Grine: Breaking Down The 2016 State Tournament
Joshua J Grine of NMPreps.com

The 2016 New Mexico State Tournament has been out and the teams have schedule travel plans for this coming weekend. Many 1-seeds will be favorites but the field, in all classifications, will have enough reason to consider upsets.

Overseeded: Rio Grande (7-Seed in 6A). Both teams have prospects, a decent resume but neither looked dominate in recent play outside a few 'good' wins - not great ones. The Ravens (Rio Grande) finished the season 2-3 with a loss to a non-playoff team in Highland on February 13th.

Underseeded: Navajo Prep (10-seed in 3A). Jake Newby (DailyTimes) made the comment that 29 mens teams won at least 20-game this season. Only one is a road team in the state tournament. Drum roll....Navajo Prep. Yes, not the best of schedules, however, wins over Dulce and Bloomfield has to have some people thinking 'upset' in round one.

Best Opening Matchup: 8-Fort Sumner vs 9-Dora/Elida (2A). The two teams have played each other 4-times and each team has won twice. The last contest was by 3-points and in a district rivalry game, you have to like an environment to please.

Best Game In The Metro-Area: 6-Albuquerque vs 11-Rio Rancho (6A). The Bulldogs and Rams have met three times this season and even though the scores don't reflect it, this one will be a close, energetic contest featuring two of the best scoring guards in the state in Gabe Bump (AHS) and Clay Patterson (Rio Rancho).

Don't Be Fooled To Pick This Upset. 10-Belen at 7-Gallup. Most might have picked (10) Belen over (7) Gallup to upset but I avoided with the fact that Gallup is 13-3 in 2016 with only losses to 4-seed Farmington. Also, a win against 2-seed Grants in those 16 games. The game

Best Chance For An Upset. 11-Tularosa at 6-Laguna-Acoma. The last time these two meet in the state tournament it wasn't pretty. This time around the former LA assistant coach Sergio Castanon has a sneaky good team that can argue as one of the better defensive teams. The last time they meet LA took a 5 point win. Tularosa has improved vastly since that game.

Another Upset Pick For The Best Return. 12-Shiprock vs 5-Silver (4A Basketball). We have seen this upset to many times and of the 12-5 games this one sticks out as the Shiprock Chieftains are coming into the post season after winning the District 1-4A Tournament and playing great basketball. Silver, is a tall order though and are finally returning everyone from injury.

Game I Want To See In The Elite Eight. 5-Santa Rosa vs 4-Tucumcari. Both have met before and each was better than the last contest. Both can put up points and feature a rich school tradition. Tucumcari features John Paul Garica and the Lions of Santa Rosa a deep roster of players.

Another Elite Eight Contest I am Looking Forward Too. 3-Capital vs 6-Los Lunas. It won't be a scoring frenzy most fans that thrive on scoring will love. However, for me it will be a defensive battle along with two patient offenses that move the ball well. Capital a duo in Eric Coca/Jeremy Anaya and the Tigers have a plethora of juniors that are already being talked about.

1-Seed That We Might Not See On Saturday. 1-Cliff. That might be the dumbest thing I have ever predicted. Well, this year 1A basketball has some parity and could see 1-4 teams win the state tournament. My other pick would be Onate, in 6A, solely on the fact that 6A is so darn good.

Top 2-Seed That Could Win It All. 2-Grants. The Pirates have won the games needed and could be one of the better 2-seeds in New Mexico. Cleveland is my second choice but Grants (not a homer pick) is deep and one of my picks on the final day. (That will soon be released in Grine and Hendo Picks).

Who Will Be The Cinderella of 2016. 11-Logan. The one double-digit seed I could see playing in the Final Four is the Logan Longhorns. They have a favorable upset possibility in 6-Mesa Vista for the school that has played on the final day more than once in the last five years.

