CLASS 5A - FIRST ROUND PICKS AND PREDICTIONS
#1 HOBBS VS. #16 DEMING
Tough draw for the young Deming team that made leaps and bounds this past season. Led by a stellar freshman guard in Harmanie Dominguez, Deming will need big games from the supporting cast as well. Hobbs got a sweet draw from their former district (last season) and it'll definitely be a fun up-and-down game that could easily be over by the first quarter if Deming doesn't take care of the ball. Look to the intriguing defensive assignment with Hobbs' Amiah Smith or Wisdom Anthony guarding Deming's Dominguez.
Prediction: Hobbs 66 Deming 31
#8 LA CUEVA VS. #9 RIO RANCHO
La Cueva's Coach Perea was IRATE and went to social media stating that the seeding and selection methodology is a "flawed system" and that "You get rewarded for not having any quality wins as long as your record is good."
Well the La Cueva Lady Bears won't have to hit the road, but they'll have to host a Rio Rancho team that may have maxed their "clutch" credit card. Rio Rancho does have the makings in a first round upset, but I think the impassioned head coach of La Cueva will not allow for that. It'll be a guard heavy match-up when Rio Rancho makes the short trip to La Cueva on Friday.
Prediction: La Cueva 52 Rio Rancho 35
#5 VOLCANO VISTA VS. #12 ALAMOGORDO
Volcano Vista had some trouble early with Cleveland but eventually found a spark of offense from Jaelyn Bates in the district tournament finale. Now the Lady Hawks will play host to the district runner-up Alamogordo Lady Tigers. Alamogordo is led by an effective and quick guard Faith Silva who has had numerous big games this season. Her scoring ability combined with the defensive efforts of Calysta Jacob and Justyse Martin have been successful in the past. The question is can they score enough points or apply enough defensive pressure on the likes of the youthful firepower that Volcano Vista has in Bates, Natalia Chavez, and Giannah Aragon? Everyone likes a 5-12 upset bid. Is this it?
Prediction: Alamogordo 46 Volcano Vista 45
#4 CARLSBAD VS. #13 CENTENNIAL
Centennial has been one of the most up-and-down inconsistent teams this season. BUT, they have the makings to be something special if they can get more than Jessica Rios scoring the points. Carlsbad is coming out of their district 1-3 against Hobbs and looking to put some points on a team. Led by senior guard and Idaho State commit, Carsyn Boswell, the Carlsbad Cavegirls should have an easy time with their steller defense against Centennial. Carlsbad's Kaliyah Montoya matching up against Centennial's Diane Hefner should be a fun battle.
Prediction: Carlsbad 56 Centennial 29
#3 WEST MESA VS. #14 ONATE
In what many are saying could be their last best chance to make a championship run, West Mesa will surely get the best out of the senior tandem guards of Army commit, Espi Varoz, and New Mexico Highlands commit, Maiah Rivas. They'll play host to the seemingly underrated Onate team anchored by star forward-center, Estrella Avalos. With the help of sophomores Sydney Hobbs and Angel Jones, Onate has made their presence known with a few key wins in the southern district. But they'll need all they can get out of their core with the likes of Cece Barela, Emily Burk, and Jaden Castellano adding woes for opponents on both ends of the court.
Prediction: West Mesa 61 Onate 41
#6 MAYFIELD VS. #11 SANDIA
Guard-centric Mayfield hosts a talented but youthful Sandia team in the first round. Mayfield is one of the top 5A teams I've see this season play outstanding man-to-man defense (quick rotation, communication, and footwork). Sandia will not only have their hands full of who to guard, other than Colby CC commit Alize Ruiz (15.6 ppg), but how to handle the pressure and depth Mayfield boasts. It'll take more than Sapirah Boussard and Viane Cumber (17.1 ppg) to get this win on the road.
Prediction: Mayfield 45 Sandia 37
#7 FARMINGTON VS. #10 CLEVELAND
A quality rematch here that'll take place up north this time around as Farmington looks to avenge their Academy tournament loss to Cleveland. Farmington has one of the best forwards in senior Jordan Vasquez. Paired with a freshman guard in Kiiyaani Anitielu, Farmington has show how offensively potent they can be. On the other end, Cleveland is one of the more team-oriented team with a quality backcourt that can matchup with almost any other 5A team. Desiree Forster, Kaylee Caldwell, and Alycia Harriott anchor a big part of the Storm squad. On the interior with Skyla Lillard and Jordan Barnard do much of the interior work. It'll be a great game seeing how far both teams have come since that December day. More importantly, will Jordan Vasquez repeat her 37 point performance?
Prediction: Farmington 52 Cleveland 47
#2 Piedra Vista vs. #15 Eldorado
Well it's looking like a district run might be necessary again if Piedra Vista wants to make their way to the championship. So far this season PV is 2-0 against Eldorado. In those two meetings they had a poor start and it was a game late. Eldorado is likely not to waste a tournament appearance just to show up. They senior squad is looking to not go quietly behind the efforts of Colexi Brazier and Bella Escobar. PV's core with the Watson sisters, Lanae Billy, and Tiontai Woods shouldn't have trouble scoring against this troubled Lady Eagles defense though.
