6A BASKETBALL
#1 Hobbs vs. #16 Santa Fe – Hobbs runs a young Santa Fe team out of the gym. Hobbs wins big, 35+.
#2 Carlsbad vs. #15 Atrisco Heritage – These two teams met before with Carlsbad dominating. This sequel won’t be much different. C-Bad with the 20+ point win.
#3 West Mesa vs. #14 Onate – You know I like Onate after that win against Mayfield. Problem is this West Mesa has been so solid and steady, I don’t know if Onate has enough defenders to contain everyone. West Mesa with the 15+ win.
#4 Las Cruces vs. #13 Highland – I like this matchup with Las Cruces team hosting an athletic Highland team that could cause trouble on the glass. I think Las Cruces does just enough to get by though. Las Cruces with the win by 15+.
#5 La Cueva vs. #12 Centennial – Oh my. This game could get interesting. I’ve been a fan of Centennial especially with their never-quit senior core. The Lady Hawks played well enough the last time they came up to the metro area, but I think they fall just short against a good La Cueva team. La Cueva by 8+
#6 Eldorado vs. #11 Mayfield – The matchups get more interesting the higher you go. Both teams don’t have a ton of talent coming off the bench, but their starters could make for a great game. I think Mayfield makes it game, but the likes of Eldorado steal this game late. Eldorado with the win by 4
#7 Sandia vs. #10 Cibola – Here was my “don’t-be-surprised” Sandia pick here, but I think this Cibola team is too well tested and experienced to allow Sandia to steal their shine. Cibola with the win by 6.
#8 Rio Rancho vs. #9 Volcano Vista – Everyone hates a rematch of a district matchup. But here we are and I think Rio Rancho again gets the best of a determined but short-handed Volcano Vista squad. Rio Rancho by 5.
5A BASKETBALL
#1 Roswell vs. #16 Alamogordo – Roswell. Roswell. Roswell. By a lot.
#2 Los Lunas vs. #15 Grants – I think Grants has given the Lady Tigers a few games, but again, this Los Lunas squad does more of the same from district. I got Los Lunas by 18+
#3 Espanola Valley vs. #14 Aztec – Senior standout Alexis Lovato versus a rising talent in Reigan Weaver? That’s matchup I’ll have to go with experience and home-court advantage. EV by 11+
#4 Albuquerque Academy vs. #13 Farmington – The Lady Scorps have some talent on that frontline to maybe contain Sophie Long of Academy. But the guard play will get interesting. This might be closer than one would like, but Academy gets the win by 9.
#5 Goddard vs. #12 Artesia – Close for a half. Goddard gets the win by double-digits.
#6 St. Pius X vs. #11 Gallup – The venue may get a little cramped as the Gallup faithful travel very well. But I think the height and physical play of a St. Pius gets them easy buckets. Unless of course Gallup’s shooting woes and tempo become an issue for St. Pius. But I think the defense takes care of business and St. Pius moves on. SPX by 14+
#7 Kirtland Central vs. #10 Del Norte – The last time these two teams faced off in the first round of the state tournament, KC ended up making a run and winning the whole thing. I think this time will be tougher as this Del Norte squad is a tad underrated. I’m putting KC on upset alert as they haven’t defended home court very well. KC by one.
#8 Bloomfield vs. #9 Lovington – First off, that’s quite the road trip. Second, I think Lovington is tough team that could give Bloomfield trouble. But Bloomfield is too determined to bounce back and get a quarterfinal date with #1 Roswell. Bloomfield by 8.
4A BASKETBALL
#1 Hope Christian vs. #16 Taos – Hope Christian by double-digits.
#2 Shiprock vs. #15 Santa Fe Indian – Folks in Shiprock are concerned this is a tougher matchup as they think this is the powerhouse SFIS of year’s past. They’re not quite back to that. Shiprock by double-digits in this semifinal rematch from last year.
#3 Robertson vs. #14 St. Michael’s – The Lady Horsemen found a way to win last time, but I think Robertson get some help from home-court play and win big. Robertson by 16.
#4 Portales vs. #13 Pojoaque Valley – Portales has shown they’re prime for a run at the championship despite their youth. Pojoaque gives them a game early, but Portales pulls away late. Lady Rams by 19+
#5 Moriarty vs. #12 Hatch Valley – This is one of those games where we know one team is definitely underseeded. The matchup between the duos of Alyssa Adams and Emerald Russell against Taylor Mitchell and Nakona Drake will definitely be a game to watch. I think the Lady Bears give Moriarty a game early and late, but Moriarty will make the plays to ensure they move on. Moriarty by 9.
#6 West Las Vegas vs. #11 Socorro – Socorro has grown and shown to play well under Coach Baca. But West Las Vegas has a bit more talent and experience this late in the season. West wins by double digits.
#7 Silver vs. #10 Navajo Prep – Silver has too much height and Navajo Prep has been too much of a Jekyll/Hyde in terms of play. Inconsistencies doom Prep and Silver moves on easy. Silver by double digits.
#8 Sandia Prep vs. #9 Wingate – THIS should be a fun game to watch. I’ve always said Sandia Prep’s Madie Trainor would mesh well against the run-and-gun “rez-ball” style of hoops Wingate can play. I think this may be the next best game to see. First one to 50 wins.
