PREVIOUS WINTER SPORTS WRAPS
• Fall sports go out with a bang as hoops season kicks off with City of Champions Classic
• Hoops teams pick up pre-holiday wins; swimmers racking up state qualifications; wrestling starts season strong; bowlers back on track for big year

BULLDOG BASKETBALL

Hobbs Holiday Tournament

The Runnin' 'Dogs were by no means looking to close out 2025 quietly, signing on once again for the endurance test that is the annual Hobbs Holiday Tournament. Drawing Class 5A 10th-ranked Farmington in the opening round meant they'd need to come out strong, and the boys in orange did just that, dominating the first quarter and maintaining their momentum from there for the 52-44 win.

After falling in an early hole, the Bulldogs reeled off 11 unanswered to take the lead, getting a pair of buckets in the paint from Trent Egeland, a breakaway layup off the steal from Charlie Campbell, and a trey and two from the free-throw line by Braylon Vega. Scorpion senior forward Sataurus Griego did his best to keep Farmington in it, hitting two from beyond the arc in the final minute of the period, but his efforts were surrounded by a pair of drives to the basket by Vega and a bucket each from Campbell, Clay Kincaid and Corbyn Dominguez to see Artesia into the second quarter with a 10-point edge, 22-12.

The second quarter saw both teams struggling to get back into an offensive rhythm, producing just 12 combined points. An early shot off the glass by Kincaid off the dish from Cael Houghtaling would be the 'Dogs' only basket until Campbell got another steal and a layup at the 1:27 mark. Campbell then went 1-2 from the stripe and Egeland 2-2 in the final 47 seconds of the half to bring Artesia's total to seven, but the Scorps managed just five of their own on another Griego three and a bucket in the paint from Zander Griego.

Up 29-17 going into the third, Farmington posted its best quarter of the day, but the Bulldogs matched them blow for blow. Trifectas by Isaac Dinning and Keondre Black were answered in kind by Campbell and Vega, and Campbell would add an and-one and two more from the line to six points from Houghtaling to keep the 'Dogs up by double digits going into the fourth, 46-33. The roller-coaster headed back south in that quarter, with Artesia managing just a trio of baskets on a spin move in the paint by Kincaid and a free-throw line jumper from Vega in the early goings, followed by a last-second drive to the hoop by the latter. And although the Scorpions knocked down a trio of additional treys courtesy of both Griegos and Black, the Bulldogs had done enough to wait out the win, 52-44.

Vega led all scorers in the contest with 16 points, followed by Campbell with 13, and Sataurus Griego finished with 13 for Farmington. The victory advanced the Bulldogs into the winners' bracket semifinals and a bout with another 5A opponent: Albuquerque High, which topped Legacy Academy 61-22 in its tourney opener.

STAT BOX

Artesia 52
Farmington 44

Artesia (5-2): Braylon Vega 6, 2-2 16; Charlie Campbell 4, 4-5 13; Cael Houghtaling 4, 0-0 8; Trent Egeland 2, 2-2 6; Clay Kincaid 3, 0-0 6; Corbyn Dominguez 1, 0-0 3
Totals: 20, 8-9 52

Farmington (7-3): Sataurus Griego 4, 1-2 13; Zander Griego 5, 0-0 11; Keondre Black 2, 0-0 6; Isaac Dinning 2, 1-2 6; Dayton Bizzell 2, 0-0 4; Donathan Tracy 2, 0-0 4
Totals: 17, 2-4 44

Field Goals: Artesia 20; Farmington 17
Three-Pointers: Artesia 4 (Vega 2, Campbell 1, Dominguez 1); Farmington 8 (S. Griego 4, Black 2, Dinning 1, Z. Griego 1)
Free Throws: Artesia 8-9 (89%); Farmington 2-4 (50%)
Turnovers: Artesia 12; Farmington 13
Fouls: Artesia 3; Farmington 13
Fouled Out: None

The Battle of the Bulldogs in the Hobbs Holiday Tournament's semifinal round was most definitely one that got away for the boys in orange. Artesia played stellar defense in the contest, limiting the Bulldogs in green to single-digit scoring in both the first and second quarters and leaving the door wide open to take the game in hand at multiple junctures. But on an uncharacteristically cold day from the field, the 'Dogs just couldn't put it all together, and the result was a low-scoring eight-point loss, 44-36.

