Belen Hosts Three-Day North/South Shootout Featuring Six 4A Teams

The annual North/South Shootout, which rotates among a handful of host schools, opened Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Belen High School gymnasium and runs three days through Saturday. The event features boys varsity and junior varsity games with each team scheduled for three contests in the preset format; the Shootout does not crown an overall champion.

Six area and regional programs are entered, including Belen, Lovington, Goddard, Taos, Artesia and Valencia. Five of those teams, Belen, Lovington, Goddard, Taos and state titlist Artesia, played in last season’s 4A State Championship, increasing the competitive level in Belen this week. Artesia, the defending state champion, is among the favorites again this season, giving local coaches high-quality opponents to assess their rosters against.

BHS coach Donald Marquez framed the tournament as an opportunity for comparative evaluation. “The North/South is a great tournament,” said Marquez. “It’s a good chance for us northern teams to compete against those southern teams to see where we’re at with each other,” and improve position for the postseason.

Valencia coach Jesse Hathoot emphasized the dual benefit of the tournament structure for development and roster management. “We can stick to our routine of floating kids,” who play both varsity and JV, said Hathoot, noting the JV event gives younger players more game time. The ability to rotate players between levels means coaches can evaluate depth and readiness while preserving playing time for prospects who figure into next spring’s playoff push.

For local families and fans, the Shootout provides a concentrated slate of games across three days, increasing opportunities to watch multiple Valencia County teams and other 4A contenders in one location. The format’s preset matchups guarantee three games for each varsity and JV squad, delivering predictable schedules for players and supporters and more minutes for underclassmen than a single-elimination bracket might allow.

The event also has modest economic impact on the host community. Visiting teams, families and officials typically contribute to local activity at restaurants and service providers during multi-day tournaments, while gate receipts and concession sales support school athletic budgets.

Our coverage includes the North/South schedule for varsity and JV matchups across the three days and photos of local players in action. The tournament’s combination of competitive play and developmental opportunities will matter for Valencia County teams as they use the Shootout to sharpen form and evaluate seeding scenarios ahead of the postseason.