RRHS’s Alyssa Vigil attempts to bring the ball out of the back court of Tasker Arena Friday night during a 67-14 loss to Hobbs in the first round of the NMAA Class 5A state tournament. (Photo courtesy of Jason Farmer/Hobbs News-Sun)

 

HOBBS – The 2023 New Mexico state basketball tournament tipped off Friday night in Tasker Arena as the top-seeded Hobbs Eagles hosted No. 16 Rio Rancho, though it wasn’t much of a game as the Eagles made quick work of the Rams, winning 67-14.
“We really needed to get off on a good note,” Hobbs coach Joe Carpenter said. “I am pretty happy with the win.”
By the end of the first quarter, the Lady Eagles held a commanding 17-0 lead. The Lady Eagles had more points in the first quarter than Rio Rancho would score all game.
The Eagles’ win was much more convincing than Hobbs’ 64-37 victory over Rio Rancho in the first round of the APS Metro Tournament in January. It was the fewest points scored by the Rams in21 postseason appearances.
Ten seconds into the second quarter, Rio Rancho (14-16) finally got on the board. Over the first four minutes of the second quarter, Rio Rancho cut Hobbs’ lead from 17 points to 14 as it outscored the Lady Eagles 6-3, but that would be the Rams’ highlight of the game.
When the second half began, a running clock was in use as the Eagles had a 35-pont lead, soon extended to 41 points.
The Rams scored one point in the third quarter. Over the final eight minutes, the Eagles’ reserves played. That gave the Rams a chance to have their best offensive quarter of the game. After scoring just seven points over the first 24 minutes, the Rams scored seven more during the last eight.

Makenna Lee led the Rams with 6 points.

The Eagles (25-3) next faced 8 seed Sandia Tuesday in The Pit.

Storm caved-in in Carlsbad

Also on the road in the southeast part of the state last Friday, the 13th-seeded Cleveland Storm fell in their first-round game, 36-24, to No. 6 Carlsbad (24-5).

The Storm (15-13) also saw their 2021-22 season end after a first-round loss, 36-34, in Carlsbad.

The Cavegirls advanced into the state quarterfinals to meet No.  5 La Cueva Tuesday in The Pit.