but it is also possible.

All of the legendary names like the Taylor's, Hutchings, Ross's, Smith's and Thompson's has all either left Hobbs and they also have took their kids with them to grow up and play elsewhere so that leaves kids that don't really have athletic abilities and have to focus mainly on just working hard in the gym but on the flipside none of that matters when they are playing other teams around the state that have athletic abilities with the hard work.

Very upset on what happened today and hopefully something positive happens with years to come but it is very Hobbs Un-like to go to the pit and get blown out two straight years at the pit.

Wish the best of luck to the remaining teams in the tournament and also to the Hobbs Lady Eagles who are the #1 seed in the tournament and has a chance to bring home the blue trophy

What movie and why?

Coverage for this one begins in about 25 minutes, in this rematch from last years title game where Hope defeated Shiprock 51-48 to win their second straight championship.

You wanna talk about familiarity? These two teams including today's game will be meeting for the fifth consecutive year in the state playoffs. All games have either been in the Final Four or the Championship.

2013: Final Four- Hope def Shiprock 65-55
2014: Final Four- Shiprock def Hope 63-35
2015: Final Four- Hope def Shiprock 48-40
2016: Championship- Hope def Shiprock 51-48
2017: Championship- TBD