STARTS TONIGHT
There’s nothing a northern New Mexico sports fan likes better than the start of March madness when the local high schools shine on the hardwood.
And as usual, the state tournament brackets are littered with area teams hoping to punch their ticket to DreamStyle Arena, affectionately known as the Pit.
Here’s a brief rundown of the opening-round games, with girls games being played today and boys games on Saturday.
CLASS 6A BOYS
No. 14 Santa Fe (12-15) at No. 3 Atrisco Heritage (22-3), 5 p.m.
The Demons are back in the state tournament, but they have the unenviable task of facing a scorching Jaguars squad led by the might of Joziah Ramos, who’s averaging 18.3 points a game. In terms of common opponents, Santa Fe has gone 0-9 against a slate that Atrisco has bested 8-1.
CLASS 5A BOYS
No. 1 Española Valley (25-1) vs. No. 16 Valencia (8-19), 7 p.m.
The SunDevils are shooting for their third championship in the past eight years and two out of three. With a ferocious, run-and-gun style of play, Española is averaging more than 77 points a game, one of the tops in the state. And in a raucous, sold-out gym, the Jaguars will have little hope of stemming the tide.
No. 4 Capital (21-7) vs. No. 13 Miyamura (15-13), 7 p.m.
Led by sophomore Antonio “TJ” Sanchez with almost 15 points a game, the Jaguars methodically wear down opponents with a relentless defense that averages 12 steals per game. Senior point guard Tyler Alarid facilitates the attack with 13.2 points and 4.2 assists.
GIRLS
No. 7 Española Valley (15-11) vs. No. 10 Belen (15-14), 7 p.m.
The SunDevils remained feisty despite a new coach and a lot of new faces for a team with just two seniors, Kayla Devargas and Samantha Gasca. The Eagles are an up-and-coming squad that’s hungry for the state tournament after a nearmiss last season.
No. 14 Capital (14-14) at No. 3 Gallup (18-10)
It’s been a long strange trip back to respectability for the Jaguars, who have not been in the state tournament since 2007. However, if there is one team prepared to face the unyielding support the Bengals enjoy, it will be Capital, which has had to enter the Devils’ Den at Española Valley twice this season.
CLASS 4A BOYS
No. 5 Taos (17-10) vs. No. 12 Santa Fe Indian School (14-14), 6 p.m.
The Tigers have been on quite the roll, winning nine of 10. And Taos won these two teams’ November meeting 71-66, in what was the Braves’ first game of the season. The Tigers are tested in the state’s deepest district and have only improved since they last saw Indian School.
No. 8 St. Michael’s (1315) vs. No. 9 Sandia Prep (13-14), 6 p.m.
It’s been a bumpy, up-and-down season for the Horsemen in their first season sans long-time coach Ron Geyer. New coach David Rodriguez does enjoy some height that will pose match-up problems in seniors 6-foot, 7-inch Devin Ritschel and 6-3 Lincoln Barker.
No. 13 West Las Vegas (13-14) at No. 4 Moriarty (18-8), 6 p.m.
The Dons have been used to long runs in the state tournament but that could end this season as the Pintos present a stifling defense that’s allowing less than 50 points a game. WLV did get the tempo in its favor in a December meeting at the New Mexico Highlands gym and won 72-58.
No. 14 Robertson (12-17) vs. 3 Hope Christian (198), 5 p.m.
There is no tougher draw for the Cardinals as the Huskies have won the state championship eight of the past nine years and reached the finals all nine seasons. Robertson will be relying on the dynamic skills of senior Arjay Ortiz, who leads the team in scoring (20.5), rebounds (7.9), assists (3.8), steals (2.0) and blocks (2.3).
GIRLS
No. 2 Robertson (24-3) vs. No. 15 Taos (7-19), 7 p.m.
The Cardinals are loaded with Alianza Darley (18.1 points a game, 5.2 assists), Maria Barela (4.9 assists). What’s more, Robertson has hammered the Tigers twice in district play, 57-16 and 72-13. Look for more of the same as the Cards have their sights set on playing the season finale.
