Cleveland High Hands No. 1 Las Cruces First Loss

RIO RANCHO, Cleveland High School delivered a statement victory Friday night, beating No. 1 Las Cruces 69-61 and handing the Bulldawgs their first defeat of the 2025-26 season. The Storm, ranked sixth in Class 5A, led most of the game and capitalized on a turnover-plagued first half by Las Cruces to secure a win that reshapes local perceptions of the 5A race.

From the hallway outside the Cleveland locker room, the celebration inside made clear how much the result meant. Cleveland led nearly the entire way after a short early run by Las Cruces, and the Storm’s disciplined performance down the stretch proved decisive. Coach Zack Cole credited fundamentals: “we took care of the ball, and we made our free throws, and we got some timely rebounds down the stretch.”

Turnovers were the primary difference. Las Cruces committed 16 first-half turnovers, a figure that created a deficit the Bulldawgs could not fully erase despite reducing miscues after intermission. Las Cruces managed only three turnovers after halftime, but the damage had been done early. The visiting coach, William Benjamin, voiced his frustration late in the first half, asking aloud, “How are we still in this game?”

Cleveland’s press and defensive adjustments disrupted Las Cruces’ rhythm. Junior guard Ajay Vigil attributed the early collapse to pressure, saying plainly, “The press got ‘em.” Vigil also highlighted the parity at the top of the classification, noting, “It (5A) is most definitely up in the air.”

Scoring was balanced for the Storm. Senior Remy Albrecht led the team with 22 points, junior Ajay Vigil added 17, and Brycen Bowie provided 11 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers near the end of the first quarter that helped stake Cleveland to an early lead. For Las Cruces, sophomore forward Jayden Brisby finished with a game-high 25 points and senior Benjamin Walton scored 14.

Cole said the team made tactical corrections from their Dec. 19 meeting, when Las Cruces edged Cleveland 57-56. “Last time, we gambled a lot in the half court, and we gave them free runs in the lane,” Cole said. “Tonight, we didn’t gamble as much and we stayed home, and it led to them (making) some bad passes.” He added that facing higher-stakes games helps preparation: “The more games we can get that feel more like a playoff situation, we’ll take them,” and “We’re trying to find the best version of ourselves.”

The result has immediate local implications. With Las Cruces no longer unbeaten, Rio Rancho remains the only undefeated team in 5A, and Cleveland carries increased momentum into the Albuquerque Metro Championships, where the Storm open Tuesday against Hope Christian. Players and fans leave the win with renewed confidence: “We’ve got confidence,” Vigil said. “We’re feeling great.”