Quarterfinals Preview: Class 3A and 2A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The quarterfinals in Class 3A and Class 2A are scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Eight games, four in each classification, starting at 8 a.m. Here is the preview:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS 3A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bosque vs. Cobre (9:45 a.m.)</strong>: An intriguing morning matchup between the No. 6 seed (Bosque) and the No. 3 sed (Cobre). The matchup also features some of the top individual players in Class 3A: Bosque <strong>G [player_tooltip player_id='2309741' first='Josiah' last='Wilson']</strong> (17 points, 7 rebounds per game) and Cobre F <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2693613' first='Zavin' last='Guck']</strong> (20 points, 8 rebounds per game). Guck and younger brother <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714599' first='Izon' last='Guck']</strong> combine for 39 points and 17 rebounds per game for the Indians. Wilson's main support comes from junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2706574' first='Luca' last='Kalishman']</strong>, who drove the full length of the court in the final seconds to knock off Cottonwood Classical in the first round. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Robertson vs. Tularosa (1:15 p.m.):</strong> Robertson, the defending 3A champions, were the No. 10 seed coming into the state tournament, As they say, if you want to be The Man, you've got to beat The Man. The Cardinals went on the road and knocked off East Mountain on the Timberwolves' home floor as the dynamic duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2216708' first='Michael' last='Marr']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2216707' first='Nathan' last='Gonzales']</strong> combined for 46 points. No. 2 seed Tularosa lost only three games during the regular season but they came THIS close to being upset by #15 seed West Las Vegas in the first round, surviving in overtime. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3550135' first='Eluciano' last='Gonzales']</strong> led the Wildcats with 23 points. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Michael's vs. Tohatchi (4:45 p.m.)</strong>: Tohatchi (24-6) actually has more wins than St. Michael's (23-5) but it's the Horsemen who come into this game as the No. 1 seed. They've lost just two games all season to 3A opponents. The other three came to 5A foes. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2827261' first='Dillan' last='McCoy']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2706580' first='Ryan' last='Hunt']</strong>, <strong>Noah Redus</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2394870' first='Kamal' last='Stith']</strong> led the Horsemen. Tohatchi&nbsp; dispatched NMMI in the first round. Don't expect the Cougars to be a pushover. They have scorers in <strong>Deandre Rios</strong>, <strong>Myka Candeleria</strong> and sophomore star <strong>Myles Candeleria</strong>, and there should be thousands of Tohatchi supporters in the stands. <strong>&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Santa Fe Indian vs. Navajo Prep (8:15 p.m.)</strong>: When these two teams met in January, Navajo Prep won on a basket in the final seconds. Expect this one to be just as close. That outcome was likely a factor in awarding Navajo Prep the No. 4 seed and Santa Fe Indian the No. 5 seed. The Eagles had their 16-game winning streak snapped in the district tournament championship game, but bounced back last weekend with a first round win over Hot Springs. Leading <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2175829' first='Dylan' last='Lansing']</strong>, who took a hard fall against Hot Springs but later returned to the game, has 1,000+ career points. <strong>Breyden Benally</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2833729' first='Aden' last='Clah']</strong> are important scorers as well. Brothers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2833709' first='Dontrey' last='Callado']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2839393' first='Taivian' last='Callado']</strong> are the Braves' top scorers. SFIS relies offensively on ball movement and sharp passing and plays tenacious defense designed to force turnovers in the backcourt.          </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS 2A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mora vs. Texico (8 a.m.)</strong>: Few teams in the state are playing better basketball than No. 1 seed Texico (27-2). The Wolverines have won 16 straight games, including a 69-18 demolition of Clayton in the first round. Superb two-sport athlete <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2833696' first='Jett' last='Curtis']</strong> scored 31 points in the first round and has poured home 30+ points four times this season. He's averaging nearly 19 points per game. Three other players average between 8.2 and 12.1 ppg. Mora (19-11) slipped past Tucumcari, 50-47, in the first round. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pecos vs. Menaul (11:30 a.m.)</strong>: It's Panthers vs. Panthers in this one. Pecos (26-3) could be the ultimate ‘under the radar' team in the state. Certainly in 2A. The No. 2 seeded Panthers rely on superior speed to overwhelm opponents. They haven't lost since New Year's Eve, meaning they're perfect in 2026. No. 10 Menaul (22-8), located in Albuquerque, hit the road for the first round and upset No. 7 Escalante. A balanced scoring attack led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3551269' first='Gustas' last='Komparskas']</strong> (12.9 ppg) is Menaul's secret sauce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Santa Rosa vs. Mesilla Valley Christian (3 p.m.)</strong>: If Pecos is the top ‘under the radar' team in Class 2A, Mesilla Valley Christian (22-5) might be a close second. The SonBlazers have lost only one game since Jan. 22. Santa Rosa finished second in District 2A-6 behind Pecos. Football standout [player_tooltip player_id='2827293' first='Josh' last='Cordova'] leads the Lions. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rehoboth Christian vs. Mesa Vista (6:30 p.m.)</strong>: Mesa Vista (24-4) advanced to the 2A state championship game last March and they've got the horses to get back there again. The Trojans beat Hozho Academy, 80-56, in the first round. One thing the Trojans can do is score points. They've lighted up the scoreboard for 77+ points four times in the last seven games. Rehoboth Christian (22-6) edged Oak Grove Classical, 46-39, in the first round. The Lynx swept the District 2A-1 regular season and district tourney titles. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 1A Quarterfinal Matchups (at Bernalillo High School)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8 a.m. – Cimarron vs. Roy/Mosquero</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11:30 a.m. – Logan vs. Cliff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3 p.m. – Magdalena vs. Fort Sumner/House</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6:30 p.m. – Alamo Navajo vs. Melrose &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->