Sandia boys likely punch playoff ticket

Cibola boys, girls get wins in 1-6A

This one probably put the Sandia Matadors over the top.

Sandia’s second straight road win in the District 2-6A boys basketball tournament, a 58-47 victory Wednesday night at No. 3 seed La Cueva, may have been the final piece of the puzzle for the fifth-seeded Matadors in their quest to clinch an at-large berth in next week’s Class 6A state tournament.

“I felt we needed to get this game,” Sandia coach Alvin Broussard said, adding that he believes the Matadors locked up a playoff bid.

Tanner Sloan had 18 points for Sandia (12-14). Bobby Tapia’s 12 points came on four 3-pointers.

Sandia will visit No. 2 seed Santa Fe on Friday night in the 2-6A semifinals. La Cueva (1214) will also be in the 6A field.

Sandia’s girls also had a victory Wednesday night. At Sandia, the third-seeded Matadors (21-5) downed No. 4 Clovis 65-55. Cara Liggins, Sapirah Broussard and Marisol Silva combined for 48 points in the victory.

Sandia will visit No. 2 seed Eldorado on Friday in the 2-6A semifinals. DISTRICT 4-6A: West Mesa’s boys probably needed to win the tournament to qualify for state, but the Mustangs’ postseason dreams likely ended Wednesday night in a 56-40 loss at Bulldog City to No. 3 seed Albuquerque High.

Junior forward Marlon Cunningham had one of his best games of the season for AHS (18-8), dropping in 25 points. Jose Vigil led the fourth-seeded Mustangs (9-17) with 16 points.

AHS is at No. 2 seed Valley on Friday in the 4-6A semifinals.

DISTRICT 1-6A: Cibola’s boys and girls swept second-round games Wednesday night.

The third-seeded boys, well on their way to a first-round home game at state, whipped No. 4 seed Volcano Vista 64-37, with Cameron Dixon scoring a team-best 19 points.

The girls, also seeded No. 3, ripped No. 5 seed Piedra Vista 59-26. Tiana Guillory led the Cougars (17-8) with 17 points.

The Cibola boys are at No. 2 Rio Rancho on Friday. The girls visit No. 2 Volcano Vista on Friday.