<p>The New Mexico High School Basketball State Tournament starts this Saturday March 5th, and this article will go over the Boys 5A Bracket consisting of 16 teams and 8 matchups. The First Round is Saturday March 5th, the Quarterfinals are Wednesday March 9th, the Semifinals are Friday March 11th, and the Championship games are Saturday March 12th.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#1 Las Cruces vs #16 </strong></span><b><u>Albuquerque</u></b></p>
<p>The Las Cruces Bulldawgs finished the regular season at 28-0, district champions by going 12-0 in district play and winning their district tournament. They were rewarded the #1 overall seed in this year's 5A State tournament. They were led by star duo [player_tooltip player_id="1076667" first="Isaiah" last="Carr"] and William Benjamin Jr. William was one of New Mexico’s leaders in scoring averaging 26.1 points per game this season and [player_tooltip player_id="1076667" first="Isaiah" last="Carr"] averaging a double-double of 18.6 points per game and 10.6 rebounds this season. [player_tooltip player_id="1076681" first="Kaden" last="Self"] averaged 10.5 points per game and [player_tooltip player_id="1276347" first="David" last="Cruz"] averaged 7.9 points with his elite three-point shooting. Las Cruces is the team to beat in this year's tournament. Albuquerque went 11-15 this season, 5-5 in district play and secured the 16th seed in this year's state tournament. They were led by one of the top players in New Mexico, Marquez King. Sophomore Isaiah Maldonado also made a huge impact with his scoring and three-point shooting. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#8 Santa Fe vs #9 Sandia</strong></span></p>
<p>Santa Fe went 22-5 in the regular season, went 8-2 in district play and finished second in district. They also made it to the district championship game vs Los Lunas. They were led by [player_tooltip player_id="1280490" first="Paul" last="Lovato"], Carlos Quinatana and Elefio Benavidez. They will be a tough matchup for Sandia in the first round of state. Sandia was one of the top contenders and favorites coming into the season and started to play like it toward the end of the season. Sandia went 17-9 this season and 8-2 in district. [player_tooltip player_id="1076668" first="Sean" last="Johnson"] led the team in scoring averaging 17.1 points per game, [player_tooltip player_id="1076706" first="Ely" last="Lovato"] averaged 12.8 points and [player_tooltip player_id="1360191" first="Andrew" last="Hill"] averaged 11.8 this season. The teams biggest X-Factor is [player_tooltip player_id="1076710" first="Dalen" last="Moyer"] who is capable of leading the team in scoring any night. Sandia is a team no one wants to face this tournament. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#5 Atrisco Heritage vs #12 Eldorado</strong></span></p>
<p>Atrisco Heritage is one of the few dark horses in this year's tournament that can win the 5A State Championship. They went 18-8 this season and played in the toughest district in the 5A Class. They are led by their two seniors [player_tooltip player_id="1076691" first="Colby" last="Wade"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1128606" first="Javier" last="Mendoza"] who were their two leading scorers this season. They're also led by floor general Chris Parra Jr., who provides elite scoring, limitless shooting and brings playmaking to the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="1076708" first="Tony" last="Pacheco"] brings leadership, toughness and his heart to this team and leaves everything out on the floor. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id="1176301" first="Latavious" last="Morris"] has had as big of an impact as any freshman in the state this season and was selected to the all-district team this season. Eldorado went 13-14 this season and played in one of the toughest districts as well so they’re better than what their record actually says. This team is led by [player_tooltip player_id="1076673" first="Tyler" last="Heckroth"] who is one of the top-rated players in New Mexico. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#4 Hobbs vs #13 Farmington</strong></span></p>
<p>Hobbs went 25-2 this season and is one of the early favorites to bring home the 5A state championship. They were led by one of the top duos in the state, [player_tooltip player_id="1076669" first="Jalen" last="Goar"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1076695" first="Aaron" last="Mora"]. [player_tooltip player_id="1076669" first="Jalen" last="Goar"] was one of the top scorers this season averaging 19.8 points per game this season. [player_tooltip player_id="1076695" first="Aaron" last="Mora"] averaged a double-double averaging 19.5 points per game and 10.2 rebounds this season. Farmington went 20-8 this season in a tough district and secured the 13th seed in this year's tournament. They were led by Cayden Yazzie who averaged 12.3 points per game and their second leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id="1166976" first="Cody" last="Vassar-Steen"] 12.2 points per game. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#3 La Cueva vs #14 West Mesa</strong></span></p>