Will This Be the Year We See a 16 or 15 Seed Win. So many times we have seen very close calls. Some 16-1 games that come to mind is the Kirtland Central team taking Gallup into overtime. Also, Los Alamos nearly getting Goddard (or too close for comfort). Maybe Capital and Centennial last season. Nonetheless some team will surprise us but maybe this will be the year it happens. Best chance - Del Norte over Roswell. Del Norte has super quick guards and can defend. Ball management is key. The other one of the 16-1 games could possibly be Santa Fe over Onate. Don't bet the house but odds are broken all of the time. 15-seeds I would like to pick Wingate. This team travels well and has been this team always on the verge of making history. If I am crazy, and I am, that is the contest I would say in the 15-2 game.

Poll: Which No. 1 Won't Win The Tournament?

5 Top New Mexico Restaurants

If you could only pick 5 for the rest of your life.

What you got?

Had an interesting conversation on the ride to Carlsbad yesterday. And I'm wondering what nmpreps and its members think. How much does money (potential ticket sales) play into the seedings? Now obviously that's not one of the listed criteria and it shouldn't be of course. But do you think the seeding committee considers this at all? The reason I ask is someone suggested that Hobbs would end up with a home game for the first round because it would bring in more money that probably any other home site in 6A during that round. A first round home game for Hobbs would draw approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people where as most other sites in 6A would probably draw a crowd of half that. Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there and see what people think.

NMPreps.com's Class of 2019 Prospect Watch List
Please add prospects or email us at nmpreps@yahoo.com

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Alex Romero - Valencia - Class of 2019

Andrew Duran - Rio Rancho - Class of 2019

Austin King - Robertson - Class of 2019

Ben Schoneman - La Cueva - Class of 2019

Braden Gluth - Santa Teresa - Class of 2019

Brandon Lucero - Robertson - Class of 2019

Clinton Wellborn - Socorro - Class of 2019

Dalton Thatcher - Texico - Class of 2019

Damacio Barela - Valencia - Class of 2019

David DeSantiago - Santa Teresa - Class of 2019

David Miramontes - Dexter - Class of 2019

Davin Gonzales - Valencia - Class of 2019

Davis Pratt - La Cueva - Class of 2019

Isaiah Garcia - Valencia - Class of 2019

Jasper Best - NMMI - - Class of 2019

Jeremy DiBartolomeo - Valencia - Class of 2019

Jesus Zuniga - Valencia - Class of 2019

Josh Belin - Tularosa - Class of 2019

Kobie Montoya - Clayton - Class of 2019

Matt Otero - Dexter - Class of 2019

Parcen Tippit - Clayton - Class of 2019

Phoenix Autry - La Cueva - Class of 2019

Quinn Moon - Taos - Class of 2019

Ryan Romero - Abq High - Class of 2019

Sam Gilbert - Santa Fe Prep - Class of 2019

Treston Shallenberger - Cleveland - Class of 2019

Ty Villareal - Goddard - Class of 2019

First Round - 6A
Onate
Sandia
Carlsbad
Valley
Cleveland
Rio Grande
Cibola
Rio Rancho

First Round-5A
Roswell
Centennial
Farmington
Piedra Vista
Grants
Gallup
Capital
Los Lunas

First Round-4A
Hope
Sandia Prep
Pojoaque Valley
Silver
Robertson
Kirtland Central
West Las Vegas
Bloomfield

First Round-3A
Lordsburg
Dulce
Tucumcari
Santa Rosa
Texico
Navajo Prep
Pecos
Laguna-Acoma

First Round-2A
Melrose
Dora
Escalante
Gateway
Mora
Hagerman
Magdalena
Logan

First Round-1A
Cliff
SF Waldorf
Maxwell
Quemado
Springer
Vaughn
Hondo
Grady

And It Begins...

Ivy League Moves to Eliminate Tackling at Football Practices
By: Ken Belson of the NY Times

Ivy League football coaches have decided to take the extraordinary step of eliminating all full-contact hitting from practices during the regular season, the most aggressive measure yet to combat growing concerns about brain trauma and other injuries in the sport.

Full Link Here
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/s...-to-eliminate-tackling-at-practices.html?_r=0

Here are the State Placers returning next year in 6A:


106
1st - Joseph Otero, Cleveland
2nd - Mark Gonzales, Sandia
3rd - Sergio Arellano, Rio Grande
4th - Marcus Santillanes, Volcano Vista
5th - Cody Wood, Carlsbad
6th - Isaiah Martinez, Rio Rancho
6th (5A) - Diego Sanchez-Moreles, Piedra Vista

113
1st - Tyler Deen, Rio Rancho
2nd - Isaac Garcia, Manzano
4th - Sammy Martinez, Santa Fe
5th - Joshua Vega, Volcano Vista
6th - Matthew Connelly, Cibola

120
2nd - Isidro Garcia, Manzano
3rd - Noah Mirabal, Cleveland
4th - Ivan Marquez, Santa Fe
5th - Mason Box, Carlsbad
6th - Alejandro Gutierrez, Rio Grande

126
1st - Michael Mascarenas, Cleveland
2nd - Isaac Garcia, Manzano
3rd - Orion Gutierrez, Rio Rancho
4th - Matthew Petersen, La Cueva
6th - Paul Garcia, Albuquerque
5th (5A) - Marcos Candelaria, Piedra Vista

132
2nd - Kyler Gonzales, Rio Rancho

138
1st - Brandon Baeza, Las Cruces
2nd - Justin Wood, Carlsbad
3rd - Zak Vigil, Rio Rancho
5th - Shawn Nieto, Cleveland
6th - Joshua Chacon, Volcano Vista
1st (5A) - Wes Rayburn, Piedra Vista
3rd (5A) - Cruz Chavez, Centennial

145
1st - Ryan Rochford, Rio Rancho
2nd - Emilio Marquez, Las Cruces
4th - Jack Luttrell, Cleveland
6th - Mario Carrasco, Carlsbad
1st (5A) - Nick Rino, Piedra Vista

152
2nd - Ruben Gonzales, Las Cruces
3rd - Jacob Grobecker, Volcano Vista
4th - Caleb Beaird, Hobbs
5th - Jace Torrez, Manzano
3rd (5A) - Hosman Caraveo, Piedra Vista

160
1st - Richard Govea, Volcano Vista
3rd - Damin Valenzuela, Manzano
4th - Kallum Cain, Cibola

170
2nd - Robert Cote, West Mesa
3rd - Zach Jacquez, Santa Fe
5th - Joey Castillo, Las Cruces

182
5th - Zayne Alley of Las Cruces
6th - Jacob Garduno of West Mesa

195
6th - Isaiah Armenta, West Mesa

220
3rd - Isaac Martinez, Volcano Vista
5th - Dylan Kuhn, Hobbs
5th (5A) - Adrian Tarwater, Piedra Vista

285
3rd - Daimon Altamirano, Cleveland
6th (5A) - Jared Terry, Piedra Vista

Post Here

Name Three Running Backs To Watch In 2016

Who's on your 2016 Dream Team?

How have oil price drops affected the SE Corner of New Mexico?

Was in Lubbock this past weekend and a few buddies of mine are hurting because of the drop (they work in Odessa)

Top-25 Summary
1. Onate: Beat No. 22 Las Cruces, 67-52 to win the 3-5A Tournament.
2. Hope Christian: Beat Santa Fe Indian, 80-40 to win the District Tournament.
4. Roswell: Beat Goddard, 106-77 to win the 4-5A Tournament.
5. Cleveland: Lost to No. 6 Cibola 67-60
6. Cibola: Beat No. 5 Cleveland for the 1-6A District Tournament.
7. Valley: Lost to No. 9 Albuquerque High, 48-43.
8. Carlsbad: Survived in overtime to beat No. 13 Hobbs, 57-51 for the 4-6A Tournament.
9. Albuquerque: Beat No. 7 Valley to win the District 5-6A Tournament.
10. Espanola Valley: Lost 72-56 to Capital in the District 2-5A Championship.
11. Sandia: Beat Eldorado, 63-57 to win the 2-6A Tournament.
12. Capital: Beat No. 10 Espanola Valley, 72-56 to win the 2-6A Tournament.
13. Hobbs: Lost to No. 8 Carlsbad, 57-51 in overtime of the 4-6A Championship.
22. Las Cruces: Fell to No. 1 Onate, 67-52 in the 3-6A Championship.

