10 Girls Basketball Games to Watch in 2026 New Mexico State Tournament

From Mayfield-Los Lunas to Gallup-Pojoaque Valley, here are 10 first-round matchups to keep an eye on.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The first round of the 2026 New Mexico high school girls basketball state tournament tips off on Friday, with several intriguing matchups across the five classifications. The article highlights 10 games to watch, including Mayfield vs. Los Lunas, La Cueva vs. Las Cruces, and Gallup hosting Pojoaque Valley.

Why it matters

The state tournament is the culmination of the high school basketball season in New Mexico, and these first-round games often feature evenly matched teams that can produce thrilling finishes and potential upsets. The games highlighted showcase some of the top talent and programs in the state, setting the stage for an exciting opening weekend of the tournament.

The details

The 10 games highlighted include several rematches from the regular season, as well as matchups between highly ranked teams. For example, Mayfield's Ceanna McKines, the leading scorer in Class 5A, will face off against a stingy Los Lunas defense. In Class 4A, Gallup hosts Pojoaque Valley in what is expected to be a raucous environment, while Bernalillo looks to reach the Pit in Week 2 for their coach who is battling cancer.

  • The first 40 games of the 2026 high school state basketball tournament tip off around the state on Friday, March 6, 2026.
  • Mayfield and Los Lunas previously met on January 10, 2026, with Mayfield winning in overtime.

The players

Ceanna McKines

A 5-8 senior forward/post for Mayfield who leads Class 5A with 25.6 points per game.

Jordyn Dyer

A star Division I guard for La Cueva who scores over 21 points per game.

Ashley Darnell-Duran

The head coach of the Bernalillo girls basketball team, who has been battling cancer.

Rebecca Neal

The district player of the year for Highland, who averages a double-double.

Ron Drake

The legendary girls basketball coach who took over East Mountain in the offseason and has led them to success in Class 3A.

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What’s next

The winner of the Mayfield-Los Lunas game will advance to face the winner of the La Cueva-Las Cruces matchup in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

The takeaway

The first round of the 2026 New Mexico high school girls basketball state tournament features several highly anticipated games that could produce upsets and thrilling finishes, setting the stage for an exciting opening weekend of the tournament.