Despite holding Albuquerque High to just three baskets in the opening eight minutes, Artesia managed just four of their own on a pair in the paint from Trent Egeland, a Braylon Vega transition layup, and an offensive putback by Cael Houghtaling. The Bulldog defense would again effectively stymie the Albuquerque Bulldogs in the second, with Noah Barela doing the bulk of the boys in green's scoring with three drives to the basket. But the 'Dogs were again unable to take advantage, posting just a single basket -- courtesy of Egeland at the 2:31 mark -- and a trio of early free throws by Vega in the final minutes of the first half to trail by one, 14-13, at the break.

Artesia was able to pick up the pace in the third quarter, getting two quick baskets from Egeland and a 6-6 showing from the stripe by Charlie Campbell in the period. But on the legs of a trio of three-pointers by Barela, Brendan Rico and Ethan Oetzel, Albuquerque was able to match the 'Dogs point for point to keep their one-point edge going into the fourth, 27-26. And unfortunately, the wrong set of Bulldogs got a little boost from the charity stripe in the final eight minutes, which proved enough to secure the win. Both squads again managed only a trio of field goals in the fourth -- two of those in the form of treys for the 'Dogs in green to just one longball for the orangemen -- but Albuquerque was supplemented by seven trips to the line, where they went 9-14. Aside from an and-one by Campbell in the final minute, the Bulldogs were awarded just three trips -- one coming via technical foul -- going 3-7 overall. Campbell's old-fashioned three-point play and a modern version by Vega made it a four-point game, 40-36, with 36 seconds remaining, but Albuquerque High closed things out from the stripe.

Oetzel was high point in the contest, with Egeland scoring 13, Vega 11 and Campbell 10 for Artesia.

STAT BOX

Albuquerque High 44
Artesia 36

Artesia (5-3): Trent Egeland 6, 1-2 13; Braylon Vega 3, 4-5 11; Charlie Campbell 1, 8-9 10; Cael Houghtaling 1, 0-0 2; Clay Kincaid 0, 0-2 0
Totals: 11, 13-18 36

Albuquerque High (7-4): Ethan Oetzel 4, 6-6 16; Noah Barela 5, 1-4 13; Brendan Rico 2, 3-4 8; Kaylem Bellamy 3, 1-5 7
Totals: 14, 11-19 44

Field Goals: Artesia 11; Albuquerque 14
Three-Pointers: Artesia 1 (Vega); Albuquerque 5 (Barela 2, Oetzel 2, Rico 1)
Free Throws: Artesia 13-18 (72%); Albuquerque 11-19 (58%)
Turnovers: Artesia 17; Albuquerque 9
Fouls: Artesia 14; Albuquerque 13
Fouled Out: Artesia 0; Albuquerque 2 (Ray Rackley, 2:49-4Q; Bellamy, :47-4Q)

PICTURED: The Bulldog basketball team poses with senior Braylon Vega and his 1,000 career-point banner after finishing third overall in the Hobbs Holiday Tournament.

The Bulldogs finally found their comfort zone offensively in Tasker Arena on Day Three of the Hobbs Holiday Tournament, and it came just in time to earn them third-place hardware and a significant individual honor.

The Runnin' 'Dogs were consistently on from the field against Holy Cross Catholic Academy from Amarillo, Texas, which helped see them to a 68-54 win. And on a steal and breakaway layup by Braylon Vega with two minutes to go in the second quarter, the senior became the state's newest member of an exclusive club with his 1,000th career point.

The Bulldogs weren't the only ones who came out hot in the contest, however. Bolstered by 12 points from senior Kon Deng and a Mou Tong trey, the Mustangs gave Artesia a definite run for their money in the first. The 'Dogs spread their scoring around, getting a basket and two free throws from Charlie Campbell, Trent Egeland and Clay Kincaid, a bucket and one from the line from Jack Byers, and a jumper from Cael Houghtaling. But Tong's late three and a basket at the one-minute mark by Willy Atak gave Holy Cross a one-shot lead going into the second, 19-17.

