Week 5 Recap: Unwrapping the Parity
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com
If you decided to hit the road for travel early (I just returned) then you missed what could have been a busy weekend. Unranked beat ranked, the second number one ranked team in the Top-25 lost, and we try to make it clear that this season is unlike any other.
What We Learned In Week Five
In 6A Hoops: No Bulldog, not Cavemen but Cougars?
As mentioned by Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com on the Saturday night recap the final undefeated team in 6A lost. The Bulldogs ranked No. 1 in the NMPreps.com Week Five Top-25 lost to the Cibola Cougars, 68-62. So what did we learn besides the fact that when March comes we won't have a clear cut favorite?
The Cougars at (8-1) might be one of the most unlikely teams to make the run and likely get some first place votes in the Week 6 Top-25. We say unlikely because in the 68-62 win they had another player slide into the leading performer for the night. We have seen junior Desmond Carpenter, who is already being courted by college teams pour in twenty points. We have seen senior Isaac Maldonado lead the team from the frontcourt. Well, on Saturday night it was senior Carlos Barela who had 18 points to lead the Cougars. Although they had five players in double figures, Zack Baca (12 points) and Cameron Dixon (10 points) along with Carpenter (12 points) and Maldonado (11 points).
In 6A Hoops: The Vikings Might Get The Nod in Week 6
This team had the Top 100 prospects coming into the season and after a opening loss to La Cueva the Vikings of Valley (6-2) who sat at No. 2 last week could be the number one ranked team in the NMPreps.com Top-25 come Monday morning.
We learned that they have options of their own and could be a resemblance of the 2014 title team. They have the stellar guard in sophomore Anthony Chavez who had 7 points in the win over Highland, 44-40. But it was the inside presence of senior post Teton Saltes who led the way with 20 points on the night. If teams take away Chavez or the athletic wing in sophomore Segun Oyeku they can pound it inside to Saltes. We learned that this team has options to take over any game from several positions. They have a state champion coach and even though it's young they have a deep roster.
In 5A Hoops: Could a 5A Team Get The Nod for Number One?
Still undefeated the No. 4 Grants Pirates (6-0) fought of their toughest opponent in the No. 24 Gallup Bengals, 62-58 for the championship of the Eddie Pena Classic held in Grants, New Mexico.
The Pirates have a deep roster of their own and we learned that they have the talent to finish any game. Where do we start with the Pirates, 6'5 senior wing/forward Richie Lucero, junior guard Matt Vail or senior guard Michael Chambers? What about 6-foot-6 forward Bradley Hatten who is coming into his own as of late. It's hard to beat a team with several scoring options and the Pirates have such that several different areas from the backcourt in Vail and Chambers or to the frontcourt with Lucero and Hatten.
In 4A Hoops: We went East in Portales, the southwest with Silver but now West (Las Vegas)?
4A hoops each year has come to the Hope Christian Huskies and the year we are seeing some parity in 4A we might have found the likely suitor. Will it be the West Las Vegas Dons (6-0) who are coming off a 17-point win (67-50) over Portales?
Well, I think we should have had that on our big board as the Dons are the 2015 state runner ups. They return a likely Top-10 player in DJ Bustos a junior who will own several records before walking the stage as a graduate. Bustos a spot up shooter guided the Dons to the win on Saturday night. They might lack the roster depth we talk about with other classifications but when you have a clear next level player like Bustos then you have a team that could win it all.
In 4A Hoops: We Might Have a Two Headed Monster in 2-4A.
Yes, the West Las Vegas Dons are making the waves after the win but we can't forget about the Pojoaque Elks (8-1) also enter the conversation only losing one contest to 5A Gallup. The Elks finished the week (3-0) winning their Ben Lujan Invite beating Hatch Valley (55-36), Bloomfield (41-34) and Mora (49-43). They have the depth from junior James Garcia but don't sleep on speedy point guard Joseph Fresques or shooters Tevan Flowers (2017) and Dominic Roybal (2017).
In Small School Division: Mavericks and Steers?
The Lordsburg Mavericks at (8-0) are still standing perfect in 3A basketball beating Animas this week (74-34). This team has the talent and depth to go far this season. They have been the team on the fringe each season and this could be the year they finish in the PIT.
Magdalena could be the team with the least respect but the defending champs at (7-0) are still riding a 38-game win streak. They are actually 67-2 since the 2013-2014 season. The Steers have Jorrell Mirabal a 6-1 sophomore who putting his name among the best sophomores in New Mexico averaging 24.2 points per game.
Different Awards: Top Five Performance From Week Five
School President - Jarrett Graham, So, Piedra Vista HS: The sophomore led the Panthers with 40-points on Tuesday night in a win over Shiprock High School. Anytime a player goes off it's hard not to reward him with the award.
Vice President - Anthony Chavez, So, Valley HS: Well, why not stay with the sophomore theme as Chavez went off for 26-points against a Top-10 team in Cleveland High School on Friday night.
