3A Basketball: 1st Round Preview & Predictions
NMPreps preview and predictions for the 2022 New Mexico high school basketball state tournament. #nmpreps
#1 Socorro Warriors (20-5) vs #16 Tucumcari Rattlers (8-16), 5PM
Preview: When the Socorro Warriors opened their position they hoped to find the right fit for the program. That fit came in the form of former Warriors and University of New Mexico player JJ Griego. The Warriors won the district 3-3A championship and will look to guards Warren Chewiwi (2023) and Duda Jackson (2022). Jackson leads the team in scoring at 24.9 points per game. The Tucucmari Rattlers did what all good cinderella stories do and "win and advance". After finishing third in district, sitting on the outside of the state tournament, they won the district 4-3A tournament championship securing an automatic bid to state. They will look to senior forward Andrew Henderson-Clark and Curtis Gonzales (2023). Henderson-Clark is leading the way with 19.1 points per game.
Prediction: Socorro 64, Tucumcari 41.
#2 Robertson Cardinals (19-6) vs #15 Dexter (6-13), 5PM
Preview: The Robertson Cardinals enter the post season with 19-wins and district 2-3A champions. The Cardinals go on the shoulders of senior athlete Mathew Gonzales who is pouring in 26 points per game this season for the Cardinals. The punch to this 1-2 punch for the Cardinals comes with 6-2 junior Bodie Schlinger putting up double-double numbers at 12 points and 10 rebounds each night. The Dexter Demons enter the post season as district 4-3A regular season champions. They started the season 1-8 but finished 5-5 receiving the auto.
Prediction: Robertson 87, Dexter 44.
#3 Sandia Prep Sundevils (14-11) vs #14 Cottonwood Classical Prep Coyotes (9-14), 6PM
Preview: The 3-14 game will feature district 5-3A opponents, Sandia Prep enters as the district champion. This game features the likes of 3A player of the year candidate Mac Manzanares, a 6-5 senior wing, averaging over 15 points per game. The relatively new member in the New Mexico Athletic Association Cottonwood Classical Prep, located in Albuquerque, will play in their first state tournament. The Coyotes are led by sophomore Kaedon Petties, a 6-1 forward averaing 12 points per game.
Prediction: Sandia Prep 69, Cottonwood 42.
#4 St. Michael's Horsemen (13-14) vs #13 Tohatchi Cougars (13-15), 5PM
Preview: The Horsemen enter the post season with a full good story and run as they started the season 0-10 but have since gone 13-5 to finish the season. They were counted out early and even a month ago but finished as district 2-3A runner ups and now turn to making a run at the state title. The Horsemen feature a roster of players that could go off any night and will look to its core of Diego Armendariz (2022), Adam Montoya (2023), and Devin Flores (2022) along with sound play from freshman Sabiani Rios-Guevara. The Tohathci Cougars come from District 1-3A finishing third place and winners of three of the last four games.
Prediction: St. Michael's 55, Tohatchi 42.
#5 Navajo Prep Eagles (17-8) vs #12 West Las Vegas Dons (10-16), 4PM
Preview: The Navajo Prep Eagles are picked as an upset watch game as they enter the 4pm game time in Farmington. The Eagles are the District 1-3A champions finishing 11-1 in district play and have a year of significant wins over Gallup and Escalante. Dontrelle Denetso (2022) leads the way with 16 points per game along with getting 12 points from sophomore guard Jude Thomas. The Dons will look to its trio of Damian Gallegos (2022), PJ Montano (2024), and Josh Gonzales (2022). All three are averaging double figures - 15, 13.3 and 10 points per game.
Prediction: Navajo Prep 55, West Las Vegas 54.
#6 Raton Tigers (16-8) vs #11 Santa Fe Indian Braves (9-15), 6PM
Preview: This first round game will also feature district opponents as Raton will play host to Santa Fe Indian. The Tigers finished tied for second place in District 2-3A and will be lead by the Quartieri duo of Matthew and Dylan. The seniors are each averaging 12 points per game along with around 5 rebounds per game. Santa Fe Indian has struggled since the turn of the calendar year going 4-10.