Atak kicked off the second with a trey that was followed by a breakaway layup off the steal by Majok Tong to expand that advantage to seven points, but the Bulldogs would settle in from there. A pair of free throws apiece by Campbell and Kincaid was followed soon after by a 15-0 run that ended in Vega's 1,000th point and also consisted of a layup and a trey by the senior, and an offensive putback and old-fashioned three-point play by Kincaid. Up 40-28 at the half, the 'Dogs would again hold the Mustangs to single-digit scoring in the third while riding seven points from Egeland and four each by Vega and Campbell to a 20-point margin, 56-36. And while treys from Deng, Atak and Peter Weinheimer would trim Holy Cross' deficit slightly midway through the fourth, a basket and two from the stripe by Campbell and shot off the glass from Byers kept the 'Dogs in double digits through the horn, 68-54.

Deng led all scorers with 21 points on the day, while Campbell finished with 16 for Artesia, followed by Vega with 15, Kincaid with 13, Egeland with 12, and Byers with 10. Earning All-Tournament Team honors for the weekend were Campbell and Vega, pictured below.

STAT BOX

Artesia 68
Holy Cross Catholic Academy 54

Artesia (6-3): Charlie Campbell 4, 8-8 16; Braylon Vega 7, 0-0 15; Clay Kincaid 4, 5-7 13; Trent Egeland 3, 6-8 12; Jack Byers 2, 6-8 10; Cael Houghtaling 1, 0-0 2
Totals: 21, 25-31 68

Holy Cross (9-7): Kon Deng 9, 1-1 21; Willy Atak 4, 0-0 10; Peter Weinheimer 4, 1-2 10; Mou Tong 2, 2-3 7; Majok Tong 2, 0-0 4; Isaac Ramos 1, 0-0 2
Totals: 22, 4-6 54

Field Goals: Artesia 21; Holy Cross 22
Three-Pointers: Artesia 1 (Vega); Holy Cross 6 (Atak 2, Deng 2, Mo. Tong 1, Weinheimer 1)
Free Throws: Artesia 25-31 (81%); Holy Cross 4-6 (67%)
Turnovers: Artesia 9; Holy Cross 21
Fouls: Artesia 17; Holy Cross 21
Fouled Out: Artesia 0; Holy Cross 1 (Mo. Tong, 2:00-4Q)

vs. Pojoaque Valley

PICTURED: Trent Egeland throws down a two-handed dunk during the opening quarter at Bulldog Pit.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

To that point having competed against just three same-class opponents, the Bulldogs welcomed Pojoaque Valley to Bulldog Pit for their first action of 2026 on Jan. 3 and put together another devastating performance on both ends of the court in an eventual 72-34 victory over the Class 4A Elks.

The 'Dogs were suffocating on defense in the first quarter, forcing seven turnovers and holding Pojoaque to just five points on an Ezekiel Atencio three and a bucket by Joziah Salazar midway through the period. In the meantime, Artesia put on a show both in and out of the paint, getting a three from Charlie Campbell off the tip -- and another a few minutes later -- a two-handed slam from Trent Egeland, a bucket off the steal by Braylon Vega from Cael Houghtaling, a Jack Byers offensive putback, and a Vega layup to lead 18-5 going into the second.

The Bulldogs were equally accurate from the free-throw line in the second, with Campbell, Vega and Houghtaling combining to go 8-8. Artesia also continued to show off their depth offensively, adding Clay Kincaid, Corbyn Dominguez and Tootie McNeil to the scorebook to expand their advantage to 28 by intermission, 42-14. Despite faring better offensively in the third with help from three-pointers by Atencio, Salazar and Joshua Sanchez, the Elks still found themselves trailing by the same margin heading into the fourth, 57-29. And there, the 'Dogs would once again limit Pojoaque Valley to just five points while closing out their 38-point victory with the mercy-rule clock running from six minutes onward. Egeland and Campbell both recorded and-ones in the final period, which also saw buckets from Kincaid, Vega and Sawyer Whitehead and a three from Jace Deans.

Campbell was high point with 18 in the contest, followed by Egeland with 12 and Vega with 11, and Salazar posted 13 for Pojoaque.

