2-6A District Preview: Mystery District Adds Two Members
Grine of NMPreps.com
Today, we take a quick look at District 2-6A. The basketball season officially started on October 31st, 2016 and we continue to look at each team/program.
More: Preseason Home | 6A Pre-Season Top 10 | Top 10 Players in New Mexico
Overview
The district with more mysteries than Fred, Daphne and Shaggy could answer (Scooby-Doo reference). More questions than answers. However, we will try to list as many things we do know going into the season. For one, they have one team ranked in the preseason Top-10 for 6A basketball in the tenth ranked Eldorado Eagles (Albuquerque, NM). However, that slot atop this district could go to a handful of teams that will play in District 2-6A this season. Newcomers Clovis and Santa Fe will be much improved, La Cueva is the next best suitor with a roster that returns some talent and we end with Manzano and Sandia two veteran programs in this district who look to improve drastically this season.
Predicted Finish
1. Eldorado Eagles (Last Season: 9-19, 3-5 | Lost First Round State)
Skinny: The Eldorado Eagles reached the State Tournament last season as the first 17th-seed in tournament history (not really but they replaced 16th seed Santa Fe who was disqualified). The good news for the Eagles who to their standards had a down season return some talent for the 2016/2017 season. Perhaps the biggest news comes in the form of the number ranked New Mexico prospect from the 2019 class in Kameron Valencia a shooting guard that has high basketball IQ for a sophomore. Also, the Eagles return 6-foot-6 post Bryce Wade along with point guard Mykol Lagarde.
2. La Cueva Bears (Record: 11-16, 5-3 | Lost First Round State)
Skinny: One team that we really like to get to .500 or above this season is the La Cueva Bears who return some of the best under the radar talent in the state. The Bears seemed to lack an identity last season but should be on solid ground if they pick one and go with it. Triston McCarty will be one of the top guards returning in New Mexico this season combined with Elijah Herron and newcomer EJ Herron the Bears have some quality pieces to possibly sneak into the Elite Eight this season.
3. Sandia Matadors (Record: 16-10, 8-0 | Lost First Round State)
Skinny: The team that should feel slighted is the Matadors who have owned the district recently and return maybe the top (it's a debate) in the district in Bobby Tapia Jr. who didn't have the headline season we predicted after a stellar sophomore campaign in 2014/2015. However, Tapia can create his own shot and makes decisions with the ball - he's clutch. Another Tapia (Jude), younger brother to Bobby, is one to keep a close eye on this season as well.
4. Santa Fe Demons (Record: 9-17, 2-6 | No Playoffs)
Skinny: The Santa Fe Demons usher in a new head coach in Zac Cole, former Santa Fe Indian head coach. The Demons have had a solid summer session and look to be a team that will only improve on a 9-win season with key returner David Marquez (5'10'', Guard), who was second in scoring at just under 11 ppg, returning this season. The Demons played several underclassmen last season and the experience playing in District 1-6A should only provide with enough to challenge for a District Title. The Demons also return third leading scorer Oscar Perez (8 ppg).
5. Manzano Monarchs (Record: 6-19, 1-7 | No Playoffs)
Skinny: The Monarchs are the mystery team of them all and could be the started from the bottom now we are here team. They return some talent, youth, but talent nonetheless and we start with 6-foot-6 forward Eric Sonnenberg who could challenge as one of the best big men in the district. Look for Dakota Powell (So.) and Andrew Erickson (Jr) to also contribute big this season for a program that could return to the state tournament. They have the right man, a Manzano man, leading the way as head coach Eric Orell returns for his third season at the helm and it could be a promising one.
6. Clovis Wildcats (Record: 3-22, 0-6 | No Playoffs)
Skinny: The Clovis program was atop the state for many years including an appearance in the state championship a few years ago. However, the Wildcats have been hurting in the talent department from those teams that feature college prospects. The Wildcats won just 3-games in 2015/2016 and the rebuild seems like a 3-5 year project but they have the right coach to get the walls going up in the right direction with Scott Robinson starting his second season. They return six players from last season and will continue to build on a focus with some youth.
Top 10: Must See Players from District 2-6A
1. Bobby Tapia - Sr - Sandia
2. Triston McCarty - Sr - La Cueva
3. David Marquez - Sr - Santa Fe
4. Kameron Valencia - So - Eldorado
5. Bryce Wade - Sr - Eldorado
6. Eric Sonnenberg - Jr - Manzano
7. Elijah Herron - Sr - La Cueva
8. Tanner Sloan - Sr - Sandia
9. Mykol Lagarde - Sr - Eldorado
10. Oscar Perez - Sr - Santa Fe
Grine of NMPreps.com
Today, we take a quick look at District 2-6A. The basketball season officially started on October 31st, 2016 and we continue to look at each team/program.
