Yes, his Florida International team was routed by No. 12 Georgetown, but Dominguez, the starting guard for the Golden Panthers, knocked down six 3-pointer and scored 20 points in a starring role.
The junior, who spent two years at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., is leading Florida International with 11.1 points per game and has hit 21 of 23 free throws. Dominguez, who led the Jaguars to a Class AAAA state title in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2005, has hit a team-high 31 3s on the year.
Here is the Associated Press write-up of the game:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Austin Freeman scored 17 points, Chris Wright had 14 and DaJuan Summers added 13 to lead No. 12 Georgetown past Florida International 76-38 on Tuesday night.
The Hoyas (9-1), who won their sixth straight, open Big East play on Dec. 29 at No. 2 Connecticut.
The Golden Panthers (4-9) scored the fewest points in their history.
Florida International dressed 10 players — five of them walk-ons — and it was quickly apparent they weren’t in the Hoyas’ class. Georgetown led 23-4 with 10:31 left and were ahead 43-16 at halftime.
Georgetown had a season-high 12 3-pointers. The Hoyas hit their first five 3-point attempts and eight of 10. Freeman was 5-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Michael Dominguez had 20 points for Florida International, losers of five straight and seven of eight.
Six-foot-11 freshman center Greg Monroe, who struggled against Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday, had 10 points, six rebounds and five steals for the Hoyas.
Florida International, which is missing its three leading scorers, have played 18 ranked teams in its history without a win. This was their first game against the Hoyas since Dec. 2, 1989, when they lost 114-67.
Dec 19, 2008
Santa Fe High's revolving door
I'll give Santa Fe Public Schools athletic director Skip Hemperley credit for acknowledging the problem that exists with the Santa Fe High football program. He recognizes that the instability with head coaches only leads to instability within the program.
But what qualities does the school have that makes it attractive to a prospective coach?
It had a coach who maintained that Santa Fe High was the only job he wanted - Mike Ulibarri - then he left when the school was about to force him to move from the physical education department to special education.
The weight room is small and cramped for a group of 40 or 50 players to work out.
Ivan Head Stadium certainly has some charm, but it's a relic still stuck in the 1970s. Heck, it took the school district until this year to replace the school's original scoreboard!
The school has gone through four principals in the last six years and nine athletic directors or managers since 2000. One year (2004) saw three ADs come and go.
There also is a leadership gap, meaning athletic manager Ron Shirley. That was punctuated when two boys basketball coaches approach a newspaper to find out where their teams were placed in the Capital City Invitational bracket.
But the program does have one caveat: The coach who turns this program around will be carted around the city as a hailing hero. And that would happen simply by producing a winning season, which Santa Fe High has done once since 1986. A bronze statue might be erected of him if the Demons get into the playoffs for the first time since ... 1986.
But any kind of success there will open avenues for other jobs, probably with better and more stable programs, because coaches know how disfunctional the program has been.
Let's face it, even if (and it's still an if) the school moves to AAAA ,which is scheduled for the 2010 season, it will still have to compete against a steady and much healthier Capital program and a clearly superior Los Alamos team. The Demons also will have to deal with the perception that District 2AAAA is one of the worst in AAAA (only District 3AAAA with Santa Teresa, Deming, Silver and Chaparral is worse from top to bottom).
If there is a coach in the state who truly relishes a challenge, this is the job for you.
But what qualities does the school have that makes it attractive to a prospective coach?
It had a coach who maintained that Santa Fe High was the only job he wanted - Mike Ulibarri - then he left when the school was about to force him to move from the physical education department to special education.
The weight room is small and cramped for a group of 40 or 50 players to work out.
Ivan Head Stadium certainly has some charm, but it's a relic still stuck in the 1970s. Heck, it took the school district until this year to replace the school's original scoreboard!
The school has gone through four principals in the last six years and nine athletic directors or managers since 2000. One year (2004) saw three ADs come and go.
There also is a leadership gap, meaning athletic manager Ron Shirley. That was punctuated when two boys basketball coaches approach a newspaper to find out where their teams were placed in the Capital City Invitational bracket.
But the program does have one caveat: The coach who turns this program around will be carted around the city as a hailing hero. And that would happen simply by producing a winning season, which Santa Fe High has done once since 1986. A bronze statue might be erected of him if the Demons get into the playoffs for the first time since ... 1986.
