Carlsbad and Artesia basketball teams prepare for return to state playoffs in 2024
Carlsbad and Artesia High School basketball teams may have lost some key players from last year’s squad that went to the state tournament. Fans should not look at the coming season as a rebuilding year, but as a reloading one as all four squads have veteran leadership that could make a return to the postseason.
Carlsbad Cavemen season preview
Last season the Cavemen lost a heartbreaker to Albuquerque La Cueva, 57-56, in the opening round of the 5A state basketball tournament.
Carlsbad finished the 2022-2023 with a 20-8 record and was 6-0 in District 5-4A play.
The biggest contributor to Carlsbad’s success last year was Damian Perez. He scored 24 points in his career-ending game against the Bears.
More: Carlsbad Cavemen upset by La Cueva in opening round of 5A state basketball tournament
Devin Mc Wright and Xavier Rueda also departed the Cavemen at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Carlsbad had 12 seniors graduate. With returning players like 6-foot-5 power forward and center Garren Gossett, the Cavemen could repeat as district champions and return to the state tournament.
Gossett was a force for opposing teams to contend with underneath as he was not afraid to block or go after a loose basketball.
Brandon Sullivan saw some playing time last season as a sophomore. The 6-foot-1 center returns for his junior and senior small forward Samuel Gee returns for his senior season.
Carlsbad opens the season Nov. 28 in Albuquerque against El Dorado. The Cavemen’s first home game of the season is Nov. 30 against Alamogordo.
Carlsbad begins defense of its district Jan. 30 against in Clovis against the Wildcats.
Cavegirls seek to go further in state tournament
Carlsbad lost to Albuquerque La Cueva in the second round of the girls 5A state playoffs 44-26.
Matt Enloe’s squad finished the 2022-2023 season with a 24-6 record and went 5-1 in District 5-4A.
More: Carlsbad Cavegirls and Artesia Lady Bulldogs ousted in the state basketball tournament
Maria Sepulveda, Kilea Estrada and Allie Myers were three key players Enloe lost to graduation in 2023.
Back for her junior season is 5-foot-9 junior shooting guard Abbey Dugan.
She views her role on the court as taking care of the basketball and keeping a high energy on the court.
The Cavegirls start the season Dec. 4 in Carlsbad against Alamogordo. Nearly three days after the season opener, Carlsbad participates in the City of Champions Classic Dec. 7 through Dec. 9 in Artesia.
District play starts Jan. 30 at Clovis.
Artesia Bulldogs wait for football to wrap up
The Bulldogs started last season with an 0-3 record as players from the 2022 state championship football team got into basketball shape as the season wore on.
Artesia ended the season with a 19-10 overall record and 6-0 in District 4-4A.
The Bulldogs defeated Valencia in the first round of the 5A state playoffs and lost to Albuquerque Valley in the second round.
Head coach Michael Mondragon lost a key point guard in Nick Sanchez at the end of the 2023 season.
More: Artesia All-Star basketball player signs to play at University of the Southwest in Hobbs
The three-time All-State basketball player will play his games this year at the University of the Southwest in Hobbs.
Mondragon has football players Nye Estrada and Diego Wesson waiting to play basketball for their senior seasons.
Nye Estrada, the starting quarterback for the football team, plays shooting guard on the basketball team.
Another football player who applies his trade on the basketball court is senior point guard and shooting guard Diego Wesson.
The Bulldogs start the season Dec. 7 in Artesia during the three-day City of Champions Classic.
Lorin Wagner, Abigail Hauschild look to make state playoffs
The senior post players for the Lady Bulldogs accomplished something that had not been done for the Artesia High School program in nearly four years. Make the 4A girls state tournament and advance on.
Head coach Jeff Houghtaling is counting on both of them for senior leadership during the upcoming season as both assumed the mantle from Audrey Velo and Koda Beltran who guided Artesia to a 19-9 overall record and 6-0 in District 4-4A.
“We had a pretty good season, the team really bonded,” Wagner said.
She has plenty of goals for the upcoming season including winning district and returning to the state playoffs.
Wagner said increasing rebounds per game and making first-team All-District are some personal goals for 2024.
This year marks Wagner’s third on the varsity squad.
“In my sophomore year I was scared and nervous and wasn’t going in as much,” she said.
More: Artesia High School teacher finds time to teach, coach and preach
Last year during her junior season, Wagner said she was gaining confidence.
“This year I plan to play at my fullest,” she said.
Hauschild said the 2022-23 season was exciting for her and her teammates. She is looking forward to 2024.
“It’s going to be a good year (with) lots of team building. We have a lot of returning players,” she said.
Hauschild said going to state was exciting and nerve-racking as the Lady Bulldogs defeated Moriarty in the opening round of the tournament 54-50.
Artesia lost in the second round to Albuquerque Hope Christian 62-48.
“I’d like to go again,” she said of the Lady Bulldogs’ goals for the end of the season.
More: Experience and leadership guiding forces for Artesia Lady Bulldog hoops in 2023
Hauschild said getting better in scoring and rebounding and encouraging her younger teammates are some personal goals for the upcoming season.
Artesia starts the 2023-2024 season Nov. 28 at home against Santa Teresa. District play starts Feb. 2 in Artesia against Lovington.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad Artesia 2023 2024 basketball season previews
