The 1998 Socorro state champion basketball team will be honored on Saturday during the Class 3A championship game at The Pit on the University of New Mexico campus.

For some, it feels like yesterday, but 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of Socorro’s only state boys basketball championship.

1997-98 Season (21-5) District 5AAA champions defeated Taos (25-2) 58-53 under the guidance of head coach Gilbert Peralta, assistant coaches Gregg Ezell, Randy Valles, Rick Romero and Randy Padilla.

The 1998 Warriors basketball team included players 10-Carl Lukesh, 12-Chris Parra, 14-Jason Romero, 20-Chris Baldonado, 22-Jason Valles, 30-Patrick Murillo, 32-Josh Martinez, 34-Brian Moore, 40-Chris Hedgeman, 42-Josh Armijo, 50-Eric Valencia, 52-Terry Rother, 54-Todd Rother.

The team’s managers included Amanda Hignight, Carrie Ness and Lisa Fernandez.

The Class 3A state champion game is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Russell Huffman | Assistant Editor