But any kind of success there will open avenues for other jobs, probably with better and more stable programs, because coaches know how disfunctional the program has been.
Let's face it, even if (and it's still an if) the school moves to AAAA ,which is scheduled for the 2010 season, it will still have to compete against a steady and much healthier Capital program and a clearly superior Los Alamos team. The Demons also will have to deal with the perception that District 2AAAA is one of the worst in AAAA (only District 3AAAA with Santa Teresa, Deming, Silver and Chaparral is worse from top to bottom).
If there is a coach in the state who truly relishes a challenge, this is the job for you.
Dec 16, 2008
Let's talk about two of my favorite things ...
Basketball and the weather.
As if you needed me to tell you, basketball courts will be silent in Northern N.M. because of all the schools closings. Those games will be made up later in the season at various times. Hopefully, we can report those to you.
Now ...
As for the weather, the National Weather Service indicates that Santa Fe has a 40 percent chance of precipitation tonight, but the second wave of snow will hit the area by Wednesday night and continue into Thursday. At least 18 inches of white stuff (and that's not the stuff you put in an envelope and mail to the Capital) is expected in the second wave. So that would put the start of many tournaments in jeopardy, especially Capital's Al Armendariz Classic and the Ben Lujan tourney.
I will try to keep you abreast of any changes.
As if you needed me to tell you, basketball courts will be silent in Northern N.M. because of all the schools closings. Those games will be made up later in the season at various times. Hopefully, we can report those to you.
Now ...
As for the weather, the National Weather Service indicates that Santa Fe has a 40 percent chance of precipitation tonight, but the second wave of snow will hit the area by Wednesday night and continue into Thursday. At least 18 inches of white stuff (and that's not the stuff you put in an envelope and mail to the Capital) is expected in the second wave. So that would put the start of many tournaments in jeopardy, especially Capital's Al Armendariz Classic and the Ben Lujan tourney.
I will try to keep you abreast of any changes.
Dec 10, 2008
Other thoughts on the NMAA's latest alginment proposal
Not that I intended to ignore it in today's stories, but I must lament the potential passing of District 3AA, especially in basketball.
The quartet of Questa, Peñasco, Mesa Vista and McCurdy School will be split, according to the latest proposal. Peñasco would move into District 2AA, while the other three drop into Class A. McCurdy and Questa will be in District 1A, while Mesa Vista and Escalante are shuttled into 4A.
I imagine the district will be changed regardless of how the alignment eventually plays out, but it's a shame because it was the most competitive district in Class AA and right up there with any in the state.
While we did not get a chance to cover those games, there was a definitely treat in talking with coaches when they called in a district basketball score. You never knew how it would play out. Last year, we all had Mesa Vista pegged as the district champ, but it had to do it as the second seed in the district tournament.
The year the Panthers went undefeated (in '07) no one else in the district had a record better than 3-3. It was a great district - and perhaps 2AA, with Peñasco, Mora, Pecos, Monte del Sol and Santa Fe Prep, will be just as exciting.
I like the idea of Class B, although it takes some getting used to. Saying "Class B" almost feels like you're telling those schools, "You're not big enough to swim with the sharks, so you get the kiddie pool to swim in." But in all honesty, they need it. Many of those schools barely have enough for a varsity, and the larger schools might have a JV with a bunch of floaters.
Still, it is unfair to ask Mosquero, with its 12 students, to compete with Cliff (at 84 students) or Cimarron (with 103).
Class AAAA is too big, compared to AAAAA and AAA. Looking at the figures used by the NMAA, moving Silver, Shiprock, Taos and Portales to AAA would be ideal. That moves AAA to 24 schools.
Alas, Santa Fe High and Deming would have to move up to AAAAA being the two biggest AAAA schools. But an more even distribution of 24, 25 and 24 across the classes is much better.
Just my musings ...
The quartet of Questa, Peñasco, Mesa Vista and McCurdy School will be split, according to the latest proposal. Peñasco would move into District 2AA, while the other three drop into Class A. McCurdy and Questa will be in District 1A, while Mesa Vista and Escalante are shuttled into 4A.
I imagine the district will be changed regardless of how the alignment eventually plays out, but it's a shame because it was the most competitive district in Class AA and right up there with any in the state.
