The Albuquerque Academy Chargers varsity basketball team capped off a dominant season with a heartbreaking 66-37 loss to a formidable Highland Hornets squad in a semifinal of the 2025 Nusenda Credit Union Boys Basketball State Championships at the Pit, home of the UNM Lobos.

Despite the tough end of their season, the Chargers should have plenty of pride after a stellar season that saw Academy rack up a 21-9 overall record. That included a 19-8 regular-season record. The Chargers finished first in the 4A District 6 with a 7-1 record, went 10-3 at home, 7-3 on the road, and 4-3 at neutral venues.

After a rocky 0-2 start that eventually left them sitting at 3-5, the Chargers seemed destined for a tough season.

But things changed after game nine—a certain turning point.

The Chargers went on a tear, winning 15 of their next 16 games, with their only loss coming against a top-flight Sandia Matadors squad—this year’s 5A District finalists. That impressive stretch earned Academy the #4 seed in the State Championship tournament.

The Chargers first playoff game took place at home against #13 seed Grants. Academy took care of business, winning convincingly by 15 points, 72-57.

In the quarterfinals, Academy faced the #12 seed Taos Tigers, who held a 17-12 record. Academy’s senior forward Eli Dominguez ‘25, who earned 4A District Player of the Year honors, led the way with 23 points. Charger junior center Hunter Aime ‘26 dominated on both ends of the court with 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven blocks. Ben Morgan ‘25, the team’s floor general, dished out 11 assists, setting up easy scoring opportunities for his teammates. The Chargers powered through with a 54-43 win, securing a spot in the semifinals.

The Highland Hornets were next in line, coming in as the #8 seed. The Chargers kept it tight through the first half, trailing by just four points at halftime, 20-16. Early in the third quarter, Academy pulled within one at 22-21, but the momentum soon shifted. Highland outscored Academy 22-10 in the third quarter, taking a commanding 42-26 lead. The Hornets’ momentum persisted as they closed out the game, winning 66-37.

Dominguez continued his scoring prowess, leading the Chargers with 15 points, much like he had throughout the season. Morgan contributed on both ends, securing six rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Turnovers and fouls, however, haunted the Chargers—16 turnovers and 17 personal fouls proved costly, as they committed eight more fouls and five more turnovers than Highland.

Despite the difficult loss, the Chargers’ resilience and teamwork remained evident—something Academy Head Coach Alvin Broussard was quick to recognize. The first-year head coach made an immediate impact, helping the Chargers unlock their potential and build a positive team culture.

“We played fantastic defense and executed our game plan by taking away their two biggest threats,” Broussard said about the semifinal.

Throughout the season, Broussard says he was most proud of how his team supported one another.

“This group epitomizes the concept of team. They wanted to see each other succeed. They remained a unit and completely bought into what we as coaches asked them to do. We overachieved as a result. This team was very honest with themselves and each other. They believed we could be successful and were committed to each other and the program. I am very proud of this group of boys.”

When asked about the key lesson he hopes the team takes away from this season, Broussard emphasized resilience:

“The one lesson I hope the boys take with them is the mindset that adversity doesn’t break you, it makes you. Adversity early and prior to my arrival helped prepare us for success this year. We must continue to embrace adversity and meet the challenges set before us.”

Senior and team captain Nate Boone ‘25 reflected on how the team exceeded expectations.

“This year, we didn’t have a ton of expectations given that a lot of us didn’t have much varsity experience, and I thought that was going to be detrimental to how we played,” Boone said. “But as the season went on, we started to get closer as teammates, and that led to our success. We didn’t put too much pressure on ourselves to succeed; we focused more on enjoying the process as a team.”

Boone also spoke about the lasting culture the team created.

“I’m proud to say that this team created a culture that will be passed down to future Academy squads. With a new coach and a new group of guys, I am confident that our success will sustain for as long as Coach Broussard is with the Chargers.”

Senior point guard Ben Morgan ‘25, the other Charger team captain, echoed Boone’s sentiment, highlighting how the team’s chemistry and unselfish play defined their success all season long.

“As a team, we really shared the ball well,” Morgan said. “We were always looking for the extra pass to set up someone else for a better shot. We traded good shots for great shots.”

Morgan also looked back on his own role in keeping the team steady.

“I think that individually I helped the team control tempo and set us up in the offense,” Morgan said. “I’ve helped feed guys like Eli and Hunter who have really stepped up this year. I was just trying to settle the team down and take care of the ball most of the year.”

Morgan also credited the team’s supportive atmosphere for their success.

“Older guys and younger guys helped lift each other up, which was absent from last year. (Coach) Broussard has positively impacted the team as he drives everyone to be the best they can. He holds us accountable and knows when we can do better, pushing the team to reach its potential.”

The Chargers varsity squad will lose five seniors, but the team’s core values of teamwork, accountability, and resilience have set the foundation for future success.

With Coach Broussard’s leadership and a talented returning lineup, Academy basketball is sure to rebound with a strong season next year and is poised for another promising playoff appearance.