State Basketball Championships: Quarterfinals matchups

A look at quarterfinals games for the New Mexico State Basketball Championships:

Boys
* All boys quarterfinals games will be played this Wednesday
Class 5A
At The Pit in Albuquerque
No. 1 Eldorado vs. No. 9 Cibola, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Sandia vs. No. 7 Hobbs, 9:45 a.m.
No. 3 La Cueva vs. No. 6 Las Cruces, 4:45 p.m.
No. 4 Clovis vs. No. 12 Manzano, 1:15 p.m.
Class 4A
At The Pit in Albuquerque
No. 1 Roswell vs. No. 9 Española Valley, 11:30 a.m.
No. 2 St. Pius X vs. No. 7 Santa Teresa, 8 a.m.
No. 3 Los Lunas vs. No. 6 Capital, 6:30 p.m.
No. 4 Bernalillo vs. No. 5 Albuquerque Academy, 3 p.m.
Class 3A
At Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho
No. 1 Hope Christian vs. No. 9 Lovington, 1:15 p.m.
No. 2 St. Michael's vs. No. 7 Silver, 4:45 p.m.
No. 3 Sandia Prep vs. No. 6 Pojoaque, 9:45 a.m.
No. 4 Shiprock vs. No. 5 Portales, 8:15 p.m.
Class 2A
At Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho
No. 1 Laguna Acoma vs. No. 8 Santa Rosa, 6:30 p.m.
No. 2 Pecos vs. No. 7 Mesilla Valley Christian, 3 p.m.
No. 3 Dexter vs. No. 6 Bosque, 8 a.m.
No. 4 Tularosa vs. No. 5 Texico, 11:30 a.m.
Class 1A
At Bernalillo High School
No. 1 Cliff vs. No. 8 Logan, 4:45 p.m.
No. 2 Hagerman vs. No. 10 Capitan, 6:30 p.m.
No. 3 To'hajiilee vs. No. 11 McCurdy, 8:15 p.m.
No. 4 Dora vs. No. 12 Questa, 3 p.m.

Girls
* All girls quarterfinals games will be played this Tuesday:
Class 5A
At Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho
No. 1 Clovis vs. No. 9 Las Cruces, 8:15 p.m.
No. 2 Mayfield vs. No. 7 Eldorado, 1:15 p.m.
No. 3 Cibola vs. No. 6 Volcano Vista, 4:45 p.m.
No. 4 Hobbs vs. No. 5 La Cueva. 9:15 a.m.
Class 4A
At The Pit in Albuquerque
No. 1 Los Lunas vs. No. 9 Los Alamos, 1:15 p.m.
No. 2 Roswell vs. No. 7 Gallup, 8:15 p.m.
No. 3 Santa Fe vs. No. 6 Valencia, 4:45 p.m.
No. 4 St. Pius X vs. No. 5 Española, 9:45 a.m.
Class 3A
At The Pit in Albuquerque
No. 1 Hope Christian vs. No. 9 Socorro, 8 p.m.
No. 2 Santa Fe Indian vs. No. 7 Pojoaque, 6:30 p.m.
No. 3 Portales vs. No. 6 Lovington, 3 p.m.
No. 4 Shiprock vs. No. 5 Taos, 11:30 a.m.
Class 2A
At Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho
No. 1 Laguna Acoma vs. No. 9 Hatch, 6:30 p.m.
No. 2 Texico vs. No. 10 Navajo Prep, 3 p.m.
No. 3 Navajo Pine vs. No. 6 Zuni, 11:30 a.m.
No. 4 Mora vs. No. 12 Clayton, 8 a.m.
Class 1A
At Bernalillo High School
No. 1 Tatum vs. No. 8 Dora, 3 p.m.
No. 2 Cliff vs. No. 7 Jemez Valley, 8:15 p.m.
No. 3 Magdalena vs. No. 6 Logan, 6:30 p.m.
No. 5 Melrose vs. No. 4 Floyd, 4:45 p.m.

