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Atrisco Heritage’s Javier Mendoza shoots a 3-pointer against Volcano Vista Friday night at Atrisco Heritage High. The high school state basketball tournament brackets were released Saturday night. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
Cleveland’s boys and Hobbs’ girls will lead the way into the Class 5A state basketball tournament.
The Storm, looking for the program’s first state championship, and the Eagles, last year’s state champions, were given No. 1 seeds Saturday night by the New Mexico Activities Association.
Cleveland heads up the 5A boys bracket, opposite No. 8 seed Santa Fe on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.
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“We’re hitting the right strides right now on both the offensive and defensive end,” Storm coach Sean Jimenez said of his team as it enters the postseason as the District 1-5A champion.
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Atrisco Heritage’s Isaiah Brooks goes in for a layup against Volcano Vista and Jaden Malone, right. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
On the last Friday night of prep basketball’s regular season, there were some teams in the metro area that clinched district championships, and one for sure that is on the threshold.
There was much to dissect on the eve of the announcement of the state tournament brackets, which will be revealed on Saturday night by the New Mexico Activities Association.
BOYS: Cleveland secured the District 1-5A title, beating Rio Rancho 67-58 on the Rams’ floor.
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Although the Storm and Atrisco Heritage, which edged visiting Volcano Vista 55-52, tied for first with a 7-1 district record, Cleveland earns the automatic bid to state based on a tie-breaking edge with the Jaguars.
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Spring-sport athletes in Albuquerque Public Schools may decline to be tested for COVID-19 without fear of having their playing privileges stripped from them.
That was the message Thursday from APS Superintendent Scott Elder in a letter he sent to principals and athletic directors of the district’s 13 high schools, informing them of APS’ abrupt change in policy.
“While we are within our rights to require testing, it wasn’t the state’s intent to penalize students who choose not to be tested,” Elder wrote in the letter obtained by the Journal. He also cited some public outcry as reason for the change.
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The finish line to prep basketball’s regular season is within sight. It will reach a conclusion on Saturday evening.
Between now and then? There’s going to be a significant bit of jostling and elbowing, with teams angling for the best possible finish in the hopes of landing an invitation to next week’s slimmed down postseason party.
And the harsh truth is, when the music stops and teams go scrambling for a seat to this dance, there are simply not going to be enough chairs to go around.
This is where we should start today’s conversation.
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Saturday night, when the New Mexico Activities Association announces the eight-team playoff fields in each of the 10 divisions (Classes 1A-5A for boys and girls), there is going to be considerable consternation from the outsiders.