While we did not get a chance to cover those games, there was a definitely treat in talking with coaches when they called in a district basketball score. You never knew how it would play out. Last year, we all had Mesa Vista pegged as the district champ, but it had to do it as the second seed in the district tournament.
The year the Panthers went undefeated (in '07) no one else in the district had a record better than 3-3. It was a great district - and perhaps 2AA, with Peñasco, Mora, Pecos, Monte del Sol and Santa Fe Prep, will be just as exciting.
I like the idea of Class B, although it takes some getting used to. Saying "Class B" almost feels like you're telling those schools, "You're not big enough to swim with the sharks, so you get the kiddie pool to swim in." But in all honesty, they need it. Many of those schools barely have enough for a varsity, and the larger schools might have a JV with a bunch of floaters.
Still, it is unfair to ask Mosquero, with its 12 students, to compete with Cliff (at 84 students) or Cimarron (with 103).
Class AAAA is too big, compared to AAAAA and AAA. Looking at the figures used by the NMAA, moving Silver, Shiprock, Taos and Portales to AAA would be ideal. That moves AAA to 24 schools.
Alas, Santa Fe High and Deming would have to move up to AAAAA being the two biggest AAAA schools. But an more even distribution of 24, 25 and 24 across the classes is much better.
Just my musings ...
Dec 6, 2008
State football updates
The big school champions have been crowned, and here are the results from today's "Championship Saturday":
Class AAAAA
Las Cruces 26, Albuquerque Eldorado 21. The Bulldawgs get their first AAAAA title since 2002.
Class AAAA
Roswell Goddard 49, Aztec 45. The teams traded leads five times - including three times in the third quarter alone. Alas, the Tigers grab their 10th runner-up trophy since 1952. No one does second-best in football better.
Class AAA
Portales 48, Lovington 10. The Rams didn't just removed the monkey from their back. They stomped on it, threw it across the room and humiliated it. Portales earned its first win over Lovington in 12 seasons and its first AAA championship since 1988.
Class AAAAA
Las Cruces 26, Albuquerque Eldorado 21. The Bulldawgs get their first AAAAA title since 2002.
Class AAAA
Roswell Goddard 49, Aztec 45. The teams traded leads five times - including three times in the third quarter alone. Alas, the Tigers grab their 10th runner-up trophy since 1952. No one does second-best in football better.
Class AAA
Portales 48, Lovington 10. The Rams didn't just removed the monkey from their back. They stomped on it, threw it across the room and humiliated it. Portales earned its first win over Lovington in 12 seasons and its first AAA championship since 1988.
Dec 5, 2008
One last day of prep football
Just because St. Michael's and the rest of the Northern schools are done with football for 2008 doesn't mean the sport should take a backseat to basketball now. The big schools take the stage to determine their state champions and each game has plenty of intrigue.
This year will feature three new champions, as last year's titleholders- Las Cruces Mayfield (AAAAA), Artesia (AAAA) and St. Michael's (AAA) - were ousted in the semifinals. In fact, AAAAA will see a new champion for the first time in three years as the Trojans have own the blue trophy each of those seasons.
In AAA, District 2AAA's reign of champions also ends at three after the Horsemen, the 2007 champs, were ousted by Lovington. They were preceded by Las Vegas Robertson's back-to-back run in 2005 and 2006.
It's also the first time in six years a 2AAA team does not appear in the title game. That is nothing compared to the 21-year run District 4AAA had from 1984-2006. Oh, and it is an All-4AAA final between Portales and the Wildcats.
The plots don't end there:
Class AAAAA
No. 1 Las Cruces High (12-0) at No. 2 Albuquerque Eldorado (12-0).
Wilson Stadium
1 p.m.
For the first time in 12 years, the AAAAA state champion will be crowned in Albuquerque. The last time that happened, Mayfield won its first state championship in 25 years by shutting out Manzano 14-0. The Trojans have won five more since then.
Las Cruces makes its first trip to the AAAAA game since 2002, when it won the last of a string of three in four years.
It's been 28 years since Eldorado hoisted the blue trophy, when then-senior quarterback Jim Everett guided the Eagles to a 14-11 win over Clovis. Everett went on to Purdue and then the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, but never won another title in his career.
If you read today's Albuquerque Journal (Not the North section, though), reporter Will Webber writes about the legacy of Gentry family, one of the four storied families of New Mexico football.
Here's the link:
www.abqjournal.com/sports/preps/05920580820sportspreps12-05-08.htm
Class AAAA
No. 2 Aztec (12-0) at No. 1 Roswell Goddard (11-1)
Wool Bowl
1 p.m.
The Rockets finally get a chance to soak in the limelight that has belonged to Artesia the past two years as well as win their first championship since taking the AAAA crown in 1997. But the Tigers of Aztec have been waiting since 1952. The Tigers have played for the state title nine times since then, and they have been presented the red runner-up trophy nine times.
Aztec comes in with the fourth-most prolific offense in the state's history (at 589 points, or a 49.0 PPG clip) but needs just 23 points to surpass Albuquerque La Cueva's 2003 team that amassed 611 points on its way to the first of two AAAAA championships. A word of caution, however. The Bears managed just 24 points in the finale to barely beat Mayfield, 24-21.
Class AAA
No. 1 Lovington (9-3) at No. 3 Portales (10-2)
Greyhound Stadium, Blackwater Draw
2 p.m.
1996.
Never mind that the Wildcats beat Portales 17-14 in the District 4AAA opener, although that will be the motivation for the current edition of the Rams. It's just that the spell the Wildcats have over them supersedes that. It becomes magnified when Portales rolled into Wildcat Stadium at 5-2 and with the top rank in Class AAA (by virtue of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association) on Oct. 24. Lovington took a 17-14 lead with 6 minutes remaining, and escaped with the win when the Wildcats stopped the Rams at the Lovington 5-yard line on the game's final play.
The Wildcats are gunning for their 16th state title, the second most in the state. Portales, which is playing in its third AAA title game this decade, hasn't won a title since 1988.
This year will feature three new champions, as last year's titleholders- Las Cruces Mayfield (AAAAA), Artesia (AAAA) and St. Michael's (AAA) - were ousted in the semifinals. In fact, AAAAA will see a new champion for the first time in three years as the Trojans have own the blue trophy each of those seasons.
In AAA, District 2AAA's reign of champions also ends at three after the Horsemen, the 2007 champs, were ousted by Lovington. They were preceded by Las Vegas Robertson's back-to-back run in 2005 and 2006.
It's also the first time in six years a 2AAA team does not appear in the title game. That is nothing compared to the 21-year run District 4AAA had from 1984-2006. Oh, and it is an All-4AAA final between Portales and the Wildcats.
The plots don't end there:
Class AAAAA
No. 1 Las Cruces High (12-0) at No. 2 Albuquerque Eldorado (12-0).
Wilson Stadium
1 p.m.
For the first time in 12 years, the AAAAA state champion will be crowned in Albuquerque. The last time that happened, Mayfield won its first state championship in 25 years by shutting out Manzano 14-0. The Trojans have won five more since then.
Las Cruces makes its first trip to the AAAAA game since 2002, when it won the last of a string of three in four years.
It's been 28 years since Eldorado hoisted the blue trophy, when then-senior quarterback Jim Everett guided the Eagles to a 14-11 win over Clovis. Everett went on to Purdue and then the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, but never won another title in his career.
If you read today's Albuquerque Journal (Not the North section, though), reporter Will Webber writes about the legacy of Gentry family, one of the four storied families of New Mexico football.
Here's the link:
www.abqjournal.com/sports/preps/05920580820sportspreps12-05-08.htm
Class AAAA
No. 2 Aztec (12-0) at No. 1 Roswell Goddard (11-1)
Wool Bowl
1 p.m.
The Rockets finally get a chance to soak in the limelight that has belonged to Artesia the past two years as well as win their first championship since taking the AAAA crown in 1997. But the Tigers of Aztec have been waiting since 1952. The Tigers have played for the state title nine times since then, and they have been presented the red runner-up trophy nine times.
Aztec comes in with the fourth-most prolific offense in the state's history (at 589 points, or a 49.0 PPG clip) but needs just 23 points to surpass Albuquerque La Cueva's 2003 team that amassed 611 points on its way to the first of two AAAAA championships. A word of caution, however. The Bears managed just 24 points in the finale to barely beat Mayfield, 24-21.
Class AAA
No. 1 Lovington (9-3) at No. 3 Portales (10-2)
Greyhound Stadium, Blackwater Draw
2 p.m.