More: Preseason Home | 6A Pre-Season Top 10 | Top 10 Players in New Mexico
Overview
The district with more mysteries than Fred, Daphne and Shaggy could answer (Scooby-Doo reference). More questions than answers. However, we will try to list as many things we do know going into the season. For one, they have one team ranked in the preseason Top-10 for 6A basketball in the tenth ranked Eldorado Eagles (Albuquerque, NM). However, that slot atop this district could go to a handful of teams that will play in District 2-6A this season. Newcomers Clovis and Santa Fe will be much improved, La Cueva is the next best suitor with a roster that returns some talent and we end with Manzano and Sandia two veteran programs in this district who look to improve drastically this season.
Predicted Finish
1. Eldorado Eagles (Last Season: 9-19, 3-5 | Lost First Round State)
Skinny: The Eldorado Eagles reached the State Tournament last season as the first 17th-seed in tournament history (not really but they replaced 16th seed Santa Fe who was disqualified). The good news for the Eagles who to their standards had a down season return some talent for the 2016/2017 season. Perhaps the biggest news comes in the form of the number ranked New Mexico prospect from the 2019 class in Kameron Valencia a shooting guard that has high basketball IQ for a sophomore. Also, the Eagles return 6-foot-6 post Bryce Wade along with point guard Mykol Lagarde.
2. La Cueva Bears (Record: 11-16, 5-3 | Lost First Round State)
Skinny: One team that we really like to get to .500 or above this season is the La Cueva Bears who return some of the best under the radar talent in the state. The Bears seemed to lack an identity last season but should be on solid ground if they pick one and go with it. Triston McCarty will be one of the top guards returning in New Mexico this season combined with Elijah Herron and newcomer EJ Herron the Bears have some quality pieces to possibly sneak into the Elite Eight this season.
3. Sandia Matadors (Record: 16-10, 8-0 | Lost First Round State)
Skinny: The team that should feel slighted is the Matadors who have owned the district recently and return maybe the top (it's a debate) in the district in Bobby Tapia Jr. who didn't have the headline season we predicted after a stellar sophomore campaign in 2014/2015. However, Tapia can create his own shot and makes decisions with the ball - he's clutch. Another Tapia (Jude), younger brother to Bobby, is one to keep a close eye on this season as well.
4. Santa Fe Demons (Record: 9-17, 2-6 | No Playoffs)
Skinny: The Santa Fe Demons usher in a new head coach in Zac Cole, former Santa Fe Indian head coach. The Demons have had a solid summer session and look to be a team that will only improve on a 9-win season with key returner David Marquez (5'10'', Guard), who was second in scoring at just under 11 ppg, returning this season. The Demons played several underclassmen last season and the experience playing in District 1-6A should only provide with enough to challenge for a District Title. The Demons also return third leading scorer Oscar Perez (8 ppg).
5. Manzano Monarchs (Record: 6-19, 1-7 | No Playoffs)
Skinny: The Monarchs are the mystery team of them all and could be the started from the bottom now we are here team. They return some talent, youth, but talent nonetheless and we start with 6-foot-6 forward Eric Sonnenberg who could challenge as one of the best big men in the district. Look for Dakota Powell (So.) and Andrew Erickson (Jr) to also contribute big this season for a program that could return to the state tournament. They have the right man, a Manzano man, leading the way as head coach Eric Orell returns for his third season at the helm and it could be a promising one.
6. Clovis Wildcats (Record: 3-22, 0-6 | No Playoffs)
Skinny: The Clovis program was atop the state for many years including an appearance in the state championship a few years ago. However, the Wildcats have been hurting in the talent department from those teams that feature college prospects. The Wildcats won just 3-games in 2015/2016 and the rebuild seems like a 3-5 year project but they have the right coach to get the walls going up in the right direction with Scott Robinson starting his second season. They return six players from last season and will continue to build on a focus with some youth.
Top 10: Must See Players from District 2-6A
1. Bobby Tapia - Sr - Sandia
2. Triston McCarty - Sr - La Cueva
3. David Marquez - Sr - Santa Fe
4. Kameron Valencia - So - Eldorado
5. Bryce Wade - Sr - Eldorado
6. Eric Sonnenberg - Jr - Manzano
7. Elijah Herron - Sr - La Cueva
8. Tanner Sloan - Sr - Sandia
9. Mykol Lagarde - Sr - Eldorado
10. Oscar Perez - Sr - Santa Fe