State Basketball Championships: First-round scores

Results from this past weekend's opening-round games in the New Mexico State Basketball Championships:

* Higher seeds host first-round games

Boys
Class 5A
No. 1 Eldorado 79, No. 16 Rio Rancho 67
No. 2 Sandia 61, No. 15 Alamogordo 42
No. 3 La Cueva 68, No. 14 Atrisco Heritage 59
No. 4 Clovis 75, No. 13 West Mesa 56
No. 12 Manzano 68, No. 5 Valley 65
No. 6 Las Cruces 85, No. 11 Carlsbad 65
No. 7 Hobbs 75, No. 10 Volcano Vista 49
No. 8 Cibola 46, No. 9 Albuquerque 45
Class 4A
No. 1 Roswell 74, No. 16 Piedra Vista 55
No. 2 St. Pius 67, No. 15 Goddard 48
No. 3 Los Lunas 76, No. 14 Santa Fe 68
No. 4 Bernalillo 82, No. 13 Artesia 78
No. 5 Academy 53, No. 12 Farmington 43
No. 6 Capital 50, No. 11 Moriarty 39
No. 7 Santa Teresa 57, No. 10 Gallup 53 (OT)
No. 9 Espanola 53, No. 8 Deming 50
Class 3A
No. 1 Hope Christian 93, No. 16 Raton 31
No. 2 St. Michael's 90, No. 15 Wingate 70
No. 3 Sandia Prep 67, No. 14 Socorro 50
No. 4 Shiprock 65, No. 13 Ruidoso 46
No. 5 Portales 62, No. 12 West Las Vegas 51
No. 6 Pojoaque 70, No. 11 Bloomfield 33
No. 7 Silver 73, No. 10 Robertson 33
No. 8 Taos 45, No. 9 Lovington 41
Class 2A
No. 1 Laguna Acoma 60, No. 16 Dulce 40
No. 2 Pecos 90, No. 15 NMMI 70
No. 3 Dexter 67, No. 14 Ramah 51
No. 4 Tularosa 67, No. 13 Clayton 48
No. 5 Texico 50, No. 12 Tohatchi 33
No. 6 Bosque 45, No. 11 Tucumcari 43
No. 7 Mesilla Valley Christian 46, No. 10 Santa Fe Prep 22
No. 8 Santa Rosa 69, No. 9 Mora 67
Class 1A
No. 1 Cliff 70, No. 16 Pine Hill 28
No. 2 Hagerman 79, No. 15 Desert Academy 45
No. 3 To'Hajiiee 70, No. 14 Tatum 40
No. 4 Dora 65, No. 13 Menaul 18
No. 12 Questa 54, No. 5 Ft. Sumner 49
No. 11 McCurdy 55, No. 6 Magdalena 49
No. 10 Capitan 77, No. 7 Escalante 68
No. 8 Logan 72, No. 9 Springer 51

