10 boys basketball games to watch as state tournament begins

The stage turns to the boys on Saturday, with 40 first-round games of the high school state basketball tournament on the schedule — including a dozen in the Albuquerque metro area.

Here are 10 games worth watching:

No. 9 ALBUQUERQUE HIGH (19-9) at No. 8 LAS CRUCES (24-5), Class 5A first round, 4 p.m.: This is a terrible draw for the Bulldogs, the District 5-5A champions, because the Bulldawgs — who once were ranked No. 1 this season — sure do not present as a run-of-the-mill 8 seed.

There are a couple of skilled big men on display in this one: Ethan Oetzel for AHS, Ben Walton (who is a 6-5 combo guard) for Las Cruces.

No. 11 FARMINGTON (18-10) at No. 6 SANDIA (20-9), Class 5A first round, 5 p.m.: The Matadors, looking to make another run to the state final, can’t get caught looking past the Scorpions, who have been battle-tested (to say the least) coming out in District 1-5A. Farmington, to that end, was the only lower seed to win last year in the 5A first round.

Sandia finally has all its pistons, but can they fire together during these next two weeks?

No. 11 COTTONWOOD CLASSICAL PREP (17-10) at. No. 6 BOSQUE SCHOOL (17-10),  Class 3A first round, 6 p.m.: Two District 5-3A rivals doing battle here in the first round, and CCP got the Bobcats the first time they played, so beware the 11 seed in this matchup.

Junior guard Josiah Wilson of Bosque is one of 3A’s top players, and the Coyotes — making just their second postseason berth in boys basketball — are facing a determined Bosque team that had a late-season coaching change and was none too happy about it.

No. 9 PORTALES (14-13) at No. 8 BELEN (18-11), Class 4A first round, 5 p.m.: Don’t be thrown by the Rams’ nearly .500 record; they played an extremely difficult schedule, and it shows. Portales’ season hit a zenith with a half-court buzzer beater against Artesia.

This ought to be one of the best 4A tilts of the weekend.

No. 10 ROBERTSON (17-12) at No. 7 EAST MOUNTAIN (25-3), Class 3A first round, 6 p.m.: This is one of the most interesting pairings on the board anywhere in New Mexico on Saturday.

On the one hand, you have the defending state champion Cardinals who have kids who know how to get it done in March. On the other hand, you have the Timberwolves, who were 0-3 versus Bosque this season but 25-0 otherwise.

No. 11 GODDARD (12-15) at No. 6 ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY (17-11), Class 4A first round, 5 p.m.: Like Portales, the Rockets are a team sporting a record that doesn’t quite mesh with its seed line, and they’ve lost a bushelful of close games that’s left a bit of scar tissue.

The Chargers have played some solid basketball over the last couple of weeks leading into the postseason, but haven’t quite figured out a way to be on the right side of close games.

No. 12 SANDIA PREP (13-14) at No. 5 SANTA FE INDIAN (23-5), Class 3A first round, 4 p.m.: As intimidating as this road environment figures to be for the Sundevils, it won’t be foreign. SFIS beat Sandia Prep 58-55 in Santa Fe two months ago, so Sandia Prep, despite the record, should have some confidence.

SFIS, commendably, soldiered through a tough offseason and this regular season after its previous coach, Jason Abeyta, was killed in a car crash last April, and the Braves are most certainly a sentimental pick in this tournament.

No. 10 MENAUL (21-8) at No. 7 ESCALANTE (21-7), Class 2A first round, 5 p.m.: The Panthers made an unexpected head coaching change just a couple of weeks ago, so hard to know how Menaul will react come Saturday as they hit the road to face the Lobos.

The Panthers do have momentum, having won seven in a row going into this matchup.

No. 9 N.M. MILITARY INSTITUTE (17-9) at No. 8 TOHATCHI (23-6), Class 3A first round, 3 p.m.: The Cougars played the entirety of their schedule against teams from the western half and northwestern corner of the state, so this should make for a fun contrast in styles as Tohatchi welcomes the Colts.

The Cougars feature a potent trio in Deandre Rios, Myka Candelaria and Myles Candelaria, so NMMI will need to be sharp.

No. 9 MORA (18-11) at No. 8 TUCUMCARI (14-13), Class 2A first round, 5 p.m.: The Rangers have a golden chance to return a favor in this first-rounder, seeing as how the Rattlers beat Mora on the road just before Christmas.

James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at @JamesDYodice.