Class 5A

Boys

Team: Rio Rancho (26-1, 9-0)

Coach: Brian Smith

Path: Won District 1-5A tournament, earned No. 1 seed

Good: The Rams have won 25 straight, nine over Top 10 teams.

Bad: Crickets.

Hot or cold: Scorching.

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Team: Hobbs (26-1, 4-0)

Coach: Russ Gilmore

Path: Won District 4-5A tournament, earned No. 2 seed

Good: Jeff Taylor, D-I prospect; cracked 100 seven times.

Bad: Untested in close games.

Hot or cold: Buick melting

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Team: Manzano (24-3, 7-1)

Coach: Greg Brown

Path: Won District 5-5A tournament, earned No. 3 seed

Good: State's best defense.

Bad: Offense has lacked rhythm at times.

Hot or cold: Sizzling.

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Team: La Cueva (18-6, 7-1)

Coach: Frank Castillo

Path: Won District 2-5A tournament, earned No. 4 seed

Good: Solid all over the floor.

Bad: Not great at any one spot.

Hot or Cold: Lukewarm.

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Team: Clovis (22-5, 2-2)

Coach: Jerry Isler

Path: Finished second in District 4-5A, earned No. 5 seed

Good: Prolific offensive team with a load of wins.

Bad: No signature wins.

Hot or Cold: Warm.

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Team: Las Cruces High (17-7, 8-0)

Coach: Mike Smith

Path: Won District 3-5A tournament, earned No. 6 seed

Good: Gordo Castillo is the state's best shooter.

Bad: Like Clovis, no marquee wins.

Hot or Cold: Boiling

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Team: Eldorado (17-11)

Coach: Roy Sanchez

Path: Finishes second in 5-5A tournament, earned No. 7 seed

Good: Likely the tallest team; great chemistry.

Bad: Lost three of last four.

Hot or Cold: Deceptively cool

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Team: Sandia (17-9, 6-2)

Coach: Adrian Ortega

Path: Took second in 2-5A tournament, earned No. 8 seed

Good: DeAndre Lansdowne is one of the state's top playmakers.

Bad: Lansdowne is prone to fouls and the Matadors struggle without him.

Hot or Cold: Think Jacuzzi

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Team: Highland (17-11, 3-5)

Coach: Danny Brown

Path: Finished third in District 5-5A, given at-large bid, No. 9 seed.

Good: The Hornets have the talent of a contender.

Bad: The young Hornets have the consistency of a No. 12 seed.

Hot or Cold: Cooling, but could spike at any second

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Team: Gallup (17-11, 4-5)

Coach: Ryan Cordova

Path: Second in District 1-5A tournament, earned No. 10 seed

Good: Gallup can score.

Bad: The Bengals are 3-7 vs. state tournament teams.

Hot or Cold: Room temperature

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Team: Rio Grande (14-14, 3-5)

Coach: Wally Salata

Path: Fourth in District 5-5A, given at-large, No. 11 seed

Good: Great playmaking guards, including sharpshooter Sam Lente.

Bad: Defense has been a question mark.

Hot or Cold: Warming

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Team: Mayfield (12-14, 4-4)

Coach: Tommy Morrow

Path: Finished second in District 3-5A, earned No. 12 seed

Good: The young Trojans have come together late.

Bad: Mayfield is still inexperienced in postseason play.

Hot or Cold: Warming

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Team: Alamogordo (12-13, 4-4)

Coach: John Madden

Path: Finished third in District 3-5A tournament, given at-large bid, No. 13

Good: Rebounded well after 2-7 start with new coach.

Bad: Weak schedule.

Hot or Cold: Lukewarm, but falling

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Team: Valley (14-13, 4-4)

Coach: Joe Coleman

Path: Finished fourth in District 2-5A tournament, given at-large bid, No. 14 seed.

Good: Young Vikings own two wins over top seven teams.

Bad: Valley has lost four straight.

Hot or Cold: Frigid

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Team: Los Lunas (12-16, 2-6)

Coach: Albert Aragon

Path: Finished last in District 5-5A, given at-large bid, No. 15 seed

Good: Matt Billups is an athletic shooter.

Bad: Trouble in close games.