Girls
Class 5A
No. 1 Clovis 55, No. 16 Alamogordo 11
No. 2 Mayfield 56, No. 15 Cleveland 33
No. 3 Cilbola 47, No. 14 Oñate 34
No. 4 Hobbs 60, No. 13 Gadsden 40
No. 5 La Cueva 50, No. 12 Carlsbad 28
No. 6 Volcano Vista 52, No. 11 Sandia 46
No. 7 Eldorado 63, No. 10 Rio Rancho 48
No. 9 Las Cruces 49, No. 8 Valley 35
Class 4A
No. 1 Los Lunas 65, No. 16 Goddard 43
No. 2 Roswell 60, No. 15 Piedra Vista 37
No. 3 Santa Fe 62, No. 14 Kirtland Centra 38
No. 4 St. Pius 61, No. 13 Miyamura 58
No. 5 Española Valley 51, No. 12 Grants 50
No. 6 Valencia 51, No. 11 Albuquerque Academy 19
No. 7 Gallup 71, No. 10 Artesia 55
No. 9 Los Alamos 62, No. 8 Deming 45
Class 3A
No. 1 Hope Christian 78, No. 16 Wingate 40
No. 2 Santa Fe Indian 67, No. 15 Ruidoso 44
No. 3 Portales 37, No. 14 St. Michael's 34
No. 4 Shiprock 67, No. 13 West Las Vegas 45
No. 5 Taos 53, No. 12 Sandia Prep 43
No. 6 Lovington 46, No. 11 Raton 32
No. 7 Pojoaque Valley 56, No. 10 Thoreau 48
No. 9 Socorro 59, No. 8 Robertson 46
Class 2A
No. 1 Laguna Acoma 77, No. 16 West Mesa 15
No. 2 Texico 60, No. 15 Ramah 15
No. 3 Navajo Pine 51, No. 14 Santa Fe Prep 44
No. 4 Mora 47, No. 13 Rehoboth Christian 37
No. 12 Clayton 50, No. 5 Tularosa 48
No. 6 Zuni 92, No. 11 Cuba 55
No. 10 Navajo Prep 51, No. 7 Dexter 44
No. 9 Hatch Valley 50, No. 8 Estancia 46
Class 1A
No. 1 Tatum 77, No. 16 Shiprock Northwest 35
No. 2 Cliff 53, No. 15 Coronado 15
No. 3 Magdalena 45, No. 14 Animas 38
No. 4 Floyd 64, No. 13 Mescalero Apache 50
No. 5 Melrose 57, No. 12 Springer 27
No. 6 Logan 73, No. 11 McCurdy 42
No. 7 Jemez Valley 44, No. 10 Fort Sumner 43
No. 8 Dora 63, No. 9 Cloudcroft 49

A look back: Aggie basketball responds with big win over Louisiana Tech

(Daniel Mullings bounced back offensively with 23 points, leading the Aggies over the Bulldogs/Photo by Robin Zielinski)

Lets just say it right off the bat: The New Mexico State Aggies played a very good game Thursday and got a very good win to show for it, a 78-60 victory over Louisiana Tech.

In an analysis, the Aggies got the victory for the following reasons:

• The team’s defense was simply awesome: The Aggies have forced the issue throughout the season on the defensive end of the floor, and routinely take the opposition out of its offensive game. Louisiana Tech, like many NMSU opponents this year, had trouble with the Aggies length, athleticism and size on the court. NMSU chased the Bulldogs off the 3-point line, and 7-foot-5 center Sim Bhullar was there to clog up the middle, five-feet-and-in to the basket. Louisiana Tech had no answer for the Aggies frontcourt, as many teams haven’t this year. NMSU is a defensive-oriented team — they have been the past two seasons — and it showed once again Thursday.

• Daniel Mullings: The Aggie shooting guard was player of the game, with 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals. His top-rate athleticism was on display throughout the evening. Defensively, Mullings has always been solid, although he struggled on the offensive end of the court the three contests prior to Thursday. His performance against the Bulldogs could have very well been the No. 1 key to victory. He played like an All-Conference caliber performer.

• Figuring out the Bulldogs press: The Aggies had trouble with Louisiana Tech’s full-court press defense to start Thursday’s contest, and it led directly to the Bulldogs' 21-10 lead early on. But NMSU forced the issue and stopped turning the ball over — point guard Terrel de Rouen, who came off the bench after being sick a good portion of the week, helped in this respect. Their defense stepped up and Louisiana Tech stopped making shots — and, therefore, was unable to press off a made basket. A 23-3 Aggie run followed, and a 10-point NMSU deficit turned into a 10-point lead. Said head coach Marvin Menzies on how the Aggies adjusted: “We were dribbling into what we call coffin corner .... We kept dribbling in there .... put under pressure (by) long, athletic, quick guys that would take advantage of two good athletes against one. We got our reversals and started to attack up court. Passing and starting to advance it to the baseline more.”

• Give credit where credit is due: Tyrone Watson played a good game for the Aggies. He had 10 points and five rebounds in the first half, as NMSU dug out of its hole and took a 43-34 lead at intermission. He then played on a hurt ankle (a Louisiana Tech player rolled over it, and it didn’t look good initially) during the second half to finish with his second career double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds). Watson was utilized well, and played better within his role: A facilitator on offense, a ball handler against the press and he didn’t take many jump shots — most of his nine shot attempts came from close to the basket, and he made six of them. He was key, and a big reason the Aggies won in runaway fashion.

