WEEK 9 SCOREBOARD

Post, email or text final scores. 505-414-4313 or grinejosh@yahoo.com.

THURSDAY
Atrisco Heritage 92, Manzano 66
Belen 61, Bernalillo 55
Capital 55, Santa Fe 49 (OT)
Del Norte 70, Los Lunas 67, OT
Dulce 59, Laguna-Acoma 56
Escalante 71, Tohajilee 61
Estancia 58, Springer 49
Hatch Valley 63, Mesa Vista 49
Hope Christian 86, Hot Springs 37
Lordsburg 86, Jemez Valley 48
Los Alamos 43, Moriarty 40
Lovington 79, Texico 69
Magdalena 72, Evangel Christian 40
Maxwell 75, Tierra Encantada 53
Melrose 64, Gateway Christian 53
Mesilla Valley Christian 65, Jal 33
NMMI 47, Hagerman 44, OT
Pojoaque 47, Bosque School 41
Rehoboth 52, Academy for Technology and The Classics 33
Rio Grande 82, Rio Rancho 68
Robertson 60, Portales 56
Santa Fe Indian 74, Newcomb 39
Santa Rosa 79, Monte del Sol 38
Shiprock 66, Socorro 59
Silver 40, St. Michael's 36
St. Pius 51, Sandia Prep 48
Taos 74, Zuni 48
West Las Vegas 73, Bloomfield 39


TUESDAY
Atrisco 69, Eldorado 49
Bernalillo 56, Albuquerque Academy 36
Bloomfield 55, Aztec 38
Capital 57, La Cueva 37
Carlsbad 66, Artesia 34
Cobre 49, Tularosa 35
Durango (CO) 72, Piedra Vista 55
Farmington 72, Kirtland Central 53
Goddard 74, Clovis 46
Grants 70, Espanola Valley 58
Hagerman 50, Capitan 46
Hope Christian 53, Volcano Vista 32
Lordsburg 81, Hot Springs 56
Lovington 48, Portales 41
Mayfield 63, Alamogordo 50
Mountainair 60, Corona 39
Onate 49, EP Cathedral (TX) 35
Pojoaque Valley 54, St Mikes 45
Robertson 51, Moriarty 35
Roswell 95, Centennial 74
Ruidoso 59, Hatch Valley 50
Sandia Prep 75, Socorro 57
Santa Fe 63, West Las Vegas 55
Wingate 53, Tohatchi 51

Please post here or text 505.577.5953

Monday Night
St. Mike's 48, Santa Fe High 41
Lordsburg 57, Morenci 54 (I'm told there was 54 fouls in this game)
Jal 59, Lake Arthur 11

Tuesday Night
Amarillo, Texas 46, Portales 40
Bayfield, Colo. 45, Navajo Prep 41
Carlsbad 56, Artesia 20
Cleveland 49, Atrisco Heritage 27
Del Norte 40, Belen 33
Eldorado 66, Valley 49
Eunice 63, Jal 24
Gallup 76, St. Pius 52
House/Grady 53, Clovis Christian 13
Jemez Valley 66, Tse Yi Gai 65
Kirtland Central 56, Farmington 42
Laguna-Acoma 55, Rehoboth 47
Los Alamos 79, Taos 46
Magdalena 57, Hot Springs 38
Mayfield 58, Alamogordo 29
Onate 57, Silver 47
Piedra Vista 52, Durango, Colo. 50
Questa 45, Springer 38
Ramah 71, St. Johns, Ariz. 33
Roswell 48, Clovis 31
Ruidoso 58, Hatch Valley 38
Sandia 61, Rio Grande 25
Sandia Prep 74, Socorro 47
Santa Fe Indian 49, Aztec 48
Tatum 65, Dora 27
Texico 47, Elida 27
Tucumcari 50, Estancia 25
Tularosa 72, Cobre 20
Vaughn 66, NMSD 23
Volcano Vista 49, Hope Christian 41
West Las Vegas 71, Mora 37

Joe Vivian @ AHS-- 15-16 Jan

Who you got???

Top 5?

Top 10 Western Movies of All Time

Rank The Most Wanted Coaching Jobs In New Mexico

Week 9: Friday Night Hoops
Joshua J Grine of NMPreps.com

A wild night of basketball that ended with a half-court buzzer beating win by an unranked team over a Top-25 team.

