Week 3 Daily Dimes – Monday, December 9
Publisher Joshua Grine’s Daily Dimes
Welcome back to Daily Dimes, my daily blog diving into the New Mexico high school basketball scene. Mondays tend to be a little quieter as teams recover from weekend tournaments, but tonight’s slate features a couple of matchups worth keeping an eye on. With a shortage of officials impacting scheduling, these games are rare gems for a Monday night.
The Highland Hornets come into this game after splitting last week’s games against 5A opponents—an impressive 61-58 win over La Cueva and a hard-fought loss to 5A No. 2 Sandia. Highland’s Juan Limas is emerging as a star for the Hornets, scoring 21 points against Sandia and following it up with 19 against La Cueva. Fellow teammate Sebastian Hernandez is also making his presence felt, providing the Hornets with a solid one-two punch.
For Cibola, tonight will serve as a measuring stick for their progress and whether they can compete with one of the best teams in 4A. Highland, on the other hand, will look to continue solidifying their spot at the top of the rankings.
Robertson went 1-2 at the Sandia Prep Invitational, dropping games to 4A No. 3 St. Pius X and 4A Belen before finishing strong with a win over Clint, TX. The Cardinals have some standout players to watch, especially George Smith, who is averaging 21.5 points per game and quickly becoming a must-watch talent in Class 3A. Complementing Smith is sophomore Nathan Gonzales, a rising star averaging 16 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks per game.
Valencia, sitting at 3-3 on the season, also went 1-2 at the Santa Fe High Capital City Invite, struggling to find consistency against a tough field. The Jaguars are seeking to establish rhythm and momentum as they enter the heart of their season.
This matchup presents a chance for both teams to rebound and find their footing. With Robertson’s dynamic duo of Smith and Gonzales leading the way, expect the Cardinals to push the pace while Valencia looks to protect home court.
Publisher Joshua Grine’s Daily Dimes
Welcome back to Daily Dimes, my daily blog diving into the New Mexico high school basketball scene. Mondays tend to be a little quieter as teams recover from weekend tournaments, but tonight’s slate features a couple of matchups worth keeping an eye on. With a shortage of officials impacting scheduling, these games are rare gems for a Monday night.
5A Cibola Cougars (1-0) at 4A No. 1 Highland Hornets (1-1)
This intriguing Monday night showdown pits two teams with very different trajectories. The 5A Cibola Cougars are looking to shake off the memory of a tough 6-21 campaign last season. They started their 2024-25 season with a win over 2A Menaul, but now they face a true test against the top-ranked team in Class 4A.The Highland Hornets come into this game after splitting last week’s games against 5A opponents—an impressive 61-58 win over La Cueva and a hard-fought loss to 5A No. 2 Sandia. Highland’s Juan Limas is emerging as a star for the Hornets, scoring 21 points against Sandia and following it up with 19 against La Cueva. Fellow teammate Sebastian Hernandez is also making his presence felt, providing the Hornets with a solid one-two punch.
For Cibola, tonight will serve as a measuring stick for their progress and whether they can compete with one of the best teams in 4A. Highland, on the other hand, will look to continue solidifying their spot at the top of the rankings.
3A No. 4 Robertson Cardinals (1-2) at 4A Valencia Jaguars (3-3)
While this game might not have major resume implications, it’s a great matchup for a Monday night, especially for fans of competitive basktball. Both Robertson and Valencia are looking to bounce back after rough outings in tournament play last week.Robertson went 1-2 at the Sandia Prep Invitational, dropping games to 4A No. 3 St. Pius X and 4A Belen before finishing strong with a win over Clint, TX. The Cardinals have some standout players to watch, especially George Smith, who is averaging 21.5 points per game and quickly becoming a must-watch talent in Class 3A. Complementing Smith is sophomore Nathan Gonzales, a rising star averaging 16 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks per game.
Valencia, sitting at 3-3 on the season, also went 1-2 at the Santa Fe High Capital City Invite, struggling to find consistency against a tough field. The Jaguars are seeking to establish rhythm and momentum as they enter the heart of their season.
This matchup presents a chance for both teams to rebound and find their footing. With Robertson’s dynamic duo of Smith and Gonzales leading the way, expect the Cardinals to push the pace while Valencia looks to protect home court.