• Still would have liked to see more minutes for Kevin Aronis (he played 11) and Renaldo Dixon (who played 10). But a win’s a win, and the team responded well in a big game. Two weeks ago it was UTEP, last night it was Louisiana Tech. Historically, the Aggies have stepped up in big games late in the season under head coach Marvin Menzies. To the team's credit, it happened again Thursday.

•••

Anything can happen with NMSU going into next week’s WAC Tournament.

Obviously the Aggies are totally capable of winning the whole thing. They’re also capable of not doing such, meaning I wouldn’t be surprised with any outcome.

Still, let the track record show: WAC Tournament titles for the program two of the past three years, which means a similar triumph this season would equal three NCAA Tournament trips in four years for the Aggies. It's usually an adventure getting there, although such results are also tough to argue with.

Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg

VIDEOS: Aggies beat Louisiana Tech on Pan Am floor

Head coach Marvin Menzies, Aggie players talk about their 78-60 win over the Bulldogs. NMSU's victory snapped Louisiana Tech's 18-game win streak, and 16-0 record in the WAC.

Aggies could use rotation adjustment

Can the New Mexico State Aggie men's basketball team beat Louisiana Tech on Thursday at the Pan American Center? Of course they can. This is a winnable game, despite La. Tech's 16-0 WAC record and 18-game win streak.

But it's also loseable. Louisiana Tech is a very good team — they could very well be the best squad NMSU has faced this season — and the Aggies will need to play a very good game in order to win.

And although we've mentioned it before on the Cruces Sports Blog, we feel compelled to do so again: The Aggies need to change up their lineup rotation in order to beat the Bulldogs.

The return of Tyrone Watson came last weekend at Denver, where a simple look at the box score provided some puzzling issues: Watson, who missed a month of the season due to suspension and, in turn, a decent portion of NMSU's 12-game win streak, played a whopping 38 minutes in a starter's role.

Meanwhile, backup players Renaldo Dixon (played very well in place of Watson during the senior's absence), Kevin Aronis (who shot the Aggies to victory days before against UTEP) and Remi Barry (who showed some promise this year in an increased role) played a combined 17 minutes, with Dixon leading the way with seven minutes of court time.

We understand someone's time will be cut into with Watson returning. Lets say immediately it should not be Dixon (it's highly debatable that the junior should have lost his starting job to begin with). Both are good defensive players, but Dixon could very well be the team's top shot blocker, and should not be reduced as a bit player now with an added body in the fold.

Aronis also should see an increase in minutes — his time has fluctuated throughout the season, but he should have a more steady role while at least taking the court for stretches of a game. When he's been on the floor he's looked good.

One key for NMSU beating La. Tech: The team's bench will have to play well, because the Bulldogs use their's effectively. Lets hope some roles are changed, and some key players are used wisely Thursday.

Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg

New Mexico State Basketball Championships: First-round games

A look at opening-round contests in this year's boys and girls state basketball playoff brackets:

For complete boys tournament brackets, click here.

For complete girls tournament brackets, click here.