Top Performers
Daniel Amador - Roswell - 36 points, 5 reb, 4 assists, 4 steals, 1 block and also received District MVP in the win over Goddard.
Eric Coca - Capital - Scored 26 points in the win over Espanola Valley.
Jeremy Anaya - Capital - Scored 17 points in the win over Espanola Valley.
Raymond Saucedo - Lordsburg - Scored 17 points in win over Mesilla Valley Christian.
JJ Escobar - Lordsburg - Scored 14 points in win over Mesilla Valley Christian.
Bryan Garcia - Capital - Scored 14 points in the win over Espanola Valley.
Uriah Arellano - Espanola Valley Scored 12 points vs Capital.
Azaziah Salazar - Espanola Valley - Scored 11 points vs Capital.
Elias Archuleta - Espanola Valley - Scored 11 points vs Capital.


Saturday
Albuquerque 48, Valley 43
Capital 72, Espanola Valley 56
Carlsbad 57, Hobbs 51 OT
Cibola 67, Cleveland 60
Cliff 38, Quemado 29
Hondo Valley 65, Vaughn 35
Hope Christian 80, Santa Fe Indian 40
Laguna-Acoma 70, Estancia 57
Lordsburg 52, Mesilla Valley 45
Melrose 59, Dora 43
Onate 67, Las Cruces 52
Portales 73, Ruidoso 71
Roswell 106, Goddard 77
Silver 63, Socorro 46
Shiprock 63, Wingate 60 - 3OT
Tucumcari 75, Santa Rosa 73

Who's watching, what's standing out?

Please post here or text to 505.577.5953

Will be posted here
https://nmpreps.n.rivals.com/news/new-mexico-high-school-basketball-state-tournament-brackets

3v14 Poll: Most Likely To Lose

2v15 Poll: Most Likely To Lose

What are the best first round match ups?

This link will be updated throughout the tournament
https://nmpreps.n.rivals.com/news/new-mexico-high-school-state-basketball-tournament-times-and-dates

I have compiled first round times below

6A
7:00 PM No. 16 Alamogordo @ No. 1 Cibola
6:00 PM No. 9 Hobbs @ No. 8 Valley
6:00 PM No. 12 Sandia @ No. 5 Mayfield
7:00 PM No. 13 Clovis @ No. 4 Carlsbad
7:00 PM No. 14 West Mesa @ No. 3 Eldorado
6:00 PM No. 11 Rio Rancho @ No. 6 Las Crues
6:00 PM No. 10 Cleveland @ No. 7 La Cueva
5:30 PM No. 15 Atrisco @ No. 2 Volcano Vista

5A
7:00 PM No. 16 St. Pius X @ No. 1 Gallup
7:00 PM No. 9 Piedra Vista @ No. 8 Aztec
6:00 PM No. 12 Goddard @ No. 5 Los Alamos
7:00 PM No. 13 Del Norte @ No. 4 Espanola
5:30 PM No. 14 Academy @ No. 3 Los Lunas
6:00 PM No. 11 Farmington @ No. 6 Moriarty
6:00 PM No. 10 Centennial @ No. 7 Valencia
7:00 PM No. 15 Lovington @ No. 2 Roswell

4A
6:00 PM No. 16 Wingate @ No. 1 Portales
6:00 PM No. 9 Robertson @ No. 8 Bloomfield
7:00 PM No. 12 Hatch @ No. 5 Hope Christian
6:00 PM No. 13 Pojoaque @ No. 4 Kirtland
6:00 PM No. 14 Sandia Prep @ No. 3 West Las Vegas
7:00 PM No. 11 SFIS @ No. 11 Ruidoso
7:00 PM No. 10 St. Mike’s @ No. 7 Taos
6:00 PM No. 15 Socorro @ No. 15 Socorro

3A
6:00 PM No. 16 Dexter @ No. 1 Tularosa
6:00 PM No. 9 Loving @ No. 8 Lordsburg
Time TBA No. 12 Capitan @ No. 5 Laguna Acoma
6:00 PM No. 13 Dulce @ No. 4 Tohatchi
6:00 PM No. 14 Santa Rosa @ No. 3 Eunice
Time TBA No. 11 Navajo Prep @ No. 6 Cuba
6:00 PM No. 10 Pecos @ No. 7 Tucumcari
6:00 PM No. 15 Clayton @ No. 2 Texico

2A
Time TBA No. 1 Navajo Pine @ No. 1 Logan
6:00 PM No. 9 Jemez Valley @ No. 8 Mescalero Apache
6:00 PM No. 12 Escalante @ No. 5 Mora
7:00 PM No. 13 Tse Yi Gai @ No. 4 Magdalena
Time TBA No. 14 Mountainair @ No. 3 Tatum
6:00 PM No. 11 Ft. Sumner @ No. 6 Dora
6:00 PM No. 10 Mesa Vista @ No. 7 Melrose
5:30 PM No. 15 Jal @ No. 2 Ramah

1A
6:30 PM No. 16 Coronado @ No. 1 Elida
Time TBA No. 9 Mosquero @ No. 8 Cimarron
Time TBA No. 12 Floyd @ No. 5 Quemado
5:00 PM No. 13 Hondo Valley @ No. 4 Springer
6:00 PM No. 14 Des Moines @ No. 3 Cliff
6:00 PM No. 11 Carrizozo @ No. 6 Evangel Christian
Time TBA No. 10 Vaughn @ No. 7 Waltowa Charter
6:00 PM No. 15 Animas @ No. 2 Grady

Right Or Wrong: Should Santa Indian School Of Fired Ceci Moses

Read The Story Here
https://nmpreps.n.rivals.com/news/ceci-moses-fired-as-santa-fe-boys-basketball-coach

Read The Santa Fe New Mexican's Story Here
https://res-3.cloudinary.com/rivals/image/upload/t_large/hvy2velzwnm2doankpp1

Poll: Grade The Seeding Committee

Best 1st Round Game?

Who looked good to start the season off?

Please post here or text to 505.577.5953 or email to nmpreps@yahoo.com

Week 1 Top Performers

Cedric Reynaud - Centennial - Cedric Reynaud 8 for 16, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 6 RBI against Onate

Christian Maruffo - Santa Teresa - Caught 4 guys stealing against Gadsden

Connor Mang - Los Alamos - Threw 5 innings of no hit baseball against Piedra Vista

Cristian Metz - Deming - 3-5 and 1 triple and 2 RBIs against Chaparral

Daniel Gallegos - Clovis - 12 K’s and a HR against Lovington

Dante Urrea - Deming - Picked up W on the mound against Chaparral

Gavin Guerra - Alamogordo - 2 for 3 against Las Cruces with an RBI

Harris McConnell - Sandia Prep - Earned win against St. Pius X

Isaiah Aguilera - Deming - 4-6 with 4 RBIs 2 triples and 2 walks against Chaparral

Ivan Molina - Las Cruces - was solid for LCHS picking up 2 hits and a walk against Alamogordo

Jacob Gerber - Alamogordo - 3 for 4 with a pair of singles and a double against Las Cruces

Juan Nunez - Santa Teresa - 9 K's against Gadsden

Kameron Miller - Las Cruces - 3 for 5 with RBI against Alamogordo

Keaton Greenwalt - Clovis - 3-4 with a double against Lovingon

Matt Castillo - Las Cruces - 2 for 2 against Alamogordo

Sam Moody - Piedra Vista - Threw 5 innings of no hit baseball against Los Alamos

Sergio Lucero - Centennial - Complete game Shut out vs Onate 4 Hits allowed 0 Walks O Runs

Shane Mora - Deming - went 6-6 with 6 RBIs and 2 walks against Chaparral

Thomas Wisneski - Belen - Threw 1 hitter against Gallup

Tristin Lively - Las Cruces - went 5-6 with 2 walks and 3 rbi in DH against Alamogordo