<p>The La Cueva Bears were 22-3 this season, went 9-1 in district play, won their district title and district tournament. They have been one of the most consistent teams since the beginning of the season and will be one of the favorites to win this state tournament. The La Cueva Bears were led by [player_tooltip player_id="1076700" first="Exodus" last="Ayers"] who averaged 16.4 points per game this season. They have one of the deepest rosters in NM. Gabriel Trujillo averaged 12.6 points per game, [player_tooltip player_id="1076705" first="Cedarius" last="Yates"] averaged 11.9 points per game and saw strong contributions from [player_tooltip player_id="1208049" first="Josiah" last="Guliford"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1076711" first="Isaiah" last="Denetclaw"] from their three-point shooting. West Mesa went 11-14 this season and was led by junior star [player_tooltip player_id="1076703" first="Sonny" last="Ortiz"] who can light up the scoreboard like very few can. He is a volume shooter and has limitless range. Brandon Lagunas is there best all-around scorer from all areas of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="1280498" first="Ty" last="Barlow"] is one of the most underrated big men that can stretch the floor with his shooting and is quick on his feet rebounding and shot blocking defensively. During the regular season, these two district rivals split the season series 1-1.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#6 Los Lunas vs #11 Cleveland</strong></span></p>
<p>Los Lunas went 20-8 in the regular season, went undefeated at 10-0 in district play and won their district tournament. They were led by Freshman star [player_tooltip player_id="1176298" first="Jalin" last="Holland"] who has quickly turned into one of the state's top young players. [player_tooltip player_id="1222730" first="Hadley" last="Beaty"] is a consistent three-point shooter and is a solid option for Los Lunas. Jamian Perez has been their second leading scorer this season with his all-around game shooting and scoring the ball. [player_tooltip player_id="1076721" first="Ezra" last="Guest"] has been very consistent this season as well. The 2021 defending state champion Cleveland Storm went 13-15 this season after having one of the toughest schedules in NM this season. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1158654" first="Daniel" last="Steverson"] became one of the top young players in NM this season. Daniel averaged 14.3 points per game this season and got better as the season went on. [player_tooltip player_id="1208584" first="Antonio" last="Avila"] was the team's second leading scorer averaging 9.5 points this season. Cleveland was better than what their record said this season. This should be one of the more entertaining matchups in the first round of state. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#7 Rio Rancho vs #10 Carlsbad</strong></span></p>
<p>Rio Rancho is one of these tournaments more underrated teams after a pretty solid regular season. Rio Rancho went 16-10 in a tough district and defeated several teams in this year's state tournament. They were led by [player_tooltip player_id="1076683" first="Keagan" last="Caton"] who led the team in scoring averaging 16.3 points per game this season. They also were led by their other two highly rated players Jeremiah Morris and [player_tooltip player_id="1293055" first="Maddox" last="Presser"]. Carlsbad went 22-6 in the regular season, went 4-2 in district play and finished 2nd in district. They were led by one of the top players in the game, [player_tooltip player_id="1208570" first="Damian" last="Perez"]. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#2 Volcano Vista vs #15 Organ Mountain</strong></span></p>
<p>Volcano Vista went undefeated at 25-0 in the regular season, went undefeated in district play at 10-0 to win the district title and won their district tournament championship. They were led by District Player of the Year, [player_tooltip player_id="1076675" first="Jakwon" last="Hill"]. [player_tooltip player_id="1128605" first="Kaden" last="Valdez"] provided his consistent three-point shooting and scoring to compliment Jakwon. [player_tooltip player_id="1225473" first="Oscar" last="McCoy"] was the floor general for this team and was the teams engine this year with his leadership and shooting. Jaden Malone did everything for Volcano Vista, played several positions and did everything at a high level. [player_tooltip player_id="1124213" first="Sean" last="Alter"] and freshman big man [player_tooltip player_id="1176300" first="Kenyon" last="Aguino"] have been forces to be reckoned with inside the paint on both sides of the floor. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id="1176305" first="Hudson" last="Brown"] has also made an impact for this roster this season as the backup floor general to [player_tooltip player_id="1225473" first="Oscar" last="McCoy"]. Organ Mountain went 15-14 this season, went 8-4 in district play to finish second in their district. [player_tooltip player_id="1295240" first="Brandon" last="Kehres"] led this team in scoring averaging 17.5 points per game and 7.6 rebounds this season. </p>
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