State Quarterfinals: Recaps, Scores, & Highlights
Girls Basketball. NMPreps recaps and highlights from the 2023 New Mexico high school basketball state quarterfinals. #nmpreps
Home: Schedule & Scores
5A BASKETBALL
#3 Volcano Vista 44, Centennial 36 - F
Recap: After a slow start with each team struggling to find the basket ,what appeared to be an early runaway ended in single digits. The three-seed Volcano Vista Hawks took a 26-10 halftime lead on Centennial. The second half brought life to the Centennial Hawks who used a 14-4 run to pull within scoring range (30-24). The two teams would trade buckets the rest of the way with the Volcano Vista Hawks eventually moving into Thursday's Final Four with the win, 44-36. Centennial ends their season 21-9 overall.
Taejhuan Hill led the way for Volcano Vista with 19 points and 14 rebounds. She was the only player in double figures. Guard Mari Manzanares finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. VVHS shot 27.3% (12 of 44) from the field, 15.4% (2 of 13) from 3-pointers.
Aspen Salazar finished the game as the only Centennial Hawk in double figures -- 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists. Centennial shot 13 of 35 (37.1%) from FG and 5 of 19 (26.3%) from 3-pointers.
#5 La Cueva 44, #4 Carlsbad 26 - F
Recap: For 32-minutes it was the fifth seed La Cueva Bears with complete control of this 5A quarterfinal game. Loaded with next level talent of Alexis Ayers (2023), Eva Love (2024), Jordyn Dyer (2026), and newcomer Karleigh Gutierrez (2023) the Bears muscled their way to win. Carlsbad struggled with turnovers and poor shooting (24%) all morning. Allie Myers led the way for Carlsbad with 8 points, fouling out early in the fourth quarter. The La Cueva Bears (23-7 overall) move into Thursday's Final Four. Carlsbad ends their season 24-6.
4A BASKETBALL
#3 St. Pius X 40, #6 Los Alamos 36 - F
Recap: The one that got away. Los Alamos opened up the game with an 8-4 lead at the end of the first quarter not allowing a single field goal for St. Pius X. The Sartans with a spark out of the half took control and never looked back winning, 40-36. The Sartans were led by point guard Marisol Valdez scoring a team-high 11 points. GG Romero led the way for the Hilltoppers with 11 points. St. Pius X will move into Thursday's Final Four and await the winner between Gallup and Valencia. The Hilltoppers end their season 20-9 overall.
#4 Hope Christian 62, #5 Artesia 48 - F
Recap: Despite a valid last effort by the fifth seed Artesia Bulldogs (19-10 overall) to close the gap to four points with four minutes left in the game this one was all Hope Christian (22-7 overall) for 32 minutes. Seniors Kathleen Obisike (17 points, 14 rebounds), Alyssa Vigil (17 points, 5 rebounds), and Charelotte Bitsoih (13 points, 7 assists) led the way for the Huskies as they move into Thursday's Final Four. Senior Koda Beltran paced the way for the Artesia Bulldogs with 16 points.