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The wait is over; Artesia boys’ basketball wins State Title

Michael Smith
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The wait is over; Artesia boys’ basketball wins State Title

Story & Photo by: J.T. Keith, Sports Editor

The Artesia boys’ basketball team knew it had to play its best game in the last game of the season. The second-seeded Bulldogs defeated the Highland Hornets 55-48 at The Pit on Saturday to win the Class 4A state championship.

The dichotomy in the matchup would be the Bulldogs’ size: center 6-foot-8 Clay Kincaid, 6-foot-4 Trent Egeland, 6-foot-3 Jack Byers, 6-foot-3 Charlie Campbell, along with 6-foot-2 Cael Houghtaling and 6-foot-3 Corbyn Dominguez, against the Hornets’ speed and 3-point shooting.

The No.8 seeded Hornets started the game with a 3-pointer from Jesus Licon then Artesia guard Houghtaling made a basket. The teams traded baskets, and with Artesia trailing 8-6 late in the first quarter, Campbell made a steal and scored on a layup to tie the game at 8-8.

In the second quarter, Artesia (21-9) took its first lead at the free-throw line and started taking the ball inside, as Kincaid scored and also altered shots on the defensive end of the floor. The Bulldogs outscored the Hornets 15-7 in the second quarter to lead at halftime, 23-15.

Licon hit a 3-pointer and scored 10 points in the third quarter, while teammate DJ Spruell made a basket to give the Hornets some life.

Highland cut the Bulldogs’ lead to six points before Artesia scored on baskets by Campbell and Egeland. Campbell made two free throws to give the Bulldogs a 41-32 lead at the end of the third quarter.

In the final quarter, both teams traded baskets, and Houghtaling made a basket to give the Bulldogs a 48-36 lead with four minutes to play.

Highland (18-15) made a run when Kincaid fouled out with 2:15 to play. Spruell scored on a steal, cutting the lead to eight. A 3-pointer by Licon had the Hornets trailing 50-45 with just over a minute to play.

The difference down the stretch was Artesia’s Braylon Vega making two free throws with 54 seconds remaining and Campbell adding two free throws to clinch the win with 3.1 seconds to play.

“(We had) to be active,” Artesia coach Michael Mondragon said of his team’s plan for Licon. “Making sure it’s not just one guy guarding one — it’s five guarding one. We did an excellent job today. He got loose a couple of times, but palms up, standing straight up, staying steady, and playing great team defense (was the key).”

Campbell scored a team-high 15 points (13 in the second half) and had nine rebounds for the Bulldogs. Egeland and Houghtaling added 12 and 11 points, respectively, and grabbed seven rebounds each as Artesia outrebound Highland 40-34.

Hornet’s leading scorer, Jesus Licon, finished with 18 points after scoring only three in the first half. Licon was just four of 16 on attempted 3s. Limas and Spruell added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

“We probably missed 10 (or) 11 layups,” Highland coach Justin Woody said. “And it’s a credit to them and their size and strength. We just weren’t ever comfortable around the basket.”

The Bulldogs ended a 28-year drought by winning the third state basketball championship in school history. The others came under coach Bubba Jennings in 1995 and1997.

Mondragon, who has been Artesia’s head basketball coach since 2014, led the Bulldogs to the 4A state final in 2021 only to fall to Del Norte, 52-41

“Happy for our town and community,” Mondragon said. “And that blue trophy is going back south where it belongs.”

$3.8 million added to Eddy County roadwork

Michael Smith
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$3.8 million added to Eddy County roadwork

Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media
achedden@currentargus.com

Eddy County plans to spend about $3.8 million on county road improvements amid increased traffic from the oil and gas industry.

Public Works Director Jason Burns first asked county commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting to transfer $1.8 million from the county’s construction fund to its road maintenance fund for micro sealing work on roads in McNew Subdivision and Magnum and Longhorn roads.

