KIRTLAND CENTRAL IS ONCE AGAIN BUILDING FOR MARCH
The road to The Pit is familiar territory for the Kirtland Central Lady Broncos. Their journey this year has already included games against St. Pius X, La Cueva, Rio Rancho, and January matchups against Albuquerque Academy and a spot in the field of the Metro Championships. This season’s goal is nothing new, according to head coach Devon Manning, but it’s never taken lightly. “Now, we’re the veteran team we’ve been building toward,” Manning said. “The expectations at Kirtland Central never change. You want to be playing for a championship. We also understand just how hard that is.”
Hard, but hardly unfamiliar.
Kirtland Central has reached the state championship game six times in the past seven seasons, collecting 21 state titles along the way—more than any girls basketball program in New Mexico history. For Manning, now entering his eighth season at the helm, the experience of stepping into The Pit never loses its magic. “It’s hard to describe the sound when you’re walking down the ramp,” Manning said. “When the girls come through the curtain, the roar hits you. Whether it’s cheers or boos, it’s different. The atmosphere is different. And it’s something these girls truly enjoy.”
Adding to that atmosphere is one of the state’s most compelling rivalries. Either Kirtland Central or Gallup has claimed the championship in each of the past five seasons, trading titles year by year. The matchup is electric, wherever it’s played. “It’s one of the most heated rivalries—and I mean that in a good way,” Manning said. “Our stats are incredibly similar. We go to their gym and it’s sold out. They come to ours and it’s sold out. If we meet at The Pit, it’s close to a sellout there too. It’s fun. The girls understand what that game means, and it pushes both programs to be better.”
Those moments are coming soon. Circle January 22nd, when Kirtland Central travels to Gallup for a district showdown. The Lady Bengals will make the return trip on February 5th—two dates that promise packed gyms, high energy, and another chapter in a rivalry that continues to define championship basketball in New Mexico.