1996.
Never mind that the Wildcats beat Portales 17-14 in the District 4AAA opener, although that will be the motivation for the current edition of the Rams. It's just that the spell the Wildcats have over them supersedes that. It becomes magnified when Portales rolled into Wildcat Stadium at 5-2 and with the top rank in Class AAA (by virtue of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association) on Oct. 24. Lovington took a 17-14 lead with 6 minutes remaining, and escaped with the win when the Wildcats stopped the Rams at the Lovington 5-yard line on the game's final play.
The Wildcats are gunning for their 16th state title, the second most in the state. Portales, which is playing in its third AAA title game this decade, hasn't won a title since 1988.
Dec 4, 2008
The glut of preseason basketball tournaments
This was something I wrote about last year, and I was very circumspect about the number of regular season basketball tournaments in the state and the effect their abundance was having.
So after all was said and done ...
Welcome to The Lady Jaguars Tournament!
Just check out the following matchups:
First round
Bernalillo (a Class AAAA school) vs. Questa (AA)
Monte del Sol (AA) vs. Taos ( AAAA).
Don't those send a thrill down your spine! What purpose does this serve? And how does this help Bernalillo and Taos? If they find themselves battling for one of the last spots in the AAAA state tournament, how will those games affect their chances? They could dash the Lady Spartans' or the Lady Tigers' chances of making it into the 16-team bracket.
And what do we have here? The Brian Gallegos Shootout in Las Vegas, N.M., with ... six teams!
The number of tournaments that northern teams are competing in this week is eight. Also, 32 Albuquerque teams - 16 each for boys and girls - are taking part in the Albuquerque Metro Tournament, which used to be the APS Invitational. Such a monstrosity takes all of the city schools out of the equation for any other tournament this weekend, so you can eliminate about 22 percent of the big schools (AAA and above).
One casualty succumbed to the tournament frenzy, at least for this year. Moriarty's Bruce King Invite, which would have been next week, was suspended because the school could not find enough teams for it. The Alice King Invite will continue, as will 26 other boys and girls tournament next week.
Do you think that's enough?
So after all was said and done ...
Welcome to The Lady Jaguars Tournament!
Just check out the following matchups:
First round
Bernalillo (a Class AAAA school) vs. Questa (AA)
Monte del Sol (AA) vs. Taos ( AAAA).
Don't those send a thrill down your spine! What purpose does this serve? And how does this help Bernalillo and Taos? If they find themselves battling for one of the last spots in the AAAA state tournament, how will those games affect their chances? They could dash the Lady Spartans' or the Lady Tigers' chances of making it into the 16-team bracket.
And what do we have here? The Brian Gallegos Shootout in Las Vegas, N.M., with ... six teams!
The number of tournaments that northern teams are competing in this week is eight. Also, 32 Albuquerque teams - 16 each for boys and girls - are taking part in the Albuquerque Metro Tournament, which used to be the APS Invitational. Such a monstrosity takes all of the city schools out of the equation for any other tournament this weekend, so you can eliminate about 22 percent of the big schools (AAA and above).
One casualty succumbed to the tournament frenzy, at least for this year. Moriarty's Bruce King Invite, which would have been next week, was suspended because the school could not find enough teams for it. The Alice King Invite will continue, as will 26 other boys and girls tournament next week.
Do you think that's enough?
Greetings! (Again)
Welcome to my blog! I wanted to say this three weeks ago, but a few matters tied up the unveiling of this blog. But here it is, and I do look forward to using it as a means to inform and entertain you. Your feedback is especially important, so feel free to respond, or even to e-mail me at jbarron@sfnewmexican.com
I did leave a bit of an intro on my blog's initial post and I will link to that here to give you some background on me. Or you can look at my stats that I have along the railing on the right that will give you a quick snippet of myself.
I did leave a bit of an intro on my blog's initial post and I will link to that here to give you some background on me. Or you can look at my stats that I have along the railing on the right that will give you a quick snippet of myself.
Here's what I wrote roughly a month ago:
http://readbarron.blogspot.com/2008/11/welcome-to-my-home.html
Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to more of this!
Dec 3, 2008
Court room drama ... Oh, and a football game.