Top-25 Recap

No. 1 Cleveland 70, Clovis 46: The Cleveland Storm move to (13-4) on the season with a road win over Clovis. The Storm are now on a five game winning streak with the win.

No. 2 Onate 59, No. 12 Albuquerque 46: Onate gets a Top-25 win on Friday night at home over the visting Bulldogs of Albuquerque High. The Knights were led by Johnny McCants who had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks in the win. Junior guard Hunter Thomas also in double figures with 16 points.

No. 3 Cibola 41, No. 14 Gadsden 38: The Cibola Cougars avoid a loss to Gadsden on Friday night and improve to (11-2) on the season. Gadsden will drop to (10-6) on the season.

No. 4 Hope Christian 66, Taos 29: In the semi-final game of the winners bracket of the Hope Invitational the host team Hope Christian improves to (12-2) after a convincing win over fellow 4A Taos.

No. 5 Valley 53, Alamogordo 43: The Vikings started slow in this one trailing at the end of the first half but used a 19-10 second quarter on their way to the win. The Vikings improve to (9-4) on the season with the win. Anthony Chavez led the Vikings in double figures. Carlton Bartley paced the way for the Tigers with 12 points.

No. 7 Roswell 114, Deming 76: The Coyotes (12-1) of Roswell continue their dominating tour as they go over the century mark on 6A Deming Friday Night. One of the top players in the state Daniel Amador poured in 35 points.

Eldorado 81, No. 9 Hobbs 80: The Hobbs Eagles traveled north on Friday night to face the unranked Eldorado Eagles. Eldorado improves to 3-9 on the season after a Mykol Lagarde 50-foot buzzer beating shot went through the net. Eldorado fought back after being down 58-49 at the end of the third to win the game. Hobbs drops to (8-5) on the season.

No. 11 Centennial 75, West Mesa 49: The Centennial Hawks win in convincing fashion over West Mesa (Albuquerque) on Friday night. It was senior guard Cesar Molina with an impressive 32 points and 7 rebounds to lead the way for the Hawks in the win.

No. 15 Carlsbad 45, No. 21 Volcano Vista: The Cavemen get a much needed Top-25 win on Friday night over Volcano Vista. The Cavemen move to 10-6 on the season with the win. Volcano Vista will fall to (6-6) with the loss.

No. 17 Gallup 54, Albuquerque Academy 37: In 5A basketball the Gallup Bengals improve to (13-4) on the season with the double digit win over Albuquerque Academy.

No. 18 Farmington 54, Highland 35: If you needed anymore convincing that the Scorpions are going to be a threat this season the 21-point win over 6A Highland could be a start. The Scorpions improve to (12-2) on the season with the win. David Riley led the way for the Scorpions win 20 points in the win.

Las Cruces 57, No. 20 La Cueva 46: The Las Cruces Bulldawgs, a bubble team, is currently on the rise after earning a Top-25 win Friday night. The Bulldawgs were led by sophomore Markus Collins who had 23 points in the win. Mike Uribe also in double figures with 10 points on Friday night.

No. 22 Robertson 49, Silver 44: In 4A basketball, outside of Hope, no other program is playing better than the Robertson Cardinals who improve to (12-2) on the season with another big resume win.

No. 24 West Las Vegas 84, Shiprock 52: Right behind the Cardinals is their crosstown rival West Las Vegas High School with a 22-point win over Shiprock. The Dons move to (13-1) on the season with the win.

Friday Top Performers

Daniel Amador - Roswell - 35 points in the win over Deming.
Cesar Molina - Centennial - 32 points and 7 rebounds vs. West Mesa.
Markus Collins - Las Cruces - 23 points in the win over La Cueva.
David Riley - Farmington - 20 points in the win over Highland.
Johnny McCants - Onate - 18 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks in the win over Albuquerque.
Hunter Thomas - Onate - 16 points in the win over Albuquerque.
Mike Uribe - Onate - 10 points in the win over Albuquerque.

What We Learned Friday

Another Buzzer Beater: Not only does the halfcourt shot beat the Eagles of Hobbs but it puts the Eldorado Eagles back on the bubble with the win.

Don't Buy On Game Day: On the same day we ran a feature having the Eagles as a buy for state title run they lose to a then 2-9 team.

The Mavericks A Perfect Story: The Lordsburg Mavericks got 31 points from one of the players in a convincing win Friday night to improve to 14-0 on the season.

