2A Basketball: 1st Round Preview & Predictions
Grine | NMPreps
#1 Tularosa (24-2) vs #16 Mescalero Apache (15-12), 6PM
Preview: The Tularosa Wildcats enter the postseason riding a 19-game win streak and haven't lost a game since December 14th. The duo to watch and carry the Wildcats this post season comes in the form of senior Travis Henderson (2022) and Colton Gililland (2022). The duo averages 32 points per game (Henderson 19/Gililland 14) with Gililland also averaging 11 rebounds per contest. Mescalero Apache dropped their two games to Tularosa (64-34 and 77-41) during district play. The Chiefs will look to Duncan Balatche (2022) and Dewey Pollock (2022) as they hope for an upset bid.
Prediction: Tularosa 70, Mescalero Apache 36.
#2 Pecos (21-6) vs #15 Penasco (16-12), 6PM
Preview: Pecos Panthers took the first two meetings this season over the Penasco Panthers, 72-45 and 90-50. The Penasco Panthers earned their first winning season and state tournament bid in over 5-years. The Pecos Panthers a 2A basketball power have won four of the last five state championships.
Prediction: Pecos 77, Penasco 52
#3 Rehoboth Christian (21-3) vs #14 McCurdy (13-12), 5PM
Preview: This will be a new match up this post season between the Rehoboth Christian Lynx and McCurdy Bobcats. Rehoboth Christian enters the post season as district champions and the defending 2A state champions. McCurdy finished runner up in district 5-2A. Look for the deep shooting of Talon West (2022) and Mato Chapman (2022) two players that played huge roles to the title in 2021.
Prediction: Rehoboth Christian 77, McCurdy 49.
#4 Escalante (21-5) vs #13 Santa Rosa (15-13), 5PM
Preview: Escalante enters the post season on a 8-game win streak and district champions of district 5-2A after going 10-0. Since the turn of the calendar year the Lobos have gone 14-3 with the losses coming to Pecos and Estancia along with a game against Sanford (Colorado). Next level player Santiago Rivas (2022) enters the post season averaging 23.5 points per game. His partner Luka Torrez (2024) is putting up a double-double with averages of 13 ppg and 10.2 rebounds per game. Santa Rosa finished 4th in district 6-2A and looking to make noise in the opening round.
Prediction: Escalante 65, Santa Rosa 54.
#5 Menaul (19-4) vs #12 Dulce (15-8), 6pm
Preview: In Albuquerque, the Menaul Panthers will look to its very talented trio of Maximus Mkpa (2022), Brandon Oloumou (2022), and Prashant Chouhan (2023). All three are averaging double figure points with Mkpa leading the way at 15 ppg. The Dulce Hawks could be one of the more difficult road teams for a home team this week. The Hawks have flirted with the top-10 all season. Keep an eye on Isaiah Revel (2023) and DeAundre Gonzales (2022).
Prediction: Menaul 63, Dulce 56
#6 Jal (17-5) vs #11 Clayton (12-9), 6PM
Preview: The Jal Panthers are on the hunt to return to the state championship after falling in the final game last season. The Panthers look to all-state guard Jacob Lujan (2022) who is averaging 13 points per game. Clayton enters the post season after finishing third place in district 6-2A behind Texico and Pecos. The Yellowjackets look to the sound play of junior Rylan Ruf the 6-foot-2 wing that penetrates well and can finish in the paint.
Prediction: Jal 55, Clayton 53
#7 Hagerman (21-3) vs #10 Texico (13-12), 5PM
Preview: The Hagerman Bobcats enter the post season winning 21-games and district tournament champions of 4-2A. The Bobcats are guided by 6-foot-5 David Chacon who averages 13.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Texico comes from district 6-2A finishing as runner ups to Pecos. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
Prediction: Hagerman 59, Texico 48
#8 Estancia (19-5) vs #9 Lordsburg (16-6), 5PM
Preview: Making the long drive from southwest New Mexico, north to Estancia, the Lordsburg Mavericks will look to make an upset of the 8-seed. Estancia, ranked number one early this season, is looking to return to top of the class form. In fifteen games this season Lordsburg senior Qunicy Connor has averages of 26 ppg and 8 rbg. The Bears have a few key must-see players that include 6-2 junior Ja'Brae Boyer a two-star athlete. Estancia a team that can score in spurts and this one could have a shootout feeling.
