The Journal's best prep photos from March

Cobre High School’s Hayley Gutierrez (left) tries to stop Santa Fe Indian’s Aaliyah Valencia (right) from heading down the court with the ball at the Rio Rancho Event Center on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025

Hobbs’ Aliana Armitage (12) and her teammates react during Tuesday’s girls Class 5A state quarterfinal matchup against Clovis in the Pit.

Hobbs’ Kyndle Cunningham, bottom, gains possession of the ball as Clovis’ Kerrington Goff defends during Tuesday’s state tournament game.

Legacy Academy Head Coach Mike Heffron yells to his teammates during the state girls state quarterfinal game against Tucumcari High School at the Rio Rancho Event Center on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025

Tucumcari High School fans celebrate after their team makes a basket during the state quarterfinal game against Legacy Academy at the Rio Rancho Event Center on Tuesday, Mar 11, 202

Tucumcari High School Aubrianna French (right) tries to block Legacy Academy’s Jasmine Contreras (left) from passing the ball at the Rio Rancho Events Center on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025

Legacy Academy’s players Cheyanne Snoddy (left) and Briley Boll (right) tries to stop Tucumcari High School Cambree Benavidez (center) from making a basket at the Rio Rancho Events Center on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025

Cobre High School Head Coach Julie Gutierrez watches her players play against Santa Fe Indian during the state quarter final game at the Rio Rancho Event Center on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025

Santa Fe Indian player Lashae Atencio (left) grabs the ball before Cobre High School’s Sami Huerta during the state quarter final game at the Rio Rancho Event Center on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025

Gallup’s Natalie Dixon, right, moves past Deming’s Natalie Ramirez on Tuesday during the quarterfinal round of the girls Class 4A state basketball tournament in the Pit.

Gallup's Rylie Whitehair (34) gains possession of the ball as Deming's Cadence Turnbow (23) closes in during the quarterfinal round of the girl's 4A state basketball championship at the Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Gallup Bengals won the game 58-38 and advance to the semi-finals.

Bosque's Wesley Harrigan (23) celebrates with Jordan Kruft (11) and teammates after scoring the winning basket to beat Tularosa in the boys 3A state basketball championship quarterfinals matchup Wedensday at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Bosque School won 51-49.

Harper Dunn, with ball, is eligible to play for Albuquerque Academy this coming season after the 1A program Corona said it wasn’t going to field a girls basketball team.

Harper Dunn, of Corona/Vaughn, gains possession of the ball against Fort Sumner in a 1A state basketball tournament game at Bernalillo High School in March. Dunn is planning to transfer to Albuquerque Academy ahead of her junior year.

Harper Dunn, of Corona/Vaughn, looks to shoot the ball as Fort Sumner’s Clayton Boyd (11) closes in during a 2025 girls 1A state basketball championship quarterfinal game at Bernalillo High School.

Harper Dunn, of Corona/Vaughn, gains possession of the ball during a Class 1A state tournament game against Fort Sumner at Bernalillo High School in March.

Bosque’s Luca Kalishman (1) shoots over a Tularosa defender during the boys 3A state basketball championship quarterfinals matchup on Wednesday at the Rio Rancho Events Center.

Tularosa’s Zaine Hodges (32) shoots the ball as Bosque's Wesley Harrigan (23) closes in during the boys 3A state basketball championship quarterfinals round at the Rio Rancho Events Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Bosque School won the game 51-49 and advanced to the semifinals.

Bosque School fans react in the stands during the boys 3A state basketball championship quarterfinals matchup against Tularosa at the Rio Rancho Events Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Bosque School won the game 51-49 and advanced to the semifinals.

Bosque’s Wesley Harrigan (23) is embraced by head coach Clifton Davidson after scoring the winning basket during the boys 3A state basketball championship quarterfinals matchup against Tularosa on Wednesday at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Bosque School won 51-49. More tournament coverage on Page B1.

Mesa Vista's Andres Valdez (13) gains possession as Legacy's Dallas Baca (12) dives for the ball during the boys 2A state basketball championship quarterfinals matchup against Legacy Academy at the Rio Rancho Events Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Mesa Vista won the game 58-32 and advance to the semifinals.

Mesa Vista’s Santiago Martinez (10) and Legacy Academy’s David Lavery (11) battle for the ball during the boys 2A state basketball championship quarterfinals matchup on Wednesday at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Mesa Vista won 58-32.

Mesa Vista’s Salvador Saavedra (24) shoots the ball over Legacy Academy’s Landon Gates (13) during the boys 2A state basketball championship quarterfinals matchup on Wednesday at the Rio Rancho Events Center.

Kirtland Central's Akeelah Joe (22) attempts to gain possession of the ball as Valencia's Savannah Saavedra (10) grips tight during the girls 4A state basketball championship semifinals game at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Kirtland Central won the game 51-38 and advanced to the finals.

Kirtland Central's Akeelah Joe (22) looks to break free from Valencia's Eden Montgomery (3) during the girls 4A state basketball championship semifinal game against Valencia at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Kirtland Central won the game 51-38 and advanced to the finals.

