Clovis Woman Wins Bracket Mania Contest

Deborah Watters correctly picked Michigan to win the NCAA men's basketball championship.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:00am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a college basketball game, with sharp planes of blue, yellow, and red conveying the excitement and energy of the championship matchup.Deborah Watters' expert bracket predictions earned her the top prize in the Eastern New Mexico News' annual Bracket Mania contest.Clovis Today

Deborah Watters of Clovis, New Mexico won the newspaper's Bracket Mania contest, scoring 132 points and correctly selecting Michigan to win the NCAA men's basketball national championship. Watters and Eric Lucero, also of Clovis, were the only two players who picked Michigan to win the title.

Why it matters

The Bracket Mania contest is a popular annual event that generates excitement and community engagement around the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Watters' victory demonstrates her impressive basketball knowledge and forecasting skills, which earned her the top prize.

The details

Watters scored 132 points in the contest, the highest total, and was one of only two players who correctly picked Michigan to defeat UConn 69-63 in the championship game. Eric Lucero of Clovis finished second with 130 points. No players picked UConn to reach the title game.

  • The Bracket Mania contest was held during the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament.
  • The championship game between Michigan and UConn took place on Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Deborah Watters

A resident of Clovis, New Mexico who won the newspaper's Bracket Mania contest by correctly picking Michigan to win the NCAA men's basketball national championship.

Eric Lucero

A resident of Clovis, New Mexico who finished second in the Bracket Mania contest with 130 points, also correctly picking Michigan to win the NCAA title.

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The takeaway

Watters' victory in the Bracket Mania contest demonstrates the excitement and community engagement generated by the NCAA men's basketball tournament, as well as the impressive basketball knowledge and forecasting skills of some local residents.