Games To Watch In Week Three. Monday - Wednesday Version.
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com
Each week we run down the must watch games for the week. This week features a Final Four possibility match up between two Top-5 teams.
THE BIG THREE
Final Four Contenders Game
No. 3 Onate (1-1) vs No. 4 Cleveland (1-0): This contest would be greater a few weeks later as Cleveland (1-0) is still missing some of their top players. However, the Storm opened the season behind Marcus Gibson's 20-points by a huge margin over a, then, ranked Highland team. Onate (1-1) comes into the game after surrendering their first win over EP Americas.
The Pick: Knights +4
Mr. Basketball Candidates in this one: Johnny McCants, 2016/W-F, Onate/Marcus Gibson (Cleveland)
Rising Players: Hunter Thomas, 2017/SG, Onate HS
Crossover Game/6A vs 5A Game
No. 7 Rio Rancho (0-1) vs No. 20 Espanola Valley (2-0): The Rio Rancho Rams are taking each game as a game closer to becoming the team we know or project them to be. Football players have a week under their belts and hope to avoid falling to 0-2. The Espanola Valley Sundevils are coming into this one with upset on their mind. They have a deep team this season and will look to run with the Rams.
The Pick: Rams +2
Mr. Basketball Candidates: Clay Patterson, Jr/G, Rio Rancho/Uriah Arellano, Sr./G, Espanola Valley.
Rising Names: Joe Elmalhy, So, Rio Rancho HS/Marcos Salazar, G/Sr, Espanola Valley.
Number One Opens Their Season
No. 1 Carlsbad (0-0) vs No. 25 Goddard (1-0): The number one team in the state of New Mexico officially opens their season with a visiting top-25 team in No. 25 Goddard. The Cavemen will look their advantage with their size in this game. Look for Brenden Boatwright to get plenty of looks in this contest. The Rockets will bring a trio of guards to keep this one close as the Rockets are ranked for the first time in a pair of seasons. However, the rising name is center Dalin Stanford for the Rockets who had 15 points and 7 rebounds last week.
The Pick: Cavemen +8
Mr. Basketball Candidates: Brenden Boatwright, F/Jr., Carlsbad/Noah Waide, G/Sr, Goddard
Rising Names: Bryce McAlister, W/Jr, Carlsbad/Dalin Stanford, C/So., Goddard
Grine Picks Record: (6-2)
RAPID FIRE
Tuesday/Wednesday Games
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com
Each week we run down the must watch games for the week. This week features a Final Four possibility match up between two Top-5 teams.
THE BIG THREE
Final Four Contenders Game
No. 3 Onate (1-1) vs No. 4 Cleveland (1-0): This contest would be greater a few weeks later as Cleveland (1-0) is still missing some of their top players. However, the Storm opened the season behind Marcus Gibson's 20-points by a huge margin over a, then, ranked Highland team. Onate (1-1) comes into the game after surrendering their first win over EP Americas.
The Pick: Knights +4
Mr. Basketball Candidates in this one: Johnny McCants, 2016/W-F, Onate/Marcus Gibson (Cleveland)
Rising Players: Hunter Thomas, 2017/SG, Onate HS
Crossover Game/6A vs 5A Game
No. 7 Rio Rancho (0-1) vs No. 20 Espanola Valley (2-0): The Rio Rancho Rams are taking each game as a game closer to becoming the team we know or project them to be. Football players have a week under their belts and hope to avoid falling to 0-2. The Espanola Valley Sundevils are coming into this one with upset on their mind. They have a deep team this season and will look to run with the Rams.
The Pick: Rams +2
Mr. Basketball Candidates: Clay Patterson, Jr/G, Rio Rancho/Uriah Arellano, Sr./G, Espanola Valley.
Rising Names: Joe Elmalhy, So, Rio Rancho HS/Marcos Salazar, G/Sr, Espanola Valley.
Number One Opens Their Season
No. 1 Carlsbad (0-0) vs No. 25 Goddard (1-0): The number one team in the state of New Mexico officially opens their season with a visiting top-25 team in No. 25 Goddard. The Cavemen will look their advantage with their size in this game. Look for Brenden Boatwright to get plenty of looks in this contest. The Rockets will bring a trio of guards to keep this one close as the Rockets are ranked for the first time in a pair of seasons. However, the rising name is center Dalin Stanford for the Rockets who had 15 points and 7 rebounds last week.
The Pick: Cavemen +8
Mr. Basketball Candidates: Brenden Boatwright, F/Jr., Carlsbad/Noah Waide, G/Sr, Goddard
Rising Names: Bryce McAlister, W/Jr, Carlsbad/Dalin Stanford, C/So., Goddard
Grine Picks Record: (6-2)
RAPID FIRE
Tuesday/Wednesday Games
- Intriguing Contest: No. 2 Albuquerque (1-0) vs Eldorado (0-1) - The Bulldogs look to back up the move to No. 2. Eldorado looks to rebound after falling out of the Top-25, losing last week.
- Seed Game: Gallup (1-0) vs St. Pius X (0-0) - Both teams are historically tournament teams, that will likely happen again, so now this could be a head-to-head type of game.
- Northwest Game: No. 9 Grants (1-0) vs. Piedra Vista (1-0) - The Pirates are the number one team in 5A and will look to continue the hot start as they beat PV's crosstown rival by 25 plus.
- Bubble Type of Game: Clovis (0-0) vs Santa Fe (0-1) - Santa Fe needs this game, both teams do, but Santa Fe's loss hurts resume. This would really push them back.
- Wednesday Game Head-to-Head: No. 17 Rio Grande (1-0) vs Eldorado (0-1): Both teams play on back to back nights. This one will hurt either team come March.
