NM HS STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

In the boys 4A and 5A of the state basketball tournament, both have the No. 1 seeds into the Friday semifinals.

In the big school 5A, there’s the top team in the state in undefeated Las Cruces (30-0) in 4A it’s No. 1 Albuquerque Highland (24-3), and the surprise team in 11th-seeded Albuquerque Del Norte (14-14).

So in the semis, it’s Highland meeting up with 4th-seeded Albuquerque St. Pius X at 8 a.m., and at noon, Del Norte plays 7th-seeded Belen.

But Belen and Del Norte is a clash of upset teams, with Belen disposing of 2nd-seeded Taos, while the Knights knocked out 3rd-seeded Espanola Valley.

As for Highland, it eliminated 8th-seeded Artesia, 83-71. and St. Pius X turned back city rival Albuquerque Academy, 53-46.

Then there’s Las Cruces, with 2nd-seeded Albuquerque Volcano Vista the other unbeaten team also in 5A. The Wildcats turned back 9th-seeded Albuquerque Sandia, 74-49, and will now meet 5th-seeded Albuquerque Atrisco Heritage, a 64-49 winner over 4th-seeded Hobbs.

As for Volcano Vista, it romped over 10th-seeded Carlsbad, 69-30, and next plays 3rd-seeded Albuquerque La Cueva, which turned in a 66-49 win over 6th-seeded Los Lunas.