PICTURED: Charlie Campbell puts up a jumper for two over Pojoaque's Joaquin Baca during the second quarter.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

STAT BOX

Artesia 72
Pojoaque Valley 34

Artesia (7-3): Charlie Campbell 5, 6-7 18; Trent Egeland 5, 2-3 12; Braylon Vega 3, 4-4 11; Cael Houghtaling 3, 2-2 8; Clay Kincaid 4, 0-0 8; Jack Byers 2, 0-2 4; Tootie McNeil 2, 0-0 4; Jace Deans 1, 0-0 3; Corbyn Dominguez 1, 0-0 2; Sawyer Whitehead 1, 0-2 2
Totals: 27, 14-20 72

Pojoaque (4-8): Joziah Salazar 5, 2-2 13; Ezekiel Atencio 3, 0-0 8; Dion Luna 1, 2-2 4; Joshua Gonzales 1, 1-1 3; Joshua Sanchez 1, 0-0 3; Andres Trevizo 1, 0-0 3
Totals: 12, 5-5 34

Field Goals: Artesia 27; Pojoaque Valley 12
Three-Pointers: Artesia 4 (Campbell 2, Deans 1, Vega 1); Pojoaque 5 (Atencio 2, Salazar 1, Sanchez 1, Trevizo 1)
Free Throws: Artesia 14-20 (70%); Pojoaque 5-5 (100%)
Turnovers: Artesia 7; Pojoaque 17
Fouls: Artesia 8; Pojoaque 16
Fouled Out: None

LADY BULLDOG BASKETBALL

PICTURED: Jordan Rone completes a fast-break layup following a steal.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Lady Bulldogs were able to add just their third outing of the season against a fellow Class 4A opponent to their list in their first bout of the new year. The Artesia girls hosted Taos Jan. 3 at Bulldog Pit, coming away with big 30-point win, 55-25.

The Lady 'Dogs held the Lady Tigers to single-digit scoring in three out of four quarters on their home court while themselves going on a tear from the field that put them back on the plus side at 6-5. Taos managed just two baskets -- one early, one late -- in the opening quarter and was scoreless from the field in the second, getting all four of their points there from the free-throw line. The girls in orange, meanwhile, rode nine points from post Gracen Kuykendall, four from shooting guard Jordan Rone, and a bucket apiece by Peyton Barela, Ashton Craft, Avery Frederick and Jenna Whitmire to a lopsided lead at the break, 23-8.

Lady Tiger junior forward Andria Lucero went on a mission in the third, scoring seven of Taos' 12 points, but it came in the face of the Lady Bulldogs' hottest-shooting quarter of the day, which included six more from Kuykendall and a Craft trey. Both teams spent the majority of the fourth period at the line, where Taos went 3-13 to Artesia's 5-9. While the Tigers posted just one final field goal, however, Artesia got buckets from Craft, Whitmire and Zaleigh Greer, along with a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Desiray Savoie that rounded out the 55-25 final.

Kuykendall was high point in the contest with 17, followed by Craft and Whitmire with seven each, and Charlie Castillo had eight for Taos.

STAT BOX

Artesia 55
Taos 25

Artesia (6-5): Gracen Kuykendall 6, 5-7 17; Ashton Craft 3, 0-0 7; Jenna Whitmire 3, 1-3 7; Jordan Rone 3, 0-0 6; Peyton Barela 2, 1-2 5; Avery Frederick 2, 0-0 4; Zaleigh Greer 1, 2-2 4; Desiray Savoie 1, 0-2 3; Brooklyn Fuentes 0, 2-2 2
Totals: 21, 11-18 55

Taos (1-9): Charlie Castillo 2, 4-7 8; Andria Lucero 3, 0-0 7; Isabella Lucero 1, 1-2 3; Thalia Rodriguez 1, 1-10 3; Lilyana Trujillo 0, 3-6 3; Rose Mares 0, 1-2 1
Totals: 7, 10-27 25

Field Goals: Artesia 21; Taos 7
Three-Pointers: Artesia 2 (Craft 1, Savoie 1); Taos 1 (Lucero)
Free Throws: Artesia 11-18 (61%); Taos 10-27 (37%)
Turnovers: Artesia 16; Taos 22
Fouls: Artesia 19; Taos 18
Fouled Out: Artesia 0; Taos 1 (Rodriguez, 2:48-4Q)