Roundball Roundup: Local teams head into holidays, close out 2025

Happy holidays and a (basketball) season's greetings. Here is the recap from week three of the Roundball Roundup.

Rio Rancho girls basketball

After a second tournament win on the season on Dec. 16, the Lady Rams kept the ball rolling with two nondistrict wins to close out the calendar year. 

Two stress-free victories against Atrisco Heritage Academy and Eldorado pushed their record to 10-0 on the season, holding the Jaguars and Eagles both under 30 points.

Rio topped Atrisco 63-17 on the road before returning home for their 50-28 win against Eldorado on back-to-back days. It is the sixth and seventh time the Rams have held their opponent to 30 points or less. 

Their 10-0 start is the program’s best opening stretch since the 2008-09 season, when the team went 27-3 with a 13-0 start to the year. They will look to try and stay perfect when they return to the court for the Albuquerque Public Schools Metro Tourney Jan. 6.

Rio Rancho boys basketball

It’s prep time for Steve Heredia’s crew with the Rio Rancho High School Holiday Tourney on the horizon.

Starting Dec. 29, the Rams will host Volcano Vista, Hope Christian, St. Pius, Navajo Prep, Sandia, Del Norte and Valley High. 

Including RRHS, four of the eight teams in the field are ranked in the MaxPreps top 20 for the New Mexico rankings, setting up what should be an exciting week of hoops at the Ram Athletic Center.

The Rams will face the Valley Vikings in the first round, with the biggest first-round matchup appearing on the other side of their bracket region, as Sandia and Del Norte get set for a big-time clash.

If the Rams can protect their home court and take home the holiday win, it will be their second tournament win of the season.

Cleveland girls basketball

After a tough end to their appearance in the Joe Armijo Invite, the Lady Storm got back on track with a 77-56 win over Organ Mountain Dec. 19.

Their first home game of the season was also their final game of 2025, as Cleveland High School started and ended with a bang, with three players posting double figures in the 21-point win.

Guards Danae Elzy and Erin Winters led the way, combining for 29 points. Winters hit three 3s as Elzy brought down nine rebounds in their backcourt barrage.

Down low, Jaslene Big Crow posted a season-high in a 12-point performance. The Cleveland center also tallied six rebounds, looking to be a reliable piece in the paint for the Storm as the season moves into full gear.

Cleveland will now look to take this home momentum into the new year, welcoming in Capital High and Las Cruces Jan. 2-3 for a Thunderdome back-to-back.

Cleveland boys basketball

It was a third-place finish for the Storm boys down in Las Cruces this past week, competing in the Las Cruces Holiday Hoopla tournament.

Cleveland defeated Arizona’s South Mountain High in the first round 87-43, but fell to the eventual champion Las Cruces Bulldawgs 57-56 in a tense, narrow semifinal defeat.

Demoted to the consolation game, the Storm would leave no doubt against a different Las Cruces foe. Cleveland took out Centennial High School 73-61 to take the final spot on the podium. 

The bronze finish now gives the Storm a third and second-place finish in tournaments this year, falling to La Cueva in the championship of the Phil Griego Invite earlier this month. 

Will the Storm have a chance to finish the puzzle and take a top spot in a tourney? Yes, in the form of the APS Metro Tourney Jan. 6. But first, they will have a shot at some revenge when the Bulldawgs visit Cleveland Jan. 2.

Bernalillo girls basketball

Bernalillo handled business last week at home, taking out Belen 69-46 to improve to 8-0.

Trinity Calabaza tied her Spartan career high against the Eagles with 24 points in the victory, with her frontcourt co-star, Samaria Brown, posting eight points with 10 rebounds in a big game inside.

On the perimeter, Kailani Trancosa and Gabriella Dominguez both posted double figures in an all-around night for the Lady Spartans.

Remaining perfect on the year, Bernalillo will look to play spoiler to Espanola Valley’s holiday plans, as the Spartans are set to head north for a special Dec. 23 matchup with the Sun Devils.

Bernalillo boys basketball

December has not been kind to the Bernalillo High School boys, but they have two more shots to ring in the new year on a high note.

Through tournaments and tough road matchups, the Spartans sit at 2-8 on the young season. But their last meeting at home? A 53-49 victory over Moriarty High on Nov. 29.

There is no place like home for the holidays, and with two straight home matchups against Espanola Valley and Capital High set for the next week, there is no better time to get back on track.

Bernalillo will take on the Sun Devils on Dec. 23 before taking on the Jaguars on Dec. 30 to close out 2025.