By J.T. Keith 

Artesia Daily Press

jtkeith@elritomedia.com

What’s next for Artesia boys’ basketball? The next game – and it’s the only game that matters.  

The Artesia boys’ basketball team (18-9) will face the Valley Vikings (15-14) in the 2025 Nusenda Credit Union Boys Basketball State Championships. 

It is against the Valley Vikings, who defeated the Bulldogs 50-46 on the road on Dec. 21. 

“We played them earlier in the year,” Artesia coach Michael Mondragon said. “They are very disciplined and well coached.” 

The teams meet again at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, in the 4A quarterfinals of the state tournament at the University of New Mexico’s University Arena (aka The Pit) in Albuquerque. 

For the Bulldogs, playing the Vikings for high stakes in the playoffs is nothing new. In the 2022-2023 season, the No. 12-seeded Vikings defeated No. 4 Artesia 49-48 in the quarterfinals of the NMAA District 4A-4 tournament. 

In that game, the Bulldogs scored 18 points off turnovers and 18 points in the paint. Artesia was able to score eight points on fast breaks. Nick Sanchez scored 24 points, and Diego Wesson added 11 points for the Bulldogs. It took a last-second shot by Valley’s Julian Chavez to give the Vikings the win. 

“This should be a fun matchup,” Mondragon said. “We have played them the last three years, the last two in the Pit … our boys are motivated.” 

Three keys to a Bulldog victory: 

Look inside on offense

The key for the Bulldogs the rest of the tournament starts with looking inside to 6-foot-4 Trent Egeland, 6-foot-5 Steven Williams and 6-foot-8 Clay Kincaid. The Bulldogs must look inside and threaten to score each time on offense. 

“We know that everything starts with our bigs inside, offensively and defensively,” Mondragon said. “We have to rebound on both ends of the floor.” 

Push the tempo

The Bulldogs must make Valley play an up-tempo game. Artesia is more athletic and should allow Charlie Campbell, Braylon Vega, Cael Houghtaling, Jack Byers and Corbyn Dominguez to create in the open court. The disciplined Vikings want to take care of the ball and look for high-percentage shots. 

“We have to get up and down the court,” Mondragon said. “We have to try to impose our will.” 

The Pit is home court.

The Bulldogs cannot be intimidated by playing in the Pit. They have to feel they are playing at home in the Bulldog Pit. Every New Mexico high school team’s goal is to play in the mecca of New Mexico basketball, the Pit, at the end of the season. 

“I love our team and our chances,” Mondragon said. “We have a great group of guys, and they continue to stay together and fight together.” 

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