I was born and raised in Hobbs. I am the son of two teachers who didn't believe in taking time off of work to travel to Albuquerque for the state basketball tournament.
For years growing up, I would plead with my parents to make an exception. Too many times, I'd listen as classmates returned from the state tournament after watching the Hobbs Eagles win a state title. They would talk of how great of an experience it was watching games in UNM's famous arena, The Pit. It was an experience that I wanted to have, if just once. But that never happened.
As an adult working for the Hobbs News-Sun newspaper, I covered the Eagles during the final three of four-straight titles won from 1999-2002. My first time in The Pit was when Hobbs made the tournament in 2001. I have been back every year since, but never as the fan I wanted to be.
That all changed on Saturday night.
This year's state tournament was my final one as a member of the Santa Fe New Mexican. I am leaving for a new position at the Houston Chronicle later this month.
But before I left, I finally got to realize my childhood dream. I sat in the stands Saturday night, cheering with my parents as the Eagles won the Class AAAAA state championship. As the final buzzer sounded, tears formed in my eyes. It may have taken 25 years, but I got to finally experience one of my childhood dreams.
"Well, that's a pretty good going away present," my dad said as I hugged him.
"No, what's great is that my wish finally came true," I said. "I finally got to share a state title with you and mom."
The bonding moments families have at this event last a lifetime. That's why I consider the state basketball tournament the most precious sporting event in New Mexico. For so many years, I saw young children sitting with their moms and dads, cheering for their high school team and I was envious of them.
But not any longer. This was the greatest going away gift I could have ever received. As we celebrated another Hobbs victory, I was able to hug my parents, tell them how special it was to me that we were together when this happened. It's one of the greatest feelings in my life.
Northern New Mexico, it's been an honor covering your sons and daughters in various sporting events. It's been a thrill writing fun stories about the different kinds of people in our community and how their work impacts all of our lives.
Thank you for allowing me to share your stories with everyone else in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. Good luck in the future. God Bless.

Todd Bailey

Ryan Gonzalez is still the only Elk to finish with double-digit scoring with 25 points. Lucero knocks in 16 for the Dons, while Encinias added 11 and Rivera scored 10.
Looking at this game, it's the 24 turnovers that told the story for the Dons.
They shot better from the floor (43 percent) than the Elks (40 percent). They had more rebounds (32-25), more assists (16-10) and more made 3-pointers (9-5).
But they also had more turnovers 24-16 and that's why they walk up the tunnel in The Pit with a red trophy.

The Elks continue to celebrate with their medals and blue trophy, Now they are in the stands on the north end, continuing to celebrate with their student body.
Matthew French and Gonzalez dance on the court with the state championship banner, in the process his medal falls apart. I don't think he really cares right now.

Elks head coach Joey Trujillo walks of the court pointing to family and friends in the stands, all to the sound of "We are the Champions"

Congratulations to the Elks.

Hamilton Doyle doesn't want any more time winding down. Good call, Eddie Ortega missed the free-throw.
Dons ball ... 20 seconds ... Gonzalez blocks a 3 by Adrian Rivera. WOW! Gonzalez is then fouled
14.3 seconds left ... first shot is good ... second shot is not. 50-46
Encinias misses a 3, the ball goes out of bounds
Gonzalez is promtly fouled on the inbounds play. 8 seconds left ...
Ryan's first shot ... missed
Dons try another three ... missed Eddie Ortega grabs the ball, the buzzer sounds and Ortega throws the ball into the air.
POjoaque wins it's second state title in the past 24 hours.
THe Elks celebrate with their fans on the north end of the court.

Pojoaque wasted about 30 seconds off the clock, but Gonzalez was forced to call time out after getting double-teamed near the half-court line. 49-46, 46.1 seconds left

He's made a number of turnovers in the game, but Gold's 3 with 1:19 left has cut the Elks' lead to 49-46.
The Dons have hit eight 3s in the game. The Elks have hit 5. Thanks to Ashley from NM Overtime Sports for the stats

He's grimacing with every step, but Lucero is coming back into the game. Rub some dirt on it Kenny.

Just has Brandon Enicinias hit a 3 pointer.
He can't put much weight on it.
Not good for WLV

An open lay-up, then a steal by the Elks' main man and POjoaque's lead is up to 49-40. 2:56 Remaining

After three quarters, the Dons have turned the ball over 18 times. The Elks 8.
In the fourth alone, there's already been three Dons turnovers, if they want to win this game, they need to handle the ball better.
Uh-oh another drive to the Dons basket, and another foul. Eddie Ortega is at the line, he missed the first, made the second for a 45-36 lead.

