NMPreps.com's recaps, scores, and highlights from the 2020 4A New Mexico high school basketball state tournament. #nmpreps

RECAP

The Valencia Jaguars were making their first appearance in program history on the famous "PIt" floor, but defending champ and top-seeded Valley Vikings were just too much. Led by Seyi Oyeku who posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds the Vikings controlled this game from the opening tip. They raced out to a 15-8 lead after one, and the pace halted to a snail in the second with the Vikings taking a 22-14 lead into the locker room. The second half didn't see much of an uptick in game flow but the Vikings ended up running away with a 52-31 win. They will play Hope Christian in the semifinals.

FINAL STATS

Valley

Seyi Oyeku 17 points 12 rebounds

Jevin Baker 13 points

FG: 20-43 (47%)

3PT: 3-14 (21%)

FT: 9-14 (64%)

13 turnovers 7 steals 4 blocks

Valencia

Luis Ramos 11 points

Jake Mattox 9 points FG: 13-40 (33%)

3PT: 2-14 (14%)

FT: 3-6 (50%)

12 turnovers 4 steals 2 blocks

The Gallup Bengals turned up the intensity and in doing so blitzed the Espanola Valley Sundevils with a 17-3 scoring burst in the fourth quarter to put the game on ice. Prior to the big Gallup run, the game was seemingly within reach for either team, despite Gallup leading for most of the game up until that point. Espanola Valley just ran out of steam and had no answers as Gallup went on to win 72-47. The Bengals were as balanced as you could hope for, getting three players to score in double figures with Joaquin Ortega leading the way with 19 points and 8 rebounds. Quinn Atazhoon added 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Jeffrey Yazzie finished with 12 points

FINAL STATS

Gallup

Joaquin Ortega 19 points 8 rebounds

Quinn Atazhoon 18 points 12 rebounds

Jeffrey Yazzie 12 points

FG: 26-65 (40%)

3PT: 4-12 (33%)

FT: 16-23 (70%)

20 turnovers 13 steals 3 blocks

Espanola Valley

Ollie Fell 11 points 6 rebounds

FG: 15-56 (27%)

3PT: 5-21 (24%)

FT: 12-26 (46%)

19 turnovers 11 steals 3 blocks

Arguably the hottest team in the stae, No. 3 Highland pushed their win streak to nine with a 53-44 win over Del Norte. The Hornets were led by Jose Murillo who threw down a couple emphatic dunks in route to a double-double with 17 points and 19 rebounds. Tommy Huynh added 12 points and dished out 6 assists. Malik Barton had a game high 29 points for Del Norte, but unfortunately for the Knights he was the only scorer to reach double figures as they struggled to find a consistent second option. With the win Highland moves on to the semifinals and will play the winner of Gallup and Espanola Valley who play at 6:30.

RECAP

The #5 Hope Christian Huskies came out running and bringing a relentless pressure to the #4 Artesia Bulldogs in their quarterfinal win, 61-24.

The Huskies opened with a 22-7 first quarter showing and by mid-third quarter the mercy rule was in effect. Sean Martinez of the Huskies exploded 15 first quarter points before taking rest, he ended with 18 on the morning.

Artesia was paced by Johntae Rodriguez scoring 8 points and grabbing 6 rebounds.

The Huskies move into the final four to face the winner between No. 1 Valley and No. 9 Valencia.

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