Five questions: Portales sophomore Kambrey Blakey

Editor's note: Kambrey Blakey was named N.M. Preps Class 3A girls player of the year and sophomore of the year last month.

Kambrey Blakey had a season to remember in just three games at The Pit. The Portales sophomore averaged 27.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in the Rams’ three games in Albuquerque as Portales bested the top two seeds in Class 3A, including District 4-3A champ Lovington.

For the season, Blakey averaged 17.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.

What was the feeling like after you won the title? Was it more joy, surprise, satisfaction? I think it was everything. We’ve never experienced everything like that before. It was the best feeling in the entire world.

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Kambrey Blakey averaged 17.1 points and 6.6 rebounds as a sophomore for Portales.

You played some of your best basketball during the tournament. What was different that helped you in that situation? It was different. We just wanted to make a statement, and we wanted to take it all.

State tournament excluded, what’s your favorite memory from the season? There are a lot, I really don’t know. My friend Kacie Terry, who tore her ACL, during volleyball season she worked hard to get back for basketball. That made me look past a lot of bad games. She helped me through everything. She was a good role model for me; she was very tough-minded.

How did it feel when you found out you were player of the year? I didn’t know I got it until one of my junior high coaches told me. But it felt good, I was surprised.

What is one thing you and the team need to do in your title defense next year? We just have to be focused, keep working hard to stay on the top.

— compiledy by staff writer Kevin Wilson