Hot or Cold: Chilling

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Team: Albuquerque High (11-17, 3-5)

Coach: Ron Estrada

Path: Finished third in District 2-5A tournament, given at-large bid, No. 16 seed.

Good: The Bulldogs are riding an emotional high, making their first state tourney since 1998.

Bad: How long can they keep this up?

Hot or Cold: Bath water

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Girls

Team: Mayfield (24-1, 8-0)

Coach: George Maya

Path: Won District 3-5A tournament, earned No. 1 seed

Good: Three straight title games and the state's top player (Madi Spence).

Bad: Have had a pinch of bad luck in state.

Hot or Cold: Smoking

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Team: Clovis (19-5, 4-0)

Coach: Miles Watters

Path: Won District 4-5A tournament, earned No. 2 seed

Good: The Wildcats have lost only twice since December.

Bad: Lost by a combined 25 points to Mayfield and Clovis.

Hot or Cold: Hot

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Team: Sandia (24-3, 7-1)

Coach: Susan Kubala

Path: Finished second in District 2-5A tournament, earned No. 3 seed

Good: When healthy, the Matadors seem more than capable of challenging Mayfield.

Bad: They aren't close to healthy.

Hot or Cold: Toasty, but dropping

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Team: Cibola (19-6, 7-2)

Coach: Lori Stephenson

Path: Won District 1-5A tournament, earned No. 4 seed

Good: The Cougars have talent and size and play defense.

Bad: Cibola isn't playoff-tested.

Hot or Cold: Hottest local team

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Team: La Cueva (22-5, 7-1)

Coach: Greg Berger

Path: Won District 2-5A tournament, earned No. 5 seed

Good: The Bears have great size and a playmaker in Brenna Freeze.

Bad: La Cueva could have problem with quick teams.

Hot or Cold: Heating up fast

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Team: Gallup (17-8, 6-3)

Coach: John Lomasney

Path: Finished third in District 1-5A tournament, given at-large bid, No. 6 seed

Good: The Bengals are the only team to knock off healthy Sandia.

Bad: Size could be a problem.

Hot or Cold: Lukewarm

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Team: Las Cruces High (16-10, 6-2)

Coach: Matt Abney

Path: Took second in District 3-5A tournament, earned No. 7 seed

Good: LCHS won at Gallup, perhaps the most difficult task in 5A.

Bad: The Bulldawgs are still unproven in the playoffs.

Hot or Cold: Cozy warm

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Team: Rio Rancho (17-11, 5-4)

Coach: Bob McIntyre

Path: Finished second in District 1-5A tournament, earned No. 8 seed

Good: Seven losses came to top five seeds.

Bad: The Rams are inexperienced and a bit banged up.

Hot or Cold: Slowly warming

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Team: Hobbs (16-12, 2-2)

Coach: Johnny Casaus

Path: Finishes second in District 4-5A tournament, earned No. 9 seed

Good: The Eagles have tradition.

Bad: Hobbs hasn't fared well versus tournament-caliber.

Hot or Cold: Lukewarm

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Team: Los Lunas (14-12, 7-1)

Coach: Bryan Smith

Path: Finished second in District 5-5A tournament, earned No. 10 seed

Good: Clarissa Krum leads a team that won its first regular season district title in 25 years.

Bad: The Tigers don't have state experience.

Hot or Cold: Hot, but could be cooling

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Team: Eldorado (17-11, 6-2)

Coach: Mike Huston

Path: Won District 5-5A tournament, earned No. 11 seed

Good: Huston's streaky bunch has won four straight.

Bad: The Eagles have had losing streaks too.

Hot or Cold: Steaming

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Team: O¤ate (11-14, 3-5)

Coach: Roger Maya

Path: Finished third in 3-5A tournament, given at-large big, No. 12 seed

Good: A new coach and style has invigorated the Knights.

Bad: O¤ate is 2-9 versus other state qualifying teams.

Hot or Cold: Icy

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Team: Valley (11-15, 4-4)

Coach: Richard Harbin

Path: Finished third in District 2-5A tournament, given at-large bid, No. 13 seed

Good: Above-average schedule has helped the Vikings.

Bad: Valley has just one win versus a Class 5A playoff team.

