Week 13: Mid-Week Predictions
Joshua J Grine of NMPreps.com
Welcome to another week! Two left in the regular season and we try to give our best prediction on the weeks games.
If you have been following along, I was loud and tooted' my horn after an 8-0 mid-week prediction. I then followed that up by a 3-5 weekend predictions. So be very cautious if you are going on my predictions.
Eight Must Watch Games Mid-Week
Dulce (12-5) at Desert Academy (13-9), Tues., 6:30p: The last game came down to a 1-point victory by the Desert Academy Wildcats in somewhat of an upset win. Both teams are evenly matched with both averaging around 63 points. Also, Desert Academy is 5-1 at home but Dulce plays well on the road at 6-1 on the road. Flip a coin or revenge game, I think the first might of been a fluke with Dulce getting this one.
Prediction: Dulce 65, Desert Academy 59
Tularosa (14-8) at Lordsburg (20-1), Tues, 6:30p: A game that has peaked our interest with the Tularosa Wildcats playing extremely well as of late and one of the most improved teams from a season ago. They are coming off a win over Mesilla Valley last week and looking to make another in Lordsburg. Tularosa will look to slow the pace down some as Lordsburg has been known to go off, Tulie can too but the better offensive talent is Lordsburg so a shootout is not in their favor.
Prediction: Lordsburg 61, Tularosa 50
Hobbs (13-7) at Alamogordo (7-16), Tues., 7p: You would like to pick an upset here, well I would, but I have zero confidence in the Tigers of Alamogordo. The reason why I was going to pick an upset; Hobbs is coming off their signature win of the season, last week over Carlsbad. Why I am not is the Tigers are not playing to potential of their talent and are 3-8 at home.
Prediction: Hobbs 69, Alamogordo 47
Gallup (17-5) at Piedra Vista (12-10), Tues., 7p: A tricky game for both programs as Gallup is looking vulnerable this season and Piedra Vista is this villain under disguise. Gallup lost to Farmington at home and for the first time is not the leader for the DC. Piedra Vista is our disguise because they are well coached and have some young talent to make the upset on any given night. Not many teams have the young talent that you could pick to step up in a big game.
Prediction: Gallup 65, Piedra Vista 57
Grants (18-3) at St. Pius X (14-7), Tues, 7p: I have to pick an upset team and even though it pains me to do it here against my Alma mater - I am. Why? St. Pius this season has played very well against the top teams in 5A and are one of the few, very few, teams that are coached by one of the best coaches the state has to offer that no matter who is on the roster could be on upset alert. Tempo is all over this game and who can control it. Pius if they run their system and limit Grants possessions will do fine, but also capitalizing on every possession and make Grants beat you in the half court game.
Prediction: St. Pius X 52, Grants 51
St. Michael's (8-11) at Sandia Prep (10-12), Tues, 7p: A battle for position in this district with both the Horsemen and Sundevils jocking for a Top-8 seed (rare I know) in 4A basketball. Prep owned the first meeting with a big second half on their way to a 53-34 victory. This one, should/will be closer but the Horsemen will need to play one of their best games. Neither team puts up a lot of points and the Horsemen will have to play to that strength more instead of allowing the Sundevils to beat you in transition.
Prediction: Sandia Prep 50, St. Mikes 39
Atrisco Heritage Academy (13-8) at Valley (15-6), Wed, 7p: This district is your normal Wednesday night feature and this one has state tournament implications. Valley hasn't been as dominate as we predicted them to be at several points in the season. Atrisco has somewhat overachieved on the season to this point. Valley took a 3-point victory in the first game and might struggle with a quantity of Jaguar guards, in the quality/quantity scale.
Prediction: Valley 69, Atrisco 57
Pojoaque Valley (18-4) at West Las Vegas (16-5), Thurs, 7p: This district will be one of the toughest to win this season and this game could throw it into an early three-way tie. Pojoaque Valley is becoming known as one of the better known defensive teams but still a battle of two strengths as they could shoot very well. West Las Vegas puts up points but when facing top teams (or ranked teams) they have been known to struggle some. It two losses to Grants and Robertson they were well under their average.