Bubble Is Back in Play: We had Eldorado OUT. Now possibly IN. We had Las Cruces OUT and now with a win over La Cueva they too make the case for Bubble IN.

Free Falling: The Portales Rams lose again to another top 4A team. The St. Mike's Horsemen needed a win an they got a signature one over Portales.

Friday Scoreboard

Artesia 57, Los Alamos 53
Bernalillo 71, Aztec 35
Bloomfield 58, Socorro 51
Carlsbad 45, Volcano Vista 37
Carrizozo 75, Animas 48
Centennial 71, West Mesa 49
Cibola 41, Gadsden 38
Cleveland 74, Clovis 46
Eldorado 81, Hobbs 80
Farmington 54, Highland 35
Gallup 54, Albuquerque Academy 37
Goddard 74, Santa Teresa 64
Hope Christian 66, Taos 29
Hot Springs 65, Zuni 49
Las Cruces 57, La Cueva 46
Lordsburg 75, Hatch Valley 49
Melrose 56, Estancia 41
Mesa Vista 55, Jemez Valley 43
Mesilla Valley Christian 48, Tularosa 41
Navajo Prep 68, Dulce 51
Newcomb 62, Shiprock Northwest 24
Onate 59, Albuquerque 46
Pecos 69, Raton 37
Robertson 49, Silver 44
Roswell 114, Deming 76
Santa Rosa 65, Rehoboth Christian 38
Springer 84, Gateway Christian 58
St. Michael's 47, Portales 39
Valley 53, Alamogordo 43
West Las Vegas 84, Shiprock 52

Week 9: Thursday Night Hoops
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps

A few tournaments kick off on Thursday night in a big night for class 4A basketball as the non-district slate of games come to an end. Who earned respect last night in the state?

Top-25 Recap

No. 4 Hope Christian 86, Hot Springs 37: In the opening game of their own tournament, Hope Christian improved to (13-2) on the season with a win over Hot Springs.

No. 6 Capital 55, Santa Fe 49 (OT): The place to big on Thursday night was Capital High School as the Jaguars escaped with a close win in overtime over crosstown rival Santa Fe High School. Capital junior Jeremy Anaya leads the Jaguars in scoring again Thursday with 16 points on the evening. Eric Coca with 14 points and Isaiah Brooks with 10 were the other two Jaguars in double figures. Santa Fe was paced by Santi Gonzales with 15 points on the night.

No. 8 Rio Grande 82, No. 13 Rio Rancho 68: The Ravens win another big home game over a Top-25 team on Thursday night. The Ravens improve to (10-3) on the season, one of the best starts under head coach Sean Jimemez. Rio Rancho falls to (11-6) on the season.

No. 10 Grants 78, Kirtland Central 55: The Grants Pirates improve to (13-3) on the season pulling away late against the Bronocs of Kirtland Central. Richie Lucero led the Pirates with 15 points on the night. Eric Gonzales, 12 points, Bradley Hatten, 11 points and Mike Chambers with 10 are the other Pirates in double figures. Brian Dowdy paced the way for the Broncos with 17 points.

No. 19 Atrisco Heritage Academy 92, Manzano 66: Proving that they are the real deal this season the Jaguars put the hammer down on Manzano with a 92-66 victory. The Jaguars improve to (9-5) on the season.

No. 22 Robertson 60, Portales 56: The Robertson Cardinals earned a huge 4A resume win over Portales on Thursday night. The Cardinals trade size for speed as they overcame the Rams who have one of the best big men in the state. The Cardinals move to (11-2) on the season with the win.

No. 23 St. Pius X 51, Sandia Prep 48: The Sartans move to 9-4 on the season with a close game against unranked Sandia Prep on Thursday night.

No. 24 West Las Vegas 73, Bloomfield 39: No question here as the Dons, one of three ranked 4A teams, ran away from the Bloomfield Bobcats in the opening round of the OPe Christian tournament. West Las Vegas improves to (12-1) on the season.

No. 25 Belen 61, Bernalillo 55: Placing themselves in a different tier the Belen Eagles went to Bernalillo and earned a win improving to (9-3) on the season. The Eagles are off to one of the best starts under head coach Patrick Mondragon.

Top Performers From Thursday

Martin Trujillo - Los Lunas - Scored 35 points vs Del Norte.
Estevan Esparza - Hatch Valley - Scored 22 points vs Mesa Vista.
Daniel Flores - Del Norte - Scored 18 points vs Los Lunas.
Michael Castillo - Hatch Valley - Scored 17 vs Mesa Vista.
Brian Dowdy - Kirtland Central - Scored 17 points vs Grants.
Hunter Wisneski - Los Lunas - Scored 17 points vs Del Norte.
Jeremy Anaya - Capital - Scored 16 points in win over Santa Fe.
Richie Lucero - Grants - Scored 15 points vs Kirtland Central.
Santi Gonzales - Santa Fe - Scored 15 points vs Capital.
Ranson Begay - Del Norte - Scored 14 points vs Los Lunas.
Eric Coca - Capital - Scored 14 points vs Santa Fe.
Eric Gonzales - Grants - Scored 12 points vs Kirtland Central.
Bradley Hatten - Grants - Scored 11 points vs Kirtland Central.
Isaiah Brooks - Capital - Scored 10 points vs Santa Fe.
Mike Chambers - Grants - Scored 10 points vs Kirtland Central.

What We Learned On Thursday

Resume Beater: Del Norte 70, Los Lunas 67. The Del Norte Knights are coming out of nowhere and improving their resume with a buzzer beating win on Thursday on the road.

Okay, I see you. Top 4?: The Rio Grande Ravens with a statement win that could have them looking more like a Top-4 seed come March. Impressed by the 82-68 win.

Battle for 4A. Red or Green?: Okay we have a divide and Robertson (win over Portales), West Las Vegas (thumping win over Bloomfield) and Silver (over St. Mikes, 40-36) have placed themselves in a different tier. Hope sits at the top of the pyramid, followed by West (who will get a shot at Hope this week) and their crosstown rival Robertson in the next row. Who gets the 2-seed comes down to who survives district play for the two Las Vegas, New Mexico teams.

Honey, we're going streaking!: Lordsburg stays perfect at 13-0 with an 86-48 win over Jemez Valley on Thursday night. The Mavericks are the final team to remain perfect. A 3A favorite this season the Mavericks could go into March with the 1-seed.

Bubble Pop? Los Alamos earns a 3-point win over Moriarty, who we had as the 16-seed in our bracket watch Thursday morning.

Wow, Dot On the Map Placed! Dulce with the biggest win in recent histroy (maybe ever who knows) but the win over Laguna-Acoma 59-56 is one of the biggest ye popping results. At 8-1 this season the Hawks of Dulce could be the real deal this season.

Thursday Scoreboard

Atrisco Heritage 92, Manzano 66
Belen 61, Bernalillo 55
Capital 55, Santa Fe 49 (OT)
Del Norte 70, Los Lunas 67, OT
Dulce 59, Laguna-Acoma 56
Escalante 71, Tohajilee 61
Estancia 58, Springer 49
Hatch Valley 63, Mesa Vista 49
Hope Christian 86, Hot Springs 37
Lordsburg 86, Jemez Valley 48
Los Alamos 43, Moriarty 40
Lovington 79, Texico 69
Magdalena 72, Evangel Christian 40
Maxwell 75, Tierra Encantada 53
Melrose 64, Gateway Christian 53
Mesilla Valley Christian 65, Jal 33
NMMI 47, Hagerman 44, OT
Pojoaque 47, Bosque School 41
Rehoboth 52, Academy for Technology and The Classics 33
Rio Grande 82, Rio Rancho 68
Robertson 60, Portales 56
Santa Fe Indian 74, Newcomb 39
Santa Rosa 79, Monte del Sol 38
Shiprock 66, Socorro 59
Silver 40, St. Michael's 36
St. Pius 51, Sandia Prep 48
Taos 74, Zuni 48
West Las Vegas 73, Bloomfield 39

Doesn't seem to be a priority for NMSU to go after in state prospects, would you agree or disagree?

2015/2016 High School of the Year?

In terms of being most successful at athletics?

Which high schools reach this criteria?

Congrats to
Riley Peterson - Cleveland - NMJC
Anthony Robles - La Cueva - Eastern AZ
Matt Rozzell - El Dorado - Eastern AZ
Stone Romero - La Cueva - Lamar

These guys deserve just as much respect as the DI guys...Baseball is not a sprint, it's a marathon. A few of these guys will end up DI in a year or two.