Prediction: Estancia 68, Lordsburg 64
Grine's Must-See 1st RD Game: Estancia vs Lordsburg
Grine's Upset Pick: Clayton
Grine's "Don't Sleep on this Upset Possibility": Dulce
Grine's Final Four: Tularosa, Rehoboth Christian, Hagerman, Menaul
Grine's Champ: Tularosa
Grine | NMPreps
#1 Tularosa (24-2) vs #16 Mescalero Apache (15-12), 6PM
Preview: The Tularosa Wildcats enter the postseason riding a 19-game win streak and haven't lost a game since December 14th. The duo to watch and carry the Wildcats this post season comes in the form of senior Travis Henderson (2022) and Colton Gililland (2022). The duo averages 32 points per game (Henderson 19/Gililland 14) with Gililland also averaging 11 rebounds per contest. Mescalero Apache dropped their two games to Tularosa (64-34 and 77-41) during district play. The Chiefs will look to Duncan Balatche (2022) and Dewey Pollock (2022) as they hope for an upset bid.
Prediction: Tularosa 70, Mescalero Apache 36.
#2 Pecos (21-6) vs #15 Penasco (16-12), 6PM
Preview: Pecos Panthers took the first two meetings this season over the Penasco Panthers, 72-45 and 90-50. The Penasco Panthers earned their first winning season and state tournament bid in over 5-years. The Pecos Panthers a 2A basketball power have won four of the last five state championships.
Prediction: Pecos 77, Penasco 52
#3 Rehoboth Christian (21-3) vs #14 McCurdy (13-12), 5PM
Preview: This will be a new match up this post season between the Rehoboth Christian Lynx and McCurdy Bobcats. Rehoboth Christian enters the post season as district champions and the defending 2A state champions. McCurdy finished runner up in district 5-2A. Look for the deep shooting of Talon West (2022) and Mato Chapman (2022) two players that played huge roles to the title in 2021.
Prediction: Rehoboth Christian 77, McCurdy 49.
#4 Escalante (21-5) vs #13 Santa Rosa (15-13), 5PM
Preview: Escalante enters the post season on a 8-game win streak and district champions of district 5-2A after going 10-0. Since the turn of the calendar year the Lobos have gone 14-3 with the losses coming to Pecos and Estancia along with a game against Sanford (Colorado). Next level player Santiago Rivas (2022) enters the post season averaging 23.5 points per game. His partner Luka Torrez (2024) is putting up a double-double with averages of 13 ppg and 10.2 rebounds per game. Santa Rosa finished 4th in district 6-2A and looking to make noise in the opening round.
Prediction: Escalante 65, Santa Rosa 54.
#5 Menaul (19-4) vs #12 Dulce (15-8), 6pm
Preview: In Albuquerque, the Menaul Panthers will look to its very talented trio of Maximus Mkpa (2022), Brandon Oloumou (2022), and Prashant Chouhan (2023). All three are averaging double figure points with Mkpa leading the way at 15 ppg. The Dulce Hawks could be one of the more difficult road teams for a home team this week. The Hawks have flirted with the top-10 all season. Keep an eye on Isaiah Revel (2023) and DeAundre Gonzales (2022).
Prediction: Menaul 63, Dulce 56
#6 Jal (17-5) vs #11 Clayton (12-9), 6PM
Preview: The Jal Panthers are on the hunt to return to the state championship after falling in the final game last season. The Panthers look to all-state guard Jacob Lujan (2022) who is averaging 13 points per game. Clayton enters the post season after finishing third place in district 6-2A behind Texico and Pecos. The Yellowjackets look to the sound play of junior Rylan Ruf the 6-foot-2 wing that penetrates well and can finish in the paint.
Prediction: Jal 55, Clayton 53
#7 Hagerman (21-3) vs #10 Texico (13-12), 5PM
Preview: The Hagerman Bobcats enter the post season winning 21-games and district tournament champions of 4-2A. The Bobcats are guided by 6-foot-5 David Chacon who averages 13.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Texico comes from district 6-2A finishing as runner ups to Pecos. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
Prediction: Hagerman 59, Texico 48
#8 Estancia (19-5) vs #9 Lordsburg (16-6), 5PM
Preview: Making the long drive from southwest New Mexico, north to Estancia, the Lordsburg Mavericks will look to make an upset of the 8-seed. Estancia, ranked number one early this season, is looking to return to top of the class form. In fifteen games this season Lordsburg senior Qunicy Connor has averages of 26 ppg and 8 rbg. The Bears have a few key must-see players that include 6-2 junior Ja'Brae Boyer a two-star athlete. Estancia a team that can score in spurts and this one could have a shootout feeling.
Prediction: Estancia 68, Lordsburg 64
Grine's Must-See 1st RD Game: Estancia vs Lordsburg
Grine's Upset Pick: Clayton
Grine's "Don't Sleep on this Upset Possibility": Dulce
Grine's Final Four: Tularosa, Rehoboth Christian, Hagerman, Menaul
Grine's Champ: Tularosa
