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A look at key first-round games in the New Mexico state high school basketball tournament

Mike Smith, Carlsbad Current-Argus
·5 min read

The road to Albuquerque for the finals of the New Mexico state high school basketball tournament starts this weekend with opening round games at various places.

Here is a breakdown of some of the games as teams seek championship trophies in all classes.

Boys 5A

Albuquerque Volcano Vista is No. 1 in the large class and host No. 16 seed Santa Fe Capital.

At 5 p.m. Saturday in Albuquerque, the No. 13 Farmington Scorpions face No. 4 Atrisco Heritage Academy.

The Scorpions are 22-7 heading into the tournament and the Jaguars are 21-8.

More: Carlsbad and Artesia basketball teams prepare for return to state playoffs in 2024

At 6 p.m. Saturday in Los Lunas, the No. 10 seed Alamogordo Tigers square off against No. 7 Los Lunas.

The Tigers are 18-10 this season and lost to Organ Mountain in the District 5-3A postseason tournament title game.

At 6 p.m. Saturday in Las Cruces, the No. 15 Roswell Coyotes battle the No. 2 Organ Mountain Knights.

Roswell is 16-13 and the Knights are 26-1.

Boys 4A

Albuquerque Highland is the No. 1 seed and hosts No. 16 Los Alamos.

At 5 p.m. Saturday in Albuquerque, No. 12 Shiprock travels to No. 5 St. Pius X.

Shiprock is 16-12 and the Spartans are 17-11 heading into the contest.

Artesia's Clay Kincaid drives to the basket against the Deming Wildcats during the December 2023 City of Champions Classic.
Artesia's Clay Kincaid drives to the basket against the Deming Wildcats during the December 2023 City of Champions Classic.

At 6 p.m. Saturday in Artesia, the No. 11 seed Taos Tigers travel from northern New Mexico to southeast New Mexico to face the No. 6 seed Artesia Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs defeated Lovington 71-30 in the District 4-4A postseason tournament title game Friday night in Artesia.

Artesia head coach Michael Mondragon said Artesia made a statement in the district race going undefeated.

“We played four quarters of basketball. I’m proud of our guys,” he said.

More: Artesia High basketball guard Jarren Wadkins wins Week 1 Prep Hero of the Week award

The Bulldogs are 17-8 and Taos is 14-14.

At 5 p.m. Saturday in Albuquerque, the No. 2 seed Valley Vikings host No. 15 Bloomfield.

Valley is 21-6 overall and the Bobcats are 15-14.

Boys 3A

Las Vegas Robertson is the top seed and hosts No. 16 Zuni.

At 6 p.m. Saturday in Farmington, No. 2 seed Navajo Prep hosts No. 15 seed Albuquerque Sandia Prep.

At 6 p.m. Saturday in Santa Fe, No. 10 seed Ruidoso travels to No. 7 seed Santa Fe Prep.

The Warriors are 15-11 overall and the Blue Griffins are 17-12 overall.

New Mexico Military's Jacob Hayes (left) attempts to stop Ruidoso's Patrick Kimbrell during a Feb. 6, 2024 basketball game in Roswell.
New Mexico Military's Jacob Hayes (left) attempts to stop Ruidoso's Patrick Kimbrell during a Feb. 6, 2024 basketball game in Roswell.

Boys 2A

The No. 1 seed is Academy for Technology and the Classics from Santa Fe. No. 16 Clayton pays them a visit in the opening round.

At 6 p.m. Saturday in Pecos, the No. 10 Loving Falcons tangle with the No. 7 Panthers.

The Falcons made it to the state playoffs despite an 83-74 loss to Hagerman in the semifinals of the District 2-4A postseason tournament.

More: Justin Parraz era with Loving Falcons basketball starts on winning note

Pecos is 18-10 overall and Loving is 15-11 heading into the game.

At 6 p.m. Saturday in Eunice, No. 15 seed Mescalero Apache faces the No. 2 seed Cardinals.

Mescalero Apache is 14-13 overall and the Cardinals are 22-5.

Loving's Kysiah Lujan attempts to stop a New Mexico Military Institute drive to the basket during a game early in the 2023 basketball season in Roswell.
Loving's Kysiah Lujan attempts to stop a New Mexico Military Institute drive to the basket during a game early in the 2023 basketball season in Roswell.

Girls 5A

The Hobbs Lady Eagles are the No. 1 seed and face No. 16 Las Cruces High School.

At 6 p.m. Friday in Las Cruces, the No. 5 Mayfield Lady Trojans host the No. 12 Clovis Lady Wildcats.

Mayfield is 22-5 and Clovis is 20-8 heading into the opening round.

Carlsbad Cavegirls guard Korrine Bradford practices a foul shot on Dec. 29, 2023 at Carlsbad High School.
Carlsbad Cavegirls guard Korrine Bradford practices a foul shot on Dec. 29, 2023 at Carlsbad High School.

At 6 p.m. Friday in Las Cruces, the No. 11 seed Carlsbad Cavegirls face No. 6 Organ Mountain.

The Cavegirls defeated Clovis in the semifinals of the District 5-4A postseason tournament.

Carlsbad was defeated by Hobbs 57-11 in the championship game.

At 5 p.m. Friday in Albuquerque, the No. 15 seed Alamogordo Lady Tigers face No. 2 Sandia.

Alamogordo is 15-13 overall and the Lady Matadors are 24-3.

Girls 4A

Kirtland Central is the No. 1 seed and hosts No. 16 Aztec.

At 6 p.m. Friday in Artesia, the No. 3 seed Lady Bulldogs host No. 14 Silver High School.

More: Cavegirls and Lady Bulldogs advance to round-two of the state basketball tournament

Artesia won the District 4-4A postseason tournament title game and head coach Jeff Houghtaling said the Lady Colts are young, quick and athletic.

“They only have one senior and strong shooters,” he said.

Houghtaling said Silver freshman point guard Justinne Altamirano is not afraid to shoot three-pointers.

Artesia's Hattie Harrison attempts a foul shot during the District 4-4A postseason basketball tournament on March 1, 2024. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Lovington.
Artesia's Hattie Harrison attempts a foul shot during the District 4-4A postseason basketball tournament on March 1, 2024. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Lovington.

At 6 p.m. Friday in Bloomfield, the No. 7 Lady Bobcats host the No. 10 seed Los Alamos.

Bloomfield is 18-9 overall and Los Alamos is 17-12.

Girls 3A

Tohatchi is the No. 1 seed and hosts No. 16 Crownpoint.

At 6 p.m. Friday at Tucumcari, the No. 5 seed Lady Rattlers host the No. 12 seed Ruidoso Lady Warriors.

Tucumcari is 22-3 overall and Ruidoso is 13-14 overall.

Ruidoso's Bayler Pritchett (left) attempts to pass against New Mexico Military's Jaylah Clay during a Feb. 16, 2024 basketball game in Roswell.
Ruidoso's Bayler Pritchett (left) attempts to pass against New Mexico Military's Jaylah Clay during a Feb. 16, 2024 basketball game in Roswell.

At 5:30 p.m. Friday at Navajo Prep, the No. 3 seed Lady Eagles hosts No. 14 seed Socorro.

Navajo Prep is 21-9 overall and the Lady Warriors are 12-16.

Girls 2A

Mesa Vista is the No. 1 seed and faces No. 16 Capitan.

At 6 p.m. Friday in Tularosa, the No. 4 Lady Wildcats host the No. 13 seed Eunice.

Tularosa is 21-6 overall and Eunice is 15-12.

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: New Mexico state high school basketball tournament games