2023 APS Metro Boys Basketball Tournament Preview
In this article:
The APS Metro Basketball Championships are played every season to start the New Year in January. This is the largest mid-season tournament in New Mexico consisting of sixteen teams. This event is from Tuesday January 3rd to Saturday January 7th.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe APS Metro Basketball Championships are played every season to start the New Year in January. This is the largest mid-season tournament in New Mexico consisting of sixteen teams. This event is from Tuesday January 3rd to Saturday January 7th. In years past, the Metro Tournament consisted of teams mostly in the Metro Area. This year’s Metro Tournament has new teams participating in this event. Before the start of the tournament, we will preview each First Round Matchup.
Volcano Vista (11-0) vs Albuquerque (3-7) at 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
The Volcano Vista Hawks won the 2022 Metro Tournament championship last year vs Atrisco Heritage. They will start their Metro Title defense vs Albuquerque. The Hawks will be led by their big men; Kenyon Aguino Kenyon Aguino 6'7" | PF Volcano Vista | 2025 State #257 Nation NM and Sean Alter Sean Alter 6'9" | PF Volcano Vista | 2023 State NM . They will dominate the paint on both sides of the floor with their scoring, rebounding and interior defense down low. They will also get contributions from Hudson Brown Hudson Brown 5'9" | PG Volcano Vista | 2025 State NM , Anthony Gonzales Anthony Gonzales 5'10" | CG Volcano Vista | 2023 State NM and David Gutierez who can space the floor with their three-point shooting and cause havoc on defense. The Hawks will be the favorites to win this tournament.
Rio Rancho (8-4) vs La Cueva (7-2) at 7:15pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
Both the Rio Rancho Rams and the La Cueva Bears come into the 2023 Metro Tournament winning four straight games to close out 2022. The Bears won the Las Cruces Holiday Hoopla Tournament while the Rams won the Jalene Berger Allstate Holiday Hoops Tournament. The Rams will be led by their Star Forward, Jayden Johnson Jayden Johnson 6'0" | SG Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM . He is averaging an impressive 15.0 ppg & 5.3 rpg for the Rams. Meanwhile, the Bears have one of the most balanced scoring attacks in New Mexico with four players averaging double-figures this season. Cedarius Yates Cedarius Yates 6'3" | SF La Cueva | 2023 State NM is averaging 15.3 ppg & 7.4 rpg, Isaiah Denetclaw Isaiah Denetclaw 6'3" | SG La Cueva | 2023 State NM is averaging 12.1 ppg, Cameron Dyer Cameron Dyer 6'3" | SG La Cueva | 2025 State NM is averaging 11.6 ppg and Daniel Lovato Daniel Lovato 6'5" | PF La Cueva | 2025 State NM is averaging 11.4 ppg & 8.2 rpg. It’s a pick your poison type of battle with La Cueva because it could be any of these four players nights offensively. Thats what makes the Bears dangerous because of the team basketball that is played, and if they’re all involved, makes them that much scarier. If the Bears win this matchup, it will set them up for a rematch vs Volcano Vista, in the Metro Quarterfinals. The Bears and Hawks previously met earlier this season on Wednesday December 7th, and gave the undefeated Hawks their toughest matchup of the season losing by just three, 60-57. Is a potential rematch in store and an upset on the way? Will the La Cueva Bears send a message to the rest of the state? Coming into the season, many around the community wrote off the Bears and this could be their opportunity to silence their doubters.
West Mesa (7-3) vs Hobbs (7-5) at 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
The West Mesa Mustangs and Hobbs Eagles faceoff in one of the best matchups in the opening round of the Metro Tournament. The Eagles will be making their official debut in the Metro Tournament being one of the newest additions this year. The Mustangs will be led by their Starting Five; Donovan Cruz Donovan Cruz 5'8" | PG West Mesa | 2023 State NM , Brandon Lagunas, Sonny Ortiz Sonny Ortiz 6'5" | SF West Mesa | 2023 State NM , Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'2" | SF West Mesa | 2024 State NM and Torrance Burdex who have all taken turns offensively. Any of these players can lead the Mustangs in scoring on any given night. Each of these five have hit some big shots this season and have played in some big games already which should’ve prepared them for a tournament like this.
Eldorado (7-3) vs Del Norte (7-3) at 7:15pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
This a 5A/4A First Round Matchup in the Metro Tournament. Both teams come into this contest with a 7-3 record and have had a solid start to the season so far. The spotlight in this matchup will be centered on the two stars from each team: Shane Douma-Sanchez Shane Douma-Sanchez 6'0" | PG Del Norte | 2023 State NM and Caileb Parham Caileb Parham 6'2" | SG Eldorado | 2023 State NM . Shane Douma-Sanchez Shane Douma-Sanchez 6'0" | PG Del Norte | 2023 State NM is the state’s leading scorer averaging 31.6 points per game which is 13th in the nation. Caileb Parham Caileb Parham 6'2" | SG Eldorado | 2023 State NM is having a nice season of his own, leading the Eagles in scoring and winning their last four games. It will fun seeing two of the state’s most competitive players go at each other.
Cleveland (9-2) vs Hope Christian (5-4) at 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
The Cleveland Storm made it to the final four in last year’s Metro Tournament and Hope Christian Huskies are making their first appearance this year. The Huskies will be led by their Star Forward, Jett Wyckoff Jett Wyckoff 6'3" | SF Hope Christian | 2023 State NM who leads their team in scoring and rebounding. The Storm is led by one of the state’s top duos; Daniel Steverson Daniel Steverson 6'2" | SG Cleveland | 2024 State #315 Nation NM and Remy Albrecht Remy Albrecht 5'6" | PG Cleveland | 2026 State NM . Daniel is averaging 23.8 ppg & 5.0 rpg while Remy Albrecht Remy Albrecht 5'6" | PG Cleveland | 2026 State NM averages 17.8 ppg and 2.8 spg. They’re one of the state’s highest scoring backcourts and help the Storm make a serious run in this year’s tournament.
Highland (7-3) vs Manzano (4-5) at 7:15 pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
The Highland Hornets are finally back at full strength and come into this tournament as a team that can give anyone problems. Their defense and three-point shooting are just as good as anyone’s in this tournament. Keep your eyes on Highland’s Alexis Dominguez Alexis Dominguez 5'10" | PG Highlands | 2023 State NM who is averaging 20.9 ppg for the Hornets. For the Manzano Monarch’s, Nick Dial Nick Dial 6'4" | SF Manzano | 2023 State NM will lead the way averaging 18.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg. He will need to have a huge performance and huge contributions from his teammates to knock off the defending 4A State Champions.
Atrisco Heritage (10-1) vs Santa Fe (6-4) at 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
The Atrisco Heritage Academy Jaguars come into this year’s Metro Tournament as one of the favorites to win the championship. Last year, the Jaguars reached the Metro Championship game before losing to Volcano Vista. They will be led by Chris Parra Chris Parra 6'0" | PG Atrisco Heritage | 2023 State NM and Latavious Morris Latavious Morris 5'8" | PG Atrisco Heritage | 2025 State NM , arguably the state’s best backcourt duo. If these two continue their high play and get strong contributions from the others, it’s easy to see Atrisco Heritage as the team raising the blue trophy. The Santa Fe Demons will have their hands full on Tuesday Night.
Sandia (8-2) vs Cibola (2-9) at 7:15pm on Tuesday, January 3rd.
The Sandia Matadors haven’t played in almost two weeks while the Cibola Cougars lost their last game last week vs West Mesa. Cibola will be led by Elijah Foster Elijah Foster 6'4" | CG Cibola | 2024 State NM who is averaging 15.5 ppg this season. The Matadors are one of the favorites to win this tournament and have a balanced scoring attack from their starting five. Andrew Hill Andrew Hill 6'2" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM (17.2), Dalen Moyer Dalen Moyer 6'0" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM (13.9), Ely Lovato Ely Lovato 6'2" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM (13.3), Thomas Adams Thomas Adams 6'2" | SF Sandia | 2025 State NM (9.9) and Lamarion Coleman Lamarion Coleman 6'2" | SF Sandia | 2023 State NM (9.6) They are one of the state’s highest scoring team’s averaging 73.8 points per game. The Matadors are one of the fastest most up-tempo teams in New Mexico and if their three-point shot is on, they will shoot you out the gym. The only two teams that up well with them are the Volcano Vista Hawks and Atrisco Heritage Academy Jaguars.