Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Saturday's boys state basketball capsules

Class 1A

No. 16 Santa Fe Waldorf at No. 1 Melrose, 5 p.m.

Records: Santa Fe Waldorf 7-12, Melrose 25-3

Entering Saturday: The Buffaloes come in riding a 10-game winning streak, the 10th of which was last Saturday's 80-48 win over Grady in the District 4-1A championship game at Melrose High.

Santa Fe Waldorf will tip off Saturday's action having lost seven of its last eight, including a forfeit loss to Walatowa Charter on Feb. 3 and its district tournament ouster (61-49) at Coronado on Feb. 20.

Previous meeting: None in the last five seasons.

The winner moves on to: A Wednesday afternoon (1:15 p.m.) quarterfinal at Bernalillo High School against the winner of Saturday's Vaughn-Grady (8 vs. 9) game, meaning if the Buffaloes hold serve and win Saturday night's game, they will play an area team in the quarterfinals. And that would boil down to an area team guaranteed to be in a Thursday semifinal, also at Bernalillo.

No. 10 Cimarron at No. 7 Floyd, 5 p.m.

Records: Cimarron 15-13, Floyd 13-10

Entering Saturday: Floyd lost its district tournament game to Grady, 58-44, on Feb. 22. Prior to that, though, the Broncos had won three in a row.

The Rams come in having lost three of their last four, including their 63-60 district tournament loss at Springer on Feb. 23. Before those three setbacks in four tries, Cimarron had won three straight.

Previous meeting: None in the last five seasons.

The winner moves on to: A 4:45 p.m. Wednesday quarterfinal at Bernalillo High School against Saturday afternoon's winner between second-seeded Maxwell and 15th-seeded Walatowa Charter.

No. 9 Grady at No. 8 Vaughn, 2 p.m.

Records: Grady 16-12, Vaughn 18-7

Entering Saturday: Grady played in the District 4-1A championship game last Saturday losing on the road to top-seeded Melrose, 80-48.

The Eagles have won nine of the last 10, including a 74-55 victory over Hondo Valley in their Feb. 23 district championship game.

Previous meeting: The Bronchos last played Vaughn on Dec. 16 and pulled out a 75-69 victory. In doing so, they evened the season series at 1-apiece, having last to Vaughn, 41-37, two weeks earlier.

The winner moves on to: The other half of that quarterfinal matchup against the Melrose-Santa Fe Waldorf winner. Barring something unforeseen, the winner of this one will play the top-seeded Buffaloes 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at Bernalillo.

No. 13 Elida at No. 4 Quemado, 5 p.m.

Records: Elida 11-16, Quemado 21-5

Entering Saturday: Elida last played in the Feb. 22 District 4-1A semifinals, losing to top seed and eventual champion Melrose, 61-23. The Tigers' previous game saw them beat Clovis Christian, 60-45, in the district semis.

Quemado soars into Saturday on a five-game winning streak, including last weekend's 51-48 squeaker at Reserve.

Previous meeting: Dec. 5, 2014. The Tigers hosted Quemado and lost 70-47.

The winner moves on to: A Wednesday morning (9:45 a.m.) quarterfinal against Saturday night's winner between fifth-seeded New Mexico School for the Deaf and 12th-seeded Evangel Christian Academy.

Class 2A

No. 9 Dora at No. 8 Gateway Christian, 6 p.m.

Records: Dora 17-11, Gateway Christian 20-8

Entering Saturday: The Coyotes come in having lost three of their last four, including their Feb. 22 district tournament game at Logan, 47-44.

The Warriors, on the other hand, will begin Saturday's game having won five or their last six, including their 48-39 district tournament championship-game win at Tatum last Saturday.

Previous meeting: Jan. 21, 2016. The Coyotes lost 58-47 on the road.

The winner moves on to: A 7 p.m. Wednesday quarterfinal at Rio Rancho/Cleveland HS against Saturday night's winner between top-seeded Magdalena and 16th-seeded Navajo Pine.

Class 3A

No. 16 Monte Del Sol Charter at No. 1 Texico, 5 p.m.

Records: Monte Del Sol Charter 13-13, Texico 26-0

Entering Saturday: The Wolverines have won 26 straight against no losses this season. No. 26 was last Saturday's 48-43 comeback victory over Santa Rosa in the District 5-3A tournament championship game.

While Texico hasn't lost in a year, Monte Del Charter is kind of like the anti-Wolverines, streak-wise. The Dragons come into Saturday on a six-game losing streak, including a 72-69 road loss to Dulce on Feb. 19 in the district tournament.

Previous meeting: None in the last five seasons.

The winner moves on to: An 8 a.m. Wednesday quarterfinal against Saturday night's winner between eighth-seeded Dexter and ninth-seeded Santa Fe Prep at the Santa Ana Center.

— Compiled by Staff Writer Peter Stein

 
 
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