Seems like the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and one of its member schools were at an impasse regarding the eligibility of a fifth-year player at the school in question. Included is a link to the Boston Globe's story about a court injunction in favor of Mansfield High School, which had self-reported using the player but were doing so to determine his eligibility.
Read the rest at the Globe, and for further consumption, here is the link to its blog revealing this morning's aftermath. Sounds like the justice system moves more swiftly in Massachusetts than in New Mexico. But when is anything ever swift around here?
http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/extras/schools_blog/2008/12/miaa_no_appeal.html
Read the rest at the Globe, and for further consumption, here is the link to its blog revealing this morning's aftermath. Sounds like the justice system moves more swiftly in Massachusetts than in New Mexico. But when is anything ever swift around here?
http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/extras/schools_blog/2008/12/miaa_no_appeal.html
Nov 25, 2008
Another Thanksgiving holiday roadie!
Thanks, St. Michael's.
For the sixth consecutive holiday, I get to cover high school football. That matches the number of times the Horsemen of St Michael's have played at this time of year.
Now, they weren't the only ones who have occupied our sports departments' attention.
In '03, there was West Las Vegas. I also caught my first taste of the football-hungry town of Lovington, N.M. In fact, I made the trip to Lovington the next year for the AAA title game against St. Michael's.
On Saturday, I will be on the now-blue Natural Turf field of Wildcat Stadium. As much fun and excitement as the Horsemen and their coaches will have for this week, that will not filter down to me. Anyone who has made the trip to the southeast corner of the state knows how much of a grind it is.
Never have I seen more dirt than I do from the moment you get past Vaughn until you hit Roswell. Then the scene repeats itself between Roswell and Artiesia. And Artesia to Lovington. Suffice it to say, it is the least scenic route you could take. Unless scenic to you are oil drills and the smell of petrol.
That's not to say Game Day isn't exciting. Lovington fans - and fans in southern New Mexico - love their football. Their support shows in the success places like Texico (14 state title appearances, five state titles), Artesia (home to 26 state titles and 30 championship appearances), Las Cruces (where Mayfield has won the last three Class AAAAA state championships) and Clovis (13 state titles in all).
In fact, the places to be this weekend are at the Wool Bowl in Roswell and Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces.
The top seeded Goddard Rockets will finally try to best Artesia, their District 3AAAA rivals, in the postseason on Friday night. Both teams played for the AAAA championship in 2007 and 2006, with the Bulldogs winning both times. Goddard beat Artesia 35-7 in the regular season finale on Nov. 7 to take the district title and the top seed.
Everything points to this being the Rockets' year, but Novembers have routinely been magical for Artesia.
But that's not even the biggest game in the state.
While I'll be following the action between the Horsemen and the Wildcats, the titans of Class AAAAA football will battle in Las Cruces Mayfield and Las Cruces High. Two weeks ago, the two teams played before a packed crowd of 25,000-plus as Las Cruces rallied from a 21-14 deficit to win, 22-21. It was James Hall's 2-point run with less than a minute left that gave the Bulldawgs the win and the top seed in AAAAA. That loss was only the second handed to the Trojans by a New Mexico in the last four years.
There are some who wanted this to be the AAAAA final, but No. 2 Albuquerque Eldorado and N0. 3 Clovis ruined that chance. Those two teams also play on Saturday, but nary a peep will be heard about it outside of Albuquerque.
A full-on roar will be heard throughout Las Cruces, and maybe even felt in Lovington. I'll know why.
For the sixth consecutive holiday, I get to cover high school football. That matches the number of times the Horsemen of St Michael's have played at this time of year.
Now, they weren't the only ones who have occupied our sports departments' attention.
In '03, there was West Las Vegas. I also caught my first taste of the football-hungry town of Lovington, N.M. In fact, I made the trip to Lovington the next year for the AAA title game against St. Michael's.
On Saturday, I will be on the now-blue Natural Turf field of Wildcat Stadium. As much fun and excitement as the Horsemen and their coaches will have for this week, that will not filter down to me. Anyone who has made the trip to the southeast corner of the state knows how much of a grind it is.
Never have I seen more dirt than I do from the moment you get past Vaughn until you hit Roswell. Then the scene repeats itself between Roswell and Artiesia. And Artesia to Lovington. Suffice it to say, it is the least scenic route you could take. Unless scenic to you are oil drills and the smell of petrol.
