It's another stirring rendition of bracketology, and the first week of district play helped make the picture a bit clearer. Here's what I have for the week.
1. Gallup (13-6). Ah, if only I could see the steam coming out of Richard Martinez's ears right now. The Bengals were sloppy in a 62-59 overtime win over District 6AAAA foe Los Lunas at home. Saturday's home matchup with Grants could be a make-or-break moment for Gallup. A win keeps them solidly in the top spot. A loss could drop them a few spots - and raise the Pirates' seeding as well.
2. Española Valley (12-7). The Sundevils are in the driver's seat at 3-0 in 2AAAA, and their next big test won't come until they head to Toby Roybal for a rematch with Santa Fe High. They are anxiously waiting for the Bengals to fall ... Just as long as they don't either.
3. Roswell (14-3). The Coyotes are 10 days away from its big District 4AAAA opener against Roswell Goddard. In between that are matchups with AAA Portales and Ruidoso, so don't mess it up, Roswell.
4. Piedra Vista (16-2). Yes, the Panthers' schedule is soft, but 16-2 is 16-2. Troubling sign, though, was a 65-59 win over a 5-12 Farmington team in the 1AAAA opener. For the Panthers to maintain their perch, they have to keep winning - and convincingly at that.
5. Santa Teresa (10-8). The Desert Warriors keep creeping up. They swept through 4AAAA - beating Roswell, Goddard and Artesia, and that will weigh stronger as the district season progresses. Any losses from the top four will surely move Santa Teresa up.
6. Capital (11-6). The Jaguars, as usual, missed their golden opportunity against Espanola, and their second-half comeback over Bernalillo wasn't inspiring either. However, they are 2-1 after a 2-3 slump, so they are slowly regaining their form. Capital needs to finish second to maintain a top six spot.
7. Grants (14-2). Here is the Pirates opportunity. The nondistrict schedule has been lambasted as not tough enough, so Saturday's game against the Bengals is huge to silence the critics. The return of 6-foot-3 Weston Zellers could prove crucial in their try to enhance their resume.
8. St. Pius X (10-8). Surprise, surprise! Looks who's moving up at the right time? Yes, those pesky Sartans seem to have a sixth sense about when it's time to shine. A 5AAAA win over Del Norte gives them the early leg up in the district, but beware the Chargers of Albuquerque Academy. Their hated rival comes to the West Side on Friday.
9. Aztec (11-6). The Tigers started off 1AAAA on a good note, walloping Kirtland Central by 20 points. Thursday presents the Bobcats of Bloomfield, then ... PV on Saturday. It's time to make some noise against your former head coach (Brian Shock), Aztec.
10. Roswell Goddard (11-6). After a tough loss to Santa Teresa, the Rockets split two games against AAAAA schools, losing to No. 3 Clovis while beating the Hobbs Eagles. Carlsbad comes to town on Friday, then it's on to District 4AAAA play.
11. Los Lunas (8-9). Two closes losses to Grants and Gallup to start 6AAAA play show how close the Tigers are to being an elite team. But close doesn't quite cut it. They'll have a second chance in the second half of the district season. So, go Tigers! (YES, I am a Tigers grad.)
12. Artesia (11-8). The Bulldogs are doing just enough to ... Well, not drop. A loss to Clovis Tuesday won't hurt, but a win over Hobbs on Thursday will do nothing but help.
13. Del Norte (8-11). The Knights jumped in when they beat Academy, and a 52-44 loss at St. Pius X isn't that bad. This might be a team few want to face come March because Del Norte is on a 7-3 run right now.
14. Albuquerque Academy (6-13). A 4-2 mark against AAAA competition is better than what anyone else has done, so the Chargers are still in the postseason. Anda win over St. Pius can go a long way toward solidifying it.
15. Deming (9-11). The Wildcats picked a good time for a week-long break. They don't move out, and they don't move up. And that's all that matters at this time of year.
16. Bernalillo (9-9). The Spartans need a big win like I need to lose (more) weight. And guess who's coming to town on Friday? How about those Demons of Santa Fe High ... Talk about a playoff-like game in January. That's what this game is.
Outside looking in:
Valencia (8-11). Yay! They beat Miyamura! Booooo! They lost to Grants. That adds up to 3-8 against AAAA schools. Just not good enough.
Santa Fe High (6-11). Even David Rodriguez knows the heat is on his team to do something - anything - in 2AAAA. A loss to Taos is bad, but a loss to Bernalillo? Start talking about the district tournament then, guys.
Kirtland Central (8-10). An 0-2 start knocked the Broncos into bubble land. Funny, if you asked me at the beginning of the year who would be a dark horse in AAAA this year, I'd have said KC. Way to prove me wrong!
Bloomfield (8-10). The bubble is about to burst The Bobcats have to do something, and fast.