No. 6 Santa Fe Indian School (24-4) vs. No. 11 Socorro (22-7), 7 p.m.
The Braves have won 12 in a row and 18 of
19, blitzing through a weak district, but they probably were seeded worse than they deserved and certainly got a tough opening draw in the Warriors, which kind of bumped to the finish, losing three of five.
No. 7 Pojoaque Valley (21-5) vs. No. 10 Cobre (15-10), 6 p.m.
The Elkettes saw a resurgence this season with a well-rounded bunch paced by Michaela Martinez, who averages 10.6 points and 3.7 steals. Pojoaque handled the Indians easily 66-44 in December when the teams met, and if the Elkettes can hold down scoring leader Skklya Guck (16.5), they should advance.
No. 9 West Las Vegas (18-10) at No. 8 Hope Christian (13-15), 6 p.m.
Don’t let the Huskies’ record fool you. Hope has played a slate of 6A and 5A teams and for the most part has held its own. The Dons are led by senior Jenna Bustos, but the Huskies won the teams’ meeting 51-47 last month.
No. 13 St. Michael’s (1017) at No. 4 Shiprock (189), 6 p.m.
No easy task for the Lady Horsemen to enter one of the notoriously difficult gyms from which to emerge as a victor. For St. Mike’s to have any hope against the Chieftains, leading scorer Carisa Padilla (11.4) must be absolutely on fire.
CLASS 3A BOYS
No. 3 Pecos (24-3) vs. No. 14 Rehoboth Christian (15-11), 5 p.m.
The defending state champion Panthers have won 11 in a row and are eager to repeat. A tested and veteran squad is led by Mario Archuleta (16 points a game) and Carlos Cordova (12.8), helping Pecos average 78 points per outing.
No. 9 Santa Fe Prep (148) at No. 8 Dexter (18-9), 6 p.m.
The Blue Griffins are getting 18.7 points a game from Sam Sparks, but they have lost two in a row on the heels of a seven-game winning streak. The Demons are coming off a tough one-point loss to Tularosa.
No. 10 McCurdy (18-8) at No. 7 Tularosa (17-7), 6 p.m.
The Bobcats average 65 points a game behind juniors Ubaldo Barela (18.0), Kemmer Croff (14.2) and Raul Arroyo (9.9). The real question is whether there’s going to be enough defense to throttle the Wildcats.
GIRLS
No. 8 Pecos (23-4) vs. No. 9 Tierra Encantada (18-7), 6 p.m.
Cassaundra Muller has returned from a midseason injury and is putting up 17.2 points and 6.6 boards for the Panthers. The Alacranes lost all three meetings with Pecos this season, although one was close at 56-52.
CLASS 2A GIRLS
No. 14 Questa (13-15) at No. 3 Peñasco (23-4), 7 p.m.
The Wildcats are something of a ray of optimism for the struggling athletic program, but running up against a team it has already lost to four times this season is tough. Larissa Passino (11.5 points a game) will have to be on.
No. 15 Escalante (1213) at No. 2 Mescalero Apache (26-1), 5 p.m.
Former Santa Fe coach Elmer Chavez has created a monster out of the Chiefs with a squad that is five points from being undefeated. The Lobos will be relying on seniors Tanisha Torres (13.0 points a game) and Sarah Hurd (10.7).
CLASS 1A BOYS
No. 5 New Mexico School for Deaf (20-4) vs. Evangel Christian Academy (12-16), 5 p.m.
The Roadrunners boast the top big man in the class, 6-9 junior Deven Thompson, who is averaging 24 points and 13.4 rebounds. NMSD took two of three regular-season meetings with the Eagles.
No. 16 Santa Fe Waldorf (7-12) at No. 1 Melrose (25-3), 5 p.m.
It’s a long, long road for the Wolves, who have lost seven of eight and have a forfeit thrown into the mix, to meet the Buffaloes.