The funding would also support improvements at intersections at Hermosa and Halderman roads; Burton and Magnum roads; and Hilltop Road and U.S. Highway 82 along with several south of Carlsbad.

Following unanimous approval of the transfer, Burns also requested and received approval for a $2 million appropriation from the county’s general fund for chip sealing work on Calvani and Ferguson roads.

He said the requests were in response to concerns voiced by residents in those areas, amid heavy industrial traffic from the nearby oil and gas industry. The projects will be completed by the end of the year, Burns said.

“We’ve heard several concerns,” he said. “We’ve done the west side, now we’re going to the east side. There’s a lot of traffic there with our oil and gas industry.”

District 1 County Commissioner Ernie Carlson said Calvani and Ferguson roads were in his district, and he’s had several constituents reach out about damage.

“I can tell you I get lots and lots of calls. People are falling into potholes, and seeing it chipping away,” Carlson said. “I would really encourage us to do this.”

County forms ‘freeholder board’

A resolution approved by commissioners as proposed by Eddy County Manager Mike Gallagher formed the county’s first “freeholder board” to make decisions about abandonment or adoption of roadways or rights of way in the county.

The five-person board would consist of three county workers assigned permanently, and two members of the public appointed by the commission.

The board would convene to hear proposals for the county to either adopt or abandon unused roadway or rights of way, which are used by government or private landowners to cross lands under management by different entities for industrial uses such as agriculture or oil and gas operations.

Carlson said the board, which would consider such proposals on a case-by-case basis would ensure transparency in the process before making recommendations to the Eddy County Commission, which would have the final say.

“I think it would be great to have a specific group that can hear the case and make those decisions,” he said.

Eddy County roads shut down during dust storm

Adrian Hedden
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Eddy County roads shut down during dust storm

Adrian Hedden | El Rito Media

High winds and blowing dust led to the temporary closure Tuesday of several Eddy County roads where low visibility was reported.

In response to the dust storm, the Eddy County Office of Emergency Management closed a portion of U.S. Highway 285 between Artesia and Carlsbad, meaning traffic was unable to use the main highway between the two cities for about two hours on Tuesday afternoon. The road was reopened around 3 p.m.

The Office also said northbound lanes of 26th Street at U.S. Highway 285 in Artesia were closed as well as both directions on a section of U.S. Highway 82 in the area, along with State Road 2 and 285 heading to Chaves County.

Artesia Daily Press Publisher Dave Shabaz was driving from Artesia to Carlsbad, where he also runs the Carlsbad Current-Argus, Tuesday afternoon when the dust storm hit. He was forced to pull over on the side of U.S. 285 for several minutes while he waited for the dust to subside and visibility to return.

“I’ve lived all over the country and this was my first dust storm, and let me tell you, it was an experience,” Shabaz said after making it back to Carlsbad. “I’m thankful it happened during the day because I can’t imagine what it would be like at night.”

Eddy County Emergency Manager Jennifer Armendariz said Tuesday there were at least three car accidents she said were caused by the weather, including a multiple-vehicle accident, all in the northern part of Eddy County near Artesia.

She was unsure of the exact locations of the wrecks but said the accidents all occurred on rural rounds surrounding the city. No severe injuries were reported as of Tuesday afternoon.

Armendariz said the decisions to close the roads were made after first responders reported “zero to low visibility” on northern Eddy County roads. She was unsure when the roads would reopen.

“It’s for the safety of the people traveling on those roadways,” Armendariz said. “Our intent is not to close the roads all day long. Hopefully when it dies down a little we’ll be able to open the roads again. We’re discouraging travel today.”

Wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour

The National Weather Service issued three separate warnings as of Tuesday afternoon for high winds, blowing dust and a red flag warning as the winds could stoke wildfires.

Spring months in southern New Mexico are known for increased wind and hotter temperatures. Coming after the dry winter months, conditions could bring wildfires to the area.