Buy Or Sell Top 5 Teams To Win It All
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com

The New Mexico High School basketball season just passed the mid-point and we are two months away from all joining together at The PIT (WisePies Arena for those of you who call it by it's bought name). We started to see a separation of who the contender and pretenders are this week during our self-titled Separation Week.

Today, we give our thoughts on the teams to buy or sell, maybe hold on too, to be holding the blue trophy in March.

6A Basketball

No. 1 Cleveland Storm: Buy

Okay, painfully I have to admit when I am wrong (okay not painfully because as a person who follows sports you are wrong more than right) and I was wrong on my feature from December. We had four teams ranked as predicted Final Four teams and we didn't have Cleveland.

The Storm are (12-4) riding a 4-game winning streak and coming off a championship at the APS Metro Championships. It's hard to pinpoint the surge, maybe their football players getting their basketball legs, but on the defensive end the Storm are playing better. On the season they are allowing 53 points per game but during their recent 4-game span they are only allowing 48 points per game.

I say buy and buy as much as possible.

No. 2 Onate Knights: Hold

The Knights have arguably one of the best players in the state in Johnny McCants and they were a pick ear;y this season and they continue to be a team we say buy on if you haven't or hold on to if you picked them up in the first addition.

The Onate Knights are (12-4 or 13-3) on the season and only playing better as the season progresses. The chemistry with this team is one you don't see very often and one of the intangible things not on a stat sheet. Coach Perez has always done well with his teams and could be one of the most underrated coaches in 6A.

We will hold on to this pick.

No. 3 Cibola Cougars: Sell

Okay, okay before you start typing fast to disagree with me. The reason I say sell at this point is we bought them early in the first feature but right now I am buying this team in 2017. I like this team, it's not like other Cibola teams from the past. Oh and I have been burned picking them a few times and lost a few dinners.

The reason I say sell at this moment is the Cougars are (10-2) on the season but both losses come against Cleveland and Valley another top 6A team. Of the Top-5 teams in 6A today, they are 0-2 (they have yet to play Hobbs or Onate). Great team but maybe better a year from now.

No. 4 Valley Vikings: Hold

The Vikings might of lost some believers along the way dropping a pair of games last week to Hope and Cleveland but I say don't sell to quick on the Vikings. They are the team from the past (before the title) that was the least picked but somehow made the Final Four.

The Vikings however haven't been particularly strong on either side of the ball. They are only averaging 53 points on offense but allowing 52 on defense. In their recent loss they allowed 69 and 58 points and only scoring 39 in one of those games. Still I say let's wait to sell and hold on to them, they are one of the rare March teams.

No. 5 Rio Grande Ravens: Sell

Another team that we like, it's refreshing seeing the Ravens ranked high with a 10-3 record having my grandparents living in the Valley. Plus head coach Sean Jimenez is one of my favorite coaches out there.

Now the hard part.

The Ravens haven't been past the first round since around 2006. They might be an Elite Eight team and maybe Final Four team but I can't buy them as a State Champion this year. However, could they be like Cibola and an early pick for 2017. Yes. The losses to Los Lunas and Centennial raise some concerns.

Extra Money Buy: No. 6 Hobbs Eagles: Buy

The defending champs are storming back into our hearts with some recent wins. The Goddard loss will stick with us for awhile and maybe into March but we say "we all make mistakes". Is it ever a bad thing to pick against the Eagles? 17 banners?

This seasons' Eagles are different look from years past and have some youth getting minutes. Yes, the Goddard loss hurt but the last two games they are scoring 70 points per game and allowing 53 in both wins.

Over the next few weeks leading up to National Signing Day we'll breakdown the Class of 2016 Commitments

Kameron Miller
Class of 2016
6-foot-2, 190 pounds
Committed to University of New Mexico

Video Highlights
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Hendo's Take
One of the best high school football players we've had the pleasure of covering since 2005. The biggest competitor in the Class of 2016 without question and one who can put the team on his back to get the job done. On the field he has great running ability as well as a great arm to get the ball down field. Threw for over 2,500-yards, rushed for over 1,000-yards, and even played defense for the Bulldawgs. They're won be another like Kameron, the Lobos are glad to of landed him. He is everything you would expect a coaches' son to be.

Complete List of Committed Prospects Here
https://nmpreps.forums.rivals.com/threads/scholarship-offer-list-updated-december-29th-2015.8277/

Coach of the Year To This Point?

