NMAA BOYS STATE BASKETBALL: 3 Rio Rancho vs 10 Volcano Vista

girls Rams advance to first championship appearance

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#3 RIO RANCHO (62) #10 VOLCANO VISTA (45)
March 12, 2026 – UNM’s The PIT, Albuquerque, NM

ALBUQUERQUE — The No. 3 Rio Rancho Rams used a dominant second-half surge to defeat the No. 10 Volcano Vista Hawks 62–45 in the NMAA girls 5A state semifinal, punching their ticket to the program’s first-ever championship game.

Rio Rancho set the tone early, jumping out to a 15–7 lead after the first quarter behind timely perimeter shooting. Volcano Vista responded in the second, outscoring the Rams 19–14 to tighten the contest at halftime as both teams traded momentum. Guard Daysia Jack kept Rio Rancho steady in the opening half, knocking down key 3-pointers to prevent the Hawks from taking control.

The turning point came in the third quarter when Madi Martinez found her rhythm after scoring just five points in the first half. Martinez sparked a decisive 20–7 Rio Rancho run, attacking the basket and capitalizing on transition opportunities that stretched the lead into double digits. The Rams maintained their composure in the fourth quarter, controlling tempo and closing out the victory.

Martinez finished with a game-high 23 points, while Jack added 14 and Larissa Martinez contributed 10 in a balanced scoring effort. On the glass, Kaci McHugh delivered a key performance with 10 rebounds, helping Rio Rancho limit second-chance opportunities. Volcano Vista was led by Jalyssa Hines, who scored 13 points in the loss.

The win carried emotional significance for Rio Rancho head coach Lori Mabrey, who returned this season after stepping away last year following the death of her husband, longtime coach Buster Mabrey. Today would have been his 50th birthday. “Buster always used to buy the team donuts after huge wins, so they are getting Krispy Kremes,” Mabrey said after the game.

The Rams now advance to face No. 1 Hobbs in Saturday’s championship showdown, seeking the program’s first girls basketball state title.