Rio Rancho High boys basketball beats Mayfield 66-61, advances to 5A quarterfinals

Rio Rancho High School held off Mayfield 66-61 in a first-round game of the NMAA Class 5A state basketball tournament on March 7, 2026, played on Rio Rancho’s home court. The win improved Rio Rancho to 25-5 and sent the Rams into the quarterfinal round of the state tournament.

The contest, staged at Rio Rancho High School, was a tightly contested opening-round matchup in the NMAA Class 5A bracket. Mayfield challenged throughout, but Rio Rancho finished with a 66-61 advantage to close out the game in front of the home crowd on March 7. The result secured advancement for the Rio Rancho squad and ended Mayfield’s run in the first round.

Rio Rancho’s 25-5 record reflects the Rams’ performance through the regular season and into the postseason, with the March 7 victory marking a key step toward a deeper state tournament run. Advancing to the quarterfinals places Rio Rancho among the final eight teams in Class 5A competition, continuing the program’s presence in the NMAA postseason bracket.

The win on Rio Rancho’s home court on March 7 resonated across Sandoval County, giving students at Rio Rancho High School and local supporters a postseason game to rally around as the Rams move into the NMAA Class 5A quarterfinal round. With the team now 25-5, attention in Rio Rancho will turn to the quarterfinal schedule and preparations required to compete at the next level of the state tournament.

As Rio Rancho prepares for the quarterfinal round of the NMAA Class 5A state tournament, the 66-61 win over Mayfield on March 7 stands as the decisive moment that kept the Rams’ season alive. The victory on the Rams’ home floor now sets the stage for the next challenge in the Class 5A bracket for Rio Rancho High School and its supporters in Sandoval County.