Rio Rancho 46 - Volcano Vista 24

Chip Kelley



As a 49ers fan I don't really like it, but it's a better thought out decision than Jim Tomsula. What a train wreck the organization is. Sucks to suck.

Top Forwards in the Class of 2016
Joshua J. Grine

We continue releasing our Top Prospects Report listing the top players in each classification and position. Today, we take a look at the seniors on our list for the 2015-2016 season.

Top 5 Forwards

#1. Johnny McCants 2016 6'7 F Onate HS (Las Cruces, NM)

Johnny McCants is one of those special type of players that comes through New Mexico. The high-flying forward for the Knights is regarded as one of the best players in the state of New Mexico. McCants, could find himself in the 'wing category and likely will have to at the next level, he can shoot from the outside boards well on the defensive side and also times it well on rejecting shots.

#2. Caleb Wroten 2016 6'9 F Sandia HS (Albuquerque, NM)

Wrotens stock as fallen some (not much) with the Matadors struggling and not much coming from the Matadors camp. Wroten is still regarded as one of or the best back to the basket post players. Wroten is strong as on ox and knows how to use his body off the block. Can score well in the paint and dominates when he gets the ball.

#3. Teton Saltes 2016 6'6 F Valley HS (Albuquerque, NM)

Teton Saltes is another big body in the Albuquerque-Metro area that can dominate in or near the paint. He can hit the fifteen footer but is more effective in the paint. He could be a 20-10 type of player on any given night. Saltes has quickness and athleticism as well that could have this next level football player also a next level hoops player.

#4. Colton Lowley 2016 6'3 F Gallup HS (Gallup, NM)

Likely, more like McCants as he could be in the win category but when we seen Lowley he floated more around the high post. Lowely, has a better hoops instinct or IQ as he is one of the better shooters and ball handlers as well. He will need to be more consistent throughout the rest of the run to make the Bengals a threat to return to the state title game in 5A.

#5 Jake Flaming 2016 6'6 F Moriarty HS (Moriarty, NM)

Flaming's stock has fallen from the best freshman in the state a few years ago but we still consider him one of the better prospects in the state. Flaming is a perfect D2 basketball prospect, has great work ethic and is one of the more athletic posts on the list. He has a spring on the defensive side and was knocking down shots as a sophomore. Not much from the Moriarty camp, and with the decline in them as a playoff team he might be one of the best big man you won't see.

Best of the Rest

6. Dustin Gaddis 2016 6'6 F Sandia Prep (Albuquerque, NM)
7. Jay Arnold 2016 6'2 F Mayfield HS (Las Cruces, NM)
8. Bradley Hatten 2016 6'6 F Grants HS (Grants, NM)
9. Henry Hattis 2016 6'6 F Cleveland HS (Rio Rancho, NM)
10. Isaac Maldonado 2016 Cibola HS (Albuquerque, NM)
11. Simeon Moya 2016 6'2 F La Cueva (Albuquerque, NM)
12. Caleb Meyer-Hagen 2016 6'3 Hope Christian (Albuquerque, NM)
13. Alejandro Ruiz 2016 6'4 La Cueva (Albuquerque, NM)
14. Holt Shelly 2016 6'4 Cliff HS (Cliff, NM)
15. Thean Nelson 2016 F 6'6 Los Lunas HS (Los Lunas, NM)
15. Justin Houghtaling 2016 6'6 Artesia HS (Artesia, NM)

Grine on the List: Plenty of quality players in this group today and plenty could be listed in the top 5. A new name to the list that we liked recently is Jay Arnold who had a double-double dominating performance against El Paso. Gaddis of Sandia Prep has been on the scene for a few seasons and another prospect you have to like come March.

Others Released

• Top Forwards in the class of 2017
• Top Forwards in the class of 2018

Biggest High School Sports Venues in New Mexico?

Football, baseball, basketball, what are the biggest capacity wise?

What To Watch: Top Ten Games in Week 9
Grine of NMPreps.com

Another week, another field of top games to watch this week. We take a tour around the state to see the must watch games.