Jan 26, 2011
Jan 21, 2011
AAA bracketology
Here's where I see Class AAA heading into this weekend:
1. Albuquerque Hope Christian (15-3). The Huskies are as constant as the four seasons. They wouldn't just be the best team in AAA, but the best in AAAA and likely a top five seed in AAAAA. Their only losses are to the reigning AAAAA state champ (La Cueva), the current AAAAA No. 1 (Las Cruces Oñate) and an Arizona school. After building up on big school opponents, the Huskies came back down to the AAA level, beating Hatch Valley and Taos in its own tournament over the weekend.
2. St. Michael's (12-5). Here's another thing you can bank on: the Horsemen to be nipping at the Huskies' heels. Their stunning overtime win over Sandia Prep gives St. Michael's a leg up on the No. 2 seed and might get Hope Christian's attention. The win also takes some of the blight off a 49-46 loss to Socorro. A 4-1 AAA mark and a win over Wingate also adds luster.
3. Wingate (12-1). The tempting choice is to make it three-for-three with District 5AAA schools, but it's hard to discard a 12-1 record and a 4-1 mark in AAA. The lone loss was a mystifying 19-point loss to St. Michael's and two wins come against West Las Vegas, but an 87-86 win over Socorro lends credibility in my mind for a 3 spot.
4. Albuquerque Sandia Preparatory (12-5). The Sundevils closely follow the St. Michael's and Hope Christian route of scheduling, and four of their five losses are to bigger schools or to out-of-state programs. But that one loss to St. Michael's hurt, but the path to a top-three seed is filled with opportunities.
4. Taos (11-5). The logjam of teams with winning records and similar resumes begins here. Taos is the best of the rest based on a 3-1 mark against AAA teams and a 57-51 win over Socorro during the Ben Lujan Tournament. Granted, their best AAA win pales to Socorro, but head-to-head still counts for something. Also, the Tigers' lone AAA loss is to ... Hope Christian. So there.
5. Socorro (10-6). Socorro done its part to play as many AAA teams as possible, going 6-3 with a big win over the Horsemen. The Warriors also have losses to Sandia Prep, Wingate and Pojoaque, but the difference is that they beat the Horsemen.
6. Pojoaque Valley (11-6). The Elks have their chance to match Socorro's feat tomorrow when the Horsemen come to Jacona. They are 3-1 against AAA competition with a win over Socorro and SFIS, but that is weighed down by a loss to Portales. We won't go into The Streak, but a win over St. Michael's will move them up several spots.
7. Portales (8-5). The Rams can boast of a win over Pojoaque, although that can be tempered by losses to Las Vegas Robertson and Taos. However, they have an impressive win over Roswell and close losses to Albuquerque St. Pius X and Artesia. That makes their overall body of work stack up better.
8. Santa Fe Indian School (8-6). The Braves are a hard read. On one end, they have wins over schools AA and below, but three against AAAA teams. A 3-1 mark in-class looks good, but ... SFIS is hitting the skids right now, having lost four of its last five games. And a big matchup against St. Michael's looms next week. On the plus side, 5AAA has all of its teams in the top 8 ... for now.
9. Las Vegas Robertson (10-6). The Cardinals stumbled through a 2-2 stretch in late December, but rebounded with three straight wins, including one over the stumbling Braves. So why are they still behind SFIS? One reason - six wins over AA shools and one over an A team. Plus, Robertson is 2-4 against AAA competition with the losses coming to the Braves, St. Michael's (47-22), Sandia Prep (70-45) and Socorro (49-48).
10. Ruidoso (8-8). The Warriors should peitition to move to 3AAA because they would hold their own. They are 4-3 against 3AAA - which is also all of their AAA games. They were swept by Artesia and Goddard, two AAAA schools in good standing in that bracket. So here they are.
11. Silver (7-9). The Colts are undefeated in AAA. Too bad they've only played 4-12 West Las Vegas and winless Cobre. Silver has played 11 games against AAAA teams and Arizona schools, with close losses to Artesia (71-70) and a 67-65 verdict the first time it played Deming. Silver can also brag that it is the only 3AAA school Ruidoso hasn't played. That might not be a good thing right now, though.
12. Lovington (6-9). The Wildcats can boast about a 67-64 win over Goddard in early December, but they are an unknown quantity because they have yet to play a AAA team. Of course, the hard thing for southeastern school is to play nondistrict AAA schools because they are on the other side of the state. So the 4AAA season will say a lot about them.
13. Hot Springs (7-9). The pickings start slimming down here. The Tigers are 2-2 vs. AAA teams, but they've played only two teams (1-2 to Ruidoso). They're also an impressive 3-1 ... against A schools (one win was over McCurdy School). Given that Hot Springs' compeition is the rest of 3AAA and 1AAAA, it's enough to get them this high.
