AAA update

The regular season is in its final three days. All I can say is, "Hooray!" because it means we're that much closer to this sports writer's Christmas - the State Tournament. Speaking of the state tournament, here is a AAA update to the seedings.
Of course, I have no insight other than what the NMAA provides. Let's hope it's right.

1. Hope Christian (21-3). The Huskies are two District 5AAA games away from finishing the regular season with a 17-game winning streak. Of course, there is one small matter - beating Sandia Preparatory on Saturday. If not, a playoff game will commence, likely on Monday, and that could derail a top seed. And guess who could be laying in wait ...
2. St. Michael's (17-7). What was said about Hope can be said about the Horsemen when it comes to wrapping up the district. Just exchange "Pojoaque" for "Sandia Prep." Would now be a good time to bring up that 12-game winning streak the Horseman have over the Elks? I'm sure if it grows to 13 after Friday, somebody will mention it. A Pojoaque win would be worth mentioning, especially since it would set up a one-game playoff.
3. Portales (16-8). Guess what the Rams don't have to worry about? If you said, "A playoff game?" you would be correct. Portales took care of those concerns by beating Lovington 72-54 on Feb. 13. The Rams lost a tough one to AA Texico, the reigning state champion, on Tuesday but finish with 3AAA foeDexter Friday. An 8-0 record should follow that matchup.
4. Bloomfield (17-5). The Rams continue to roll along, but they must finish 1AAA business by beating Wingate. Or else ... Yeah, you know. A loss would also hurt their seeding because there's not a lot separating Bloomfield and Sandia Prep. Any slip-up will come with a seeding slide.
5. Sandia Prep (17-6). The Sun Devils could jump over Bloomfield regardless if they beat Hope Christian. It could happen. Of the 10 AAA schools to play Hope this season, only one was within single digits - Sandia Prep.
6. Pojoaque (17-8). Cue up the pinball music, because this is where teams begin to bounce around. The Elks move up here thanks to quagmire that is District 1AAA and 2AAA. They can solidify this spot - there is no way to get ahead of the Sun Devils, in my humble opinion - with a win over St. Michael's. A loss could have them falling back to eight, which was where I had them before.
7. Wingate (17-6). Perhaps my thinking is wrong when it comes to Rehoboth. So maybe the Bears shouldn't be punished for a 45-42 loss to the Lynx on Saturday .... Nah. A loss to a AA school is a loss to a AA school. Enough said.
8. Socorro (14-11). The Warriors stayed perfect in 3AAA at 6-0, but one score jumps out at you - a 59-56 home win over Hatch Valley on Feb. 10. Guess where Socorro finishes the season on Friday?
9. West Las Vegas (14-11). So what separates the Dons from Crownpoint, Newcomb and Santa Fe Indian School? That win over Portales is huge, for starters. That they maintain third place -with SFIS - in 2AAA is also crucial. Here's the thing: If West Las Vegas beats Las Vegas Robertson and SFIS beats Raton, it's a 5-5 deadheat. And both teams beat each other by four. So I hear a coin flip in both team's future. Right now, the money is on the Dons. But barely.
10. SFIS (12-12). The remaining three teams shaped up this way: Newcomb currently is second in 1AAA , putting it ahead of Crownpoint. So it comes down to resumes, then. Newcomb has two wins over Class A teams (Ramah and Temple Baptist). SFIS has three AA wins and a win over Bernalillo. Oh, and Pojoaque is a six (district foes cannot face each other in the first round at state). That seals it for now.
11. Newcomb (13-10). If the Skyhawks get past Tohatchi on Friday, their matchup with Wingate becomes crucial. The Bears have second place sewn up, so it could be a good opportunity for an upset. If that happens, third place - and an 11 seed - likely is Newcomb's reward.
12. Crownpoint (13-10). The Eagles almost upset Bloomfield (73-72), then lost to Wingate and beat Tohatchi. If they can end the season with wins of Miyamura and Zuni today and Friday, a 15-10 record should suffice for a spot here. And that could also save Bloomfield from losing ground to Sandia Prep.
13. Lovington (11-13). The Wildcats nabbed the No. 2 seed in 3AAA by beating Ruidoso on Tuesday. They are the best of the rest, and even a loss to Ruidoso in the district tournament wouldn't hurt.
14. Hatch Valley (7-18).The Bears are here for one reason - who else is there? Ruidoso or NMMI can't move up because of Portales' placement, and Lovington isn't worthy of anything more than a 13. So the (technically) 16th seed will be right here. If Hatch beats Socorro, then this spot is solid. If not, could Laguna-Acoma (which could be second in 5AAA if it beat Cuba on Tuesday) be in play?
15. Ruidoso (10-15). The Warriors have third place secured at 3-4. No thanks will be awarded to to Portales, however. Ruidoso is really a 14, but can't be there because of the Rams. Lovington can't jump past Crownpoint because of its record and resume, so the Warriors are trapped.
16. NMMI (10-15). Again, the Colts suffer from the same plight. Not deserving of a No. 16, but they have no control over where they're at. So, does their matchup with Ruidoso on Friday mean anything? Alas, no.