The top-ranked Rio Rancho Cleveland boys in 5A turned back previously undefeated, 3rd-seeded Las Cruces

The Las Cruces boys had a beef, undefeated in a dozen games, it was given the No. 3 seed in 5A. But when it reached the championship game Saturday night, top-seeded Rio Rancho Cleveland put an end to the Bulldawgs mission.

The Storm won for the 13th time in 14 starts via a 55-49 success and Las Crcues finished at 14-1 in the final game of the state tournament at the University of New Mexico Pit. Las Cruces was seeking its second-straight title after towering over Capital in last year’s final.

Cleveland held the early lead of 12-10 after one quarter and 31-25 at halftime. But the second half remained close, with the Storm in control in the final minutes.

The Bulldawgs had gotten to within 51-49 with 30 seconds remaining but Cleveland’s Evan Gonzales scored off a steal and followed with a pair of free throws for the final score. Gonzales had the team-high 23 points.

Before that, Las Cruces went in front for the first time at 34-33 and what followed was six lead changes and five ties. It was led as usual by 6-1 junior William “Deuce” Benjamin, Jr., son of the head coach who was averaging 27.6 points per game and tallied the game-high 28 this time after scoring 37 in the semifinals.

In the boys 4A Saturday, it was top-seeded Albuquerque Del Norte hoisting the championship trophy by getting past 2nd-seeded Artesia, 52-41, and the Knights wound up at 12-1 and winning their last 12 games, while the Bulldogs concluded at 11-4.

Del Norte was led by the one-two punch of 6-foot sophomores Shane Douma and Judah Casaus. Douma tuned in the game-high 26 points that included a trio of 3s. Casaus was good for 16 points and he tossed in a pair of 3s.

For Artesia, 5-9 sophomore Nick Sanchez had the team-high 19 points that included 12-of-14 free throws and two from beyond the 3-point arch.

In the 5A girls championship Saturday, top-ranked Hobbs (12-1) lost to 2nd-seeded, unbeaten Albuquerque Volcano Vista, 52-49, in overtime.

It was 44-44 after regulation, but Volcano Vista (14-0) had the upper hand in the OT, 8-5. Credit VV 5-9 junior Natalia Chavez. She put in all the key baskets that included five threes and the game-high 21 points, and also brought down seven rebounds.

It was 16-12 Hobbs after the opening quarter and 25-22 at the intermission.

But Volcano Vista forced a 36-36 tie heading into the final quarter, and in the overtime, Chavez tossed in a 3 and a 2-pointer to lead the way. The largest lead of the contest was when Volcano Vista went ahead 38-30, only to have Hobbs close to within 38-37 with a minute left in regulation.

There were seven lead changes and three ties, with the last one at 44-all at the end of regulation. Hobbs’ biggest lead was 12-6 in the first quarter.