No. 2 Cleveland Edges No. 10 Carlsbad in 5A Quarterfinal Thriller

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In a nail-biting Class 5A quarterfinal matchup at The Pit, the second-seeded Cleveland Storm narrowly defeated the 10th-seeded Carlsbad Cavemen 54-53 to advance to the state semifinals. The Storm had to fend off a furious late comeback attempt by Carlsbad to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This close game between two highly ranked teams highlights the intense competition and high stakes of the New Mexico high school basketball state tournament. The outcome could have major implications for the rest of the tournament and the final rankings.

The details

Cleveland led for most of the game, but Carlsbad made a strong push in the final minutes to nearly pull off the upset. The Storm were able to make a crucial defensive stand in the closing seconds to hold on for the narrow win.

• The game was played on March 11, 2026 at The Pit in Albuquerque.
• Cleveland and Carlsbad were competing in the Class 5A quarterfinals of the New Mexico high school basketball state tournament.

What’s next

The Cleveland Storm will advance to the Class 5A semifinals, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 3 Volcano Vista and No. 6 Hobbs.