14. Shiprock (6-11). The Cheiftains have only one AAA matchup under their belt - a 55-35 win over Raton - but they have played a strong nondistrict schedule. By strong, we mean not playing more than two games against sub-AAA teams. Wins over Farmington and former district 'mate Bloomfield strengthen their position.
15. West Las Vegas (4-12). If you saw Zuni bringing up the rear and wonder why, where it is. West Las Vegas played just three AA schools and has a win over Silver. Oh, and over Deming. Oh, and the Dons have a stronger nondistrict schedule. Oh, and they play in a tougher district than 3AAA and 1AAA. But they better beat Raton. Just saying.
14. Zuni (5-7). If it were up to me, Zuni would only get to compete for a spot in the Class A Tournament - and not make it in that one either because of a 3-5 mark. Luckily, wins over Hatch Valley and Raton give the Thunderbirds a 2-2 mark against AAA teams, but they'll need to finish at least second in 1AAA to solidify a spot.
As for the outsiders, only one need apply:
Hatch Valley (3-11). Because 1AAA ... Well, for lack of a better term, it sucks. And it already has three teams in. What does that say about the Bears? Well, better to give somebody hope.
1. Albuquerque Hope Christian (15-3). The Huskies are as constant as the four seasons. They wouldn't just be the best team in AAA, but the best in AAAA and likely a top five seed in AAAAA. Their only losses are to the reigning AAAAA state champ (La Cueva), the current AAAAA No. 1 (Las Cruces Oñate) and an Arizona school. After building up on big school opponents, the Huskies came back down to the AAA level, beating Hatch Valley and Taos in its own tournament over the weekend.
2. St. Michael's (12-5). Here's another thing you can bank on: the Horsemen to be nipping at the Huskies' heels. Their stunning overtime win over Sandia Prep gives St. Michael's a leg up on the No. 2 seed and might get Hope Christian's attention. The win also takes some of the blight off a 49-46 loss to Socorro. A 4-1 AAA mark and a win over Wingate also adds luster.
3. Wingate (12-1). The tempting choice is to make it three-for-three with District 5AAA schools, but it's hard to discard a 12-1 record and a 4-1 mark in AAA. The lone loss was a mystifying 19-point loss to St. Michael's and two wins come against West Las Vegas, but an 87-86 win over Socorro lends credibility in my mind for a 3 spot.
4. Albuquerque Sandia Preparatory (12-5). The Sundevils closely follow the St. Michael's and Hope Christian route of scheduling, and four of their five losses are to bigger schools or to out-of-state programs. But that one loss to St. Michael's hurt, but the path to a top-three seed is filled with opportunities.
4. Taos (11-5). The logjam of teams with winning records and similar resumes begins here. Taos is the best of the rest based on a 3-1 mark against AAA teams and a 57-51 win over Socorro during the Ben Lujan Tournament. Granted, their best AAA win pales to Socorro, but head-to-head still counts for something. Also, the Tigers' lone AAA loss is to ... Hope Christian. So there.
5. Socorro (10-6). Socorro done its part to play as many AAA teams as possible, going 6-3 with a big win over the Horsemen. The Warriors also have losses to Sandia Prep, Wingate and Pojoaque, but the difference is that they beat the Horsemen.
6. Pojoaque Valley (11-6). The Elks have their chance to match Socorro's feat tomorrow when the Horsemen come to Jacona. They are 3-1 against AAA competition with a win over Socorro and SFIS, but that is weighed down by a loss to Portales. We won't go into The Streak, but a win over St. Michael's will move them up several spots.
7. Portales (8-5). The Rams can boast of a win over Pojoaque, although that can be tempered by losses to Las Vegas Robertson and Taos. However, they have an impressive win over Roswell and close losses to Albuquerque St. Pius X and Artesia. That makes their overall body of work stack up better.
8. Santa Fe Indian School (8-6). The Braves are a hard read. On one end, they have wins over schools AA and below, but three against AAAA teams. A 3-1 mark in-class looks good, but ... SFIS is hitting the skids right now, having lost four of its last five games. And a big matchup against St. Michael's looms next week. On the plus side, 5AAA has all of its teams in the top 8 ... for now.
9. Las Vegas Robertson (10-6). The Cardinals stumbled through a 2-2 stretch in late December, but rebounded with three straight wins, including one over the stumbling Braves. So why are they still behind SFIS? One reason - six wins over AA shools and one over an A team. Plus, Robertson is 2-4 against AAA competition with the losses coming to the Braves, St. Michael's (47-22), Sandia Prep (70-45) and Socorro (49-48).
10. Ruidoso (8-8). The Warriors should peitition to move to 3AAA because they would hold their own. They are 4-3 against 3AAA - which is also all of their AAA games. They were swept by Artesia and Goddard, two AAAA schools in good standing in that bracket. So here they are.
