2021 1A State Tournament Bracket Breakdown
The brackets are set and whether we agree or not we have our field of only 8-teams this season. Who will come out victorious and who leaves early this week as we break it all down for you.
Top seed: Magdalena Steers
The Steers are the No. 1 overall seed after a 12-0 overall season (9-0 in district), and the Steers are an overwhelming favorite to finish the season undefeated. The Steers got here by beating up their schedule, outscoring opponents by an average of 75 to 26 points. The closest match-up was a 30-point win over 3A Hot Springs on April 9th. Also, we can't forget that the Steers feature the top player in the class (1A) and maybe a class 1A player that could make the All-New Mexico team (15 of the best players for a season). Joren Mirabal (2022) is averaging 28.3 points per game this season. They also have D'Shaun Vinyard (2023) and Kael Stephens (2023) averaging 14 and 12 points per game. Talk about a force in 1A basketball with three players averaging around 54 points per game.
Best first-round game: No. 3 Elida vs Evangel Christian/Oak Grove
One thing we've come to know is when a southern team takes on a small school academy from the Albuquerque Metro area is it favorites the southern team. Evangel Christian/Oak Grove (6-3 overall) has struggled come tournament time as well falling last season from a 4-seed to a 13-seed. So why pick this game as the best first-round game? Both teams are evenly matched and could be a game won late in the fourth. EVOG has 6-foot-3 do-everything Isaiah Zunic (2021) that will look to guide the Eagles. Zunic is putting in 29 points per game and 11 rebounds per contest. Also, look for Andres Garcia (2022) who at 15 points per game is another that could become a difference-maker. The match-up to watch is Zunic taking on Elida senior post-Teagan Burton, who is a double-double machine for the Tigers. Also, keep an eye on Rylan Creighton (2022) and Aiden Yates (2023) as we head into this game. Elida (10-1 overall) is the favorite and although this is our pick for the best-first round game, don't be shocked if the Tigers roll by double digits.
RAPID FIRE
Upset special: (5) Mesilla Valley vs (4) Fort Sumner/House. Do we see this happening? No, honestly Fort Sumner/House should move along with ease but the Son Blazers are here for a reason and 6-foot-5 Saxon Marr will look to make it happen.
Dark Horse: (2) Melrose. Typically, your dark horse is a 3-seed or higher but with Magdalena being an overwhelming favorite, the Buffaloes (11-0 overall) is our pick. The Buffaloes have depth and a duo in Tate Sorgen (2021) and Trace Jackson (2021), both averaging 18 and 17 per game could disrupt Magdalena from winning it all.
Player to Watch: Joren Mirabal, Magdalena (2022). We've mentioned the junior already in the feature but Mirabal is one of those special players to watch. The post-season is a chance for those great players to display their talents and Mirabal could be one that tops the charts at 30 ppg in these playoffs. He should/could score 40 in the opening game (granted he plays four quarters).
The Pick: Magdalena. I nearly went with Melrose and I believe Kevin Lackey is a heck of a head coach but the Steers just rolling teams by 30 or more all season is something else. Yes, Melrose will slow them down and Melrose is the three-time defending 1A state champ but Magdalena has a state championship loss to Pecos (2A State championship) fresh on their mind. We should also mention that the Steers seem to be the team, as of late, that is close but can't finish. They were the 1-seed twice (2018, and 2017) and lost in the Final Four; 2016 lost in the Final Four as a 3-seed. Maybe, just maybe, they can channel back to 2015 when they were able to close it out with a 1-point championship win. Either way, a Melrose-Magdalena game is going to be worth it this season and I can't watch to watch it. Elida and Fort Sumner also in my Final Four, no sparks all top seeds win.
1A BRACKET
First Round - May 3rd - Times TBA
No. 1 Magdalena (12-0) vs No. 8 Pine Hill (1-10 overall)
No. 2 Melrose (11-0) vs No. 7 Springer (7-3 overall)
No. 3 Elida (10-1) vs No. 6 Evangel Christian/Oak Grove (6-3 overall)
No. 4 Fort Sumner (8-3) vs No. 5 Mesilla Valley (6-2 overall)
The brackets are set and whether we agree or not we have our field of only 8-teams this season. Who will come out victorious and who leaves early this week as we break it all down for you.