Prediction: Pojoaque Valley 62, West Las Vegas 61
Grine Record
Last Week: 11-4
Overall Record: 25-6
Joshua J Grine of NMPreps.com
Welcome to another week! Two left in the regular season and we try to give our best prediction on the weeks games.
If you have been following along, I was loud and tooted' my horn after an 8-0 mid-week prediction. I then followed that up by a 3-5 weekend predictions. So be very cautious if you are going on my predictions.
Eight Must Watch Games Mid-Week
Dulce (12-5) at Desert Academy (13-9), Tues., 6:30p: The last game came down to a 1-point victory by the Desert Academy Wildcats in somewhat of an upset win. Both teams are evenly matched with both averaging around 63 points. Also, Desert Academy is 5-1 at home but Dulce plays well on the road at 6-1 on the road. Flip a coin or revenge game, I think the first might of been a fluke with Dulce getting this one.
Prediction: Dulce 65, Desert Academy 59
Tularosa (14-8) at Lordsburg (20-1), Tues, 6:30p: A game that has peaked our interest with the Tularosa Wildcats playing extremely well as of late and one of the most improved teams from a season ago. They are coming off a win over Mesilla Valley last week and looking to make another in Lordsburg. Tularosa will look to slow the pace down some as Lordsburg has been known to go off, Tulie can too but the better offensive talent is Lordsburg so a shootout is not in their favor.
Prediction: Lordsburg 61, Tularosa 50
Hobbs (13-7) at Alamogordo (7-16), Tues., 7p: You would like to pick an upset here, well I would, but I have zero confidence in the Tigers of Alamogordo. The reason why I was going to pick an upset; Hobbs is coming off their signature win of the season, last week over Carlsbad. Why I am not is the Tigers are not playing to potential of their talent and are 3-8 at home.
Prediction: Hobbs 69, Alamogordo 47
Gallup (17-5) at Piedra Vista (12-10), Tues., 7p: A tricky game for both programs as Gallup is looking vulnerable this season and Piedra Vista is this villain under disguise. Gallup lost to Farmington at home and for the first time is not the leader for the DC. Piedra Vista is our disguise because they are well coached and have some young talent to make the upset on any given night. Not many teams have the young talent that you could pick to step up in a big game.
Prediction: Gallup 65, Piedra Vista 57
Grants (18-3) at St. Pius X (14-7), Tues, 7p: I have to pick an upset team and even though it pains me to do it here against my Alma mater - I am. Why? St. Pius this season has played very well against the top teams in 5A and are one of the few, very few, teams that are coached by one of the best coaches the state has to offer that no matter who is on the roster could be on upset alert. Tempo is all over this game and who can control it. Pius if they run their system and limit Grants possessions will do fine, but also capitalizing on every possession and make Grants beat you in the half court game.
Prediction: St. Pius X 52, Grants 51
St. Michael's (8-11) at Sandia Prep (10-12), Tues, 7p: A battle for position in this district with both the Horsemen and Sundevils jocking for a Top-8 seed (rare I know) in 4A basketball. Prep owned the first meeting with a big second half on their way to a 53-34 victory. This one, should/will be closer but the Horsemen will need to play one of their best games. Neither team puts up a lot of points and the Horsemen will have to play to that strength more instead of allowing the Sundevils to beat you in transition.
Prediction: Sandia Prep 50, St. Mikes 39
Atrisco Heritage Academy (13-8) at Valley (15-6), Wed, 7p: This district is your normal Wednesday night feature and this one has state tournament implications. Valley hasn't been as dominate as we predicted them to be at several points in the season. Atrisco has somewhat overachieved on the season to this point. Valley took a 3-point victory in the first game and might struggle with a quantity of Jaguar guards, in the quality/quantity scale.
Prediction: Valley 69, Atrisco 57
Pojoaque Valley (18-4) at West Las Vegas (16-5), Thurs, 7p: This district will be one of the toughest to win this season and this game could throw it into an early three-way tie. Pojoaque Valley is becoming known as one of the better known defensive teams but still a battle of two strengths as they could shoot very well. West Las Vegas puts up points but when facing top teams (or ranked teams) they have been known to struggle some. It two losses to Grants and Robertson they were well under their average.
Prediction: Pojoaque Valley 62, West Las Vegas 61
Grine Record
Last Week: 11-4
Overall Record: 25-6