The warnings were in effect through Tuesday night, with a fire weather watch enacted for Wednesday, according to the Weather Service.

While the warnings are in effect, the Weather Service reported, wind gusts could climb up to 70 miles per hour throughout southeast New Mexico, impacting visibility and making travel dangerous and possibly “life threatening,” read the blowing dust warning.

“Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles like campers, vans, and tractor trailers,” read the warning, which also suggested securing outside objects and being aware of winds potentially blowing over trees.

Power shutoffs prevent wildfires

High winds also led to Xcel Energy announcing potential power shutoffs in the West Texas Plains and eastern New Mexico, to prevent current from running through power lines in the event they are blown down.

Active power lines can ignite brush when blown over, and high winds can stoke the blazes into wildfires.

The region’s main utility provider said it expected to shut off power to about 1,100 customers in New Mexico and Texas on Tuesday. A map of the areas for the potential shutoffs included several portions of the Amarillo, Texas, area, along the New Mexico State Line and around Tucumcari.

Eddy County was not included in the map as of Tuesday afternoon.

The outages were expected to begin at about noon, with restoration beginning when wildfire risks subside, according to a news release from Xcel.

“While we expect some customers may have power restored overnight, outages in some areas will last until tomorrow and possibly longer if wind damage is significant,” read the release.

Meals with Wheels

Michael Smith
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Meals with Wheels

By: Wheeler Cowperthwaite

As spring threatens to burst forth, green shoots reaching toward the sky, pushing through recently-frozen ground, it’s a great time to think about a few last stews until it gets cold again in the fall.

I’ve written about a few beef stews before — Vietnamese beef stew spiced with star anise, the French beef bourguignon and Irish beef stew made with stout. Each has its own flavor profile, side dish and history.

This time, I’m looking to Italy for their take on the classic, which can be made with things that aren’t strictly beef, including pork, lamb and veal. Spezzatino is also known as Italian beef stew.

What the stew is served with depends on the region. Go to the north and generally it’s served with polenta, in the south, it’s served with crusty bread. Many times, instead of polenta, it is served with mashed potatoes, a base that the stew is ladled over.

I was introduced to this dish by a family friend, coming back from a months-long trip to Italy. His version used an electric pressure cooker (InstantPot) but I’ve gone the not-quite-as-quick route.

No culture has truly reinvented the stew, so all these variations across countries revolve around basically the same ingredients with slight variations and differences in quantities.

Being an Italian beef stew, spezzatino utilizes olive oil instead of butter for sautéing the chopped vegetables, along with a few spices we typically term Italian when mixed together.

While it may be sacrilege to Julia Child (and her beef bourguignon recipe), when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

But much like Child’s, this recipe gets some of its coloring and flavor from red wine.

Spezzatino is also a specialty often served after a mountainous sport like skiing or hiking. It’s a staple of alpine hiking shacks.

Like most stews, it’s better reheated the following day, after all the flavors have had a chance to sit and mingle.

While many stew recipes call for potatoes, they’ve been omitted from this recipe because the stew is served over mashed potatoes.

Remember to serve the stew over mashed potatoes or polenta.

Spezzatino

Serves four

Ingredients

2 lbs. stew meat cut into quarter-sized pieces (beef, pork, lamb, veal)

4 medium onions thinly sliced (2 lbs.)

4 bay leaves

2 carrots

Extra-virgin olive oil

1 full glass of red or white wine

Water or low sodium broth

Salt (for potatoes)

1/8 cup all purpose flour

1 sprig of rosemary

2 cups beef stock

Black pepper

Salt to taste

Directions

Dice the onions and carrots. In a large skillet or Dutch oven on medium heat, add the onions and carrots and olive oil and sauté until the onions start to become translucent. Remove to a separate dish.

Pat the chopped meat dry and then coat with flour.

Add the meat to the skillet in small batches to brown on all sides. Remove once the meat is seared to the vegetable dish.

