March Madness: Quarterfinals Preview for Class 3A/2A/1A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've reached the quarterfinal round of the state basketball tournament. Here is a preview of all 12 quarterfinal matchups in Class 3A, 2A and 1A. All 12 games will be played on Wednesday, March 12 at the Rio Rancho Events Center (3A/2A) or Bernalillo High School (1A). The first game tip offs at 8 a.m. and the action continues all day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3A&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Navajo Prep (8) vs. St. Michael's (1), 1:15 p.m.: </strong>Much like the Horsemen's championship-winning football team,St. Michael's (22-6) rose to the top of Class 3A with a ‘We Over Me' mentality that emphasizes teamwork and getting contributions from many players. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2706580' first='Ryan' last='Hunt']</strong> can score and rebound. Navajo Prep survived the first round with a close win over Hot Springs. Watch <strong>for Adan Clah</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687822' first='Xavier' last='Nez']</strong>. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bosque (5) vs. Tularosa (4), 9:45 a.m.: </strong>Bosque sophomore G <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2309741' first='Josiah' last='Wilson']</strong> was the District 3A-5 Player of the Year. He's averaging 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.5 steals per game. He led the Bobcats to a close opening round win over NMMI. Tularosa slipped past East Mountain, 50-40, in their opening round game. &nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Santa Fe Indian (6) vs. Tohatchi (3), 8:15 p.m.: </strong>Tohatchi (25-3) is an outstanding basketball team that has been flying under the radar all season long. The Cougars have been led all season long by the dynamic duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2684834' first='Josh' last='Dawes']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2684829' first='Kyle' last='Yazzie']</strong>, who have combined for 34.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Santa Fe Indian School opened state tourney play with an impressive 81-58 win over Cobre at home. The Braves are led by the Callado brothers – senior Kenyen and freshman Taivian. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Las Vegas (7) vs. Robertson (2), 4:45 p.m.: </strong>Rivalry renewed.Robertson won the first two meetings by 35 and 15 points, and the Cardinals are the No. 2 seed for a reason – they're a very good basketball team. The trio of freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714561' first='George' last='Smith']</strong> (16.0 ppg), senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2818687' first='Jesse' last='James Gonzales']</strong> (15.8) and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2216707' first='Nathan' last='Gonzales']</strong> (12.8) are the engine. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2300003' first='Devaughn' last='Kensey']</strong> has been superb all season for WLV, averaging over 24 points and nearly 12 rebounds per game. This one will get intense, both on the court and in the stands. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jal (9) vs. Texico (1), 6:30 p.m.</strong>: It's been an incredible sports year for Texico, and the basketball team is following in the footstep of the Class 2A champion football team. The Wolverines have lost just twice all season and carry a 7-game winning streak into the quarterfinals following their convincing win over Tucumcari in the first round. Jal made the long trip to No. 8 McCurdy (located near Espanola) and squeezed out a 52-51 victory in the first round. Containing <strong>Nolbert Cervantes</strong> (19.7 ppg) will surely be the focus of the Texico defense. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mora (12) vs. Pecos (4), 11:30 a.m.: </strong>These two teams may reside in different districts, but they are close enough geographically in the northern NM mountains for players and fans to really care about beating the other team. Pecos has won 10 of its last 11 games, including a 71-58 win over Oak Grove Classical in the first round. Mora pulled off the biggest upset of the first round in Class 2A by traveling to Las Cruces to face Mesilla Valley Christian and pulling out a tense 48-47 victory. Can the rangers pull off a second major set? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Legacy Academy (6) vs. Mesa Vista (3), 8 a.m.</strong>: Perhaps the most intriguing quarterfinal matchup in Class 2A. Mesa Vista has won 14 straight games and has lost just one game since Dec. 7. The Trojans have been dominant. Led by junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2300000' first='Bryant' last='Scales']</strong> (15.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg), Legacy Academy has won 15 straight games, including a 50-36 win over Eunice in the 1^st round as Scales scored 16 points and connected on three 3-pointers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rehoboth Christian (7) vs. Santa Rosa (2), 3 p.m.: </strong>Rehoboth Christian is another team flying under the radar even though the Lynx have had an outstanding season, sweeping the regular season and district titles in 2A-1. They got past Hagerman, 60-49, in the first round. Santa Rosa battled Pecos all season long in District 2A-6 before eliminating Raton in the 1^st round with 75-60 win. &nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 1A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cliff (8) vs. Logan (1), 4:45 p.m.: </strong>Logan's Dynamic Duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1717249' first='Hayden' last='Bruhn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1717329' first='Mason' last='Wallin'] (combined 38.5 ppg) is the marquee attraction in this game. If they bring their ‘A' games, the Longhorns will be tough to beat.Cliff, though, won't be a pushover.ayden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roy/Mosquero (5) vs. Magdalena (4), 8:15 p.m.</strong>: Very intriguing and evenly matched 4-5 matchup. Roy/Mosquero features &nbsp;a balanced scoring attack led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2833929' first='Ethan' last='Hazen']</strong>. Magdalena has <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1580325' first='Joseph' last='Zamora']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2163543' first='Jeffrey' last='Stuteville']</strong> to handle most of the scoring load. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cimarron (6) vs. Fort Sumner/House (3), 9:45 a.m. </strong>Three of Fort Sumner/House's seven losses this season have come to district rival Logan while two have been to Santa Rosa. They've beaten just about everybody else. Cimarron is coming off an 80-62 win over Alamo Navajo in the 1^st round. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maxwell (7) vs. Melrose (2), 1:15 p.m.: </strong>Like Texico,Melrose has also had a sensational sports year with the 8-man football championship and the No. 2 seed here. They've lost just 1 game since Jan. 20. Maxwell snapped a brief two-game losing streak with a first-round win over Mountainair.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sandia prep gave us a run for our money but we came out on top, district champs! Blessed to receive District Player of the Year. Next up, State Tournament <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoops_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepHoops_NM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KJ_Ford4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KJ_Ford4</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Run_Way_Jets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Run_Way_Jets</a> <a href="https://t.co/mslwLak2Lv">pic.twitter.com/mslwLak2Lv</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2309741' first='Josiah' last='Wilson'] (@JosiahWilson54) <a href="https://twitter.com/JosiahWilson54/status/1895678038127624265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my highlights against Capitan! Where I tied the NMAA state record for 3 pointers made in a game with 15. The Texico wolverines also broke the NMAA state record for 3 pointers made in a game with 23.<a href="https://t.co/ddtZwoLuz0">https://t.co/ddtZwoLuz0</a></p>&mdash; jett curtis (@jett_curtis_) <a href="https://twitter.com/jett_curtis_/status/1877962623192301591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->