2025-26 Team Preview: La Cueva Bears

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 LA CUEVA BEARS PREVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expectations were moderate for La Cueva last season after the Bears lost several key players from the 2023-24 team. But La Cueva exceeded those expectations by going 19-11 and reaching the quarterfinals of the Class 5A playoffs. The good news for La Cueva fans is most of the players are returning for another go-around. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Getting to the Pit last March was a huge accomplishment for this group,” La Cueva head coach Eric Orell told Prep Hoops New Mexico. “We've only lost one senior and had one returner move out of state. We'll need to replace him. We're very excited about this group. We have some pieces that we can make a deep run.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2694526' first='Hunter' last='Butler'] (Sr., 6-6, F)</strong>: Butler was La Cueva's leading scorer and rebounder in 2024-25, averaging 15.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Orell expected him to enjoy another solid season. “Hunter will consistently be our best player,” Orell said. “Hunter is very athletic.  He's added a few inches. He's been working hard on his outside shot. He wanted to improve that.” New Mexico Highlands has offered.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2085694' first='Drew' last='Bramlett'] (Jr., 6-3, G)</strong>: Bramlett can score and distribute the basketball, making him the perfect guy to direct the offense. He averaged 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and a team high 3.1 assists per game last season. “Drew will be the floor general,” Orell said. “The ball will be in his hands a bunch. Good decision-maker.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2694512' first='Tony' last='Trujillo'] (Sr., 6-0, G)</strong>: Trujillo was La Cueva's third leading scorer (10.2 ppg) and rebounder (4.7 rpg) and second in assists (3.0 apg) in 2024-25. “Tony and Drew will split the point guard duties,” Orell said. “We're still trying to figure out where Tony will fit. His outside shot has improved a lot from last year. Tony is very versatile. He can hit the outside shot and go north-south downhill to the rim.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2299996' first='Jojo' last='Sanchez'] (Sr., 6-6, F/C): </strong>Enjoyed a solid summer and fall after averaging 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds coming off the bench a season ago. Along with Butler, he brings great size to the Bears frontline. &nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chase Roberts (Sr., 6-1, G)</strong>: Orell described Roberts as a ‘glue guy' and one of La Cueva's ‘unsung heroes.' His minutes and production should increase this season. “Chase is a guy who isn't going to stand out in the scorebook, but he'll defend and dive on the floor for loose balls,” Orell said. “He plays hard. He's one of those guys coaches love.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY NEWCOMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2822061' first='Payton' last='Fuller'] (Jr.): </strong>Played JV last season after transferring to La Cueva prior to the 2024-25 season. Recently offered by New Mexico Highlands. Should be one of La Cueva's top players. “Payton is dynamic,” Orell said. “He's really been working on his outside shot. He and Hunter are the two most athletic players we have. They'll thrown down some highlight reel dunks.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caleb Johnson (So.)</strong>: Played mainly JV last season but did appear briefly in a couple of varsity games towards the end of the season. Good shooter. Expected to come off the bench and be a point producer. &nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FINAL THOUGHTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior Maddox Taylor, La Cueva's fifth-leading scorer last season, moved with his family to the Carolinas. The lone senior on last year's team was second-leading scorer Tre Cowles, who averaged 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orell hopes one or more players from a promising group of sophomores will emerge as contributors off the bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>La Cueva opens the 2025-26 season Nov. 25 at West Mesa. They'll host Albuquerque High and travel to Volcano Vista in early December. After those games, the Bears will travel to Broomfield, CO (northwest suburb of Denver) in December (12/18-20) for a three-game round-robin tournament featuring teams from Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's a challenging start to the season but I think this group is up for it,” Orell said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>La Cueva competes in District 5A-2 with Capital, Eldorado, Manzano, Sandia and Santa Fe. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Atl with ABC Spotlight red thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/RL_Hoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RL_Hoops</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/coach_bmase?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coach_bmase</a> <a href="https://t.co/zwhbCFqCf8">pic.twitter.com/zwhbCFqCf8</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2694526' first='Hunter' last='Butler'] (@Huntdogg12) <a href="https://twitter.com/Huntdogg12/status/1944931392107815146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Proud of these boys they went 6-0 this weekend!!! Now back in the lab for Summer ball. The work never stops! <a href="https://t.co/ceybDVNmO7">pic.twitter.com/ceybDVNmO7</a></p>&mdash; lchsbbasketball (@lchsbasketball5) <a href="https://twitter.com/lchsbasketball5/status/1933995694987292948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you to <a href="https://twitter.com/PhenomAmerica?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@phenomamerica</a> for an incredible camp. Against some of the best competition in the nation I made the Top 20 All Star Game. Learned a lot and can't wait for next year. Back to work. ✈️✈️✈️ <a href="https://twitter.com/GradyMajors?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gradymajors</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HankampScott?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hankampscott</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KJ_Ford4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kj_ford4</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoops_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prephoops_nm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://t.co/FBFoEZyyWh">pic.twitter.com/FBFoEZyyWh</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2085694' first='Drew' last='Bramlett'] (@DrewBramlett) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewBramlett/status/1953840982115463476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The team had a great time at the Buddy Walk today. We had fun and met new friends. <a href="https://t.co/qrHBj1tmQl">pic.twitter.com/qrHBj1tmQl</a></p>&mdash; lchsbbasketball (@lchsbasketball5) <a href="https://twitter.com/lchsbasketball5/status/1969575732159660514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->