Week 11: The Week That Was
Joshua J Grine
Just when you believe you have seen it all. Another week of basketball brings the excitement all in it's own. No. 1 goes down, a pair of double overtime games and the fight to the end.
The Big Five For Week 11
Top Performance by a Mr. Basketball Candidate: Cesar Molina, Sr, Centennial HS
Molina, had a setback early in the season with an injury on opening night but has come into his own as of late. Molina, dropped 31 points on Saturday night against Top-25 team Belen High School.
(6A) We got one: Santa Fe High School is fighting with all it has for the final spot in the state tournament, earn a win over Volcano Vista, 53-34. It was a convincing win that could have them as IN this week in what will create a crowded bubble. The win was also their first district win since joining 1-6A.
(5A) Not The 'Favorites' but the Leaders: Farmington beat Gallup on Friday night, 56-43 to take the lead of District 1-5A. Gallup a Top-25 team last week (No. 15) has a nice resume and was talked about for a Top-4 seed. Farmington could be in play for one of those seeds. Los Lunas moved to 4-0 in District 3-5A also moving into first ahead of Centennial (No. 10 in week 11). Los Lunas was unranked last week behind two top-25 teams in week 11.
(4A) Return to Form: Sandia Prep moved to (3-0) in district play and will go head-to-head with Hope Christian for the district lead in week 12. Sandia Prep and Hope Christian were the usual teams battling for a district title and would be almost earlier in the Final Four. Well, they could return this season to form in a talented 4A classification.
(3A) Who's Number 2 in 3A?: Lordsburg dominated over small school power Cliff in week 11. Next, we look for a two seed in 3A. Santa Rosa (15-7, 2-0), Laguna-Acoma (15-5, 2-0), Texico (11-5), Mesilla Valley (9-7), Pecos (15-5) and Tucumcari (13-5) all in play. Texico beat Santa Rosa but lost to Pecos. Pecos split with Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa beat Laguna-Acoma. Mesilla Valley has 7-losses but all to big school division teams. Tucumcari has a loss to Texico and Santa Rosa. Crowded anyone? Mesilla could get the nod but they have a pair of district games against Lordsburg.
NMPreps.com Week 11 Awards
Player of the Week: Jake Flaming, Moriarty High School
Jake Flaming the 6-7 forward has returned to the scene with an impressive week 10 going for 25, 24 and 33 this week to take home the award. Flaming was one of the top freshmen in the state of New Mexico and has fallen some-what off the radar until posting big numbers.
Coach of the Week: Ray Rodriguez, Cibola High School
Head coach Ray Rodriguez is having one of his best seasons with a young roster. The Cougars went (3-0) this week with wins over, then No. 1, Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho and La Cueva.
Team of the Week: Cibola Cougars
Mentioned above with the coach of the week the Cougars also take home team of the week honors after a (3-0) week beating two Top-25 teams, one ranked No. 1 in week 10. The Cougars are making a case for a 1-seed as they take the lead in 1-6A at 3-0.
Timeout: Questions after Week 11
Tournament Worthy?: Santa Fe Indian (10-11, 1-3). The Braves looked like a lock a week ago. Well, after going 1-3 to start district play they could be playing catch-up the rest of the way and need to steal a win from St. Mikes or Sandia Prep.
Out of the Top-8?: Gallup Bengals (16-5, 2-1). Let's just be honest District 1-5A hasn't fared to well against other districts in 5A. The Bengals have a resume but falling behind Farmington could hurt their chances. The lost at home to the Scorpions making the climb even more difficult.
Out of the 16?: Volcano Vista (7-12, 0-4). Well, the first go-around in District 1-6A play didn't go well. The Hawks do have a few signature resume wins over Sandia, La Cueva, and Hobbs but going 0-8 in district play could have them at home. They have 5-games left and will need to beat Santa Fe and Highland to have a fight when the committee meets. A win over top 3 in this district would only help but they lost by double digits in each contest.
Leftovers: Unofficial Awards
Hall Pass: Emilo Arellano, St. Pius X. Dropped 36-points against Valencia and followed it up with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 6 steals against Piedra Vista.
Free Lunch: Jordan Leake, Hope Christian. Leake is one of the top players in the state of New Mexico and he backed that up with 32 points against St. Michael's on Tuesday night.
Student of the Week: Desmond Carpenter, Cibola. Carpenter has been underrated to this point in the season and backed it up with a 21-point night against Cleveland. The junior is a joy to watch on the court and improved his stock drastically.
Homework Pass: Caleb Wroten, Sandia HS. Much like player of the week Jake Flaming, Wroten was a top-3 freshman to watch four years ago. Well, the big fella is playing his best basketball yet with a 27-point, 22 rebound night against Valley. He had a double-double of 18 and 18 last week.