#1 Hobbs vs. #16 Santa Fe – Hobbs runs a young Santa Fe team out of the gym. Hobbs wins big, 35+.
#2 Carlsbad vs. #15 Atrisco Heritage – These two teams met before with Carlsbad dominating. This sequel won’t be much different. C-Bad with the 20+ point win.
#3 West Mesa vs. #14 Onate – You know I like Onate after that win against Mayfield. Problem is this West Mesa has been so solid and steady, I don’t know if Onate has enough defenders to contain everyone. West Mesa with the 15+ win.
#4 Las Cruces vs. #13 Highland – I like this matchup with Las Cruces team hosting an athletic Highland team that could cause trouble on the glass. I think Las Cruces does just enough to get by though. Las Cruces with the win by 15+.
#5 La Cueva vs. #12 Centennial – Oh my. This game could get interesting. I’ve been a fan of Centennial especially with their never-quit senior core. The Lady Hawks played well enough the last time they came up to the metro area, but I think they fall just short against a good La Cueva team. La Cueva by 8+
#6 Eldorado vs. #11 Mayfield – The matchups get more interesting the higher you go. Both teams don’t have a ton of talent coming off the bench, but their starters could make for a great game. I think Mayfield makes it game, but the likes of Eldorado steal this game late. Eldorado with the win by 4
#7 Sandia vs. #10 Cibola – Here was my “don’t-be-surprised” Sandia pick here, but I think this Cibola team is too well tested and experienced to allow Sandia to steal their shine. Cibola with the win by 6.
#8 Rio Rancho vs. #9 Volcano Vista – Everyone hates a rematch of a district matchup. But here we are and I think Rio Rancho again gets the best of a determined but short-handed Volcano Vista squad. Rio Rancho by 5.
5A BASKETBALL
#1 Roswell vs. #16 Alamogordo – Roswell. Roswell. Roswell. By a lot.
#2 Los Lunas vs. #15 Grants – I think Grants has given the Lady Tigers a few games, but again, this Los Lunas squad does more of the same from district. I got Los Lunas by 18+
#3 Espanola Valley vs. #14 Aztec – Senior standout Alexis Lovato versus a rising talent in Reigan Weaver? That’s matchup I’ll have to go with experience and home-court advantage. EV by 11+
#4 Albuquerque Academy vs. #13 Farmington – The Lady Scorps have some talent on that frontline to maybe contain Sophie Long of Academy. But the guard play will get interesting. This might be closer than one would like, but Academy gets the win by 9.
#5 Goddard vs. #12 Artesia – Close for a half. Goddard gets the win by double-digits.
#6 St. Pius X vs. #11 Gallup – The venue may get a little cramped as the Gallup faithful travel very well. But I think the height and physical play of a St. Pius gets them easy buckets. Unless of course Gallup’s shooting woes and tempo become an issue for St. Pius. But I think the defense takes care of business and St. Pius moves on. SPX by 14+
#7 Kirtland Central vs. #10 Del Norte – The last time these two teams faced off in the first round of the state tournament, KC ended up making a run and winning the whole thing. I think this time will be tougher as this Del Norte squad is a tad underrated. I’m putting KC on upset alert as they haven’t defended home court very well. KC by one.
#8 Bloomfield vs. #9 Lovington – First off, that’s quite the road trip. Second, I think Lovington is tough team that could give Bloomfield trouble. But Bloomfield is too determined to bounce back and get a quarterfinal date with #1 Roswell. Bloomfield by 8.
4A BASKETBALL
#1 Hope Christian vs. #16 Taos – Hope Christian by double-digits.
#2 Shiprock vs. #15 Santa Fe Indian – Folks in Shiprock are concerned this is a tougher matchup as they think this is the powerhouse SFIS of year’s past. They’re not quite back to that. Shiprock by double-digits in this semifinal rematch from last year.
#3 Robertson vs. #14 St. Michael’s – The Lady Horsemen found a way to win last time, but I think Robertson get some help from home-court play and win big. Robertson by 16.
#4 Portales vs. #13 Pojoaque Valley – Portales has shown they’re prime for a run at the championship despite their youth. Pojoaque gives them a game early, but Portales pulls away late. Lady Rams by 19+
#5 Moriarty vs. #12 Hatch Valley – This is one of those games where we know one team is definitely underseeded. The matchup between the duos of Alyssa Adams and Emerald Russell against Taylor Mitchell and Nakona Drake will definitely be a game to watch. I think the Lady Bears give Moriarty a game early and late, but Moriarty will make the plays to ensure they move on. Moriarty by 9.
#6 West Las Vegas vs. #11 Socorro – Socorro has grown and shown to play well under Coach Baca. But West Las Vegas has a bit more talent and experience this late in the season. West wins by double digits.
#7 Silver vs. #10 Navajo Prep – Silver has too much height and Navajo Prep has been too much of a Jekyll/Hyde in terms of play. Inconsistencies doom Prep and Silver moves on easy. Silver by double digits.
#8 Sandia Prep vs. #9 Wingate – THIS should be a fun game to watch. I’ve always said Sandia Prep’s Madie Trainor would mesh well against the run-and-gun “rez-ball” style of hoops Wingate can play. I think this may be the next best game to see. First one to 50 wins.
