Alford and Neal, Neal and Alford. There’s no getting away from these two. But the final stamp on their 2011-12 basketball season arrived Tuesday.

La Cueva’s Bryce Alford and Eldorado’s Cullen Neal both were named to Class 5A’s all-state first team, as the coaches’ list was unveiled.

The superstar junior guards – Neal is headed to St. Mary’s, Alford to play for father Steve at UNM – were joined on the first time by Albuquerque High point guard Martin Colledge-Romero, whose floor leadership helped AHS to its best season in 15 years.

Clovis guard John Dawson and Las Cruces forward Mando Marshall rounded out the first team.

The state’s second-leading scorer, Hobbs’ Aaron Ibarra – sandwiched between Neal at the top and Alford at No. 3 – was voted to the second team.

One of the surprises on the boys’ Class 4A first team was the inclusion of Bernalillo’s vastly underrated guard, Brandon Saiz. He was among the top players in the metro area .

Class 3A state champion St. Michael’s and runner-up Hope Christian comprised 80 percent of the first team in their division. The Huskies put post Arren Wells and shooting wing Paul Seaton on the first team. Antonio Garcia and Matt Barela were the two Horsemen.

New Mexico State recruit Jim Coleman, a junior from state champion Tularosa, topped the 2A first team.

Girls

Weber State-bound forward Gina Okoye of Eldorado headlined the 5A all-state first-team. She was joined by Volcano Vista point guard Emma Fenske and Cleveland post Sara Hattis.

Taylor Edmondson of Carlsbad, who will play at Washington State, was named to the first team, as was Clovis’ Paige Gardner.

In 4A, the metro area’s only first-teamer was Valencia forward Michelle Traynham who, like Bernalillo’s Saiz, played just outside the city limits but put up excellent numbers for a playoff team.

Rachel Nakamura of Hope Christian was chosen to the 3A first team. The twins from state champion Texico, Jordyn and Jaylyn Cooper, led the first five in 2A.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal