Then There Were Eight as First Round Playoff Action Concludes

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

It all began on Friday March 6, 2026, with the ladies taking the court and District 5A sending four teams into battle for the 2026 state basketball title with the boy’s teams following on Saturday March 7, where three of the District 5A teams would compete.

It started with 16 then there was eight as the teams played the first round of action at the local schools around the state. Number 1 Logan took on Number 16 Cimarron with Logan moving on with a 68-55 win over Cimarron. Also, in the top of the bracket Number 9 Melrose travelled to Number 8 Springer and the battle began and in part was likely won at the free throw line as two of the Melrose ladies did 21-24 free throws and Springer fouled out two key players. The final score 59-48 to send Melrose to the next round of play in Bernalillo on March 11 against Logan.

Further down the bracket Number 3 Roy/Mosquero took on Number 14 seed Reserve that ended the Lady Mountaineers hopes with a 54-14 win to send the Lady Blue to the next round of play against Number 6 Quemado Wednesday morning at about 9:45 a.m. The Number 10 ranked Lady Demons of Des Moines pulled out a late game win over Number 7 Magdalena 53-50 to seat them in the next round against Number 2 Cliff Wednesday evening.

Saturday brought the boys to the court where only three District 5A teams were seated. First on the court was Number 7 Magdalena and Number 10 Springer where the Steers toppled the Red Devils in a last-minute win 50-48. In Cimarron the Number 3 Rams pulled away from the Number 14 Pine Hill Warriors with a 63-41 win. Down in Roy the Number 6 Blue hosted the Number 11 Mountainair Mustangs for a barn burner of a game. The Blue lead by 12 after three. The Mustangs wild nature came alive, and it was a Blue two-point game late in the fourth quarter. As the final buzzer sounded the Blue managed to stay ahead of the Mustangs winning the game by three 48-45.

On March 11 at the early time of 8:00 a.m. the Blue will battle the Rams for a seat in the quarterfinal round on March 12^that about 3:00 p.m. which will leave only one District 5A team in the boy’s side of the tourney.

2026 Nusenda Credit Union Boys Basketball State Championships Class A“>

2026 Nusenda Credit Union Girls Basketball State Championships Class A“>