Week 8: What To Watch. Time to Make Separation
Joshua J. Grine
5 GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK
Game of the Week: No. 2 Onate vs No. 11 Carlsbad - You will find Carlsbad on this list twice but this might be the contest you want to see in a tough week for the Cavemen. Both play similar styles of basketball and could create a match up for the argument of No. 1 overall player in the state between Johnny McCants the athletic forward and Brenden Boatwright the skilled, back to the basket big man with nice footwork.
Top-25 Battle: No. 8 Roswell (8-1) vs No. 11 Carlsbad (9-3): This regional battle could be one of the bigger games to this point in the season as two of the best teams in the state will square off. It's a tale of two sides as the high-scoring Coyotes of Roswell take on the inside game of the Cavemen of Carlsbad. Roswell might struggle with the pace of the Cavemen but in return the Cavemen might find it difficult to handle the full court pressure lacking the guards.
Game We Are Intrigued with: No. 22 Atrisco Heritage (5-4) vs No. 3 Cibola (7-1) - The Jaguars dropped an earlier contest against Cibola but the Cougars who have been in the den for some time might have troubles with a hot Jaguars team this week. A win here could elevate some question marks on how good the Jaguars actually are along with how good Cibola is beating a team twice.
Testament Game: No. 13 Rio Grande (6-2) vs No. 16 Sandia (2-4): Both teams have some dust to knock off and one has some resume building to go. Sandia might struggle as they are having issues on the offensive side of the ball this season barely over 50 points per contest while Rio Grande is putting in nearly 67 a contest. However, Sandia might provide issues with the front court play, I just think Rio Grande's backcourt might deem to difficult for the Matadors.
Bubble Game: No. 17 Volcano Vista (4-3) vs No. 19 La Cueva (2-5): Both teams are likely going to avoid a bubble pop but this game could play into the seeding committees criteria. Either team could find itself on the outside if they fall in district and dropping a game like this might play into consideration later down the line. Neither playing well as La Cueva has dropped the last three and Volcano Vista losing it's last two.
Kirtland Central vs Laguna-Acoma, at LAHS, 4p.m: Monday: The Laguna-Acoma Hawks (9-3) are one of the top small school division teams and a program that has yet to lose a home game in years. The Kirtland Central Broncos (2-8) might be the flop 4A team this season and are needing any win to save their season and playoff hopes. Laguna-Acoma averaging 66.2 points per contest plays into the Broncos troubles as they are not putting up many points and allowing far too many at 63 per game.
The Line: Laguna-Acoma -12
OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Tuesday, Valencia vs Bernalilllo: 5A Bubble Game
Thursday, Sandia Prep vs. Kirtland Central: This could be the final straw for the Broncos.
Thursday, Ruidoso vs Santa Fe Indian: Who's in the 4A playoffs?
Thursday, Santa Fe vs Espanola Valley: Neither could truly afford a loss, especially Santa Fe High.
Thursday, Capital vs Moriarty: Trap game, maybe? Pintos height might play into this one.
Friday, Piedra Vista vs Bernalillo: Bubble Action in 5A, Bernalillo the second time this week.
Saturday, Hobbs vs Mayfield: Who's willing to miss the playoffs or is Hobbs okay?
NMPreps.com Mr. Basketball Eye Ball
McCants vs Boatwright: Carlsbad and Onate square off putting two players not only searching for the award but who is the best player in the state?
Daniel Amador, Roswell: Amador has been playing phenomenal lately and this could be his chance to solidify himself as a final candidate for the award.
Jake Flaming, Moriarty: A name we used to hear a lot but has since faded. He could have a welcome back party with a big showing against the second ranked Jaguars in 5A.
Joshua J. Grine
5 GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK
Game of the Week: No. 2 Onate vs No. 11 Carlsbad - You will find Carlsbad on this list twice but this might be the contest you want to see in a tough week for the Cavemen. Both play similar styles of basketball and could create a match up for the argument of No. 1 overall player in the state between Johnny McCants the athletic forward and Brenden Boatwright the skilled, back to the basket big man with nice footwork.
Top-25 Battle: No. 8 Roswell (8-1) vs No. 11 Carlsbad (9-3): This regional battle could be one of the bigger games to this point in the season as two of the best teams in the state will square off. It's a tale of two sides as the high-scoring Coyotes of Roswell take on the inside game of the Cavemen of Carlsbad. Roswell might struggle with the pace of the Cavemen but in return the Cavemen might find it difficult to handle the full court pressure lacking the guards.
Game We Are Intrigued with: No. 22 Atrisco Heritage (5-4) vs No. 3 Cibola (7-1) - The Jaguars dropped an earlier contest against Cibola but the Cougars who have been in the den for some time might have troubles with a hot Jaguars team this week. A win here could elevate some question marks on how good the Jaguars actually are along with how good Cibola is beating a team twice.
Testament Game: No. 13 Rio Grande (6-2) vs No. 16 Sandia (2-4): Both teams have some dust to knock off and one has some resume building to go. Sandia might struggle as they are having issues on the offensive side of the ball this season barely over 50 points per contest while Rio Grande is putting in nearly 67 a contest. However, Sandia might provide issues with the front court play, I just think Rio Grande's backcourt might deem to difficult for the Matadors.
Bubble Game: No. 17 Volcano Vista (4-3) vs No. 19 La Cueva (2-5): Both teams are likely going to avoid a bubble pop but this game could play into the seeding committees criteria. Either team could find itself on the outside if they fall in district and dropping a game like this might play into consideration later down the line. Neither playing well as La Cueva has dropped the last three and Volcano Vista losing it's last two.
Kirtland Central vs Laguna-Acoma, at LAHS, 4p.m: Monday: The Laguna-Acoma Hawks (9-3) are one of the top small school division teams and a program that has yet to lose a home game in years. The Kirtland Central Broncos (2-8) might be the flop 4A team this season and are needing any win to save their season and playoff hopes. Laguna-Acoma averaging 66.2 points per contest plays into the Broncos troubles as they are not putting up many points and allowing far too many at 63 per game.
The Line: Laguna-Acoma -12
OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Tuesday, Valencia vs Bernalilllo: 5A Bubble Game
Thursday, Sandia Prep vs. Kirtland Central: This could be the final straw for the Broncos.
Thursday, Ruidoso vs Santa Fe Indian: Who's in the 4A playoffs?
Thursday, Santa Fe vs Espanola Valley: Neither could truly afford a loss, especially Santa Fe High.
Thursday, Capital vs Moriarty: Trap game, maybe? Pintos height might play into this one.
Friday, Piedra Vista vs Bernalillo: Bubble Action in 5A, Bernalillo the second time this week.
Saturday, Hobbs vs Mayfield: Who's willing to miss the playoffs or is Hobbs okay?
NMPreps.com Mr. Basketball Eye Ball
McCants vs Boatwright: Carlsbad and Onate square off putting two players not only searching for the award but who is the best player in the state?
Daniel Amador, Roswell: Amador has been playing phenomenal lately and this could be his chance to solidify himself as a final candidate for the award.
Jake Flaming, Moriarty: A name we used to hear a lot but has since faded. He could have a welcome back party with a big showing against the second ranked Jaguars in 5A.