Kirtland Central's Akeelah Joe (22) and Saige Sorrelhorse (12) react as Kirtland takes the lead during the girls 4A state basketball semifinals against Valencia on Thursday in the Pit.

Valencia's Jaida Montgomery (4) shoots the ball as Kirtland Central's Krista Tsingine-Yazzie (32) reaches attempting to block the shot during the girls 4A state basketball championship semifinals game at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Kirtland Central won the game 51-38 and advanced to the finals.

Kirtland Central's Allyson Tsosie (15) shoots past Valencia's Jaida Montgomery during the girls 4A state basketball semifinals Thursday in the Pit.

Highland's DJ Spruell (12) shoots the ball as Albuquerque Academy's (13) attempts to block the shot during boys 4A state basketball championship semifinals game at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Highland won the game 66-37 and advanced to the finals.

Highland players, from left, Jesus Licon, Gaucin Garcia, Jerry Moody, Owen Cheng, Juan Limas and DJ Spruell react during the boys 4A state basketball semifinals matchup against Albuquerque Academy on Thursday in the Pit.

Highland’s Juan Limas (21) moves past Albuquerque Academy’s Ben Morgan (3) and Eli Dominguez (23) during the boys 4A state basketball championship semifinals matchup against Albuquerque Academy at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Highland won the game 66-37 and advanced to the finals.

Sandia's Mason Howell (23) reacts while attempting to shoot the ball when Hobbs' Jairus Turrubiates (44) fell on top of him during the boys 5A state basketball championship semifinals at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Sandia won the game 74-39, advancing to the finals.

Sandia’s Zaire Ndyabagye (3) shoots over Hobbs’ Amryn Wheeler (32) during the boys Class 5A state semifinals Thursday in the Pit. Ndyabagye is a first-team All-State selection.

Sandia's Zaire Ndyabagye (3) shoots the ball during the boys 5A state basketball championship semifinals against Hobbs at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Sandia won the game 74-39, advancing to the finals.

Sandia’s Mitchell Wells (35) celebrates the Matadors’ victory over Hobbs with Jacob Dawes (24) during the boys 5A state basketball semifinals Thursday in the Pit.

Sandia's Gad Harris (2) attempts to make a shot as Hobbs’ Abraham Pena (22) reaches to tap the ball during the boys 5A state basketball championship semifinals at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Sandia won the game 74-39, advancing to the finals.

Hobbs' Josiah Clay (24) gains possesion of the ball during the boys 5A state basketball championship semifinals against Sandia at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Sandia won the game 74-39, advancing to the finals.

Highland’s Jerry Moody (35) shoots over the defense of Albuquerque Academy’s Eli Dominguez (23) Hunter Aime (35) during the boys 4A state basketball semifinals Thursday in the Pit.

Roy/Mosquero players celebrate after beating Fort Sumner/House to win the Class 1A girls state championship on Saturday in the Pit.

Carlsbad head coach Mike McGaha fills out the roster before the start of the game during the Sal Puentes Invitational against the St. Pius X Sartans at Rio Rancho High School in Rio Rancho, N.M., on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The Carlsbad Cavemen won the game 11-0.

St. Pius X head coach Jim Stebbins is hugged by Carlsbad head coach Mike McGaha after the game during the Sal Puentes Invitational against St. Pius X Sartans at Rio Rancho High School in Rio Rancho, N.M., on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The Carlsbad Cavemen won the game 11-0.

Carlsbad’s Eloy Lopez slides into home against St. Pius during the Sal Puentes Invitational on Thursday at Rio Rancho High School. Carlsbad won 11-0.

Chris Aguilar, of St. Pius X, is safe sliding back to second base as Carlsbad's Augie Venegas catches the ball during the Sal Puentes Invitational against St. Pius X Sartans at Rio Rancho High School in Rio Rancho, N.M., on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The Carlsbad Cavemen won the game 11-0.

Carlsbad's Eloy Lopez tags out Chris Aguilar, of St. Pius X, during the Sal Puentes Invitational against St. Pius X Sartans at Rio Rancho High School in Rio Rancho, N.M., on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The Carlsbad Cavemen won the game 11-0.

Carlsbad pitcher Aden Quintella pitches to a St. Pius batter during the Sal Puentes Invitational on Thursday at Rio Rancho High School. Carlsbad won 11-0.

Carlsbad head coach Mike McGaha waits for the game to start during the Sal Puentes Invitational against the St. Pius X Sartans at Rio Rancho High School in Rio Rancho, N.M., on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The Carlsbad Cavemen won the game 11-0.

Cleveland High School player Francisco Hernandez (left) starts to walk to home basel during the game against Carlsbad High School at Rio Rancho High School on Saturday, Mar 29.

Jon Austria

Jon Austria Jon Austria Jon Austria Visuals editor

Chancey Bush

Chancey Bush Chancey Bush Chancey Bush Photographer

Jessica Baca

Jessica Baca Jessica Baca Jessica Baca Photographer

Published April 8, 2025 - 3:00 p.m. Modified April 8, 2025 - 3:00 p.m.

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