11. Silver (7-9). The Colts are undefeated in AAA. Too bad they've only played 4-12 West Las Vegas and winless Cobre. Silver has played 11 games against AAAA teams and Arizona schools, with close losses to Artesia (71-70) and a 67-65 verdict the first time it played Deming. Silver can also brag that it is the only 3AAA school Ruidoso hasn't played. That might not be a good thing right now, though.
12. Lovington (6-9). The Wildcats can boast about a 67-64 win over Goddard in early December, but they are an unknown quantity because they have yet to play a AAA team. Of course, the hard thing for southeastern school is to play nondistrict AAA schools because they are on the other side of the state. So the 4AAA season will say a lot about them.
13. Hot Springs (7-9). The pickings start slimming down here. The Tigers are 2-2 vs. AAA teams, but they've played only two teams (1-2 to Ruidoso). They're also an impressive 3-1 ... against A schools (one win was over McCurdy School). Given that Hot Springs' compeition is the rest of 3AAA and 1AAAA, it's enough to get them this high.
14. Shiprock (6-11). The Cheiftains have only one AAA matchup under their belt - a 55-35 win over Raton - but they have played a strong nondistrict schedule. By strong, we mean not playing more than two games against sub-AAA teams. Wins over Farmington and former district 'mate Bloomfield strengthen their position.
15. West Las Vegas (4-12). If you saw Zuni bringing up the rear and wonder why, where it is. West Las Vegas played just three AA schools and has a win over Silver. Oh, and over Deming. Oh, and the Dons have a stronger nondistrict schedule. Oh, and they play in a tougher district than 3AAA and 1AAA. But they better beat Raton. Just saying.
14. Zuni (5-7). If it were up to me, Zuni would only get to compete for a spot in the Class A Tournament - and not make it in that one either because of a 3-5 mark. Luckily, wins over Hatch Valley and Raton give the Thunderbirds a 2-2 mark against AAA teams, but they'll need to finish at least second in 1AAA to solidify a spot.
As for the outsiders, only one need apply:
Hatch Valley (3-11). Because 1AAA ... Well, for lack of a better term, it sucks. And it already has three teams in. What does that say about the Bears? Well, better to give somebody hope.
Jan 20, 2011
Bracketology 2011 (AAAA version)
So after the start of the district season in 2AAAA boys, it seems like a good time to start thinking about ... SEEDINGS! It's five weeks away, and you know coaches/athletic directors/players are all thinking it. Without further ado ...
1. Gallup (11-6). If not for Espanola's struggles (granted, it has played the toughest schedule in AAAA), the Sundevils would be sitting pretty at this spot. Still, Gallup has done very well against AAAA competition (5-1). However, if Espanola runs the table in 2AAAA, it won't be hard for me to knock the Bengals to No. 2 because of one thing: Espanola 69, Gallup 57. That season opening game in The Pit could be the tipping point. Emphasis on could.
2. Espanola Valley (10-7). The Sundevils are 3-0 against AAAA competition, but they have some blemishes. The 0-3 mark against Hope Christian, the top team in AAA, doesn't help, and that 42-41 loss to Rio Rancho doesn't sit well, either. All can be forgiven if the Sundevils can run the table in the district. Last night's 62-61 squeaker over Santa Fe High, however, indicates that might be a hard feat to accomplish.
3. Roswell (11-3). The reigning AAAA champion is prowling under the radar, although a 53-48 loss to Santa Teresa makes the Coyotes a shaky 3. They benefit from the fellow shakiness of Capital, Grants and the unknown quantity that Piedra Vista is. Roswell has a 5-2 mark in the class, but the losses are to the Desert Warriors and to Los Lunas. Also hindering the Coyotes is a nondistrict schedule that pit them against 4AAAA foes Roswell Goddard (twice) and Artesia plus two games against a pedestrian Deming squad. The upside is a 73-72 win over Hobbs (although this might be the weakest Eagles team in years).
4. Piedra Vista (15-2). The Panthers stocked up on AAAA schools and enjoy an 8-1 mark against them. The one loss is to a surging Goddard team, but they have beaten only one school (District 1AAAA foe Aztec in Aztec's tournament) with a winning record. Still, their resume looks better than any other team. At the moment.
5. Capital (10-5). Yes, I fought the urge to stick the Jaguars higher, but reason came to me. They are 5-1 against AAAA competition, but the one loss is to Albuquerque Academy in a game that they had to rally from a 46-29 deficit. The 2-3 stumble to start January is troublesome, too, although the 62-47 win over Grants helps. Capital will reveal a lot on Saturday when it plays host to Espanola. A win would help them shatter the glass ceiling they appear to be struggling to break.
6. Grants (12-2). The Pirates' 8-1 mark in AAAA is pretty impressive, but it could have been better with a win over Capital. The knock on Grants is its subpar nondistrict schedule, and there is some merit to it. Only Capital and Bloomfield are at least. 500, and the Pirates own two wins over Miyamura (3-10) and 1-17 Moriarty. Granted, Capital has a win over Moriarty as well, but the Jaguars also have a win over the Pirates.
7. Santa Teresa (8-7). The Desert Warriors pulled off a couple of good wins over Roswell and Goddard, which raises their stock and may prove beneficial come February. The positive is that of their eight losses, seven are to AAAAA teams or Texas schools. A 4-1 mark against AAAA schools can only help, especially with the one loss coming to Española. This is a team to watch over the coming weeks.
8. Los Lunas (8-7). The Tigers are a conundrum. They have a 6-2 AAAA record, but two of their losses (to Albuquerque Atrisco Heritage and Albuquerque del Norte) came to teams they beat earlier in the year. That's not a good sign going into District 6AAAA play (where you play teams twice) .The positive is the win over Roswell. Thank God they don't have to play them again.
9. Goddard (10-6). The Rockets' signature win over Piedra Vista is muted by a 3-3 in-class mark. Losses to Roswell (twice) and Santa Teresa are not bad losses, but it's enough to take the edge off a good start. A win over the Coyotes could push them into a home game.
10. Albuquerque St. Pius X (8-8). Yes, the Sartans might be a .500 team, but their work so far merits a 10 seed. They are 4-2 against AAAA schools and have two competitive losses to Gallup and Grants. Their win over Bernalillo, which is a tournament team at this moment (see later), is their brightest spot.
11. Aztec (10-6). The Tigers' problem is that they have three wins over AA schools and four over AAA schools. They do not own a significant over a AAAA school, unless Miyamura counts. A 70-44 loss to Piedra Vista in Aztec's own tournament doesn't help the cause either.
12. Artesia (10-6). If the Bulldogs were in Class AAA, they'd be a high seed. Seven of their wins come against that class. Against AAAA, the record is 2-4 and the wins are against Deming (9-11) and a one-win Belen team. Yikes.
13. Albuquerque Academy (6-10). Yes, a 6-10 team is in before some other schools with better records. Why? Try a 4-1 mark in AAAA, with a win over Capital and a 76-60 loss to Piedra Vista. Also, all but one loss has come against AAAAA teams or schools out of the state. The wins over Farmington (5-11), Belen and Moriarty might not count for much, but that win over Capital sure does.
14. Bernalillo (9-8). Welcome to AAAA's bi-polar team. The Sartans started off 1-4, then won seven of eight. They find themselves in a 1-3 slump and a 57-44 District 2AAAA-opening loss at Los Alamos might be the albatross that they can't lose. Wins over Valencia and Atrisco Heritage are good, but Bernalillo is a team that's one more bad loss (hello, Santa Fe High) from fighting for its playoff life.
16. Deming (9-11). The Wildcats are in the inside looking out because of a 3-4 mark in AAAA and a win over Artesia. But a 6-1 mark against AAA teams does not bode well.
15. Kirtland Central (8-8). This is the best out of a bad bunch. They have wins over five-win teams (Los Alamos and Farmington) and are 3-4 against AAAA competition. It's a better reume than the rest of the teams. But not by much.
Close but no ..
Bloomfield (8-8). The Bobcats have played just three AAAA schools and have only a win over Miyamura. Add two wins over AA schools and a win over Class A Magdalena, and Bloomfield has some work to do in district play.
Albuquerque Del Norte (6-10). The Knights are a team on the rise. After a 1-8 start, they have gone 5-2 and almost beat Capital at home. Wins over Bernalillo and Kirtland Central are attractice, but it's hard to wipe away a 1-8 start. But they are doing it.
Valencia (7-10). The Jaguars barely make it on this list. A 2-7 mark in-class makes them a hard sell. But there are wins to be had in a district that has Gallup, Grants and Los Lunas. Get to work.
Santa Fe High (5-10). The Demons are two made free throws from making a compelling argument for the state tournament. IF they had beaten Española Wednesday night, they would have a win that trumps a lot of other school. The task then would be to continue to build on that. As it stands now, Saturday's game against Los Alamos is a make-or-break game. A win keeps their playoff hopes alive. A loss will take a huge winning streak for the committee to forget it. Oh, and wins over Espanola and Capital would help.
1. Gallup (11-6). If not for Espanola's struggles (granted, it has played the toughest schedule in AAAA), the Sundevils would be sitting pretty at this spot. Still, Gallup has done very well against AAAA competition (5-1). However, if Espanola runs the table in 2AAAA, it won't be hard for me to knock the Bengals to No. 2 because of one thing: Espanola 69, Gallup 57. That season opening game in The Pit could be the tipping point. Emphasis on could.
2. Espanola Valley (10-7). The Sundevils are 3-0 against AAAA competition, but they have some blemishes. The 0-3 mark against Hope Christian, the top team in AAA, doesn't help, and that 42-41 loss to Rio Rancho doesn't sit well, either. All can be forgiven if the Sundevils can run the table in the district. Last night's 62-61 squeaker over Santa Fe High, however, indicates that might be a hard feat to accomplish.
3. Roswell (11-3). The reigning AAAA champion is prowling under the radar, although a 53-48 loss to Santa Teresa makes the Coyotes a shaky 3. They benefit from the fellow shakiness of Capital, Grants and the unknown quantity that Piedra Vista is. Roswell has a 5-2 mark in the class, but the losses are to the Desert Warriors and to Los Lunas. Also hindering the Coyotes is a nondistrict schedule that pit them against 4AAAA foes Roswell Goddard (twice) and Artesia plus two games against a pedestrian Deming squad. The upside is a 73-72 win over Hobbs (although this might be the weakest Eagles team in years).
4. Piedra Vista (15-2). The Panthers stocked up on AAAA schools and enjoy an 8-1 mark against them. The one loss is to a surging Goddard team, but they have beaten only one school (District 1AAAA foe Aztec in Aztec's tournament) with a winning record. Still, their resume looks better than any other team. At the moment.
5. Capital (10-5). Yes, I fought the urge to stick the Jaguars higher, but reason came to me. They are 5-1 against AAAA competition, but the one loss is to Albuquerque Academy in a game that they had to rally from a 46-29 deficit. The 2-3 stumble to start January is troublesome, too, although the 62-47 win over Grants helps. Capital will reveal a lot on Saturday when it plays host to Espanola. A win would help them shatter the glass ceiling they appear to be struggling to break.
6. Grants (12-2). The Pirates' 8-1 mark in AAAA is pretty impressive, but it could have been better with a win over Capital. The knock on Grants is its subpar nondistrict schedule, and there is some merit to it. Only Capital and Bloomfield are at least. 500, and the Pirates own two wins over Miyamura (3-10) and 1-17 Moriarty. Granted, Capital has a win over Moriarty as well, but the Jaguars also have a win over the Pirates.
7. Santa Teresa (8-7). The Desert Warriors pulled off a couple of good wins over Roswell and Goddard, which raises their stock and may prove beneficial come February. The positive is that of their eight losses, seven are to AAAAA teams or Texas schools. A 4-1 mark against AAAA schools can only help, especially with the one loss coming to Española. This is a team to watch over the coming weeks.
8. Los Lunas (8-7). The Tigers are a conundrum. They have a 6-2 AAAA record, but two of their losses (to Albuquerque Atrisco Heritage and Albuquerque del Norte) came to teams they beat earlier in the year. That's not a good sign going into District 6AAAA play (where you play teams twice) .The positive is the win over Roswell. Thank God they don't have to play them again.
9. Goddard (10-6). The Rockets' signature win over Piedra Vista is muted by a 3-3 in-class mark. Losses to Roswell (twice) and Santa Teresa are not bad losses, but it's enough to take the edge off a good start. A win over the Coyotes could push them into a home game.
10. Albuquerque St. Pius X (8-8). Yes, the Sartans might be a .500 team, but their work so far merits a 10 seed. They are 4-2 against AAAA schools and have two competitive losses to Gallup and Grants. Their win over Bernalillo, which is a tournament team at this moment (see later), is their brightest spot.
11. Aztec (10-6). The Tigers' problem is that they have three wins over AA schools and four over AAA schools. They do not own a significant over a AAAA school, unless Miyamura counts. A 70-44 loss to Piedra Vista in Aztec's own tournament doesn't help the cause either.
12. Artesia (10-6). If the Bulldogs were in Class AAA, they'd be a high seed. Seven of their wins come against that class. Against AAAA, the record is 2-4 and the wins are against Deming (9-11) and a one-win Belen team. Yikes.
13. Albuquerque Academy (6-10). Yes, a 6-10 team is in before some other schools with better records. Why? Try a 4-1 mark in AAAA, with a win over Capital and a 76-60 loss to Piedra Vista. Also, all but one loss has come against AAAAA teams or schools out of the state. The wins over Farmington (5-11), Belen and Moriarty might not count for much, but that win over Capital sure does.
14. Bernalillo (9-8). Welcome to AAAA's bi-polar team. The Sartans started off 1-4, then won seven of eight. They find themselves in a 1-3 slump and a 57-44 District 2AAAA-opening loss at Los Alamos might be the albatross that they can't lose. Wins over Valencia and Atrisco Heritage are good, but Bernalillo is a team that's one more bad loss (hello, Santa Fe High) from fighting for its playoff life.
16. Deming (9-11). The Wildcats are in the inside looking out because of a 3-4 mark in AAAA and a win over Artesia. But a 6-1 mark against AAA teams does not bode well.
15. Kirtland Central (8-8). This is the best out of a bad bunch. They have wins over five-win teams (Los Alamos and Farmington) and are 3-4 against AAAA competition. It's a better reume than the rest of the teams. But not by much.
Close but no ..
Bloomfield (8-8). The Bobcats have played just three AAAA schools and have only a win over Miyamura. Add two wins over AA schools and a win over Class A Magdalena, and Bloomfield has some work to do in district play.
Albuquerque Del Norte (6-10). The Knights are a team on the rise. After a 1-8 start, they have gone 5-2 and almost beat Capital at home. Wins over Bernalillo and Kirtland Central are attractice, but it's hard to wipe away a 1-8 start. But they are doing it.
Valencia (7-10). The Jaguars barely make it on this list. A 2-7 mark in-class makes them a hard sell. But there are wins to be had in a district that has Gallup, Grants and Los Lunas. Get to work.
Santa Fe High (5-10). The Demons are two made free throws from making a compelling argument for the state tournament. IF they had beaten Española Wednesday night, they would have a win that trumps a lot of other school. The task then would be to continue to build on that. As it stands now, Saturday's game against Los Alamos is a make-or-break game. A win keeps their playoff hopes alive. A loss will take a huge winning streak for the committee to forget it. Oh, and wins over Espanola and Capital would help.
Jan 18, 2011
The REAL season begins ...
Tuesday, the girls started off the district basketball season as 5AAA, 2AAA, and 2AAAA begin play today.
Today, 2AAAA boys take center stage with Santa Fe High facing Espanola Valley in a big 2AAAA game to start the district season.
Here's a look at what to expect this week in district play, bypassing Tuesday's action (although not ignoring it):
Today
Santa Fe High at Espanola Valley, 7 p.m. - What a way for the Demons to begin their district play as a AAAA school. While Espanola is still one of the best teams in AAAA, the Sundevils have shown and surprising inability to kickstart their offense. Outside of Rodney Coles, the rest of the team looks tentative attacking the basket and not good enough from the perimeter to overcome that. If anything, the Sundevils HAVE to attack the basket to be successful.
As for the Demons, they have yet to put together a complete effort. They fall behind too often, then expend energy coming back. Usually, that means Santa Fe High is gassed when it matters the most (see Grants, Sandia Prep games). It's a team that shows it can compete with the best teams in the state. What's missing is a big win.
There's no time like the present.
Thursday
Albuquerque Sandia Prep at St. Michael's, 7 p.m. - Welcome to the toughest district in Class AAA. This opener will be key in determining who is the primary challenger to two-time reigning AAA champion Albuquerque Hope Christian. The Sundevils have size in Harry Hampden-Smith (6-foot-5) and the Fort Lewis-bound Kody Salcido (6-6), but the Horsemen are accustomed to facing big teams. Their schedule has been filled with them. But just because you've faced big teams doesn't mean you can beat them.
St. Michael's is small in every way possible. Its bigs are small (none are taller than 6-1), and its guards are small, which seems to be a problem when bigger teams press the Horsemen. Still, if they can control the tempo, that can play into their favor.
Friday
St. Michael's at Pojoaque Valley, 7 p.m. - The Elkettes likely come in 0-1 in 5AAA play, and will be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start. And what better team to do it against than the Lady Horsemen, a team they already beat (the Capital City Invitational in December)? The key will be to force the tempo. St. Michael's goal is to hold teams to less than 30 points, because it struggles to score much more than that.
Saturday
Two streaks are on the line this night:
Capital at Espanola Valley, 7 p.m. - The last time Capital beat the Sundevils, seniors Jonathon Rodriguez and Estevan Martinez were still in middle school. That was 13 games ago. The Jaguars always circle this game as their proving ground in Class AAAA, and often they have come away wanting. This might be their best chance, however. Espanola is 8-6, but has struggled at times to score and its six losses almost equals the number of losses in the past two seasons combined. But the Sundevils are the better tested team, having not lost to a AAAA school yet this season.
St. Michael's at Pojoaque Valley, 7 p.m. - Remember this date: Feb. 9, 2005. David Jaramillo and Josh Harris were Elks seniors, and Ryan Gonzalez was a precocious eighth grade. The coach for St. Michael's was Ron Mayberry, and Ron Geyer was still coaching girls basketball at Los Lunas. My, how time flies. Geyer has not lost in 16 matchups against Joey Trujillo and the Elks. Gonzalez won a state title, but the New Mexico Highlands junior never could boast beating the Horsemen. But ...
The Horsemen look as vulnerable as ever, but the Elks aren't much better. That makes for an intriguing matchup, especially if St. Michael's enter the district 0-1. An 0-2 start would be a death knell for a District 5AAA top seed.
Today, 2AAAA boys take center stage with Santa Fe High facing Espanola Valley in a big 2AAAA game to start the district season.
