Nine area teams selected to play in state tourneys

ALBUQUERQUE — First-round pairings were announced on Sunday for 16-team state tournaments by the New Mexico Activities Association.

Nine area teams — four girls, five boys — were selected for round-of-16 games, which are slated for Friday (girls) and Saturday (boys) on the home courts of the higher seeds. First-round and quarterfinal games (next Tuesday for girls, Wednesday for boys) will also be played on the home courts of the higher seeds.

In girls contests on Friday, 12th-seeded Clovis High (18-10) travels to No. 5 Las Cruces High (21-7) for a 6 p.m. tipoff, while Class 4A No. 4 Portales (20-5) hosts 13th-seeded Los Alamos (13-14) in a 6 p.m. start at the RAC. Both area girls teams are matched up in Class 1A as 13th-seeded Dora (12-11) visits No. 4 Melrose (19-7) in a 6 p.m. tipoff.

On the boys’ side on Saturday, Texico (13-12) earned the No. 10 seed in Class 2A and will play a 5 p.m. game at Hagerman (21-3). In Class 1A, three of the four teams are hosting — No. 15 Cimarron (13-13) travels to No. 2 Elida (20-5) in a 4 p.m. start, No. 12 Evangel Christian (21-6) visits fifth seed Clovis Christian (19-8) at 5 p.m. and No. 10 Springer (15-8) plays at No. 7 Melrose (18-8) at 5 p.m.

Ninth-seeded Dora (16-9) earned a first-round trip to Albuquerque to face No. 8 Legacy Academy (19-7) at 6 p.m.

Semifinals (girls March 10-11, boys March 11) will be at various sites in the Albuquerque area, including The Pit on the campus of the University of New Mexico. All championship girls (March 11 for Class 3A, 4A and 5A girls, March 12 for all other classes) will be at The Pit.