Oh the Elks fans are crying because of a foul on Ryan Sullivan. I'm sorry but if you can hear Daniel Lopez's wrist being slapped by an Sullivan from 30 feet away, it's a foul.
And it's picked up the Dons momentum. Lopez hit one of two, but an Elks turnover led to a Dons 3 by Kenny Lucero. And the WLV crowd goes wild! 45-40 elks,

and their getting the looks they want on offense, unfortunately, they can't find the range on their shots.
The Elks seem to be driving to the bucket at will, but they're not converting. Orlando Trujillo is at the free-throw line hitting two shots after getting fouled on a drive. 44-36.
Oops, another Dons turnover ... yet good defense from Encinias to force the turnover right back.
4:55 to play, 44-36 Elks

Brandon Encinias just threw a bullet of a pass to Adrian Rivera for a layup, cutting the Elks lead to 42-33.

Ryan Gonzalez, despite being double- and triple-teamed leads the game with 20 points. No other Elk has scored in double figures
Kenny Lucero has 13 for WLV, while Rivera has 10.

Encinias drew first blood in the fourth with a base line 3-pointer, cutting the lead to 42-36. Hamilton Doyle promtly called time out.

I don't want to sound like a Ryan Gonzalez homer, but he just had a 360-degree layup giving the Elks a 36-25 lead.
The Dons just called time out, right after another turnover.
The Elks look poised to capture their first state title since 1984, when Mario Martinez led them. Martinez is six feet from me. Watching the game as an offical member of the NMAA. Ironically, he's sitting behind the Dons bench.

Uh-oh, another missed Dons shot ends with a fast break layup by Ryan Sullivan. Uh-oh another Dons turnover, its 38-25 Elks with 2:44 left

Encinias hits a 3 pointer cutting the Elks' lead to 26-22.
Now Nakotte hit two FTs, for a 28-22 lead wiht 44 seconds left
Uh-oh the Dons turned the ball over and now the Elks are holding the ball to run some clock
Gonzalez air balls a baseline 3, but the outlet pass on the rebound for the Dons goes out of bounds
Gonzalez makes them pay, a quick baseline move opens up a soft jumper as time expires, 30-22 Elks at the buzzer

So he's on the baseline, three guys covering him. Gonzalez fakes right, goes left and all three defenders go right, leaving an open reverse layup for a 26-15 Pojoaque lead.
Anytime WLV hits a 3 or a big bucket, Pojoaques returns the favor. 26-19 pojoaque 1:45 until halftime

Brandon Encinias is doing a good job of keeping the ball out of Gonzalez's hands. But the Pojoaque senior was still able to hit five of the team's 16 points.
Pojoaque is the more aggressive team of the two. Both on offense and on defense. The Dons turned the ball over 3 times.

West has opened the second with a 5-0 run, closing the lead to 16-12, but then Gonzalez hit another 3, with two defenders in his face, for a 19-12 lead. And then WLV just turned the ball over..

And all of them are wearing some form of green.
It's seems split pretty evenly between the fans of both teams.
And both can cheer pretty loud.
Ryan Sullivan just kissed in a bank shot from the baseline for a 5-3 lead
Then hit a 3-pointer from the other side of the court.
Now Jan Nakotte is at the free-throw line. He missed the first, made the second
It's Pojoaque's lead 9-3

NOt a bad way to start the game!
WLV's Kenny Lucero tied the game with a baseline 3!
Both teams not showing any nervousness, just straight hard-playing basketball!

The Dons are wearing their home white jerseys. Pojoaque in their away green jeresys.
Jared and Joshua Padilla, of Pojoaque just sang the national anthem. Jared, 10, and Josh 7, may have missed a lyric or two, and may have laughed a bit, but who could blame them. Singing in front of a large crowd in The Pit can be a challenge.
Good thing the Pojoaque fans sung with the young brothers, making them feel more comfortable.
Good job boys.

It's tip-off time!

Todd Bailey

Inside 3 minutes until the start of the Class AAA state championship betwee West Las Vegas and Pojoaque.
Can Pojoaque win its second state title in the lsat 24 hours? Or will the dysfunctional "family" that is West Las Vegas and its head coach Hamilton Doyle claim the blue trophy.
1:32 and counting. Stay tuned, I'll be giving blogs throughout the whole game.

Todd Bailey