Top seed: Magdalena Steers
The Steers are the No. 1 overall seed after a 12-0 overall season (9-0 in district), and the Steers are an overwhelming favorite to finish the season undefeated. The Steers got here by beating up their schedule, outscoring opponents by an average of 75 to 26 points. The closest match-up was a 30-point win over 3A Hot Springs on April 9th. Also, we can't forget that the Steers feature the top player in the class (1A) and maybe a class 1A player that could make the All-New Mexico team (15 of the best players for a season). Joren Mirabal (2022) is averaging 28.3 points per game this season. They also have D'Shaun Vinyard (2023) and Kael Stephens (2023) averaging 14 and 12 points per game. Talk about a force in 1A basketball with three players averaging around 54 points per game.
Best first-round game: No. 3 Elida vs Evangel Christian/Oak Grove
One thing we've come to know is when a southern team takes on a small school academy from the Albuquerque Metro area is it favorites the southern team. Evangel Christian/Oak Grove (6-3 overall) has struggled come tournament time as well falling last season from a 4-seed to a 13-seed. So why pick this game as the best first-round game? Both teams are evenly matched and could be a game won late in the fourth. EVOG has 6-foot-3 do-everything Isaiah Zunic (2021) that will look to guide the Eagles. Zunic is putting in 29 points per game and 11 rebounds per contest. Also, look for Andres Garcia (2022) who at 15 points per game is another that could become a difference-maker. The match-up to watch is Zunic taking on Elida senior post-Teagan Burton, who is a double-double machine for the Tigers. Also, keep an eye on Rylan Creighton (2022) and Aiden Yates (2023) as we head into this game. Elida (10-1 overall) is the favorite and although this is our pick for the best-first round game, don't be shocked if the Tigers roll by double digits.
RAPID FIRE
Upset special: (5) Mesilla Valley vs (4) Fort Sumner/House. Do we see this happening? No, honestly Fort Sumner/House should move along with ease but the Son Blazers are here for a reason and 6-foot-5 Saxon Marr will look to make it happen.
Dark Horse: (2) Melrose. Typically, your dark horse is a 3-seed or higher but with Magdalena being an overwhelming favorite, the Buffaloes (11-0 overall) is our pick. The Buffaloes have depth and a duo in Tate Sorgen (2021) and Trace Jackson (2021), both averaging 18 and 17 per game could disrupt Magdalena from winning it all.
Player to Watch: Joren Mirabal, Magdalena (2022). We've mentioned the junior already in the feature but Mirabal is one of those special players to watch. The post-season is a chance for those great players to display their talents and Mirabal could be one that tops the charts at 30 ppg in these playoffs. He should/could score 40 in the opening game (granted he plays four quarters).
The Pick: Magdalena. I nearly went with Melrose and I believe Kevin Lackey is a heck of a head coach but the Steers just rolling teams by 30 or more all season is something else. Yes, Melrose will slow them down and Melrose is the three-time defending 1A state champ but Magdalena has a state championship loss to Pecos (2A State championship) fresh on their mind. We should also mention that the Steers seem to be the team, as of late, that is close but can't finish. They were the 1-seed twice (2018, and 2017) and lost in the Final Four; 2016 lost in the Final Four as a 3-seed. Maybe, just maybe, they can channel back to 2015 when they were able to close it out with a 1-point championship win. Either way, a Melrose-Magdalena game is going to be worth it this season and I can't watch to watch it. Elida and Fort Sumner also in my Final Four, no sparks all top seeds win.
1A BRACKET
First Round - May 3rd - Times TBA
No. 1 Magdalena (12-0) vs No. 8 Pine Hill (1-10 overall)
No. 2 Melrose (11-0) vs No. 7 Springer (7-3 overall)
No. 3 Elida (10-1) vs No. 6 Evangel Christian/Oak Grove (6-3 overall)
No. 4 Fort Sumner (8-3) vs No. 5 Mesilla Valley (6-2 overall)
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