Here's a look at what to expect this week in district play, bypassing Tuesday's action (although not ignoring it):
Today
Santa Fe High at Espanola Valley, 7 p.m. - What a way for the Demons to begin their district play as a AAAA school. While Espanola is still one of the best teams in AAAA, the Sundevils have shown and surprising inability to kickstart their offense. Outside of Rodney Coles, the rest of the team looks tentative attacking the basket and not good enough from the perimeter to overcome that. If anything, the Sundevils HAVE to attack the basket to be successful.
As for the Demons, they have yet to put together a complete effort. They fall behind too often, then expend energy coming back. Usually, that means Santa Fe High is gassed when it matters the most (see Grants, Sandia Prep games). It's a team that shows it can compete with the best teams in the state. What's missing is a big win.
There's no time like the present.
Thursday
Albuquerque Sandia Prep at St. Michael's, 7 p.m. - Welcome to the toughest district in Class AAA. This opener will be key in determining who is the primary challenger to two-time reigning AAA champion Albuquerque Hope Christian. The Sundevils have size in Harry Hampden-Smith (6-foot-5) and the Fort Lewis-bound Kody Salcido (6-6), but the Horsemen are accustomed to facing big teams. Their schedule has been filled with them. But just because you've faced big teams doesn't mean you can beat them.
St. Michael's is small in every way possible. Its bigs are small (none are taller than 6-1), and its guards are small, which seems to be a problem when bigger teams press the Horsemen. Still, if they can control the tempo, that can play into their favor.
Friday
St. Michael's at Pojoaque Valley, 7 p.m. - The Elkettes likely come in 0-1 in 5AAA play, and will be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start. And what better team to do it against than the Lady Horsemen, a team they already beat (the Capital City Invitational in December)? The key will be to force the tempo. St. Michael's goal is to hold teams to less than 30 points, because it struggles to score much more than that.
Saturday
Two streaks are on the line this night:
Capital at Espanola Valley, 7 p.m. - The last time Capital beat the Sundevils, seniors Jonathon Rodriguez and Estevan Martinez were still in middle school. That was 13 games ago. The Jaguars always circle this game as their proving ground in Class AAAA, and often they have come away wanting. This might be their best chance, however. Espanola is 8-6, but has struggled at times to score and its six losses almost equals the number of losses in the past two seasons combined. But the Sundevils are the better tested team, having not lost to a AAAA school yet this season.
St. Michael's at Pojoaque Valley, 7 p.m. - Remember this date: Feb. 9, 2005. David Jaramillo and Josh Harris were Elks seniors, and Ryan Gonzalez was a precocious eighth grade. The coach for St. Michael's was Ron Mayberry, and Ron Geyer was still coaching girls basketball at Los Lunas. My, how time flies. Geyer has not lost in 16 matchups against Joey Trujillo and the Elks. Gonzalez won a state title, but the New Mexico Highlands junior never could boast beating the Horsemen. But ...
The Horsemen look as vulnerable as ever, but the Elks aren't much better. That makes for an intriguing matchup, especially if St. Michael's enter the district 0-1. An 0-2 start would be a death knell for a District 5AAA top seed.
Jan 7, 2011
The best billboard money can buy ...
First of all, thank you, THE Ohio State University president E. Gordon Gee.
His comment about the BCS schools not playing "the sisters of the poor" continues to bite him in the posterior. After Texas Christian's 21-19 win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, digital ads were bought in Columbus, Ohio, that flash a congratulatory note for all Buckeye fans and Gee to see.
Check it out here.
His comment about the BCS schools not playing "the sisters of the poor" continues to bite him in the posterior. After Texas Christian's 21-19 win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, digital ads were bought in Columbus, Ohio, that flash a congratulatory note for all Buckeye fans and Gee to see.
Check it out here.
Jan 6, 2011
Change is a-brewing at Santa Fe High ...
We learned earlier today from Kyle Henderson at nmpreps.rivals.com that Demons junior quarterback Jason Fitzpatrick withdrew from Santa Fe High and will go to Rio Rancho High School.
We will have more on the story in Friday's New Mexican.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, and look for a lot more transfers to occur before July 1, when a new rule by the New Mexico Activities Association takes effect that all transfers will sit out for 180 days (which is in effect a full season for an athlete). But that comes on July 1. For now, paperwork will be flying across the state.
We will have more on the story in Friday's New Mexican.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, and look for a lot more transfers to occur before July 1, when a new rule by the New Mexico Activities Association takes effect that all transfers will sit out for 180 days (which is in effect a full season for an athlete). But that comes on July 1. For now, paperwork will be flying across the state.
Jan 4, 2011
Rescheduling of Santa Fe High-St. Michael's boys basketball
The game is scheduled for Jan. 11 in Toby Roybal Memorial Gymnasium at Santa Fe High at 7 p.m.
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