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NMAA boys state basketball tournament: quarterfinals scores and summaries
Here's what happened in class 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A boys quarterfinals, plus the 1A girls quarterfinals, in the NMAA state basketball tournament
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This article will be updated throughout the day.
Boys Class 5A
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, the Pit
—> (4) La Cueva 56, (5) Hobbs 43 | Press conference | Box score
(10) Carlsbad vs. (2) Cleveland, 1:15 p.m.
(3) Rio Rancho vs. (6) Sandia, 4:45 p.m.
(1) Volcano Vista vs. (8) Las Cruces, 8:15 p.m.
Boys Class 4A
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, the Pit
—> (1) Highland 95, (9) Portales 69 | Press conference | Box score
Highland beat Portales 95-69 to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 Nusenda Credit Union State Basketball Championships @nusendacu The Hornets will play the Taos-Del Norte winner. Here are some of the highlights. pic.twitter.com/klddogS2mY
— NMAA (@_NMAA) March 11, 2026
The Hornets (25-4) simply had too much depth and firepower for the Rams (15-14).
Nico Sanchez (27 points), Juan Limas (22) and Jerry Moody (20) propelled Highland to a season high in scoring, and the Hornets led by double digits for the vast majority of the second half. Highland held a whopping 56-35 edge on the boards, and outscored Portales by 23 in second-chance points.
“It was huge — 35 (second-chance) points, 28 offensive rebounds. That's a season high for us,” said Highland coach Justin Woody. “We noticed in film that sometimes they're out of position in all the zones they play to rebound. So we really wanted to take advantage of that and send all five guys to the glass.”
The Hornets’ strength on the glass resulted in plenty of transition opportunities, as they finished with 27 fastbreak points. Woody has been keeping tabs on his team’s transition offense of late, and he has been pleased with the results.
“That's our 11th straight game scoring over 20 transition points,” he said. “That’s been the key to us when we get out in transition, secure the rebound and then we're able to run.”
Pierce Culpepper, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Portales. Aiden Mestas (14 points), Pat Alvarado (11) and Jacoby Bamforth (10) also scored in double figures for the Rams.
— Tristen Critchfield
(3) Hope Christian vs. (6) Albuquerque Academy, 11:30 a.m.
(5) Taos vs. (4) Del Norte, 3 p.m.
(7) Gallup vs. (2) Artesia, 6:30 p.m.
Boys Class 3A
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Rio Rancho Events Center
—> (6) Bosque School 69, (3) Cobre 64 | Press conference | Box score
(10) Robertson vs. (2) Tularosa, 1:15 p.m.
(1) St. Michael’s vs. (8) Tohatchi, 4:45 p.m.
(5) Santa Fe Indian vs. (4) Navajo Prep, 8:15 p.m.
Boys Class 2A
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Rio Rancho Events Center
—> (1) Texico 76, (9) Mora 44 | Press conference | Box score
(10) Menaul vs. (2) Pecos, 11:30 a.m.
(5) Mesilla Valley vs. (4) Santa Rosa, 3 p.m.
(3) Mesa Vista vs. (6) Rehoboth Christian, 6:30 p.m.
Boys Class 1A
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Bernalillo High School
—> (3) Cimarron 68, (6) Roy/Mosquero 39 | Box score
(1) Logan vs. (8) Cliff, 11:30 a.m.
(7) Magdalena vs. (2) Fort Sumner/House, 3 p.m.
(5) Alamo Navajo vs. (4) Melrose, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Class 1A
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Bernalillo HS
—> (3) Roy/Mosquero 59, (6) Quemado 55
(5) To’hajiilee vs. (4) Fort Sumner/House, 1:15 p.m.
(1) Logan vs. (9) Melrose, 4:45 p.m.
(10) Des Moines vs. (2) Cliff, 8:15 p.m.