TRIFECTA TUESDAY

#1. No. 11 Centennial at No. 7 Roswell, 5:30PM
Grab your popcorn and find a seat as you will be able to see a scoring frenzy. Where can you see a pair of NMPreps.com candidates in Cesar Molina (Centennial) and Daniel Amador (Roswell).
Grine: The difference will be who gets more stops. Roswell wins if they get out in transition. Centennial wins the game in basket offense.
Pick: Centennial on the road (-1)

2. No. 10 Grants at No. 16 Espanola Valley, 7PM
Everything you could ask for in a top ten game will take place in the north as two top 5 teams in 5A square off. The Pirates bring the depth, the Sundevils have the young talent.
Grine: Grants wins it with shooting because tempo should be up for both. . Espanola has to have excellent hall handlers in this one.
Pick: Grants rebounds after Gallup loss (-8).

3. St.. Michael's at Pojoaque Valley, 7PM
Yes, a game with two unranked teams is in the trifecta. This one could be an interesting as St. Mike's is playing well, they've had a strong schedule and this will be the one they need before district.
Grine: Both teams do well at the basket. Pojoaque is the better shooting team. St. Mike's will have to limit Pojoaque touches. Whoever has the ball more, limiting touches for the opposition wins.
Pick: St. Mike's in a low scoring affair (-3).

THURSDAY TOURNAMENT TIES

4. Robertson vs Portales, 7PM
The St. Mike's shootout is this week and this first game is a headline in itself. We missed the opportunity to see it last week but you could expect a battle of athletes in this one.
Grine: Portales needs to limit touches for Sebastian. Portales wins if it comes down to a basket offense game. Robertson has hoops depth while Portales coach McBroom is one of the best in 4A.
Pick: Portales (-5).

5. No. 13 Rio Rancho at No. 8 Rio Grande, 7PM
We haven't highlighted a 6A game yet but this one is the redemption (Rio Rancho) vs one of the hotter teams in 2016 (Rio Grande). Which River is the best?
Grine: Rio Rancho gets points in a hurry and decent, but young, bigs. Rio Grande has underrated guard play in Moore and Rodriguez.
Pick: Rio Rancho has depth, took a dip last week, but I think they win this one. (-5)

QUICK HIT: WEEKEND GAMES

6. Bubble Game: No. 20 La Cueva vs Las Cruces. - La Cueva went (1-3) last week and this game could potentially put them out of the tournament. Las Cruces is out right now, the win here could potentially put them at 15-16.

7. Bubble Game: Mayfield vs Sandia: Both teams are likely OUT teams right now, a win only helps as the bubble (13-16) is open for the taking.

8. Top 4 Seed Game: No. 22 Robertson vs Silver: Both teams are eligible bachelors for the Top 4 seeds. A loss might knock you out.

9. Needed Win: Highland vs No. 18 Farmington: More on the Highland needing this win for a signature Top-25 win. Farmington won't be hurt by the loss, even though it should, but to us it gives 'street cred'.

10. Home Game for State Game: No. 12 Albuquerque vs No. 2 Onate: Onate should be mad getting jumped for the No. 1 ranking this week. Likely, a home game team but the loss pushes them back. Albuquerque High is inconsistent, the win here might put them in the top-8 seeds for good.

11. Top 10 Game to Watch: No. 6 Capital vs No. 10 Grants: This week we find out the contenders and pretenders. This one has everything in the making to be the game of the week.

RAPID FIRE
No. 15 Carlsbad vs Volcano - Need a Signature Win/Volcano a Bubble.
Top 8 Game - No. 14 Gadsden vs No. 5 Valley
6Av5A Game I like - No. 12 Albuquerque High vs No. 11 Centennial.
5A Top 8 Game - No. 18 Farmington vs No. 23 St. Pius X
Top 4 Game in 4A - Portales vs Silver

AWARDS BATTLE

This week all of the candidates up for the NMPreps.com Mr Basketball Award have the opportunity to prove their worth.

Daniel Amador and Cesar Molina square off - Roswell vs Centennial.
Johnny McCants (Onate) vs Gabe Bump (Albuquerque)
Mike Chambers (Grants) vs Eric Coca (Capital)
Marshall Moore (Rio Grande) vs Clay Patterson (Rio Rancho)

Plenty of players on the shortlist are in action this week and square off against each other. It will be interesting to see who rises to the occasion and solidifies themselves as true finalist.

what would you do if you won?

Who are they?

Should The State Championship Be A Best of 3 Series?

Here or send a shot to me at nmpreps@yahoo.com and I'll get it up!

Must win teams in week 9?