Basketball

Top-ranked Kirtland Central (28-3) and No. 2 Gallup (29-2) advanced into Friday night’s championship game with a pair of wins on Thursday at the famed Pit in Albuquerque.

Second-seeded Sandia used a dominant second half to secure a convincing 60-43 victory over Rio Rancho in the New Mexico 5A girls basketball quarterfinal game at the Pit on Tuesday evening.

Central High School, located in the heart of Phoenix, won its first-ever 5A Arizona state championship at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Mar. 7 led by standout Diné brothers John and Grant Mattingly.

Navajo Prep, the reigning 3A girls state champ, showed its championship pedigree against district rival Crownpoint on Tuesday afternoon.

In a stunning exit, the Tohatchi Lady Cougars were eliminated from the New Mexico Class 3A girls state playoffs on Tuesday night.