Prediction: Piedra Vista 61 Eldorado 48
SHARE YOUR PICKS AND PREDICTIONS BELOW
#1 HOBBS VS. #16 DEMING
Tough draw for the young Deming team that made leaps and bounds this past season. Led by a stellar freshman guard in Harmanie Dominguez, Deming will need big games from the supporting cast as well. Hobbs got a sweet draw from their former district (last season) and it'll definitely be a fun up-and-down game that could easily be over by the first quarter if Deming doesn't take care of the ball. Look to the intriguing defensive assignment with Hobbs' Amiah Smith or Wisdom Anthony guarding Deming's Dominguez.
Prediction: Hobbs 66 Deming 31
#8 LA CUEVA VS. #9 RIO RANCHO
La Cueva's Coach Perea was IRATE and went to social media stating that the seeding and selection methodology is a "flawed system" and that "You get rewarded for not having any quality wins as long as your record is good."
Well the La Cueva Lady Bears won't have to hit the road, but they'll have to host a Rio Rancho team that may have maxed their "clutch" credit card. Rio Rancho does have the makings in a first round upset, but I think the impassioned head coach of La Cueva will not allow for that. It'll be a guard heavy match-up when Rio Rancho makes the short trip to La Cueva on Friday.
Prediction: La Cueva 52 Rio Rancho 35
#5 VOLCANO VISTA VS. #12 ALAMOGORDO
Volcano Vista had some trouble early with Cleveland but eventually found a spark of offense from Jaelyn Bates in the district tournament finale. Now the Lady Hawks will play host to the district runner-up Alamogordo Lady Tigers. Alamogordo is led by an effective and quick guard Faith Silva who has had numerous big games this season. Her scoring ability combined with the defensive efforts of Calysta Jacob and Justyse Martin have been successful in the past. The question is can they score enough points or apply enough defensive pressure on the likes of the youthful firepower that Volcano Vista has in Bates, Natalia Chavez, and Giannah Aragon? Everyone likes a 5-12 upset bid. Is this it?
Prediction: Alamogordo 46 Volcano Vista 45
#4 CARLSBAD VS. #13 CENTENNIAL
Centennial has been one of the most up-and-down inconsistent teams this season. BUT, they have the makings to be something special if they can get more than Jessica Rios scoring the points. Carlsbad is coming out of their district 1-3 against Hobbs and looking to put some points on a team. Led by senior guard and Idaho State commit, Carsyn Boswell, the Carlsbad Cavegirls should have an easy time with their steller defense against Centennial. Carlsbad's Kaliyah Montoya matching up against Centennial's Diane Hefner should be a fun battle.
Prediction: Carlsbad 56 Centennial 29
#3 WEST MESA VS. #14 ONATE
In what many are saying could be their last best chance to make a championship run, West Mesa will surely get the best out of the senior tandem guards of Army commit, Espi Varoz, and New Mexico Highlands commit, Maiah Rivas. They'll play host to the seemingly underrated Onate team anchored by star forward-center, Estrella Avalos. With the help of sophomores Sydney Hobbs and Angel Jones, Onate has made their presence known with a few key wins in the southern district. But they'll need all they can get out of their core with the likes of Cece Barela, Emily Burk, and Jaden Castellano adding woes for opponents on both ends of the court.
Prediction: West Mesa 61 Onate 41
#6 MAYFIELD VS. #11 SANDIA
Guard-centric Mayfield hosts a talented but youthful Sandia team in the first round. Mayfield is one of the top 5A teams I've see this season play outstanding man-to-man defense (quick rotation, communication, and footwork). Sandia will not only have their hands full of who to guard, other than Colby CC commit Alize Ruiz (15.6 ppg), but how to handle the pressure and depth Mayfield boasts. It'll take more than Sapirah Boussard and Viane Cumber (17.1 ppg) to get this win on the road.
Prediction: Mayfield 45 Sandia 37
#7 FARMINGTON VS. #10 CLEVELAND
A quality rematch here that'll take place up north this time around as Farmington looks to avenge their Academy tournament loss to Cleveland. Farmington has one of the best forwards in senior Jordan Vasquez. Paired with a freshman guard in Kiiyaani Anitielu, Farmington has show how offensively potent they can be. On the other end, Cleveland is one of the more team-oriented team with a quality backcourt that can matchup with almost any other 5A team. Desiree Forster, Kaylee Caldwell, and Alycia Harriott anchor a big part of the Storm squad. On the interior with Skyla Lillard and Jordan Barnard do much of the interior work. It'll be a great game seeing how far both teams have come since that December day. More importantly, will Jordan Vasquez repeat her 37 point performance?
Prediction: Farmington 52 Cleveland 47
#2 Piedra Vista vs. #15 Eldorado
Well it's looking like a district run might be necessary again if Piedra Vista wants to make their way to the championship. So far this season PV is 2-0 against Eldorado. In those two meetings they had a poor start and it was a game late. Eldorado is likely not to waste a tournament appearance just to show up. They senior squad is looking to not go quietly behind the efforts of Colexi Brazier and Bella Escobar. PV's core with the Watson sisters, Lanae Billy, and Tiontai Woods shouldn't have trouble scoring against this troubled Lady Eagles defense though.
Prediction: Piedra Vista 61 Eldorado 48
SHARE YOUR PICKS AND PREDICTIONS BELOW
Last edited:
