Championship Saturday: 5A and 1A Title Game Recaps and Video

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship Saturday – Class 5A and 1A (The Pit In Albuquerque, NM)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Volcano Vista 60, Sandia 53 (OT)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Standout Players: </strong>Sophomore<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2111977' first='David' last='Lunn']</strong>, who scored on several slashing drives to the basket, led Volcano Vista with 19 points and 7 rebounds. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176300' first='Kenyon' last='Aguino']</strong> had 18 points and 7 rebounds in his final game for the Hawks. He made 8-of-11 FT. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1488493' first='Rian' last='Gonzales']</strong> had 3 triples and 10 points. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176305' first='Hudson' last='Brown']</strong> had 3 triples and 9 points. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687823' first='Thomas' last='Adams']</strong> had 17 points, including 3 triples, in his final game for the Matadors. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2292960' first='Zaire' last='Ndyabagye']</strong> scored 15 points, including 3 triples, and grabbed 7 rebounds. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714580' first='Gad' last='Harris']</strong> added 14 points. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Stats: </strong>The bigger Hawks dominated in the paint, scoring 26 points close to the basket. Sandia was able to convert 15 Volcano Vista turnovers into just 2 points. Volcano Vista shot 51.3 percent from the floor (20-39) compared to 35.4 percent for Sandia. The Hawks made 18-of-30 shots after the first quarter as they got better looks at the basket. The Matadors, who rely heavily on the 3, struggled from beyond the arc in the first half, making just 2-of-8. They heated up in the second half, connecting on 8-of-16 attempts from 3-point range. They finished 10-of-27 on 3-point shots for the game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How It Happened: </strong>Appropriately, the first field goal of the game for Volcano Vista was a 3-pointer by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1488493' first='Rian' last='Gonzales']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714580' first='Gad' last='Harris']</strong> responded with a 3 for Sandia. Thos would be Sandia's only points until <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687823' first='Thomas' last='Adams']</strong> drained a three with less than a minute remaining in the 1^st quarter. The two teams were a combined 4-of-22 shooting in the 1Q. Two driving layups by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687823' first='Thomas' last='Adams']</strong> gave Sandia a 12-10 lead midway through the second quarter before a triple by Volcano Vista point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176305' first='Hudson' last='Brown']</strong> gave the Hawks the lead back at 13-12. Four points by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714580' first='Gad' last='Harris']</strong> gave Sandia&nbsp; a 16-13 lead when timeout was called with 3:16 left in 2Q. Volcano Vista closed out the first half with a 9-0 run, including 3-pointers by [player_tooltip player_id='1176305' first='Hudson' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1488493' first='Rian' last='Gonzales'], to head to the locker room holding a 22-16 lead. The Hawks made 4-of-7 3-pointers in the first half. Only 4 fouls were called.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Held scoreless in the first half, Sandia freshman sharpshooter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714567' first='Isaiah' last='Brown']</strong> drilled two 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the third quarter and showed off some fancy dribbling skills. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714580' first='Gad' last='Harris']</strong> buried a 3 to give Sandia a 29-26 led with 4:18 left in the 3Q. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2111977' first='David' last='Lunn']</strong>'s basket ended Sandia's 9-1 run. Two free throws by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176300' first='Kenyon' last='Aguino']</strong> gave Volcano Vista the lead at 30-29 before a 3 by Sandia's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687823' first='Thomas' last='Adams']</strong> and a layup by Lunn created a 32-32 tie. Aguino's off-balanced jumper in the lane while being fouled gave Volcano Vista a 36-34 led after three quarters. Saying the third quarter was action-packed would be an understatement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Volcano Vista steadily enlarged their lead in the 4th quarter<strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='2111977' first='David' last='Lunn']</strong> had several driving layups while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176305' first='Hudson' last='Brown']</strong> nailed a 3 to give Volcano Vista a 49-40 lead. However, Sandia didn't quit. When <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2292960' first='Zaire' last='Ndyabagye']</strong> drilled back-to-back 3s, the Matadors were suddenly with one score at 51-48. An offensive foul on Aguino gave the ball back to Sandia with 2:26 left and an opportunity to tie the score. But Harris was called for double dribble. Sandia quickly got the ball back. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714567' first='Isaiah' last='Brown']</strong> missed a 3. Volcano Visa missed and Sandia rebounded. Adams drilled a 3 from the wing to even the score at 51-51. Timeout was called with 26.8 seconds left. Volcano Vista held the ball for the last shot but Sandia stripped the ball and hurried downcourt. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714567' first='Isaiah' last='Brown']</strong> had a good look on a 3 from the wing in the final seconds for a potentially championship-winning shot but the ball hit the front of the rim and was rebounded by the Hawks. Overtime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In OT, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1488493' first='Rian' last='Gonzales']</strong> started things with a 3 from the corner. Aguino hit 2 FT for a 56-51 lead with 2:10 left. Ndyabagye's inside basket cut the deficit to 56-53 with 1:54 left in OT. Ndyabagye was called for an offensive foul driving to the basket. Lunn hit 2 FT. 58-53. Another free throw made it 59-53. Gonzales clinched the win with a free throw. Volcano Vista four-peats as 5A champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your Class 5A state champions: Volcano Vista Hawks. <a href="https://t.co/1HGabGDsEX">pic.twitter.com/1HGabGDsEX</a></p>&mdash; Prep Hoops New Mexico (@PrepHoops_NM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoops_NM/status/1901118492981571635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Volcano Vista v Sandia Box Score <a href="https://twitter.com/nusendacu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nusendacu</a> <a href="https://t.co/XxuFiCZvQb">pic.twitter.com/XxuFiCZvQb</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1901117488014016905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Volcano Vista head coach Greg Brown talks about their championship win at the 2025 Nusenda Credit Union State Basketball Championships. <a href="https://twitter.com/nusendacu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nusendacu</a> <a href="https://t.co/zCg36sKWu6">pic.twitter.com/zCg36sKWu6</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1901128822571126961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/KThMiuShKvI?si=IDLxtoOrkfio6qXp","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/KThMiuShKvI?si=IDLxtoOrkfio6qXp </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 1A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Logan 56, Melrose 44</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Standout Players: </strong>As he has done for most of the season, 6-foot-7 junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717249' first='Hayden' last='Bruhn']</strong> was Logan's leader on both ends of the floor with 23 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Another fantastic all-around performance by Bruhn. Six-foot-5 junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717329' first='Mason' last='Wallin']</strong> fell just short of a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2818710' first='Devin' last='Kotara']</strong> had 11 points and 7 rebounds. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2818673' first='Cy' last='Draper']</strong> led Melrose with 13 points and 8 rebounds. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Stats: </strong>Melrose was bothered by Logan's height advantage for most of the game. Logan dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Buffaloes, 47-34 with 17 offensive rebounds. Logan also held Melrose to 30.4 percent shooting (17-56) while committing just 7 fouls and limiting Melrose's trips to the foul line (just 6 FT attempts). The two teams combined for just 15 fouls as the officials let them play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How It Happened: </strong>Logan built an 11-6 lead after the first quarter as Melrose made just 2-of-16 FGA. In a higher-scoring second quarter, Logan outscored the Buffaloes, 15-14, to take a 26-20 halftime lead. They expanded the advantage to 37-29 by the end of the third quarter and protected the lead from there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your Class 1A state champions: Logan Longhorns. <a href="https://t.co/GYSnSWAZ0L">pic.twitter.com/GYSnSWAZ0L</a></p>&mdash; Prep Hoops New Mexico (@PrepHoops_NM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoops_NM/status/1901084979733373243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Logan beat Melrose 56-44 to win the Boys Class A Title at the 2025 Nusenda Credit Union State Basketball Championships. The Longhorns outrebounds the Buffaloes 47-34. [player_tooltip player_id='1717249' first='Hayden' last='Bruhn'] led the way with a game-high 23 pts and 16 rebs. Here are some highlights and reaction. <a href="https://twitter.com/nusendacu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nusendacu</a> <a href="https://t.co/IRdhQQ2ivb">pic.twitter.com/IRdhQQ2ivb</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1901094792941236283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Logan head coach Kyle Griffiths talks about their championship win at the 2025 Nusenda Credit Union State Basketball Championships. <a href="https://twitter.com/nusendacu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nusendacu</a> <a href="https://t.co/2i4Yk0RJYm">pic.twitter.com/2i4Yk0RJYm</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1901083524951928962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Logan v Melrose Box Score <a href="https://twitter.com/nusendacu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nusendacu</a> <a href="https://t.co/a8aAXmNDCQ">pic.twitter.com/a8aAXmNDCQ</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1901081550114222224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/r7PsAvrwtgw?si=mvs63e_c4AjG8MnK","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/r7PsAvrwtgw?si=mvs63e_c4AjG8MnK </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->