Boys
First round
* Higher seeds host first-round games
* All first-round boys games will be played this Saturday
Class 5A
No. 1 Eldorado vs. No. 16 Rio Rancho, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Sandia vs. No. 15 Alamogordo, 7 p.m.
No. 3 La Cueva vs. No. 14 Atrisco Heritage, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Clovis vs. No. 13 West Mesa, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Valley vs. No. 12 Manzano, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Las Cruces vs. No. 11 Carlsbad, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Hobbs vs. No. 10 Volcano Vista, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Cibola vs. No. 9 Albuquerque, 7 p.m.
Class 4A
No. 1 Roswell vs. No. 16 Piedra Vista, 1 p.m.
No. 2 St. Pius vs. No. 15 Goddard, 3 p.m.
No. 3 Los Lunas vs. No. 14 Santa Fe, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Bernalillo vs. No. 13 Artesia, 6 p.m.
No. 5 Academy vs. No. 12 Farmington, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Capital vs. No. 11 Moriarty, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Santa Teresa vs. No. 10 Gallup, 5 p.m.
No. 8 Deming vs. No. 9 Espanola, 3 p.m.
Class 3A
No. 1 Hope Christian vs. No. 16 Raton, 5 p.m.
No. 2 St. Michael’s vs. No. 15 Wingate, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Sandia Prep vs. No. 14 Socorro, 5 p.m.
No. 4 Shiprock vs. No. 13 Ruidoso, 5 p.m.
No. 5 Portales vs. No. 12 West Las Vegas, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Pojoaque vs. No. 11 Bloomfield, 5 p.m.
No. 7 Silver vs. No. 10 Robertson, 5 p.m.
No. 8 Taos vs. No. 9 Lovington, 6 p.m.
Class 2A
No. 1 Laguna Acoma vs. No. 16 Dulce, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Pecos vs. No. 15 NMMI, 5 p.m.
No. 3 Dexter vs. No. 14 Ramah, 5 p.m.
No. 4 Tularosa vs. No. 13 Clayton, 1 p.m.
No. 5 Texico vs. No. 12 Tohatchi, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Bosque vs. No. 11 Tucumcari, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Mesilla Valley Christian vs. No. 10 Santa Fe Prep, 6 p.m.
No. 8 Santa Rosa vs. No. 9 Mora, 6 p.m.
Class 1A
No. 1 Cliff vs. No. 16 Pine Hill, 3 p.m.
No. 2 Hagerman vs. No. 15 Desert Academy, 5 p.m.
No. 3 To’Hajiiee vs. No. 14 Tatum, 5 p.m.
No. 4 Dora vs. No. 13 Menaul, 5 p.m.
No. 5 Ft. Sumner vs. No. 12 Questa, 4 p.m.
No. 6 Magdalena vs. No. 11 McCurdy, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Escalante vs. No. 10 Capitan, 5 p.m.
No. 8 Logan vs. No. 9 Springer, 7 p.m.

Girls
First round
* Higher seeds host first-round games
* All first-round girls games will be played this Friday
Class 5A
No. 1 Clovis vs. No. 16 Alamogordo, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Mayfield vs. No. 15 Cleveland, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Cilbola vs. No. 14 Oñate, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Hobbs vs. No. 13 Gadsden, 7 p.m.
No. 5 La Cueva vs. No. 12 Carlsbad, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Volcano Vista vs. No. 11 Sandia, 5:30 p.m.
No. 7 Eldorado vs. No. 10 Rio Rancho, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Valley vs. No. 9 Las Cruces, 7 p.m.
Class 4A
No. 1 Los Lunas vs. No. 16 Goddard, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Roswell vs. No. 15 Piedra Vista, 7 p.m.
No. 3 Santa Fe vs. No. 14 Kirtland Central, 6 p.m.
No. 4 St. Pius vs. No. 13 Miyamura, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Española Valley vs. No. 12 Grants, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Valencia vs. No. 11 Albuquerque Academy, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Gallup vs. No. 10 Artesia, 6 p.m.
No. 8 Deming vs. No. 9 Los Alamos, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
No. 1 Hope Christian vs. No. 16 Wingate, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Santa Fe Indian vs. No. 15 Ruidoso, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Portales vs. No. 14 St. Michael’s, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Shiprock vs. No. 13 West Las Vegas, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Taos vs. No. 12 Sandia Prep, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Lovington vs. No. 11 Raton, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Pojoaque Valley vs. No. 10 Thoreau, 6 p.m.
No. 8 Robertson vs. No. 9 Socorro, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
No. 1 Laguna Acoma vs. No. 16 West Mesa, 6 p.m.
No. 2 Texico vs. No. 15 Ramah, 6 p.m.
No. 4 Mora vs. No. 13 Rehoboth Christian, 5:30 p.m.
No. 5 Tularosa vs. No. 12 Clayton, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Zuni vs. No. 11 Cuba, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Dexter vs. No. 10 Navajo Prep, 6 p.m.
No. 8 Estancia vs. No. 9 Hatch Valley, 6 p.m.
Class 1A
No. 1 Tatum vs. No. 16 Shiprock Northwest, 6:30 p.m.
No. 2 Cliff vs. No. 15 Coronado, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Magdalena vs. No. 14 Animas, 5 p.m.
No. 4 Floyd vs. No. 13 Mescalero Apache, 6 p.m.
No. 5 Melrose vs. No. 12 Springer, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Logan vs. No. 11 McCurdy, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Jemez Valley vs. No. 10 Fort Sumner, 6 p.m.
No. 8 Dora vs. No. 9 Cloudcroft, 6 p.m.