Hot or Cold: Hot in right conditions

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Team: Alamogordo (11-14, 3-5)

Coach: Gary Chapman

Path: Finished fourth in 3-5A tournament, given at-large big, No. 14 seed

Good: Tested by a decent schedule.

Bad: Only have two wins versus Class 5A playoff teams.

Hot or Cold: Lukewarm

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Team: Manzano (6-18, 3-5)

Coach: Rich Salazar

Path: Finished third in District 5-5A tournament, given at-large big, No. 15 seed

Good: Big-time schedule means they have faced the best.

Bad: Have won two games since Jan. 18.

Hot or Cold: Sub-zero

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Team: Rio Grande (13-14, 3-5)

Coach: Joe Espinoza

Path: Finished last in District 5-5A tournament, given at-large bid, No. 16 seed

Good: The Ravens lost to first round opponent Mayfield by three on Dec. 1.

Bad: Rio Grande only won two games in February.

Hot or Cold: Chilly

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Class 4A

Boys

Team: Del Norte (20-6, 10-0)

Coach: Gerome Espinoza

Path: Won District 5-4A tournament, earned No. 1 seed

Good: Defending state runner up has won 11 straight.

Bad: Will they stay calm enough to win it?

Hot or Cold: Roasting

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Team: St. Pius X (12-13, 7-3)

Coach: Damian Segura

Path: Took second in District 5-4A tournament, earned No. 6 seed

Good: Chris Johansen is one of state's best inside players.

Bad: St. Pius X has struggled in clutch moments.

Hot or Cold: Cooling

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Team: Albuquerque Academy (15-13, 7-3)

Coach: Mike Brown

Path: Finished third in District 5-4A tournament, given at-large bid, No. 8 seed.

Good: Solid all over the court.

Bad: Offense can struggle at times.

Hot or Cold: Very warm

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Team: Belen (12-15, 3-7)

Coach: Chris Tapia

Path: Finished fifth in District 5-4A, given at-large bid, No. 14 seed

Good: Versatile Ryan Baca averages close to a double-double.

Bad: Struggled with competitive teams all year.

Hot or Cold: Frosty

Girls

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Team: Albuquerque Academy (19-7, 7-3)

Coach: Lisa Logsdon

Path: Finished third in District 5-4A tournament, given at-large bid, No. 7 seed

Good: Knocked off No. 2 Moriarty during eight-game streak.

Bad: Lost two straight games.

Hot or Cold: Warm, but quickly cooling

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Team: St. Pius X (18-9, 6-4)

Coach: Phil Griego

Path: Finished second in District 5-4A tournament, earned No. 9 seed

Good: The Sartans have great size and championship experience.

Bad: Teams with similar size or quickness could be trouble.

Hot or Cold: Warm

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Team: Belen (14-12, 4-6)

Coach: Danny Griego

Path: Finished fourth in District 5-4A, given at-large bid, No. 12 seed

Good: The Eagles have wins over Academy and St. Pius X.

Bad: Belen can lose when it probably shouldn't.

Hot or Cold: Aloe vera cool

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Class 3A

Boys

Team: Hope Christian (25-2)

Coach: Jim Murphy

Path: Won District 5-3A tournament, earned No. 1 seed

Good: Only team to beat Rio Rancho, the Huskies have great chemistry.

Bad: Haven't been truly tested in weeks.

Hot or Cold: Searing

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Team: Sandia Prep (20-7, 6-2)

Coach: Willie Owens

Path: Finishes second in District 5-3A tournament, earned No. 5 seed

Good: Sundevils feature one of Class 3A's best, Dale Minschwaner.

Bad: Like Hope, untested in close games for several weeks.

Hot or Cold: Toasty

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Girls

Team: Hope Christian (23-4, 8-1)

Coach: Terry Heisey

Path: Won District 5-3A tournament, earned No. 2 seed

Good: The Huskies have lost to just one Class 3A school.

Bad: That team, Sandia Prep, could play them in the second round.

Hot or Cold: Boiling

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Team: Sandia Prep (16-8, 5-3)

Coach: Rick Wettin

Path: Finished third in District 5-3A tournament, given at-large bid, No. 10 seed

Good: The Sundevils have their share of quality wins, including one over No. 2 Hope Christian.

Bad: Sandia Prep has also lost games it should have won.

Hot or Cold: Warm, but dropping