2023 New Mexico high school basketball champions
Mar. 11—Here's a list of the New Mexico high school teams crowned champion in the state basketball tournament. Story will be updated at the conclusion of games. Follow reporters James Yodice, Ken Sickenger and Lucas Peerman on Twitter for live coverage.
Girls
1A: No. 2 ROY/MOSQUERO 62, No. 4 TO'HAJIILEE 61
In a back-and-forth affair at the Pit on Saturday morning, The Lady Blue (28-2) and Lady Warriors (27-2) went down to the wire, with Roy/Mosquero prevailing for its second 1A title in three seasons. Tanna Crisp converted a go-ahead layup with 10 seconds left in the fourth for a 62-60 lead. To'hajiilee's Cadence Secataro was fouled on the next possession with 2.3 seconds left but made just one of two free throws. Crisp led Roy/Mosquero with 21 points and Sylvania Baca added 18. For To'hajiilee, Alyce Apachito filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 8 blocks. Read more — See gallery.
2A: No. 7 TEXICO 44, No. 1 ESCALANTE 30
While it might be difficult to call a program with 10 state championships to its credit an underdog, the Texico girls were exactly that entering this year's tournament. The Wolverines defied the odds, knocking off the top three seeds to capture their 11th blue trophy in girls basketball. Friday night at the Pit, Texico (17-13) pulled away in the third quarter and hung on to defeat Escalante (22-8). Emma Wahlen scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Wolverines. Read more.
3A: No. 4 TOHATCHI 46, No. 3 SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL 24
In the Pit, behind a ferocious defense that absolutely stymied Santa Fe Indian School, Tohatchi on Friday claimed its second girls state title. After the Braves (23-8) scored the game's first bucket, they didn't score again for more than nine minutes as the Cougars (24-9) went on a 14-0 run to gain control of the game. Brooke Badonie and Marisa Denetso each scored 12 to lead Tohatchi. Read more.
4A: NO. 2 GALLUP 57, NO. 1 KIRTLAND CENTRAL 47
Kirtland Central was seeking its 21st state title, but instead watched its to-the-south rival from Gallup take the crown. The Bengals (28-5) took down the Broncos (29-4) before a raucous crowd on Friday night at the Pit. Gallup, with its seventh championship, has won state for the second time in three seasons. Sophomore forward Rylie Whitehair had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Gallup. Read more.
5A No. 1 HOBBS 52, No. 3 VOLCANO VISTA 47
The Eagles (28-3) had four double-figure scorers and never trailed in ending Volcano Vista's two-year run atop the largest classification in New Mexico. Hobbs was led by four players in double figures: Jayla David (12), Nakia Mojica (12), Bhret Cla (11) and Brynn Hargrove (10). Taejhuan Hill had game highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds for Volcano Vista (27-4). Read more — See photos.
Boys
1A: No. 2 FORT SUMNER/HOUSE 45, No. 1 MAGDALENA 43
Fort Sumner/House's Chance Thomson drained two free throws with 6.1 seconds left that proved to be the difference in a 45-43 win over Magdalena, which had won 46 straight dating back to last season. The Foxes (29-2) led most of the game, but the Steers (31-1) made it a back-and-forth affair in the fourth quarter. Magdalena's Krae Stephens hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 43-43 with seconds to go, but his teammate Joseph Zamora intentionally fouled Thomson on the ensuring in-bounds play, giving the Foxes a chance to win it at the line. Cash Burney scored 14 to lead Fort Sumner/House, while D'Shaun Vinyard's 16 points led Magdalena. Read more — Photo gallery
2A: No. 1 PECOS 52, No. 2 ACADEMY FOR TECHNOLOGY AND THE CLASSICS 49
The Panthers (28-3) rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to capture their fifth title in the last seven years. The Phoenix (26-7) had two chances to tie the game from behind the arc in the final 15 seconds but couldn't convert on either opportunity. Jodaiah Padilla led Pecos with 14 points, while Rocky Miller had a game-high 19 points for ATC, which was making its first-ever championship game appearance. Read more — See gallery
3A: No. 1 ST. MICHAEL'S 66, No. 3 ROBERTSON 49
At the Pit on Saturday, the Horsemen (27-4) used withering defensive pressure and a big fourth quarter to wear down the Cardinals and secure their first state title since 2012. The game was tied at 35 after three quarters but St. Mike's forced 10 turnovers in the fourth quarter alone to take command. Adam Montoya scored 15 of his 20 points in the final quarter for the Horsement, and Sabiani Ross scored 10 of his 15. Jesse James Gonzales scored 17 points to lead Robertson. Read more — See photos
4A: No. 1 ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY 70, No. 6 HOPE CHRISTIAN 39
Joe Jack once again powered the Chargers (27-3), this time with 27 points and eight rebounds Saturday at the Pit to lead Academy to its ninth state championship and first since the last of it six straight titles in 1994. The Huskies (21-11), meanwhile, were thwarted in their bid to win a record-tying 17th ring that would have put Hope even with Hobbs. Read more — See photos
5A: No. 1 VOLCANO VISTA 43, No. 2 SANDIA 31
In the lowest-scoring big-school championship game of the modern era, Volcano Vista claimed a 43-31 victory over Sandia. Hawks coach Greg Brown defeated his brother Danny Brown, coach of the Matadors, for his fourth state title, and third as coach of the Volcano Vista. The Matadors started the game hot, hitting 6 of 8 shots in the first quarter for a 13-6 lead. Volcano Vista (29-1) clamped down on defense and Sandia (26-6) hit only 5 field goals the rest of the game. Volcano Vista, meanwhile, was at its best in the fourth quarter. The Hawks scored 22 points through the first three quarters and 19 in the last stanza. Kenyon Aguino led Volcano Vista with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He was the only player on either team who scored in double figures. The 74 points scored between the teams was the lowest combined since the 1952 title game. Read more — See gallery