Proposed district realignments a disservice to local high school sports programs

(In the proposed Class 6A, the days of Las Cruces High and Oñate meeting in district football would be over/Photo by Shari V. Hill)

The New Mexico Activities Association released a proposal this past week that would expand New Mexico high school athletics from five to six classifications, and would in turn put four Las Cruces city schools — Las Cruces High, Mayfield, Oñate and Centennial — in two separate districts. To see a list of the proposed realignments, click here.

In any event, such a proposition was not well received by local coaches and administrators, and one can understand why.

Separating Las Cruces city schools into two leagues within the same classification makes little sense. In a town with four big-school affiliations all together, they should be competing against one another and form rivalries during meaningful district games. Travel would be cheap, local loyalties would run high, and with that, one has the makings of quality high school athletics in place.

But that wouldn't be the case the way things could potentially be constructed. District 6-6A would place Mayfield and Las Cruces High in a common league, that would also have Gadsden and Deming a part of it. Meanwhile, District 3-6A would consist of a three-team district (far from an ideal number) of Oñate, Centennial and Alamogordo. Not good.

Three-team leagues are just not the way to go, from a watered-down competition level as well as difficulties posed in scheduling. So Centennial and Oñate would be in a three-team alignment with Alamogordo, while two other local city schools just miles away are in another league amongst the same classification? At first on paper it might look decent. But upon inspection, it's far from rational.

But lets also say this: It's difficult seeing such alignments remaining this way. Yes, the NMAA will move to the six-class format, but the district proposals are just that. Nothing's etched in stone, and certain teams will appeal. In the assumed 6A, count on one being Deming, while Santa Fe High wouldn't seem far behind after being moved up in classification and placed in a power league consisting of Cleveland, Rio Rancho, Volcano Vista and Cibola.

Perhaps some movement in southern New Mexico could take place, whether it be Deming moving down in classification or Alamogordo being placed in another three-team league in the proposed 6A (consisting of Clovis, Carlsbad and Hobbs). Not that such a scenario would be favorable to the people of Alamo, why with a hellacious travel schedule in league games once district season rolls around.

Could Gadsden be moved down a classification and play in a league with Santa Teresa and Chaparral? It's a numbers game, and enrollment is what's determining who goes to what level, but that could make some sense as well from competition and geographic standpoints.

But here's the most simple and logical solution, although one that also won't be implemented any time soon: Moving back down to four classifications total, where everyone would benefit — at least the schools involved along with the student athletes, which should be the top priority to begin with.

Four classifications would eliminate three-team districts, and perhaps even enhance the playing field. We spoke of District 4-5A — made up of Clovis, Carlsbad and Hobbs. Then, in Class 4A District 4, we have another three-team alignment of eastern New Mexico-based schools Roswell, Artesia and Goddard. A classic example where contraction would be better, as six schools could come together on the highest level, and compete with real regional interest involved.

This would also allow Alamogordo to stay within its current alignment with Mayfield, Oñate, Las Cruces and Gadsden. If Centennial was added to the mix, all the better. Deming would find a proper home amongst its preferred 4A classification, and we're not having this discussion all together.

Makes perfect sense, right? At least to the people of southern New Mexico, which is probably why it isn't happening.

Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg