The Gadsden Panthers and the Santa Teresa Desert Warriors came home last weekend dejected after both teams lost in the first round of the New Mexico state tournament.

High School basketball ends in New Mexico weeks after it has in Texas. For this reason, Upper Valley schools like Santa Teresa High School and Gadsden High School are just getting into their playoffs as March comes along.

Both the Gadsden Panthers and the Santa Teresa Desrt Warriors had great seasons. Unfortunately, both teams lost in their District Championship Game.

Both teams had won their first game of the district playoff round only to lose in the Championship Game. The loss, while not eliminating the teams from the state tournament, put both teams at a disadvantage by having to go on the road to face higher ranked teams. Santa Teresa lost to Capital 66-46 while the Panthers of Gadsden lost to La Cueva 75-64.

Both teams fought valiantly but could not pull off the upset and so their seasons ended.

Gadsden had a roller-coaster season winning their first four district games only to lose the next three. Gadsden finally pulled out of their dive and beat Alamogordo in the final district regular season game.

That left the Panthers with a 5-3 district record and the right to play the winner of Alamogordo and Ornate for a chance to get another shot at Mayfield (6-2) as the Trojans took care of business to earn them a first seed and a home berth for the district title game against the Panthers.

Gadsden beat Alamogordo 16-10 in the first round but lost to Mayfield 45-39 in the 3-5A Championship Game.

Santa Teresa won the first seed for the 3-4A Championship Game by beating Deming 65-45 in the first round. But the Desert Warriors were not so lucky as they faced the Wildcats from Deming in the district title game. Santa Teresa lost 42-40.

For story and game photos from Gadsden's last home game Please Click Here.

For story and game photos from Santa Teresa's last home game Please Click Here.

Prepared by UVB staff.

(Photos: Brax - Valley Publishing Company)

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