The Journal's best prep photos from March

20250311-spt-jb-prepgametwo-01.jpeg
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
20250311-spt-cb-hobbsclovis-01.jpg
Hobbs’ Aliana Armitage (12) and her teammates react during Tuesday’s girls Class 5A state quarterfinal matchup against Clovis in the Pit.
20250311-spt-cb-hobbsclovis-03.jpg
Hobbs’ Kyndle Cunningham, bottom, gains possession of the ball as Clovis’ Kerrington Goff defends during Tuesday’s state tournament game.
20250311-spt-jb-prep-02.jpg
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
20250311-spt-jb-prep-03.jpg
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
20250311-spt-jb-prep-05.jpg
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
20250311-spt-jb-prep-06.jpg
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
20250311-spt-jb-prepgametwo-02.jpg
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
20250311-spt-jb-prepgametwo-05.jpg
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
20250311-spt-cb-gallupdeming-01.jpg
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.
20250311-spt-cb-gallupdeming-02.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-bosque-01.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-harperdunn-04.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-harperdunn-03.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-harperdunn-02.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-harperdunn-01.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-bosque-02.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-bosque-04.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-bosque-05.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-bosque-06.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-mesavistalegacy-01.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-mesavistalegacy-02.jpg
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.
20250312-spt-cb-mesavistalegacy-03.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-kirtlandv-01.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-kirtlandv-03.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-kirtlandv-04.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-kirtlandv-05.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-kirtlandv-06.jpg
Kirtland Central's Allyson Tsosie (15) shoots past Valencia's Jaida Montgomery during the girls 4A state basketball semifinals Thursday in the Pit.
20250313-spt-cb-highlandacademy-01.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-highlandacademy-02.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-highlandacademy-03.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-sandiahobbs-01.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-sandiahobbs-03.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-sandiahobbs-04.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-sandiahobbs-05.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-sandiahobbs-06.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-sandiahobbs-07.jpg
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.
20250313-spt-cb-highlandacademy-04.jpg
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.
20250314-spt-1a-girls-01.JPG
Roy/Mosquero players celebrate after beating Fort Sumner/House to win the Class 1A girls state championship on Saturday in the Pit.
20250327-spt-cb-carlsbad-06.jpg
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.
20250327-spt-cb-carlsbad-03.jpg
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.
20250327-spt-cb-carlsbad-01.jpg
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.
20250327-spt-cb-carlsbad-05.jpg
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.
20250327-spt-cb-carlsbad-04.jpg
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.
20250327-spt-cb-carlsbad-02.jpg
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.
20250327-spt-cb-carlsbad-07.jpg
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.
20250329-spt-jb-prep-12.jpg
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.
Published Modified
Powered by Labrador CMS