Student Council Rep - Bradley Hatten, Sr, Grants HS: The 6'6 post had 19-points against Bernalillo and 15 against one of the better big men in Holt Shelley (Cliff High School) this week.
Free Lunch Ticket - Brenden Boatwright, Jr, Carlsbad HS: The big man has the footwork, nice shooting touch and proved it this week with a 24-point night (vs Goddard) along with 23 against Las Cruces.
Homework Pass - Dalton Privett, Sr, Dora HS: 34-points against Floyd this week and Privett is silent putting himself in the conversation for Small School Player of the Year award.
Rapid Fire: The Extra, Leftover Awards
Principles' Parking Spot - Ray Rodriguez, Cibola HS: I will admit that I have questioned Rodriguez for having talent but falling short. Well, can I have take backs as the veteran head coach is proving why he should be considered one of the top in the metro area. The Cougars upset number one Albuquerque High this week.
District Car Approval - David Rodriguez, Santa Fe HS: Yes, only 5-5 on the season but the Demons looked solid this week going 2-0 and earning a Top-25 win over Las Cruces 75-62 on Saturday night. I don't think any of us would have taken the Demons against this program.
Teacher of the Week - Steve Heredia, Centennial HS: The 2015 defending champs showed that they are still a team you shouldn't forget about as they beat undefeated Roswell on Saturday night.
Bracket Tracker: Down, Up and Some Loops
6A
Cibola - Rise: Win puts them in home game convo.
Valley - Rise: Keep winning and could lock Top-4
Santa Fe - Rise: Out last week, likely in this week.
Rio Grade - Drop: Went from possible top-10 to (14-17 slots)
Volcano Vista - Drop: Went from home game to road game.
Las Cruces - Drop: Went from in to likely bubble out.
5A
Los Lunas - Rise: They were Top-Four consideration and that's back in play.
Centennial - Rise: Back in the talk for Top-4.
Piedra Vista - Rise: Could be in play for a home game.
Artesia - Drop: Chaparral loss hurt, Valencia loss puts them as bubble out.
Moriarty - Drop: Had them at 16 last week, likely out after a 'bad' loss to Clovis.
4A
Ruidoso - Rise: Cobre is not a great win but a bubble win for the most part.
Hatch Valley - Drop: Fell to Socorro in a bad loss.
Bloomfield - Drop: Laguna-Acoma is good but they don't appear in the game.
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com
If you decided to hit the road for travel early (I just returned) then you missed what could have been a busy weekend. Unranked beat ranked, the second number one ranked team in the Top-25 lost, and we try to make it clear that this season is unlike any other.
What We Learned In Week Five
In 6A Hoops: No Bulldog, not Cavemen but Cougars?
As mentioned by Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com on the Saturday night recap the final undefeated team in 6A lost. The Bulldogs ranked No. 1 in the NMPreps.com Week Five Top-25 lost to the Cibola Cougars, 68-62. So what did we learn besides the fact that when March comes we won't have a clear cut favorite?
The Cougars at (8-1) might be one of the most unlikely teams to make the run and likely get some first place votes in the Week 6 Top-25. We say unlikely because in the 68-62 win they had another player slide into the leading performer for the night. We have seen junior Desmond Carpenter, who is already being courted by college teams pour in twenty points. We have seen senior Isaac Maldonado lead the team from the frontcourt. Well, on Saturday night it was senior Carlos Barela who had 18 points to lead the Cougars. Although they had five players in double figures, Zack Baca (12 points) and Cameron Dixon (10 points) along with Carpenter (12 points) and Maldonado (11 points).
In 6A Hoops: The Vikings Might Get The Nod in Week 6
This team had the Top 100 prospects coming into the season and after a opening loss to La Cueva the Vikings of Valley (6-2) who sat at No. 2 last week could be the number one ranked team in the NMPreps.com Top-25 come Monday morning.
We learned that they have options of their own and could be a resemblance of the 2014 title team. They have the stellar guard in sophomore Anthony Chavez who had 7 points in the win over Highland, 44-40. But it was the inside presence of senior post Teton Saltes who led the way with 20 points on the night. If teams take away Chavez or the athletic wing in sophomore Segun Oyeku they can pound it inside to Saltes. We learned that this team has options to take over any game from several positions. They have a state champion coach and even though it's young they have a deep roster.
In 5A Hoops: Could a 5A Team Get The Nod for Number One?
Still undefeated the No. 4 Grants Pirates (6-0) fought of their toughest opponent in the No. 24 Gallup Bengals, 62-58 for the championship of the Eddie Pena Classic held in Grants, New Mexico.
The Pirates have a deep roster of their own and we learned that they have the talent to finish any game. Where do we start with the Pirates, 6'5 senior wing/forward Richie Lucero, junior guard Matt Vail or senior guard Michael Chambers? What about 6-foot-6 forward Bradley Hatten who is coming into his own as of late. It's hard to beat a team with several scoring options and the Pirates have such that several different areas from the backcourt in Vail and Chambers or to the frontcourt with Lucero and Hatten.
In 4A Hoops: We went East in Portales, the southwest with Silver but now West (Las Vegas)?
4A hoops each year has come to the Hope Christian Huskies and the year we are seeing some parity in 4A we might have found the likely suitor. Will it be the West Las Vegas Dons (6-0) who are coming off a 17-point win (67-50) over Portales?
Well, I think we should have had that on our big board as the Dons are the 2015 state runner ups. They return a likely Top-10 player in DJ Bustos a junior who will own several records before walking the stage as a graduate. Bustos a spot up shooter guided the Dons to the win on Saturday night. They might lack the roster depth we talk about with other classifications but when you have a clear next level player like Bustos then you have a team that could win it all.
In 4A Hoops: We Might Have a Two Headed Monster in 2-4A.
Yes, the West Las Vegas Dons are making the waves after the win but we can't forget about the Pojoaque Elks (8-1) also enter the conversation only losing one contest to 5A Gallup. The Elks finished the week (3-0) winning their Ben Lujan Invite beating Hatch Valley (55-36), Bloomfield (41-34) and Mora (49-43). They have the depth from junior James Garcia but don't sleep on speedy point guard Joseph Fresques or shooters Tevan Flowers (2017) and Dominic Roybal (2017).
In Small School Division: Mavericks and Steers?
The Lordsburg Mavericks at (8-0) are still standing perfect in 3A basketball beating Animas this week (74-34). This team has the talent and depth to go far this season. They have been the team on the fringe each season and this could be the year they finish in the PIT.
Magdalena could be the team with the least respect but the defending champs at (7-0) are still riding a 38-game win streak. They are actually 67-2 since the 2013-2014 season. The Steers have Jorrell Mirabal a 6-1 sophomore who putting his name among the best sophomores in New Mexico averaging 24.2 points per game.
Different Awards: Top Five Performance From Week Five
School President - Jarrett Graham, So, Piedra Vista HS: The sophomore led the Panthers with 40-points on Tuesday night in a win over Shiprock High School. Anytime a player goes off it's hard not to reward him with the award.
Vice President - Anthony Chavez, So, Valley HS: Well, why not stay with the sophomore theme as Chavez went off for 26-points against a Top-10 team in Cleveland High School on Friday night.
Student Council Rep - Bradley Hatten, Sr, Grants HS: The 6'6 post had 19-points against Bernalillo and 15 against one of the better big men in Holt Shelley (Cliff High School) this week.
Free Lunch Ticket - Brenden Boatwright, Jr, Carlsbad HS: The big man has the footwork, nice shooting touch and proved it this week with a 24-point night (vs Goddard) along with 23 against Las Cruces.
Homework Pass - Dalton Privett, Sr, Dora HS: 34-points against Floyd this week and Privett is silent putting himself in the conversation for Small School Player of the Year award.
Rapid Fire: The Extra, Leftover Awards
Principles' Parking Spot - Ray Rodriguez, Cibola HS: I will admit that I have questioned Rodriguez for having talent but falling short. Well, can I have take backs as the veteran head coach is proving why he should be considered one of the top in the metro area. The Cougars upset number one Albuquerque High this week.
District Car Approval - David Rodriguez, Santa Fe HS: Yes, only 5-5 on the season but the Demons looked solid this week going 2-0 and earning a Top-25 win over Las Cruces 75-62 on Saturday night. I don't think any of us would have taken the Demons against this program.
Teacher of the Week - Steve Heredia, Centennial HS: The 2015 defending champs showed that they are still a team you shouldn't forget about as they beat undefeated Roswell on Saturday night.
Bracket Tracker: Down, Up and Some Loops
6A
Cibola - Rise: Win puts them in home game convo.
Valley - Rise: Keep winning and could lock Top-4
Santa Fe - Rise: Out last week, likely in this week.
Rio Grade - Drop: Went from possible top-10 to (14-17 slots)
Volcano Vista - Drop: Went from home game to road game.
Las Cruces - Drop: Went from in to likely bubble out.
5A
Los Lunas - Rise: They were Top-Four consideration and that's back in play.
Centennial - Rise: Back in the talk for Top-4.
Piedra Vista - Rise: Could be in play for a home game.
Artesia - Drop: Chaparral loss hurt, Valencia loss puts them as bubble out.
Moriarty - Drop: Had them at 16 last week, likely out after a 'bad' loss to Clovis.
4A
Ruidoso - Rise: Cobre is not a great win but a bubble win for the most part.
Hatch Valley - Drop: Fell to Socorro in a bad loss.
Bloomfield - Drop: Laguna-Acoma is good but they don't appear in the game.
