Week 7: 13 Things We Learned in Week 7
Joshua J. Grine
Plenty of games were cancelled across the state of New Mexico during week seven but we still had several teams in action. We continue to try and make sense of the rankings and state of New Mexico.
1. Atrisco Heritage Making Their Case In a Crowded District
The Jaguars are making believers and catching our attention with their recently released Top-25 vote (NMPreps.com Top-25 Rankings for Week 8). However, many think we still need more to find out on the Jaguars. Right now they are 2-5 against current Top-25 teams (3-5 if you count Los Lunas who was ranked last week) and La Cueva is under .500 right now. The verdict is still out for the Jaguars and they could make it interesting in 5-6A with four teams in the Top-25 now. The Jaguars extend their win streak to 5-games as they prepare for a first round match-up with No. 3 Cibola in the Albuquerque Metro Championships.
2. Cardinals Contenders or Playing for Second?
The question has been asked - are they 'good' enough to beat the rulers of 4A basketball in Hope Christian? Well, that we will have to wait until March but right now why can't we say yes? The Cardinals have been impressive and on the rise for the last three years. They are ranked for the first time in program history (enter at No. 23 on the Week 8 NMPreps.com Rankings). They have veteran play, a transfer that has put them a leg ahead and could be the team we see at noon on that Saturday morning. Did anyone predict Pojoaque Valley to do the unthinkable in 2007?
3. H-mmm in 2A Hoops Right now.
So it could be a toss up in 2A hoops with the three M's making us go hmmm. Magdalena has the win streak at 39-games (8-0 this season), Mora has an impressive resume of their own and Melrose bringing their own roster loaded with talent. The three will make it interest come March and for good reason as this season it could create more excitement for the fans at the Star Center.
THE LEFTOVER AWARDS
4. Hall Pass (Impressive Player): Jeremy Anaya, Capital - The guard from Capital has played well as the Robin to Batman on Capital but it was his game to shine. As more teams focus on Eric Coca, Anaya will have his time to shine. He did outstanding putting in 22-points on the road at Lovington in a win.
5. Free Lunch Ticket (On the Rise Player): Estevan Martinez, Atrisco - Martinez has quietly been putting up big numbers or the streaking Jaguars and has them ranked in the Top-25 for the first time this season. 19-points in the win over Alamogordo for the Village of Los Lunas Championship.
6. Homework Pass (Consistently on the Rise): Juan Hurt, Rio Rancho - If he is not on top of the list already the junior had another impressive week capped off by a 24-point performance in the third place game against top ranked Albuquerque High.
7. Parking Spot (Top Coach): Paul Corley, Farmington - We started to reconsider on the early pick on the Scorpions but currently on a 5-game winning streak (10-2 on the season, the Scorpions are back on the rise. Ranked 21st in the state Farmington could be on their way to another solid season.
8. District Car (Coach on the Rise): Mike Kluk, Los Alamos - Los Alamos has been terrible for the last several years but Kluk will admit they have a way to go before they return to the state tournament but a win over a quality 4A program in Taos has our eye on the 4-5 Hilltoppers. In fact the 'Toppers have doubled their win total from a season ago.
EXTRA JUMPERS: QUESTIONS
9. Is Bernalillo tournament worthy after their second place finish at the Stu Clark and playing Gallup close? Might be premature at the moment as they struggled out the gate but as of late the Spartans seem to be improving greatly.
10. Should Centennial at 7-3 have more love for the Final Four? Trending toward another District title or favorites for that matter the Hawks do have a win over Roswell. This team has a four headed monster in the making.
11. Who can't afford anymore losses like that? St. Pius X has the wins on their resume but the stomping that they received from Roswell (72-43) might move them to a road game if they can't win their district.
12. Los Lunas remains a puzzle for the rankings and picking as a potential Final Four team. A couple weeks back I liked them in the Top-5 and hosting a home game for the state tournament. The 'junior' Tigers, leading players are juniors, have been soul searching going 1-2 over the week.
13. Prediction: Hope will play for the 4A Title. Not the "wow" factor as we all have this predicted but the Huskies are that good and Leake/Meyer-Hagen combo is impressive.
