Photos by Faye Elmore
Albuquerque’s Highland High School has led the boys’ basketball team to the state tournament seven years in a row, but after last year’s second-place finish, hopes are high for a big win.
Last year, this team fought to make it to the championship game as the No. 8 seed, only to fall short to Artesia High School by just 7 points.
This year, they look to take the title back.
To outsiders, it was unclear how successful the Highland Hornets would be this season, after eight of their players graduated—including record-breaking senior Jesus Licon. It would have been safe to assume that this year would be a rebuild.
But Coach Justin Woody would tell you about a 20-0 JV team ready to play at the next level.
“I think it’s a confidence thing,” Coach Woody said. “When you play on an undefeated team, you have the mindset of the expectation that we’re going to win.”
The two returning starters, senior Juan Limas and junior Jerry Moody, combine with seniors Nico Sánchez, Edwin Montelongo and junior Fede Nuñez in a rare starting lineup all 6 feet or taller.
The three new starters played on JV last season due to the NMAA’s requirements for transfer students to sit out for a season.
Sánchez became a standout player in his first year on varsity where he rose to the leading scorer in 4A. He described how it felt watching his friends lose last year’s championship game.
“I just think about that day, how I saw the people that I love cry,” Sánchez said.
But he planned to use that as fuel for his own chance at the title.
“It’s just everyday motivation,” he said. “I have one year, one opportunity as a senior so I want to win no matter what.”
In the recent District Tournament Championship, Coach Woody was honored with the Coach of the Year award, while four players made first and second team all-district including Sánchez, the Player of the Year.
But this team is about more than what the players bring to the court. Coach Woody attributed their success to the team culture at Highland.
“Highland being such a unique school with people from different backgrounds and different countries, team bonding has really been critical to us,” Coach Woody said. “Not always the most talented players win, but the team that can come together and work together the best has a better chance at success.”
Headed into the tournament, the Hornets were 23-4 on a 16-game win streak after downing major 5A teams and going undefeated in district play.
This momentum helped them secure the No.1 seed in the 4A State Tournament where they won the first round home game against district opponent and No.16 seed, Grants High School.
“I’m excited for the opportunity ahead of us at the State Tournament,” Coach Woody said, “I’m excited to see these guys continue to compete and represent our program the right way.”
Next, the Hornets will head to The Pit with an 8 a.m. tipoff time Wednesday to take on the Portales High School Rams.
The Hornets through the 2025/2026 season
Faye Elmore is a UNM student studying Multimedia Journalism and Art.
