Week 10: NMPreps.com's Playoff Watch

[J Grine]

LA CUEVA AND ONATE LEAD THE PACK

Today, on NMPreps.com we continue our weekly (Yes, sorry we took week 9 off) view of the 12-teams that will make up the state tournament. Teams are locks and have made it clear they will receive a bid to the state tournament while a select few are fighting for the chance.

6A

"THE AUTOMATICS"

This group belongs to those who have earned the right into the state tournament by winning their district. Yes, some districts are down but we still reward you for winning your region and I'm still in favor of this tradition.

D1-6A: Volcano Vista (11-5, 5-1). They lost to Cibola in week-9 but still hold the edge for the regular season DC.
D 2-6A: La Cueva (16-0, 6-0). What else can we say, this coaching staff is doing a phenomenal job.
D 3-6A: Onate (12-5, 5-0). Still haven't lost to a NM team and riding a 10-game winning streak.
D 4-6A: Hobbs (8-10, 4-0). We have our first change in the autos as the Lady Eagles are on a win streak of 4-games.
D 5-6A: Albuquerque (7-7, 4-0). The edged out West Mesa, who we had here in week-8's playoff look.

"THE AT-LARGE"

This group could get tricky, and arguments could (we wish they would) be given for others over teams that we have listed.

• Cibola (11-4, 3-2). The win over Volcano Vista only helps but like many teams in this group they have good and "not-so-good" things on their resume.
• Sandia (10-6, 4-2). They moved up on the playoff watch as a runner-up in a tough district like 2-6A helps. The win over Eldorado (or fall of Eldorado) only helped.
• Cleveland (8-8, 3-1). It's crazy to think at one point we had them ranked around 18th in 6A. They shake off their slow start and also move up in this weeks playoff look.
• Gadsden (8-8, 2-2). Okay now we "might" be reaching here but we edged the first bubble team out with a runner-up from a solid district. Arguments could be made for both teams. Keep reading.....

"BUBBLE IN - BOTTOM THREE"

• Eldorado (8-7, 2-3): Okay you kept reading, what keeps Eldorado in here is a under .500 district record this week. Things could always change but for now we have them behind Gadsden.
• Las Cruces (9-9, 3-3): Las Cruces is hard to judge and them (along with Mayfield) falling behind Gadsden in the district standings hurts bubble teams.
• Mayfield (12-6, 3-3): Fourth place might not get them in but hard to keep a 12-6 team out of the field.

"BUBBLE OUT"

• West Mesa (8-8, 5-1): They have the chance to bump Mayfield or Las Cruces but need to upset Albuquerque High once.
• Manzano (8-8, 2-4): Maybe a reach, needed an upset over Eldorado or Sandia then we could have possibly put them IN at the last spot.

HOW WE WOULD SEED THEM

#1. La Cueva
#2. Onate
#3. Volcano Vista
#4. Cibola
#5. Sandia
#6. Cleveland
#7. Gadsden
#8. Eldorado
#9. Las Cruces
#10. Mayfield
#11. Hobbs
#12. Albuquerque High

HOW THE POOLS WOULD SHAPE UP

Group-A
1-La Cueva, 8-Eldorado, 12-Albuquerque

Group-B
2-Onate, 7-Gadsden 11-Hobbs

Group-C
3-Volcano, 6-Cleveland, 10-Mayfield

Group-D
4-Cibola, 5-Sandia , 9-Las Cruces


5A PLAYOFF WATCH

Automatics

• District 1-5A: Piedra Vista (14-4, 6-0)
• District 2-5A: Los Alamos (14-3, 5-0)
• District 3-5A: Centennial (15-2, 6-1)
• District 4-5A: Roswell (15-2, 3-0)
• District 5-5A: St. Pius X (15-2, 4-0)

At-Large Bids

• Los Lunas (12-4, 6-1): Will get a high seed and the Centennial win is the best resume builder.
• Albuquerque Academy (12-5, 2-1): Still a solid resume and above other at-large teams.
• Farmington (9-8, 3-2): Not a bad resume and a DRU only helps.

Bubble Last Four In

• Moriarty (13-4, 1-2): Hard to leave a team out that is this many games over .500. Schedule could be an argument but they won the schedule they had.
• Artesia (12-5, 2-1): Resume is above the teams out at the moment.
• Santa Teresa (12-5, 4-3): The district strength is helping them out right now.
• Espanola Valley (9-8, 3-2): Right now as a DRU in 2-5A, over Del Norte but much could come from a tie-breaker.

Bubble First Two Out

• Del Norte (9-7, 4-2): Argument from Espanola Valley.
• Goddard (11-6, 1-2): Another deserving team but need a W over Roswell or Artesia, this moment would be an upset.

HOW WE WOULD SEED THEM

#1. St. Pius X
#2. Centennial
#3. Roswell
#4. Los Lunas
#5. Piedra Vista
#6. Los Alamos
#7. Albuquerque Academy
#8. Farmington
#9. Artesia
#10. Moriarty
#11. Santa Teresa
#12. Espanola Valley

HOW THE POOLS WOULD SHAPE UP

Group-A
1-St. Pius X, 8-Farmington, 12-Espanola Valley

Group-B
2-Centennial, 7-Albuquerque Academy, 11-Santa Teresa

Group-C
3-Roswell, 6-Los Alamos, 10-Moriarty

Group-D
4-Los Lunas, 5-Piedra Vista, 9-Artesia

 

[J Grine]

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[J Grine]

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