That's not to say Game Day isn't exciting. Lovington fans - and fans in southern New Mexico - love their football. Their support shows in the success places like Texico (14 state title appearances, five state titles), Artesia (home to 26 state titles and 30 championship appearances), Las Cruces (where Mayfield has won the last three Class AAAAA state championships) and Clovis (13 state titles in all).
In fact, the places to be this weekend are at the Wool Bowl in Roswell and Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces.
The top seeded Goddard Rockets will finally try to best Artesia, their District 3AAAA rivals, in the postseason on Friday night. Both teams played for the AAAA championship in 2007 and 2006, with the Bulldogs winning both times. Goddard beat Artesia 35-7 in the regular season finale on Nov. 7 to take the district title and the top seed.
Everything points to this being the Rockets' year, but Novembers have routinely been magical for Artesia.
But that's not even the biggest game in the state.
While I'll be following the action between the Horsemen and the Wildcats, the titans of Class AAAAA football will battle in Las Cruces Mayfield and Las Cruces High. Two weeks ago, the two teams played before a packed crowd of 25,000-plus as Las Cruces rallied from a 21-14 deficit to win, 22-21. It was James Hall's 2-point run with less than a minute left that gave the Bulldawgs the win and the top seed in AAAAA. That loss was only the second handed to the Trojans by a New Mexico in the last four years.
There are some who wanted this to be the AAAAA final, but No. 2 Albuquerque Eldorado and N0. 3 Clovis ruined that chance. Those two teams also play on Saturday, but nary a peep will be heard about it outside of Albuquerque.
A full-on roar will be heard throughout Las Cruces, and maybe even felt in Lovington. I'll know why.
Nov 11, 2008
Small town football
Even when the event I am covering is not football, the sport doesn't let me go.
As I prepared to watch the girls state high school cross country events Saturday afternoon, I stuck up a conversation with New Mexico Activities Associatiion boys athletic director Mario Martinez. He had returned from Hondo after the school recorded its first state title in six-man football since ... Well, not even Martinez, who has been a part of New Mexico's high school sports sceen for more 30 years, knew how long Hondo had been a high school. It was the first of its kind for the school, as well as the first time it had competed for a state title.
The closest it had come were semifinal appearances in the last two seasons in six-man (both ended by the New Mexico School for the Deaf) and a state basketball semfinal appearance in 1942 (against another Santa Fe school - St. Michael's).
But this one opportunity brought not just the current community of Hondo together, it attracted alumni who had been to the school in 20 or 30 years. They were greeted by cheerleaders who were grilling hamburgers and hot dogs just 25 yards from the field in a stadium that sits just a 100 yards from U.S. Highway 70 in a stretch of road between Ruidoso and Roswell. Martinez said the town is so small, the closest restaurant was Ruidoso, some 26 miles east.
Martinez told me this to emphasize the reasoning for the NMAA to have seven football classes and five classes overall - to give kids the chance to compete and play for a piece of glory. And in some cases, history. While the current system might feel watered down compared to the four-classification system that was abandoned just eight years ago, his point is well taken.
It makes moments like Friday, when Hondo beat San Jon for the title, worth it for these out of-the-way towns that are barely known within the borders of this state, much less recognized for its performance.
As I prepared to watch the girls state high school cross country events Saturday afternoon, I stuck up a conversation with New Mexico Activities Associatiion boys athletic director Mario Martinez. He had returned from Hondo after the school recorded its first state title in six-man football since ... Well, not even Martinez, who has been a part of New Mexico's high school sports sceen for more 30 years, knew how long Hondo had been a high school. It was the first of its kind for the school, as well as the first time it had competed for a state title.
The closest it had come were semifinal appearances in the last two seasons in six-man (both ended by the New Mexico School for the Deaf) and a state basketball semfinal appearance in 1942 (against another Santa Fe school - St. Michael's).
But this one opportunity brought not just the current community of Hondo together, it attracted alumni who had been to the school in 20 or 30 years. They were greeted by cheerleaders who were grilling hamburgers and hot dogs just 25 yards from the field in a stadium that sits just a 100 yards from U.S. Highway 70 in a stretch of road between Ruidoso and Roswell. Martinez said the town is so small, the closest restaurant was Ruidoso, some 26 miles east.
