First Round Royalty: Saturday’s Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forty First Round Games Were Played Saturday throughout the state in the 2026 State Tournament. Here are some of the Top Performers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BUZZER BEATER! </strong>Bosque led district rival Cottonwood Classical, 41-38, with less than 10 seconds left in a Class 3A First Round Game. Cottonwood fed the ball to the corner, and the Coyotes shooter drained a 3-pointer to tie the score with just over 8 seconds left. Bosque quickly inbounded the ball to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2706574' first='Luca' last='Kalishman']</strong>, who sped up the court and drove through the lane for an off-balance layup. The ball glanced off the glass and through the rim as the buzzer sounded. Here is the video of the final sequence:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MUST SEE BUZZER BEATER: [player_tooltip player_id='2706574' first='Luca' last='Kalishman'] hit the game winner in the final second of regulation as Bosque beat Cottonwood Classical 43-41 to advance to the Class 3A quarterfinals of the 2026 Nusenda Credit Union State Basketball Championships. <a href="https://twitter.com/nusendacu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nusendacu</a> (courtesy NFHS network) <a href="https://t.co/jjMaccq8gq">pic.twitter.com/jjMaccq8gq</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/2030637052082188300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MORE TOP PERFORMERS</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JJ Belin, Navajo Prep</strong>: Scored a team-high 19 points – 8 in the fourth quarter - as Navajo Prep led most of the way in a 72-55 victory over Hot Springs. <strong>Breyden Benally</strong> added 16 points for Navajo Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zac Borrego, Albuquerque Academy</strong>: Led the Chargers with 15 points as they beat Goddard. The score was tied at halftime before Albuquerque Academy took control in the second half. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714567' first='Isaiah' last='Brown'], Sandia</strong>: Scored a team-high 17 points (6-6 FT) to lead four Sandia scorers in double figures as the Matadors beat Farmington. Brown added 6 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 assists. Sandia raced out to an early 11-2 lead and never looked back against the Scopions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2694526' first='Hunter' last='Butler'], La Cueva</strong>: Scored 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting and grabbed 4 rebounds as La Cueva cruised past Atrisco Heritage. The Bears led by as many as 23 points in the first half. CJ Johnson had 12 points with a pair of 3-pointers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2839393' first='Taivian' last='Callado']/[player_tooltip player_id='2833709' first='Dontrey' last='Callado'], Santa Fe Indian</strong>: The brothers combined for 35 points in a win over Sandia Prep. The contest wasn't decided until a closing 13-1 run by the Braves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benny Camarillo-Salas, Mountainair</strong>: Scored a team-high 14 points in Mountainair's close loss to Roy/Mosquero.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2821504' first='Myka' last='Candelaria'], Tohatchi</strong>: Led the Cougars to a home victory over NMMI by scoring eight points in the decisive third quarter. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Josiah Clay, Hobbs</strong>: Scored 22 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and handed out 5 assists in Hobbs' 5A win over Organ Mountain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cannon Cole, Cleveland</strong>: Cole blistered the nets for SEVEN 3-pointers and 27 points overall as the Storm pounded Alamogordo at the Thunderdome. [player_tooltip player_id='1326930' first='Remy' last='Albrecht'] scored 23 points. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2827503' first='Fernando' last='Corona'], Mayfield</strong>: Scored 21 points to lead Mayfield's valiant road effort against Rio Rancho.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2832949' first='Pierce' last='Culpepper'], Portales</strong>: Scored 20 points (18 in second half), grabbed 16 rebounds and made 7 steals in Portales' impressive road win at Belen. <strong>Aidan Mestas</strong> added 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2833696' first='Jett' last='Curtis'], Texico</strong>: Scored 31 points with five 3-pointers and 8 steals as Texico routed Clayton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2402350' first='Kayden' last='Decker'], Rio Rancho</strong>: Sparked Rio Rancho's comeback from an early 14-point deficit with impressive 3-point shooting display. Decker had four 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Rams eventually held off Mayfield to reach the 5A quarterfinals for the first time in 7 years. Decker also had a key layup late in the fourth quarter. [player_tooltip player_id='2839414' first='Dashon' last='Bynum'] added 17 points for Rio Rancho. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zefferino Flores, Wingate</strong>: Scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, in Wingate's loss to St. Michael's in Santa Fe.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717247' first='Brayden' last='Giron'], Hope Christian</strong>: Scored 30 points as the Huskies rallied for a win over Pojoaque Valley. Landon Cochran scored 18 points. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eluciano Gonzales, Tularosa</strong>: Scored a team-high 23 points as #2 seed Tularosa survived a scare from #15 seed West Las Vegas, 75-73 in OT. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Luis Gonzales, Volcano Vista</strong>: Scored a team-high 19 points as four-time defending 5A champion Volcano Vista walloped Santa Fe. [player_tooltip player_id='2111977' first='David' last='Lunn'] added 15 points. The Hawks haven't lost a state tournament game since March 2020. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2693613' first='Zavin' last='Guck']/[player_tooltip player_id='2714599' first='Izon' last='Guck'], Cobre</strong>: Each Guck brother scored 17 points in the Indians' win over Ruidoso. Cobre is 25-3 heading into Wednesday's quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2216708' first='Michael' last='Marr'], Robertson</strong>: Scored 24 points with 4 rebounds and 5 assists in Robertson's impressive road win at East Mountain. [player_tooltip player_id='2216707' first='Nathan' last='Gonzales'] scored 22 points for the defending 3A champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2402829' first='Jerry' last='Moody'], Highland</strong>: The 6-foot-9 junior scored a team-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting as the Hornets trounced Grants. Moody led four Highland scorers in double figures. [player_tooltip player_id='2693635' first='Juan' last='Limas'] added 18 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2216957' first='Vicente' last='Ortiz'], East Mountain</strong>: Scored 27 points with SIX 3-pointers in East Mountain's close loss to Robertson. [player_tooltip player_id='2813944' first='Eric' last='Hofmann'] contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717248' first='Joziah' last='Salazar'], Pojoaque Valley</strong>: Led the Elks with 20 points and four 3-pointers in their loss to Hope Christian. Pojoaque Valley led by as many as nine points midway through the third quarter but couldn't hold on. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717253' first='Francois' last='Satchivi'], Del Norte</strong>: Satchivi led the Knights with 16 points as they downed Valencia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717327' first='Braylon' last='Vega'], Artesia</strong>: Led the Bulldogs' balanced scoring attack (4 scorers in double figures) with 15 points in their convincing win over Bloomfield at the Bulldog Pit. [player_tooltip player_id='1846065' first='Charlie' last='Campbell'] added 13 points.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717329' first='Mason' last='Wallin'], Logan</strong>: Scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed 6 rebounds to lead four Logan scorers in double figures in a convincing win over Quemado. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714772' first='Kale' last='Griffiths']</strong> added 17 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big playoff road win vs east mountain. loved the atmosphere can't wait to face tularosa in the second round <br>24pts <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoops_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepHoops_NM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jordanstrom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jordanstrom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachSettembre?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZachSettembre</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KJ_Ford4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KJ_Ford4</a> <a href="https://t.co/fkmAQh2ZUE">pic.twitter.com/fkmAQh2ZUE</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2216708' first='Michael' last='Marr'] (@michaelmarr1223) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelmarr1223/status/2030550878009151555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Storm were victorious in the first round of the NMAA State Basketball tournament! We are so proud of these young men! We're going to the Pit! Let's go Storm! ⚡️<a href="https://twitter.com/coachzcole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachzcole</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sportsprimo2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sportsprimo2</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://twitter.com/JamesDYodice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JamesDYodice</a> <a href="https://t.co/z9bRX4ahLi">pic.twitter.com/z9bRX4ahLi</a></p>&mdash; Cleveland Storm Basketball⚡️ (@cleveland_bball) <a href="https://twitter.com/cleveland_bball/status/2030675532728479768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">22 pts 9 rebounds 1block 2 steals 5 assist <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoops_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepHoops_NM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_JNunez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_JNunez</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBrentOwen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBrentOwen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCGalyean?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCGalyean</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coach_DevinB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coach_DevinB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachVo11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachVo11</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/c?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@c</a> <a href="https://t.co/jkpxc9hAbd">pic.twitter.com/jkpxc9hAbd</a></p>&mdash; Josiah (@Josiah1988165) <a href="https://twitter.com/Josiah1988165/status/2030559772609855686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cobre Boys came out ready to play, opening the first quarter with a 20-2 lead and then held on for a 68-53 win over Ruidoso. The Guck Brothers had 17 points each and Cobre got a big game from Ayden Villanueva. <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/uEysD9rtj2">pic.twitter.com/uEysD9rtj2</a></p>&mdash; CobreSports (@CobreSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/CobreSports/status/2030541208490234342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Road to the PIT!!!! <a href="https://t.co/xUO3UVN3wR">pic.twitter.com/xUO3UVN3wR</a></p>&mdash; lchsbbasketball (@lchsbasketball5) <a href="https://twitter.com/lchsbasketball5/status/2030481128587714732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->