In the Dutch oven, add all the meat, vegetables, bay leaves, broth and wine. Cover. Turn heat to low and summer for two hours, stirring occasionally. Add water, broth or wine if the liquid level gets too low.

Remove from heat and serve or refrigerate and serve the next day. The sauce should be thick and the meat should be tender. Serve over mashed potatoes.

Wheeler Cowperthwaite is a former cops/courts reporter for the Rio Grande SUN.

Weekend storm helps northern ski areas

Michael Smith
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Weekend storm helps northern ski areas

Mike Smith
El Rito Media
msmith@currentargus.com

Prime snow conditions await spring-break skiers after a weekend storm dumped nearly a foot of snow at some New Mexico ski resorts, according to Ski New Mexico’s executive director Christy Germscheid.

“This was another great snow event,” she said.

Germscheid said snowfall varied from 7 to 12 inches as ski resorts headed into the final weeks of the 2025 ski season.

New Mexico is experiencing a La Nina weather pattern, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. During La Nina years, Germscheid said, New Mexico often experiences a lean early snow season and more snowfall late in the ski season.

“This year, however, we had a huge storm in November to kick off the season earlier than expected and lay a great foundation for the rest of the winter,” she said.

Germscheid said the November storm dropped around four inches of snow in most New Mexico ski areas.

“The dry months that followed brought premium temperatures to allow for abundant snowmaking, which allowed the resorts to maintain solid conditions,” she said. “The great storms rolling in now have made for some exceptional skiing.”

Thursday, March 20, marks the first day of spring and Germscheid said another round of snow could fall in ski areas during the first full weekend of spring.

Here are reported New Mexico skiing conditions as of Tuesday, March 18.
(Information provided by Ski New Mexico)

Angel Fire had a base depth of 25 inches with 59 of 86 trails open and 7 of 7 lifts open.

Pajarito Mountain had a base depth of 10 inches with 14 of 53 trails open and 3 of 6 lifts open.

Red River had a base depth of 24 inches with 51 of 64 trails open and 7 of 7 lifts open.

Sipapu had a base depth of 20 inches with 13 of 44 trails open and 4 of 6 lifts open.

Ski Santa Fe had a base depth of 38 inches with 81 of 90 trails open and 6 of 7 lifts open.

Taos Ski Valley had a base depth of 37 inches with 89 of 120 trails open and 12 of 13 lifts open.

Note: Snow conditions can change after this report is compiled.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email msmith@currentargus.com.

New Mexico doctors: ‘We are exhausted and demoralized.’

Michael Smith
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New Mexico doctors: ‘We are exhausted and demoralized.’

By Sherry Robinson
All She Wrote

Five progressives killed the medical malpractice bill.

You might say the trial lawyers got their money’s worth. You might say it’s late in the session and everybody’s getting tired and cranky. You could even observe that the strife of national politics has haunted this legislative session. It would all be true.

But there’s another element that’s more troubling, and that’s denial and willful ignorance.

New Mexico doesn’t have enough doctors. It’s a national problem, but it’s worse here. In recent years New Mexico was the ONLY state to lose doctors.

In testimony last week on Senate Bill 176, doctors were crystal clear: Changes in New Mexico’s malpractice law since 2021 legislation multiplied malpractice lawsuits and spiked court awards and settlement costs. New Mexico is first in the nation for medical malpractice lawsuits per capita. Insurance premiums have quadrupled, but insurers are still losing money. Doctors are leaving the state. Unable to recruit new doctors, organizations are no longer accepting new patients or referrals. Doctors who stay are stretched thin.

“We are exhausted and demoralized,” testified Dr. Gabrielle Adams, of Southwest Gastroenterology. “We have a target on our backs.”

Dr. Angelina Villas-Adams, president of the New Mexico Medical Society, said, “It’s harder and harder to practice medicine.” She herself has 60 people on a waiting list, and she’s tried unsuccessfully to get them seen by other doctors.

SB 176 would cap attorney fees in medical malpractice lawsuits at 25% of the money awarded if a case is settled or 33% if a case goes to trial. It would end lump sum payouts and send 75% of punitive damages to a new public fund designed to improve patient safety. Punitive damages would be awarded only for egregious cases.

Sen. Martin Hickey, the Legislature’s only doctor, called the bill a “patient advocacy bill.”

“It’s about rebalancing to bring medical professionals back to New Mexico and for patients to be able to get physicians,” he said.

The New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association has responded with smoke and mirrors: greedy corporate-owned hospitals, greedy insurance companies, imagined limits on patients’ right to sue, and hospital horror stories. In the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, they succeeded.

Sens. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Cindy Nava, Albuquerque Democrats, didn’t like taking 75% of a punitive damages award from patients and putting it into a fund. Punitive damages hold the medical profession accountable, Sedillo Lopez said.

“The medical field is not a profession, it’s a business,” she said. “Patients are not people with needs but consumers at profit centers.”

Hickey explained that many frivolous cases get filed, and they come with a threat of punitive damages if they don’t settle. There’s no insurance for punitive damages – it falls directly on the doctor.

Sedillo Lopez resents anti-lawyer sentiment she’d heard. “I’m proud to be a lawyer,” she said. “Lawyers and courts are going to save us.” It was a pointed reference to the many lawsuits prompted by the President and First Sidekick.

National politics also entered an exchange between Nava and Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview and the bill’s co-sponsor. Nava wanted answers about healthcare access for people of color, even though that wasn’t the issue in this bill. Woods responded, “We have to think about New Mexico as a state of people, not a state of colors.”

That led to an angry rant from Nava about equity that would be better directed at Republicans who plan to gut Medicaid. Nava wants the state to incentivize doctors to return, apparently missing the entire point about why they’re leaving.

Sen. Shannon Pinto, D-Tohatchi, speculated that maybe doctors can’t afford their technology and their facilities. No doctor said that at any time in two hearings or months of media coverage.

Sen. Angel Charlie, D-Acoma, insisted that with the billions insurance companies are raking in, they should pay their fair share. Hickey explained to her, again, that for every $1 insurers receive here they pay out $1.83. They’re losing money, he said, again. Hickey was talking to himself. Charlie concluded, “Insurers are winning at all our expense.”

Committee Democrats believe what they want to believe, despite evidence. It’s a trait they share with congressional Republicans who claim that trade wars are good, Russia’s bloody dictator is our friend and we don’t need allies.

SB 176 died on a 5-4 vote. Political donations to the five cost the trial lawyers less than $300,000.

Sherry Robinson is a longtime New Mexico reporter and editor. She has worked in Grants, Gallup, the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico Business Weekly and Albuquerque Tribune. She is the author of four books. Her columns won first place in 2024 from New Mexico Press Women.

New Mexico Activities Association Foundation Awards $79,000 in Student Scholarships

Michael Smith
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New Mexico Activities Association Foundation Awards $79,000 in Student Scholarships

The New Mexico Activities Association selected five Artesia High School student-athletes as recipients of the 2024-2025 NMAA Foundation Scholarships.

The following Artesia students were selected for each scholarship category:

Activities Scholarship presented by Realty One of New Mexico and the NB3 Foundation ($1,000)

Carmen Harvey-

Harvey played volleyball in high school and will continue playing at Covenant College. She wants to be a forensic physiologist. Harvey’s favorite sports moment in high school was when her 10th-seeded Lady Bulldogs defeated No. 2 seed Albuquerque Academy in volleyball in three straight sets to advance to the championship round before losing to eventual champion St. Pius X in 2024.

Her favorite subject is chemistry, and her favorite teacher is Melissa Burnett, who teaches science.

“She’s just a great teacher,” Harvey said. “Her class is structured. She loves what she is teaching and the overall environment created in the classroom.

Mack Chase Memorial Scholarship presented by Mack Energy ($1,500)

Kinsley Rodriguez –

Rodriguez played softball and will attend Nelson University, where she will play softball. Rodriguez will major in criminology. She said getting the Mack Chase Scholarship will help her pay for college and help make her dreams come true. Her favorite subject is anatomy.

“My favorite teacher is Ms. Burnett,” Rodriguez said. “She is just a good teacher, and the way she teaches, I understand everything she says.”

One of Rodriguez’s best athletic memories was last year in the 2024 NMAA State Softball Championships. The Lady Bulldogs beat Bloomfield 13-0 in the play-in game and went on to face the No.2 seed Lovington Wildcats. With Artesia trailing 9-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Rodriguez delivered a base hit to tie the score and the Lady Bulldogs went on to win the game and advance to the finals before losing to eventual champion Gallup in the championship game.

Ann Greenwood –

Greenwood is a swimmer and will attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She said her senior year has been hectic, although less busy than her junior year. For Greenwood, the best times of her high school years came when she studied with her best friend Anna Netherlin for the Advanced Placement Test.

“I made a lot of good memories with the swim team and with school,” Greenwood said. “It feels good to close it off. It is sad to have the team memories end. I’m not going to make those anymore, but I am so happy that I could make those memories and grow so much in swimming.”

Corey Tolle Memorial Opportunity Scholarship presented by Mack Energy ($1,500)

Korinne Morrison-

Morrison played soccer and tennis in high school. She will attend Texas Tech University because of the opportunities there. Morrison said her favorite sport has been soccer.

“I have been pushed beyond what I thought possible playing soccer,” Morrison said. “My favorite win was against Carlsbad because of the Eddy County War. We won at home 1-0.”

Ethan Conn won the Corey Tolle Memorial Opportunity Scholarship.

The NMAA Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was established in 2007 to support the many students who participate in high school athletic and activity programs across New Mexico. The funds raised by the foundation are used for student scholarships and school grants/support.

You may have to call a lawyer for your next medical emergency

Michael Smith
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You may have to call a lawyer for your next medical emergency

By: Senator Larry Scott

This legislative session I agreed to carry the Republican caucus proposed legislation for comprehensive medical malpractice reform. SB 449 addressed a number of reasons why doctors are leaving the State including venue shopping and limits on punitive damages. By most estimates New Mexico is over 2000 doctors short and many complain of long waits to see a general practitioner and even longer wait if one needs a specialist. Because of the grip that the trial lawyers have on this legislature, there is no chance that 449 will pass this session. It may not even get a hearing.

SB176 is a watered down version of 449 and fixes at least some of the problems. It is sponsored by a Democrat and was assigned some time ago to our Senate ‘Health and Public Affairs’ committee. It has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. Instead, in a four hour Sunday afternoon session of SPHAC, we heard presented the ‘State Diversity Act’, ‘Massage Therapy Licensure’, ‘Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Changes’, and the ‘Corporate Practice of Medicine Act’, SB450.

Not one of these deserved a ‘Yes’ vote. My comment on the DEI bill was that it was very late to the party as both governments and private industry had tried this and were moving back in the direction of merit based hiring and promotion practices. Massage therapists already have to be licensed and this bill just added a requirement that the establishment have a license. I viewed this as another barrier to entry for this profession and did not believe that this licensure would do much to prevent human trafficking as was represented. Expanding the ‘Red Flag’ law was also on the agenda. This bill would now require the immediate surrender of all firearms with a protective order, which could now be requested by police. Nullifying a person’s 2nd Amendment rights with no due process, no notice, or opportunity to protest was not something I could support either.

New Mexico tort law has chased virtually all of the private practitioners either out of the State or into the arms of more deep pocketed hospitals or hospital districts. What SB450 attempted to accomplish was the elimination of any hospital oversight or records sharing between health care professionals. It basically tied the hands of hospital management with regards to all personnel decisions. This was another ‘NO’.

Now back to my complaint that SB176 has not been scheduled for a hearing. Committee chairpersons have enormous power in the Senate to just hold bills with which they do not agree. This is, in effect, a pocket veto of the legislation as it never has an opportunity to work its way through the system. Our committee chair has received over $10,000 in donations from the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association and it would appear that this has influenced her decision not to hear SB176 in a timely manner. At this point in the session, with just a couple of weeks to go, even a slight delay can be a death sentence for any piece of legislation. A ‘one person’ pocket veto of does not allow any light to shine on the grip that trial lawyers have on our economy. New Mexico has now reached the number one position among the 50 states in the category of malpractice litigation as we recently set a new record with an award of over 400 million dollars. This is the system that has to change before doctors will return to our State. If we don’t, you will have to call a lawyer for your next medical emergency.

Larry Scott is a New Mexico State Senator

representing District 42.

STATE CHAMPS

Michael Smith
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STATE CHAMPS

The Artesia Bulldogs defeated Albuquerque Highland 55-48 to win the boys 4A state title at The Pit in Albuquerque on Saturday.

Sports editor J.T. Keith will have a complete recap in Thursday’s edition of the Artesia Daily Press.

Losses catalyst run by Artesia boys’ basketball team

Michael Smith
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Losses catalyst run by Artesia boys’ basketball team

By J.T. Keith

El Rito Media Sports Editor

jtkeith@elritomedia.com

On March 15, 1997, the Artesia Bulldogs boys’ basketball team won its second state championship, defeating Albuquerque Academy 86-83. On March 15, 2025, exactly 28 years later, the Bulldogs will try to win their third state title. How is that for fate?

The No. 2 seeded Bulldogs will take on the No. 8 seeded Highland Hornets in the championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at The Pit in Albuquerque.

There seemed little doubt the Bulldogs would be title contenders this season until a late-season slide caused much consternation.

Artesia was ranked No. 1 in 4A basketball for six weeks—from December 16, 2024, to January 27, 2025—before being knocked out of the top spot.

There is no doubt about the Bulldogs’ basketball skill or talent—watch the moxie and swagger they display in games. Even when the game is close, the players seem to know it is just a matter of time before they make a play to win.

And so it is when athletes compete in the town proclaimed the “City of Champions.” Winning is nothing new for the players because many have relatives who have won state titles in other sports, primarily football. Artesia has won 32 New Mexico state football championships.

Artesia basketball has its own championship legacy with its 1997 title coming just two years after its first – a victory also sealed with a win over Albuquerque Academy. Former coach Bubba Jennings guided the Bulldogs to both championships.

Going undefeated in district play was on Artesia’s to-do list this year and the only thing the Bulldogs to do to finish 6-0 was beat Goddard in the last district road game of the season on Feb. 21. Goddard spoiled the plan, 45-40.

Four days later, the Bulldogs lost at home to Portales in the opening round of the district playoffs, 58-57.

“One hundred percent, those losses made us understand that we are not as good as we think and must stay hungry,” Artesia coach Michael Mondragon said. “Those losses allowed us to focus on the little things and helped us get to where we are right now.”

The Bulldogs (20-9) will need that hunger when they face the defending state champion Hornets (18-14), who are making their third finals appearance in four years.

After the two straight defeats last month, Mondragon said, the team did not discuss or dwell on the losses. Instead, the Bulldogs went to work and focused on beating the next team in their path: Gallup, Valley, Espanola Valley, and now Highlands.

“We have not won anything yet,” Mondragon said. “It’s a great night, and we are going to enjoy tonight (Thursday) and get back to the chopping board tomorrow morning.

Mondragon will be coaching in his second title game. His first was in 2021, a 52-41 loss to Del Norte.

J.T. Keith can be reached at jtkeith@elritomedia.com.

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