Martinez told me this to emphasize the reasoning for the NMAA to have seven football classes and five classes overall - to give kids the chance to compete and play for a piece of glory. And in some cases, history. While the current system might feel watered down compared to the four-classification system that was abandoned just eight years ago, his point is well taken.
It makes moments like Friday, when Hondo beat San Jon for the title, worth it for these out of-the-way towns that are barely known within the borders of this state, much less recognized for its performance.
Nov 7, 2008
Welcome to my home ...
Greetings everybody!
This is the first of what I hope are many installments of "The Read Barron"
This blog was created as a way of keeping up with the goings on in prep sports in Northern New Mexico as well to give my insights, opinions (as shallow or as in-depth as they are) and whereabouts during this season.
The creation of hits site comes at almost the perfect time: the end of the fall sports season and the burgeoning of the winter sports segment.
Here's a little bit about me.
I was born in Topeka Kansas (New Year's Eve, 1975) but have lived the last 24 years in New Mexico. I am a 1994 graduate of Los Lunas High School and it was here that my passion for sports began. I worked on the high school newspaper and saw Los Lunas experience its best football during this period (three straight playoff appearances, two district titles, a 10-0 regular season in 02).
As for the other sports ... Well, the girls basketball team made it to state my senior year, led by one Pam Zens, a 6-3 post who later became the head volleyball coach at La Cueva before moving to Artesia.
I am a alumnus of The University of New Mexico ('02), witnessing the departures of football's Dennis Franchione and men's basketball's Dave Bliss and the entrances of Rocky Long and Fran Fraschilla, respectively.
When I'm not covering sports ... I'm watching them.
I am an avid Boston Red Sox fans - and not one of those Pink Sox fans who jumped on board when the Sawx became popular. If you know who Phil Plantier, Wes Gardner, Donnie Sadler and Bob Zupcic are and their positions, then you must be a Red Sox fan, too. Add the Boston Celtics, too.
And no, I have never been to Boston, but my father was and I took up the mantle for him. I had a chance when the Red Sox won it all in 2004, but little did I know that they would sweep. I was ready for a Game 6 and 7 celebration. So much for that plane ticket!.
My lone connection to Kansas is my passion for the 2008 men's basketball national champion Kansas Jayhawks! I am also a Kansas City Chiefs fan. The less said about them, the better I feel.
If there's anything else you would like to know, feel free to drop me a line. Or hit me up at a game. I'm sure to be around this year.
This is the first of what I hope are many installments of "The Read Barron"
This blog was created as a way of keeping up with the goings on in prep sports in Northern New Mexico as well to give my insights, opinions (as shallow or as in-depth as they are) and whereabouts during this season.
The creation of hits site comes at almost the perfect time: the end of the fall sports season and the burgeoning of the winter sports segment.
Here's a little bit about me.
I was born in Topeka Kansas (New Year's Eve, 1975) but have lived the last 24 years in New Mexico. I am a 1994 graduate of Los Lunas High School and it was here that my passion for sports began. I worked on the high school newspaper and saw Los Lunas experience its best football during this period (three straight playoff appearances, two district titles, a 10-0 regular season in 02).
As for the other sports ... Well, the girls basketball team made it to state my senior year, led by one Pam Zens, a 6-3 post who later became the head volleyball coach at La Cueva before moving to Artesia.
I am a alumnus of The University of New Mexico ('02), witnessing the departures of football's Dennis Franchione and men's basketball's Dave Bliss and the entrances of Rocky Long and Fran Fraschilla, respectively.
When I'm not covering sports ... I'm watching them.
I am an avid Boston Red Sox fans - and not one of those Pink Sox fans who jumped on board when the Sawx became popular. If you know who Phil Plantier, Wes Gardner, Donnie Sadler and Bob Zupcic are and their positions, then you must be a Red Sox fan, too. Add the Boston Celtics, too.
And no, I have never been to Boston, but my father was and I took up the mantle for him. I had a chance when the Red Sox won it all in 2004, but little did I know that they would sweep. I was ready for a Game 6 and 7 celebration. So much for that plane ticket!.
My lone connection to Kansas is my passion for the 2008 men's basketball national champion Kansas Jayhawks! I am also a Kansas City Chiefs fan. The less said about them, the better I feel.
If there's anything else you would like to know, feel free to drop me a line. Or hit me up at a game. I'm sure to be around this year.
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