NM State Tournament First Round: Top Performers

<p style="text-align: center;">The New Mexico high school basketball state tournament started this past Saturday March 5th. We had 40 games across the state between the 1A-5A classes which included 80 teams from around New Mexico. With so much excitement throughout the state, there was several great performances that were displayed on the biggest stage of the season. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1276347" first="David" last="Cruz"]- 5’9 Guard "Las Cruces" Class of 2023</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="1276347" first="David" last="Cruz"] played a huge role in the #1 seeded Bulldawgs advancing past the first round this past Saturday March 5th. He scored 17 points while making 5 three-pointers in the 84-34 win vs Albuquerque. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://twitter.com/505_podcast/status/1501006612818841602?s=20&amp;t=XafDwwlIckxb64vsYVHbZQ" /></video></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1176298" first="Jalin" last="Holland"]- 6’1 Guard "Los Lunas" Class of 2025</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Freshman [player_tooltip player_id="1176298" first="Jalin" last="Holland"] had one of his best performances of the season during the first round of the 2022 state tournament vs #11 Cleveland. He scored a game high 25 points and was clutch in the 4th quarter scoring 12 points. Every time Los Lunas needed a bucket, Jalin rose to the occasion. Los Lunas defeated #11 Cleveland 59-53. </p> <p style="text-align: center;">    <video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://twitter.com/505_podcast/status/1500495051335643137?s=20&amp;t=9rUanxKEGpcXxmwxlg4V6Q" /></video></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Chris Parra Jr.- 6’0 Point Guard "Atrisco Heritage" Class of 2023</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Chris Parra led Atrisco Heritage in scoring with 17 points in the teams 62-58 win vs Eldorado in the first round. He was clucth and made several key plays toward the end of that game. He also shot a perfect 5/5 from the free throw line. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://twitter.com/505_podcast/status/1500326108822126598?s=20&amp;t=9rUanxKEGpcXxmwxlg4V6Q" /></video></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076675" first="Jakwon" last="Hill"]- 6’0 Shooting Guard "Volcano Vista" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">The #2 seeded Volcano Vista Hawks defeated Organ Mountain 74-41 in the first round of the 2022 state tournament. [player_tooltip player_id="1076675" first="Jakwon" last="Hill"] led the way scoring 21 points and dominated the game in all areas. He made several three pointers and had several quick step drives to the basket. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://twitter.com/505_podcast/status/1500511746909372417?s=20&amp;t=9rUanxKEGpcXxmwxlg4V6Q" /></video></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Matthew Gonzales- 5’7 Guard "Robertson" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Robertson’s senior guard Matthew Gonzales scored 28 points on 11/19 shooting from the field while Robertson to a 73-37 win vs Dexter in the first round of the state tournament. He also shot 2/5 from the three point line. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076693" first="Joren" last="Mirabal"]- 6’2 Shooting Guard "Magdalena" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076693" first="Joren" last="Mirabal"] flirted with a triple-double in #1 Magdalena’s 74-25 win vs #16 Ramah in the first round of the 2022 state tournament. Joren led the way scoring 14 points on 5/12 shooting, grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing 7 assists. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">D’Shaun Vinyard- 6’0 Forward "Magdalena" Class of 2023</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">D’Shaun Vinyard led the way for #1 Magdalena, he scored a game high 20 points on 9/12 shooting from the field, grabbed 8 rebounds in the teams 74-25 win vs #16 Ramah. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Daniel Corrales- 6’6 Forward "Belen" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Big man Daniel Corrales had a double-double in Belen’s victory vs #10 Gallup. He scored 12 points on 4/8 shooting from the field and grabbed 14 rebounds. He shot 5/7 from the free throw line in Belen’s 41-36 win. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076677" first="Jose" last="Murillo"]- 6’9 Center "Highland" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Highland star [player_tooltip player_id="1076677" first="Jose" last="Murillo"] had a monster double-double in the team first round matchup vs #16 Miyamura. He scored 33 points on 14/22 shooting from the field, shot 5/7 from the free throw line and grabbed 20 rebounds. #1 Highland defeated #16 Miyamura 71-47. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076692" first="Santiago" last="Rivas"]- 5’8 Guard ’Escalante" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Escalante defeated #13 Santa Rosa 58-51 in the first round of the 2022 state tournament. #4 Escalante was led by senior star [player_tooltip player_id="1076692" first="Santiago" last="Rivas"] who scored a game high 27 points and made 4 three-pointers. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076668" first="Sean" last="Johnson"]- 6’6 Small Forward "Sandia" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076668" first="Sean" last="Johnson"] led the #9 seeded Sandia Matadors to an upset victory vs #8 Santa Fe on the road this past Saturday, March 5th. Sandia defeated Santa Fe 49-46 behind Sean’s 16 points on 7/9 shooting from the field, his 7 rebounds and 4 assists. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://twitter.com/505_podcast/status/1500368560652099584?s=20&amp;t=XafDwwlIckxb64vsYVHbZQ" /></video></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076702" first="Shane" last="Douma-Sanchez"]- 6’1 Guard "Del Norte" Class of 2023</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076702" first="Shane" last="Douma-Sanchez"] led #11 Del Norte to an upset victory on the road vs #6 Silver this past Saturday March 5th. The defending state champion led the way scoring a team high 21 points on 6/13 shooting from the field, shot 3/6 from three point range and shot 6/8 from the free throw line. He also had 5 assists in the teams 63-51 win. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076701" first="Judah" last="Casaus"]- 6’1 Shooting Guard "Del Norte" Class of 2023</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076701" first="Judah" last="Casaus"] played a major role in #11 Del Norte getting the upset victory on the road vs #6 Silver. He scored 15 points while shooting 6/11 from the field, grabbed 5 rebounds and shot 2/3 from three point range. Del Norte defeated Silver 63-51. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1226150" first="Josh" last="Tellez"]- 5’9 Guard "Del Norte" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="1226150" first="Josh" last="Tellez"] was Del Norte’s second leding scorer in the first round of the 2022 state tournament. His 16 points helped #11 Del Norte upset #6 Silver on the road this past Saturday March 5th. He shot 6/8 from the field and 2/4 from three point range. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076700" first="Exodus" last="Ayers"]- 6’3 Guard "La Cueva" Class of 2023</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076700" first="Exodus" last="Ayers"] led the #3 seeded La Cueva Bears to a 57-34 victory over West Mesa in the first round of the 2022 state tournament. Exodus scored 16 points, shot 6/6 from the free throw line, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 4 assists. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1128606" first="Javier" last="Mendoza"]- 6’1 Forward "Atrisco Heritage" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="1128606" first="Javier" last="Mendoza"] was clutch in the first round of the 2022 state tournament. He helped lead Atrisco Heritage to a close 62-58 victory vs #12 Eldorado. When Atrisco led for most of the game, Eldorado made a late run in the 3rd quarter and took the lead. [player_tooltip player_id="1128606" first="Javier" last="Mendoza"] had a clutch "And One" putback layup and a three-point buzzer beater to end the 3rd quarter to give Atrisco Heritage back the momentum. He finished with 14 points, two three pointers and led Atrisco in rebounding. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://twitter.com/505_podcast/status/1500326108822126598?s=20&amp;t=XafDwwlIckxb64vsYVHbZQ" /></video></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1128602" first="Jaden" last="Malone"]- Forward "Volcano Vista" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Volcano Vista senior [player_tooltip player_id="1128602" first="Jaden" last="Malone"] had an all around performance vs #15 Organ Mountain. He scored 14 points, hit two three-pointers and was all over that stat sheet with his alla round play. His impact helped #2 Volcano Vista win 74-41. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://twitter.com/505_podcast/status/1500506486631448580?s=20&amp;t=XafDwwlIckxb64vsYVHbZQ" /></video></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1076691" first="Colby" last="Wade"]- 6’4 Center "Atrisco Heritage" Class of 2022</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Atrisco Heritage big man [player_tooltip player_id="1076691" first="Colby" last="Wade"] made his presence felt on both sides of the floor during the first round of the 2022 state tournament. He scored 14 points, hit a three pointer from the outside and blocked sevral shots around the rim. He shot a perfect 4/4 from the free throw line to help #5 Atrisco defeat #12 Eldorado 62-58. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><video controls="controls" width="300" height="150"> <source src="https://twitter.com/505_podcast/status/1500326108822126598?s=20&amp;t=XafDwwlIckxb64vsYVHbZQ" /></video></p>