Roundball Roundup: Storm boys catch fire, Martinez crosses 1K, Lady Spartans hit 17

A storm is brewing in the basketball world.

Here is everything you need to know from the hardwood, from Jan. 9- 16.

Cleveland boys basketball

At the beginning of the season, Storm basketball was absent from the spotlight. With a loss to La Cueva in the Phil Griego Invite before getting knocked out early in the Las Cruces Tourney, the direction of Cleveland’s season was uncertain.

Now, they are on top of the mountain.

If winning their first metro tournament since the 2019-20 season over four-year reigning champion Volcano Vista isn’t enough for you, the Storm knocked off La Cueva on the road on Thursday night, 64-60, getting revenge for their loss to the Bears in December.

Cleveland has now knocked off three top-five teams in the state for 5A in January alone. After weeks of talks about the Bears, Rams and Hawks, it is now the Storm atop the 5A coaches poll.

“The metro tournament win was a huge confidence booster for the whole team,” Cleveland junior Ajay Vigil said. “Having to get through four tough games and showing us what we can do in the state tournament.”

This electric blue run all started at the beginning of the month, when the Storm knocked off Las Cruces  Jan. 2 at home to avenge their December loss to the Bulldawgs down south in December.

Revenge tour or not, the 2026-opening victory may have led the Storm to this hot streak.

“I do think beating Las Cruces made us see what we could accomplish throughout the season,” Vigil said. “Our defense and rebounding really changed in a good way after that game, which is helping us win the games we’ve had from then on.”

After a weekend meeting with Hobbs, the Storm will head into district play, focused on taking things one game at a time.

“The mindset is just to focus on one game at a time because we know all games moving forward are gonna be tough,” Vigil said. “Especially with the district we play in, there are no off nights from now on.”

Cleveland girls basketball

A series of ups and downs for the Storm girls leaves them sitting at 8-7 on the season so far.

After a gritty win against the Volcano Vista Hawks, 33-30, Cleveland ran into a buzzsaw of a team in Albuquerque High, falling to the Bulldogs, 53-27.

In their wins, it is not a one-trick show. Cleveland utilizes their depth with a plethora of names adding to the score column, something that may be useful down the stretch.

Stacy Pokorski’s team will face off against La Cueva before hitting district play, a stretch the Storm are prepared to play spoiler in. As fellow Storm classmate Ajay Vigil said, there are no off nights in district play.

Rio Rancho boys basketball

Rio Rancho found themselves in a spot they never been before: the loss column.

Falling to Volcano Vista in an intense 68-66 metro semifinal, the Rams are now 13-1 on the season. 

Following the metros, the Rams got back to regularly scheduled programming with wins over Sandia and St. Michael’s this week, but a big matchup looms on the horizon.

Rio Rancho versus Volcano Vista III.

With the same aura as a heavyweight boxing rivalry, the Rams will meet the Hawks once again Jan. 23 for their second district game. 

These two contenders to hoist a trophy in March have not disappointed so far, with both contests being decided by less than three points. 

Who will take the third installment? All I know is that you should buy your tickets now; this will be appointment television.

Rio Rancho girls basketball

It was a tough week for the Rams, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t anything to celebrate.

Rio fell to Albuquerque High in the Metro semis before falling to Kirtland Central in a non-district matchup. After back-to-back losses, the Rams got back in the win column against La Cueva on Wednesday night.

But the most notable takeaway from this week was not a final score, but an achievement. 

Rams’ sophomore Madi Martinez has crossed the 1,000 points mark for her career.

“Crossing 1,000 for me was really exciting, especially because my older sister has also passed it,” Madi Martinez said. “This really showed me that working hard every game will reward me and push me to get 2,000 in the future.”

A mark many reach in their senior year of high school, Martinez is ahead of schedule. Not only is she on pace to hit the 2,000 mark, but with her sister, Larissa, also in her sophomore year, we may see a family duo sharing that list. Older sister Miranda Martinez, a West Las Vegas alum, crossed the 1,000 mark as well.

Accolades and records aside, the Rams are ready to get back to their dominating ways. After a weekend matchup against Roswell, Rio Rancho will begin district play in a 5A field where they are the team to beat.

“We bounced back by really focusing and breaking down our offense and making sure everyone is all on the same page,” Madi Martinez said. “Then, reviewing our half-court defense and also making improvements to it. We also grew closer as a team when we dealt with these losses.”

Bernalillo boys basketball

It was not an easy stretch for the Spartan boys this past week.

With matchups against Gallup and Highland, two quality programs, Bernalillo fell in both contests to extend its losing streak to four games.

Some familiarity may help the team, with district play soon to begin. After a home game against Grants, the Spartans will start their 4A campaign against Hope Christian.

Bernalillo girls basketball

Why not 17?

The Lady Spartans have not slowed down to open 2026, putting together four wins after their Holiday Classic victory to get to 17-0.

Bernalillo knocked off Clovis and Highland, one game away from starting district play with a perfect record. 

Trinity Calabaza, who spoke to the Observer earlier this week, was a big part of this January stretch. Bernalillo’s captain led the team in scoring against Highland with 18.

Against the Wildcats, Jillian Lovato and Samaria Brown joined the party, adding double-digit scoring nights alongside Calabaza. Freshman Lovato hit three 3-pointers in her 15-point night.

Next up: the Lady Spartans welcome Shiprock for a home weekend duel before opening district play with a contest against Hope Christian next week.