No. 5 Fort Sumner vs. No. 1 Cliff
What: Class 1A boys semifinals
When: 4:45 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho
Records: Fort Sumner 19-9, Cliff 27-2
Quarterfinals: Fort Sumner beat No. 4 Tatum 61-60. Cliff beat No. 8 Carrizozo 58-42.
Cliff players to watch: Ethan Shelley, 6-4, Jr., F; Tyler Wolf, 6-0, Sr., F; Junior Hernandez, 5-11, So., G.
Notes: Cliff is the defending state champion. The Cowboys have won seven state titles since 1980 ... Fort Sumner has not won a state title in boys basketball. In fact, they’re making their first state semifinal appearance since 1980.

No. 3 Dora vs. No. 2 Springer
What: Class 1A boys semifinals
When: 8:15 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho
Records: Dora 24-5, Springer 27-2.
Quarterfinals: Dora edged No. 6 Des Moines 87-81 in overtime while Springer routed No. 7 Temple Baptist 96-74 on Wednesday at Bernalillo H.S.
Springer players to watch: Johnny Chaves, 5-9 Sr. PG; Isaiah De Herrera, 5-9 So. G.
Notes: The Coyotes have knocked Springer out of the tournament in each of the last two seasons — two years in the quarterfinal round, and last year on a last-second shot in a round-of-16 game at Springer. … The Red Devils are a high-scoring team which relies heavily on 3-pointers. De Herrera had 14 treys in a 112-80 rout of Des Moines in the finals of the District 1-1A tournament. … Springer has scored at least 100 points five times this season, including four of the last five games heading into Wednesday. The Red Devils’ have scored at least 72 points in all but three games, with their season low coming in a 90-54 loss to Class 2A state qualifier Santa Rosa in early January. … Despite Wednesday’s overtime tussle, Dora coach Ty Thatcher said his team should be ready to go. “Everybody’s in pretty good shape,” he said. “It probably helps us, I think, to play a close game like that and survive. The first game, I think, is usually the hardest.”
Quotable: “I like our chances. I feel like as long as the kids put themselves in position to win, we’ll be fine, but (Springer is) an explosive team. There’s no doubt they can shoot it.” — Thatcher.

No. 1 Texico vs. No. 5 Lordsburg
What: Class 2A girls semifinals
When: 8 a.m. today at Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho
Records: Texico 22-7, Lordsburg 19-6
Quarterfinals: Texico beat Penasco 53-31. Lordsburg beat Mora 70-66.
Lordsburg players to watch: Alysha Marquez, 4-9, So., G; Aime Chavez, 5-3, Sr., G; Teresa Contreras, 5-3, Sr., F.
Notes: Texico is the two-time defending state champion ... Lordsburg rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Mora.
Lordsburg scouting report: Small and quick. Like to shoot the 3-pointer. Presses all game. “After watching them play, they’re one of those teams you have to play for 32 minutes because they’re not going to quit. Their guards are quick and like to go to the basket. We’re going to have to stay down and move out feet.”
Quotable: "A lot of people don’t like playing at 8 a.m.. I’d rather play then than play at 3 or 4 in the afternoon. There's not a whole lot of time to think about the game. They can just go out and play.” — Autrey.

No. 2 Portales vs. No. 11 Las Vegas Robertson
What: Class 3A girls semifinals
When: 8 a.m. at The Pit, Albuquerque
Records: Portales 20-10, Robertson 15-15.
Quarterfinals: The Lady Rams dispatched No. 7 West Las Vegas 52-30 while Robertson beat third-seeded Lovington 65-55 on Wednesday at The Pit.
Robertson players to watch: Brooke Krezevich, 5-10 Jr. F; Kassanda Tapia, 5-8 So. P; Daniella Montoya 5 -5 Jr. PG.
Notes: Portales coach Clay Stout said Robertson has come on strong late after having several players miss time early with injuries. … The Lady Cardinals have one three-game winning streak and one three-game losing streak this season. … Robertson’s quarterfinal win avenged a 51-35 loss at Lovington on Jan. 10. … The Lady Rams were hopeful of contending for a state title last season, but lost 5-8 PG Tara Johnson to a knee injury in the round-of-16 and bowed out in the quarterfinals. This year, Johnson is back healthy and making a difference. “That’s such a blessing,” Stout said. “She’s thrilled to be back, and she’s playing with a passion.”
Quotable: “They’re very athletic, very talented. They’re really a good team.” — Stout, alluding to Robertson’s injury problems this season.

No. 6 Elida vs. No. 7 Des Moines
What: Class 1A girls semifinals
When: 3 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho
Records: Elida 22-8, Des Moines 19-8.
Quarterfinals: Both teams pulled upsets at Bernalillo High School on Tuesday, Elida beating No. 3 Gallup Catholic and Des Moines slipping past No. 2 Cliff by identical 55-52 scores.
Des Moines players to watch: Amaris Newkirk, 5-9 Sr. F; Cassidy Doherty, 5-2 Fr. PG.
Notes: This is the fifth time the Lady Tigers have reached the 1A state semifinals under coach Dan Howard. They’re looking for their first trip to the title game. … Newkirk was dominant down the stretch in Des Moines’ win over Cliff, Howard noted. “She kind of took the game over,” he said. … Howard thinks his team may have a bit more height than the Lady Demons. “Both teams have quick guards,” he said.
Quotable: “They’re pretty quick, and they like to run up and down the floor. We’ve got our hands full.” — Howard, on the matchup against Des Moines.