Joshua J Grine
Just when you believe you have seen it all. Another week of basketball brings the excitement all in it's own. No. 1 goes down, a pair of double overtime games and the fight to the end.
The Big Five For Week 11
Top Performance by a Mr. Basketball Candidate: Cesar Molina, Sr, Centennial HS
Molina, had a setback early in the season with an injury on opening night but has come into his own as of late. Molina, dropped 31 points on Saturday night against Top-25 team Belen High School.
(6A) We got one: Santa Fe High School is fighting with all it has for the final spot in the state tournament, earn a win over Volcano Vista, 53-34. It was a convincing win that could have them as IN this week in what will create a crowded bubble. The win was also their first district win since joining 1-6A.
(5A) Not The 'Favorites' but the Leaders: Farmington beat Gallup on Friday night, 56-43 to take the lead of District 1-5A. Gallup a Top-25 team last week (No. 15) has a nice resume and was talked about for a Top-4 seed. Farmington could be in play for one of those seeds. Los Lunas moved to 4-0 in District 3-5A also moving into first ahead of Centennial (No. 10 in week 11). Los Lunas was unranked last week behind two top-25 teams in week 11.
(4A) Return to Form: Sandia Prep moved to (3-0) in district play and will go head-to-head with Hope Christian for the district lead in week 12. Sandia Prep and Hope Christian were the usual teams battling for a district title and would be almost earlier in the Final Four. Well, they could return this season to form in a talented 4A classification.
(3A) Who's Number 2 in 3A?: Lordsburg dominated over small school power Cliff in week 11. Next, we look for a two seed in 3A. Santa Rosa (15-7, 2-0), Laguna-Acoma (15-5, 2-0), Texico (11-5), Mesilla Valley (9-7), Pecos (15-5) and Tucumcari (13-5) all in play. Texico beat Santa Rosa but lost to Pecos. Pecos split with Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa beat Laguna-Acoma. Mesilla Valley has 7-losses but all to big school division teams. Tucumcari has a loss to Texico and Santa Rosa. Crowded anyone? Mesilla could get the nod but they have a pair of district games against Lordsburg.
NMPreps.com Week 11 Awards
Player of the Week: Jake Flaming, Moriarty High School
Jake Flaming the 6-7 forward has returned to the scene with an impressive week 10 going for 25, 24 and 33 this week to take home the award. Flaming was one of the top freshmen in the state of New Mexico and has fallen some-what off the radar until posting big numbers.
Coach of the Week: Ray Rodriguez, Cibola High School
Head coach Ray Rodriguez is having one of his best seasons with a young roster. The Cougars went (3-0) this week with wins over, then No. 1, Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho and La Cueva.
Team of the Week: Cibola Cougars
Mentioned above with the coach of the week the Cougars also take home team of the week honors after a (3-0) week beating two Top-25 teams, one ranked No. 1 in week 10. The Cougars are making a case for a 1-seed as they take the lead in 1-6A at 3-0.
Timeout: Questions after Week 11
Tournament Worthy?: Santa Fe Indian (10-11, 1-3). The Braves looked like a lock a week ago. Well, after going 1-3 to start district play they could be playing catch-up the rest of the way and need to steal a win from St. Mikes or Sandia Prep.
Out of the Top-8?: Gallup Bengals (16-5, 2-1). Let's just be honest District 1-5A hasn't fared to well against other districts in 5A. The Bengals have a resume but falling behind Farmington could hurt their chances. The lost at home to the Scorpions making the climb even more difficult.
Out of the 16?: Volcano Vista (7-12, 0-4). Well, the first go-around in District 1-6A play didn't go well. The Hawks do have a few signature resume wins over Sandia, La Cueva, and Hobbs but going 0-8 in district play could have them at home. They have 5-games left and will need to beat Santa Fe and Highland to have a fight when the committee meets. A win over top 3 in this district would only help but they lost by double digits in each contest.
Leftovers: Unofficial Awards
Hall Pass: Emilo Arellano, St. Pius X. Dropped 36-points against Valencia and followed it up with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 6 steals against Piedra Vista.
Free Lunch: Jordan Leake, Hope Christian. Leake is one of the top players in the state of New Mexico and he backed that up with 32 points against St. Michael's on Tuesday night.
Student of the Week: Desmond Carpenter, Cibola. Carpenter has been underrated to this point in the season and backed it up with a 21-point night against Cleveland. The junior is a joy to watch on the court and improved his stock drastically.
Homework Pass: Caleb Wroten, Sandia HS. Much like player of the week Jake Flaming, Wroten was a top-3 freshman to watch four years ago. Well, the big fella is playing his best basketball yet with a 27-point, 22 rebound night against Valley. He had a double-double of 18 and 18 last week.
