NMPreps 2023 New Mexico high school basketball state tournament preview. #nmpreps
5A BASKETBALL
Bracket Breakdown
Best Game: #8 Sandia (21-8) vs #9 Albuquerque (25-2). What a match-up at the 8-9. Both teams featuring next level talent -- Leilani Love (Albuquerque/2023) and Sydney Benally (Sandia/2023).
Best Possible Upset Pick: #5 La Cueva (21-7) vs #12 Mayfield (15-12). We are leaning more on the side of all top seeds rolling today but if there's one coach that could pull the upset its coach Maya at Mayfield.
Final Play: #6 Centennial (20-8) vs #11 Organ Mountain (17-10). Scary first round game for the 6-seed, having to play a district opponent. This will be the fourth game this season, third this month, between the teams. Here we predict a game that could go down to the final play.
9-16 Seed to Final Four: Difficult pick. If they can find a way to win in the first round. How can you not like having the best player in the state -- Bella Hines (Eldorado). I would be remiss to pick against Volcano Vista coach Lisa Villarael though. However, Hines is a special player, sort of wild that they are only a 14-seed.
MVP Frontrunner: Bhret Clay (Hobbs). The Eagles will likely have the state championship trophy and the MVP when March 11th hits next week. Clay is another special talent that will be on display for the next week.
Ten Players to Watch
Aspen Salazar - Centennial
Bella Hines - Eldorado
Bhret Clay - Hobbs
Caitlin Turnbow - Organ Mountain
Jordan Dyer - La Cueva
Leilani Love - Albuquerque
Lyric Corona - Mayfield
Mariana Sepulveda - Carlsbad
Sydney Benally - Sandia
Taejhuan Hill - Volcano Vista
Grine's Picks
First Round: 1-Hobbs, 2-Farmington, 3-Volcano Vista, 4-Carlsbad, 5-La Cueva, 6-Centennial, 7-Las Cruces, 9-Albuquerque
Quarterfinals: 1-Hobbs, 2-Farmington, 3-Volcano Vista, 4-Carlsbad
Final Four: 1-Hobbs, 3-Volcano Vista
State Champ: 1-Hobbs
