Author: Quentin Jodie

Of all the state qualifiers, the Tohatchi girls’ basketball team was considered a long shot to make the 3A state semifinals.

The fourth-seeded Lady Bengals outscored the Española Lady Sundevils, the No. 2 seed, in three of four quarters to post a 63-51 win in the New Mexico Class 4A state title game inside the famed Pit in Albuquerque.

Of the two, the Lady Eagles (14-0) had a more comfortable finish as they repeated as state champions at the 3A level with a convincing 63-47 win over Las Vegas Robertson.

With the 14-point win, the Bengals earned the right to play in Saturday’s championship game, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. inside the Pit on the University of New Mexico campus.

The top-seeded Lynx advanced to the Class 2A finals after beating No. 4 seed Mescalero Apache by a 46-34 count on Wednesday night at St. Pius X High School.