Joshua J. Grine
Plenty of games were cancelled across the state of New Mexico during week seven but we still had several teams in action. We continue to try and make sense of the rankings and state of New Mexico.
1. Atrisco Heritage Making Their Case In a Crowded District
The Jaguars are making believers and catching our attention with their recently released Top-25 vote (NMPreps.com Top-25 Rankings for Week 8). However, many think we still need more to find out on the Jaguars. Right now they are 2-5 against current Top-25 teams (3-5 if you count Los Lunas who was ranked last week) and La Cueva is under .500 right now. The verdict is still out for the Jaguars and they could make it interesting in 5-6A with four teams in the Top-25 now. The Jaguars extend their win streak to 5-games as they prepare for a first round match-up with No. 3 Cibola in the Albuquerque Metro Championships.
2. Cardinals Contenders or Playing for Second?
The question has been asked - are they 'good' enough to beat the rulers of 4A basketball in Hope Christian? Well, that we will have to wait until March but right now why can't we say yes? The Cardinals have been impressive and on the rise for the last three years. They are ranked for the first time in program history (enter at No. 23 on the Week 8 NMPreps.com Rankings). They have veteran play, a transfer that has put them a leg ahead and could be the team we see at noon on that Saturday morning. Did anyone predict Pojoaque Valley to do the unthinkable in 2007?
3. H-mmm in 2A Hoops Right now.
So it could be a toss up in 2A hoops with the three M's making us go hmmm. Magdalena has the win streak at 39-games (8-0 this season), Mora has an impressive resume of their own and Melrose bringing their own roster loaded with talent. The three will make it interest come March and for good reason as this season it could create more excitement for the fans at the Star Center.
THE LEFTOVER AWARDS
4. Hall Pass (Impressive Player): Jeremy Anaya, Capital - The guard from Capital has played well as the Robin to Batman on Capital but it was his game to shine. As more teams focus on Eric Coca, Anaya will have his time to shine. He did outstanding putting in 22-points on the road at Lovington in a win.
5. Free Lunch Ticket (On the Rise Player): Estevan Martinez, Atrisco - Martinez has quietly been putting up big numbers or the streaking Jaguars and has them ranked in the Top-25 for the first time this season. 19-points in the win over Alamogordo for the Village of Los Lunas Championship.
6. Homework Pass (Consistently on the Rise): Juan Hurt, Rio Rancho - If he is not on top of the list already the junior had another impressive week capped off by a 24-point performance in the third place game against top ranked Albuquerque High.
7. Parking Spot (Top Coach): Paul Corley, Farmington - We started to reconsider on the early pick on the Scorpions but currently on a 5-game winning streak (10-2 on the season, the Scorpions are back on the rise. Ranked 21st in the state Farmington could be on their way to another solid season.
8. District Car (Coach on the Rise): Mike Kluk, Los Alamos - Los Alamos has been terrible for the last several years but Kluk will admit they have a way to go before they return to the state tournament but a win over a quality 4A program in Taos has our eye on the 4-5 Hilltoppers. In fact the 'Toppers have doubled their win total from a season ago.
EXTRA JUMPERS: QUESTIONS
9. Is Bernalillo tournament worthy after their second place finish at the Stu Clark and playing Gallup close? Might be premature at the moment as they struggled out the gate but as of late the Spartans seem to be improving greatly.
10. Should Centennial at 7-3 have more love for the Final Four? Trending toward another District title or favorites for that matter the Hawks do have a win over Roswell. This team has a four headed monster in the making.
11. Who can't afford anymore losses like that? St. Pius X has the wins on their resume but the stomping that they received from Roswell (72-43) might move them to a road game if they can't win their district.
12. Los Lunas remains a puzzle for the rankings and picking as a potential Final Four team. A couple weeks back I liked them in the Top-5 and hosting a home game for the state tournament. The 'junior' Tigers, leading players are juniors, have been soul searching going 1-2 over the week.
13. Prediction: Hope will play for the 4A Title. Not the "wow" factor as we all have this predicted but the Huskies are that good and Leake/Meyer-Hagen combo is impressive.
