Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari boys basketball team earned a surprise berth in the Class 3A tournament, but its first-round game Saturday night is no picnic — a trip to Santa Fe to face top-seeded St. Michael’s.
Logan earned an eighth-seed in the Class 1A tournament and will host ninth-seeded Legacy Academy on Saturday.
Playoff pairings were announced by the New Mexico Activities Association on Sunday afternoon.
The 16th-seeded Rattlers (9-16) had been on the bubble for a postseason slot and were ranked 17th most recently by MaxPreps.com. Tucumcari coach John Span seemed resigned to his team staying at home during March Madness after its loss Saturday to district champ Ruidoso.
After learning his team earned a spot in the tourney Sunday, Span said the win on Feb. 23 over New Mexico Military Institute probably was the key.
“I knew it was a long, long shot,” Span said. “But us beating NMMI, it really helped us. I’m glad we’re in.”
St. Michael’s (23-4) has won 18 in a row. If Tucumcari manages an upset during its 6 p.m. Saturday game, it would face the winner of the Tohatchi-Socorro game in the quarterfinals on March 8 at the Rio Rancho Events Center.
Navajo Prep (24-2) is the No. 2 seed in Class 3A.
Tucumcari’s district foe, Ruidoso, earned an 11th seed.
Logan (17-11) will host Legacy Academy (22-5) at 6 p.m. Saturday.
The winner of that matchup likely will face top-seeded and defending Class 1A state champ Magdalena (28-0) on March 8 at Bernalillo High School. Magdalena hosts 16th-seed To’hajiilee (12-9) in the opening round.
Four teams in Logan’s district earned postseason berths. Fort Sumner (25-2) earned a No. 2 seed. Melrose (21-6) is a third-seed, and Clovis Christian (18-10) is a 13th-seed.
The finals will be played at The Pit in Albuquerque on March 11. Class 1A semifinals will be at the Rio Rancho Events Center; Class 3A semifinals will be at The Pit.