Prediction: Raton 54, Santa Fe Indian 40.
#7 Bosque Bobcats (17-8) vs #10 Hot Springs Tigers (16-13), 4PM
Preview: The battle of the latest 3A basketball state champions. Hot Springs led by head coach Derek Bean have taken home the 2019 state championship along with winning it all last season. Clifton Davidson led the Bobcats to their first state championship during the 2020 season defeating the Sandia Prep Sundevils, 65-57. The 7-seed Bobcats are led by Anthony Sanchez (2022) and Cooper Hautau (2024). Hot Springs High School hits the road and will have senior forward Randin Gossett providing the post season experience for the Tigers.
Prediction: Bosque 53, Hot Springs 51
#8 Crownpoint Eagles (21-7) vs #9 Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins (14-11), 5PM
Preview: We called the Crownpoint Eagles as a team to watch in our early predictions and they are now home to the first round of the state tournament game between the 8-9 seed game. The Eagles have patiently built their program from three year lettermen Taye Harvey (2023), Tyrell Archie (2023) and senior Kordell McMillan. Archie leading the way averaging 17 points per game with Harvey (13) and McMillan (11) close behind. Now they turn to overcoming a tough Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins team entering the game behind next level prospect Finn Coles (2022) and a team that battled for a DC in the tough 2-3A district.
Prediction: Santa Fe Prep 58, Crownpoint 54.
Grine's Must-See 1st RD Game: Crownpoint vs Santa Fe Prep
Grine's Upset Pick: Hot Springs
Grine's "Don't Sleep on this Upset Possibility": West Las Vegas
Grine's Final Four: Sandia Prep, Socorro, St. Mikes, Robertson
Grine's Champ: Sandia Prep. After two failed attempts in 2021 and 2020 finishing as state runner ups. Also, a history of finishing as the bridesmaid and top title contender, they should get their first.
NMPreps preview and predictions for the 2022 New Mexico high school basketball state tournament. #nmpreps
#1 Socorro Warriors (20-5) vs #16 Tucumcari Rattlers (8-16), 5PM
Preview: When the Socorro Warriors opened their position they hoped to find the right fit for the program. That fit came in the form of former Warriors and University of New Mexico player JJ Griego. The Warriors won the district 3-3A championship and will look to guards Warren Chewiwi (2023) and Duda Jackson (2022). Jackson leads the team in scoring at 24.9 points per game. The Tucucmari Rattlers did what all good cinderella stories do and "win and advance". After finishing third in district, sitting on the outside of the state tournament, they won the district 4-3A tournament championship securing an automatic bid to state. They will look to senior forward Andrew Henderson-Clark and Curtis Gonzales (2023). Henderson-Clark is leading the way with 19.1 points per game.
Prediction: Socorro 64, Tucumcari 41.
#2 Robertson Cardinals (19-6) vs #15 Dexter (6-13), 5PM
Preview: The Robertson Cardinals enter the post season with 19-wins and district 2-3A champions. The Cardinals go on the shoulders of senior athlete Mathew Gonzales who is pouring in 26 points per game this season for the Cardinals. The punch to this 1-2 punch for the Cardinals comes with 6-2 junior Bodie Schlinger putting up double-double numbers at 12 points and 10 rebounds each night. The Dexter Demons enter the post season as district 4-3A regular season champions. They started the season 1-8 but finished 5-5 receiving the auto.
Prediction: Robertson 87, Dexter 44.
#3 Sandia Prep Sundevils (14-11) vs #14 Cottonwood Classical Prep Coyotes (9-14), 6PM
Preview: The 3-14 game will feature district 5-3A opponents, Sandia Prep enters as the district champion. This game features the likes of 3A player of the year candidate Mac Manzanares, a 6-5 senior wing, averaging over 15 points per game. The relatively new member in the New Mexico Athletic Association Cottonwood Classical Prep, located in Albuquerque, will play in their first state tournament. The Coyotes are led by sophomore Kaedon Petties, a 6-1 forward averaing 12 points per game.
Prediction: Sandia Prep 69, Cottonwood 42.
#4 St. Michael's Horsemen (13-14) vs #13 Tohatchi Cougars (13-15), 5PM
Preview: The Horsemen enter the post season with a full good story and run as they started the season 0-10 but have since gone 13-5 to finish the season. They were counted out early and even a month ago but finished as district 2-3A runner ups and now turn to making a run at the state title. The Horsemen feature a roster of players that could go off any night and will look to its core of Diego Armendariz (2022), Adam Montoya (2023), and Devin Flores (2022) along with sound play from freshman Sabiani Rios-Guevara. The Tohathci Cougars come from District 1-3A finishing third place and winners of three of the last four games.
Prediction: St. Michael's 55, Tohatchi 42.
#5 Navajo Prep Eagles (17-8) vs #12 West Las Vegas Dons (10-16), 4PM
Preview: The Navajo Prep Eagles are picked as an upset watch game as they enter the 4pm game time in Farmington. The Eagles are the District 1-3A champions finishing 11-1 in district play and have a year of significant wins over Gallup and Escalante. Dontrelle Denetso (2022) leads the way with 16 points per game along with getting 12 points from sophomore guard Jude Thomas. The Dons will look to its trio of Damian Gallegos (2022), PJ Montano (2024), and Josh Gonzales (2022). All three are averaging double figures - 15, 13.3 and 10 points per game.
Prediction: Navajo Prep 55, West Las Vegas 54.
#6 Raton Tigers (16-8) vs #11 Santa Fe Indian Braves (9-15), 6PM
Preview: This first round game will also feature district opponents as Raton will play host to Santa Fe Indian. The Tigers finished tied for second place in District 2-3A and will be lead by the Quartieri duo of Matthew and Dylan. The seniors are each averaging 12 points per game along with around 5 rebounds per game. Santa Fe Indian has struggled since the turn of the calendar year going 4-10.
Prediction: Raton 54, Santa Fe Indian 40.
#7 Bosque Bobcats (17-8) vs #10 Hot Springs Tigers (16-13), 4PM
Preview: The battle of the latest 3A basketball state champions. Hot Springs led by head coach Derek Bean have taken home the 2019 state championship along with winning it all last season. Clifton Davidson led the Bobcats to their first state championship during the 2020 season defeating the Sandia Prep Sundevils, 65-57. The 7-seed Bobcats are led by Anthony Sanchez (2022) and Cooper Hautau (2024). Hot Springs High School hits the road and will have senior forward Randin Gossett providing the post season experience for the Tigers.
Prediction: Bosque 53, Hot Springs 51
#8 Crownpoint Eagles (21-7) vs #9 Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins (14-11), 5PM
Preview: We called the Crownpoint Eagles as a team to watch in our early predictions and they are now home to the first round of the state tournament game between the 8-9 seed game. The Eagles have patiently built their program from three year lettermen Taye Harvey (2023), Tyrell Archie (2023) and senior Kordell McMillan. Archie leading the way averaging 17 points per game with Harvey (13) and McMillan (11) close behind. Now they turn to overcoming a tough Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins team entering the game behind next level prospect Finn Coles (2022) and a team that battled for a DC in the tough 2-3A district.
Prediction: Santa Fe Prep 58, Crownpoint 54.
Grine's Must-See 1st RD Game: Crownpoint vs Santa Fe Prep
Grine's Upset Pick: Hot Springs
Grine's "Don't Sleep on this Upset Possibility": West Las Vegas
Grine's Final Four: Sandia Prep, Socorro, St. Mikes, Robertson
Grine's Champ: Sandia Prep. After two failed attempts in 2021 and 2020 finishing as state runner ups. Also, a history of finishing as the bridesmaid and top title contender, they should get their first.
