Week 12 Tournament Watch: Locks, Autos and Fringe
Joshua J Grine
Three weeks are left for several teams on the fringe (golf term for hoops so-called bubble teams). Each classification is a toss up for the tournament and who will be placed in certain areas but we take a look at those teams on the fringe.
Locks are those teams that will be in the state tournament. Autos are our predicted district champions (DC), but could be a curse. Finally, the fringe is our teams that have work to do the next three weeks.
Class 6A Basketball
Locks: Cleveland, Rio Rancho, Cibola, Onate, Carlsbad, Albuquerque, Valley, Gadsden, Hobbs, Rio Grande, Atrisco Heritage Academy
Autos: Cibola, Sandia, Onate, Carlsbad, Albuquerque
Fringe: Santa Fe, La Cueva, Mayfield, Las Cruces, Volcano Vista, Highland, Manzano
Ranking the Fringe Teams
1. La Cueva (8-11, 3-0): Right now they have the best shot and ranking but things could take a shift for them and it's out of their control. If Las Cruces and Volcano Vista finish above Mayfield and Santa Fe they will would fall behind them -likely. The win in the criteria is a possible district runner up. Fringe wins: Volcano Vista.
Seed: 13
2. Santa Fe (8-12, 1-2): The Demons got the win that they needed over Volcano Vista that has pushed them up in the Fringe Rankings. They have some losses that hurt them but right now a fourth place finish in the best district in 1-6A moves them this high. Fringe wins: Highland, Las Cruces and Volcano Vista.
Seed: 14
3. Mayfield (9-12, 2-1): The Trojans were one of my "eye test" favorites this season, and have the makings to be a very dangerous team in the next year or two. The Trojans right now moving above Las Cruces in district play pushed them up in the rankings. Las Cruces would likely be the top ranked team with resume (possibly Volcano Vista had they beat Santa Fe). Fringe wins: Las Cruces.
Seed: 15
4. Las Cruces (10-11, 1-3): The Bulldawgs haven't done well to start the season but played well right before district play. They could have been in the LOCK but stumbled out the gate in district play. Las Cruces wins over Sandia and La Cueva help vs Santa Fe's fringe win they fall though. Fringe wins: Sandia, La Cueva.
Seed: 16
5. Volcano Vista (7-12, 0-4): The Hawks have the resume that if you look closer is more IN than OUT. The one or two things that they have to accomplish is beating Santa Fe and stealing one game over top three in this district. Right now they are behind Santa Fe on the ranking because of the recent loss. Fringe wins: Sandia, La Cueva, Manzano (twice), Highland, Hobbs.
Seed: 17
6. Manzano (6-13, 1-2): The Monarchs have a young energized team that is head back in the right direction but might be a year or two away from really making the leap. Key fringe win: Sandia (54-53), Rio Grande (57-54 OT) and Highland (58-56)
Seed: 18
7. Highland (5-13, 1-3): Okay, this district is a one-bid, probably two bid league. So why do we have a 1-3 team listed? Well, Highland is one of those 'out' teams that could make a case if they finish third and play well in the tournament. Wins over fellow fringe teams: Santa Fe (57-56). What pushes them down is a 5 win season and likely the best is finishing third in a weak district.
Seed: 19
Joshua J Grine
Three weeks are left for several teams on the fringe (golf term for hoops so-called bubble teams). Each classification is a toss up for the tournament and who will be placed in certain areas but we take a look at those teams on the fringe.
Locks are those teams that will be in the state tournament. Autos are our predicted district champions (DC), but could be a curse. Finally, the fringe is our teams that have work to do the next three weeks.
Class 6A Basketball
Locks: Cleveland, Rio Rancho, Cibola, Onate, Carlsbad, Albuquerque, Valley, Gadsden, Hobbs, Rio Grande, Atrisco Heritage Academy
Autos: Cibola, Sandia, Onate, Carlsbad, Albuquerque
Fringe: Santa Fe, La Cueva, Mayfield, Las Cruces, Volcano Vista, Highland, Manzano
Ranking the Fringe Teams
1. La Cueva (8-11, 3-0): Right now they have the best shot and ranking but things could take a shift for them and it's out of their control. If Las Cruces and Volcano Vista finish above Mayfield and Santa Fe they will would fall behind them -likely. The win in the criteria is a possible district runner up. Fringe wins: Volcano Vista.
Seed: 13
2. Santa Fe (8-12, 1-2): The Demons got the win that they needed over Volcano Vista that has pushed them up in the Fringe Rankings. They have some losses that hurt them but right now a fourth place finish in the best district in 1-6A moves them this high. Fringe wins: Highland, Las Cruces and Volcano Vista.
Seed: 14
3. Mayfield (9-12, 2-1): The Trojans were one of my "eye test" favorites this season, and have the makings to be a very dangerous team in the next year or two. The Trojans right now moving above Las Cruces in district play pushed them up in the rankings. Las Cruces would likely be the top ranked team with resume (possibly Volcano Vista had they beat Santa Fe). Fringe wins: Las Cruces.
Seed: 15
4. Las Cruces (10-11, 1-3): The Bulldawgs haven't done well to start the season but played well right before district play. They could have been in the LOCK but stumbled out the gate in district play. Las Cruces wins over Sandia and La Cueva help vs Santa Fe's fringe win they fall though. Fringe wins: Sandia, La Cueva.
Seed: 16
5. Volcano Vista (7-12, 0-4): The Hawks have the resume that if you look closer is more IN than OUT. The one or two things that they have to accomplish is beating Santa Fe and stealing one game over top three in this district. Right now they are behind Santa Fe on the ranking because of the recent loss. Fringe wins: Sandia, La Cueva, Manzano (twice), Highland, Hobbs.
Seed: 17
6. Manzano (6-13, 1-2): The Monarchs have a young energized team that is head back in the right direction but might be a year or two away from really making the leap. Key fringe win: Sandia (54-53), Rio Grande (57-54 OT) and Highland (58-56)
Seed: 18
7. Highland (5-13, 1-3): Okay, this district is a one-bid, probably two bid league. So why do we have a 1-3 team listed? Well, Highland is one of those 'out' teams that could make a case if they finish third and play well in the tournament. Wins over fellow fringe teams: Santa Fe (57-56). What pushes them down is a 5 win season and likely the best is finishing third in a weak district.
Seed: 19
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