- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Hobbs Today
By the People, for the People
La Cueva Bears Defeat Hobbs 56-43 in State Tournament
No. 4 La Cueva pulls away late to knock off No. 5 Hobbs in Class 5A quarterfinals
Mar. 11, 2026 at 5:54pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The University of New Mexico hosted the NMAA 2026 New Mexico high school basketball state tournament, where the No. 4 La Cueva Bears defeated the No. 5 Hobbs Eagles 56-43 in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Drew Bramlett (2027) and Hunter Butler (2026) led the way for La Cueva, who pulled away late to punch their ticket to the semifinals.
Why it matters
The state basketball tournament is a highly anticipated annual event that showcases the top high school talent in New Mexico. This matchup between two top-5 seeded teams in the Class 5A bracket was an exciting quarterfinal game that determined which team would advance to the semifinals.
The details
After a tight first half, La Cueva was able to pull away late in the game, outscoring Hobbs 21-12 in the fourth quarter to secure the 56-43 victory. The Bears' duo of Bramlett and Butler led the way, making key plays down the stretch to propel their team to the semifinals.
- The NMAA 2026 New Mexico high school basketball state tournament took place at The Pit on the University of New Mexico campus.
- The Class 5A quarterfinal matchup between La Cueva and Hobbs was played on March 11, 2026.
The players
Drew Bramlett
A junior (2027) on the La Cueva Bears basketball team who played a key role in their quarterfinal victory.
Hunter Butler
A senior (2026) on the La Cueva Bears basketball team who helped lead his team to the semifinals of the state tournament.
La Cueva Bears
The No. 4 seeded high school basketball team from La Cueva, New Mexico that advanced to the semifinals of the NMAA 2026 state tournament.
Hobbs Eagles
The No. 5 seeded high school basketball team from Hobbs, New Mexico that was defeated by La Cueva in the Class 5A quarterfinals.
What’s next
The La Cueva Bears will advance to the Class 5A semifinals, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between the No. 1 seed and the No. 8 seed.
The takeaway
The La Cueva Bears demonstrated their ability to pull away late in a close game, showcasing the depth and talent of their roster as they continue their pursuit of a state championship title.
