Unsure whether she’d come out to ball this winter, but convinced otherwise after doing some soul-searching and undoubtedly discussing the matter with teammates, Maliyah Martinez ultimately proved essential to Ignacio girls basketball as either a point/shooting guard or a small-forward type.
After the 2025-26 season concluded Saturday night, Martinez was announced as receiving Honorable Mention All-Intermountain League distinction.
Though not yet on the roster for IHS’ Dec. 9 home opener versus 2A Mancos, and later unavailable for the squad’s Feb. 13 home game versus 3A/4A IML power Centauri, Martinez still averaged 6.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in each of her 19 appearances as the youthful Bobcats ended up 2-10 in league play and 4-18 overall.
“Maliyah … she stepped up, kept putting pressure on players,” IHS head coach Travis Nanaeto said after a late-season home game Kept trying to get that spark – and she got some of it for us. She worked hard, was being aggressive and taking shots.”
Centauri was led by the league’s coach of the year Jeremy Romero. The Falcons went 11-1 in league and finish 21-5 overall after their deep 3A state tournament run.
Runner-up in league with a 9-3 mark, Alamosa – powered by First Team All-IML pick and player of the year Jaelin Garcia, a senior guard – ended up 18-7 overall after, helped by honorable mention sophomore Leela Gutierrez, qualifying for the 4A state tournament.
Junior guard Kimball Anderson (6.9 ppg; six games not reported) received Honorable Mention All-IML from Bayfield (3-20, 0-12).
“Coach (Ben Martinez) has really made us work on moving the ball around on offense – it’s really helped us get a defense moving and … see an open shot, and get points,” Anderson said late in the season.
