Class AAAA bracket update

While might seem to be all around Class AAAA, in reality, only a few changes seem necessary. Here's the rundown.

1. Roswell (22-2). The Coyotes WILL be the NO. 1 team in the class. No ifs, ands or buts about it. As I pointed out before, Roswell has not lost to a New Mexico school. The defending AAAA state champion won't have to worry about that coming until March 10, then all bets are off.
2. Espanola Valley (24-2). The Sundevils weren't really hurt by the loss to Hope Christian. All it did was solidify the two-seed. Now the problem is that Espanola now is paired with Albuquerque Academy on that side of the bracket. And that is something to be worried about.
3. Albuquerque Academy (18-7). The Chargers are12-2 after a 6-5 start, but it must be pointed out that they also have yet to lose to a AAAA team. They also have two wins over District 6AAAA champion Volcano Vista, three over 6AAAA runner-up Albuquerque St. Pius X and Belen, making Academy the unofficial 6AAAA champion (Sorry Grants, you really think you have a shot?)
4. Santa Teresa (19-7). Welcome to the fourth team not to lose in AAAA. The difference, though is that the Desert Warriors' losses aren't as sterling, especially that one to Portales. But Santa Teresa is 9-1 over its last 10 games and could be a spoiler come March.
5. Volcano Vista (15-11). The Hawks looked like they were in line for a four seed, but then came a loss to Grants (OK, so maybe Academy should worry). Still, the district champions won't fall far because of an 11-3 record against AAAA competition.
6. Shiprock (19-7). The Chieftains can solidify this spot with a playoff win over Kirtland Central, but with the committee free to determine where they belong, a loss might not matter. Shiprock is 9-3 within the class and is 2-1 against co-leader Kirtland Central.
7. Los Alamos (17-8). The Hilltoppers saved a tumble in the seedings with a come-from-behind win over Capital, which means the co-2AAAA runners-up get placed where they deserve. Los Alamos benefits from wins over Kirtland Central, Grants, St. Pius and Capital, while the loss to Del Norte is lessened.
8. Kirtland Central (15-10). The debate here is reputation vs. resume, and resume wins out. While St. Pius might be the 6AAAA runner up, its loss to the Broncos gives the edge to the Four Corners team. Wins over the Sartans and Grants help their cause.
9. St. Pius X (11-15). The Sartans are on a 7-3 closing run after a 4-11 slump to start the year. This is about as high as they can go, even if they beat Volcano Vista in the district tournament. But this has been a nice save regardless.
10. Piedra Vista (16-10). If it hadn't been for a two-game losing streak to close out the 1AAAA season, the Panthers might have made an argument for a fifth seed. Instead, they drop below the Sartans, thanks to that sticky first-round rule. But Piedra Vista is 5-1 outside of district play and the Hilltoppers should pay attention to Brian Shock's team very closely. Remember 2006?
11. Grants (16-7). Yes, the Pirates have a better record than Piedra Vista, but Grants is 9-6 against AAAA competition and are only 6-6 since a 10-1 start. How you finish is as much an indicator of a team's seed as anything else.
12. Capital (12-11). The Jaguars missed out on jumping possibly to an eight seed with a win over the Hilltoppers Saturday, but a 4-1 finish was quite a run. Can they slide up a spot or two? Maybe. An 8-4 AAAA mark is better than Grants' effort and a couple of wins will get Capital to a 2AAAA title game against Espanola. Too bad it took six weeks for Capital to wake up.
13. Belen (15-10). Go ahead, make an argument for Belen being ahead of Capital. Yes, the Eagles were 8-3 against non-district AAAA schools, but they were 1-5 and in last place in the district. That has to count for something. It does in my book. Oh, and Belen sucks! (Los Lunas grad here).
14. Artesia (12-13). The Bulldogs benefit from a 5-3 AAAA pre-district mark, while Roswell Goddard went 2-2. Never mind that the schools split. Enough said.
15. Valencia (10-16). The 5AAAA runner-up gets in because it owns a win over its main competitor, Aztec. However, that 1-10 mark against non-district AAAA looks ugly. Very ugly.
16. Chaparral (10-16). The Lobos are 3-3 against AAAA competition - too bad its all against 3AAAA teams. What saves them is that Aztec was 2-4 and beat a four-win Bernalillo and five-win Farmington (in tournament play) in the process. A district runner-up should trump a fourth-place team. Unless that runner-up is really bad.