Week Three: What To Watch Weekend Version
Joshua J Grine of NMPreps.com
The first weekend of the regular season tournaments is among us. This weekend we have a few to take a closer look at, pick a winner and give our input.
AL ARMENDARIZ (Santa Fe, NM)
Capital High School
9:30 AM: Ramona, CA vs Santa Fe (0-2): On the bottom half of the bracket former Santa Fe Indian head coach Zac Cole returns to New Mexico with his Romona, California team. They will take on the Santa Fe Demons who are coming off back-to-back losses to open their season.
The Pick: Santa Fe +1
12:30PM: Santa Teresa (0-2) vs No. 25 Goddard (1-1): A, 5A match-up between two southern schools as the Goddard Rockets are coming into this one having played a tough game with No. 1 Carlsbad. LeAnthony Harrison, a shooting guard for Goddard will look to duplicate a hot shooting night.
The Pick: Goddard +9
3:30PM: No. 20 Espanola Valley (2-1) vs Pueblo West, Colorado: The Sundevils another top team in the field will match up with Pueblo West out of Colorado. The Sundevils a program loaded with guard play will look to senior guard Uriah Arrellano to mimic his 24-point night on Tuesday.
The Pick: Sundevils +3
Bracket: Top (Play winner between Ramona, Cal, v Santa Fe)
6:30PM: Jemez Valley vs No. 18 Capital (1-1): The host team in this one will take on small school division team Jemez Valley. The Jaguars led by two of the top guards in New Mexico, Eric Coca and Jeremy Anaya will likely have huge games in this one.
The Pick: Capital +15
Bracket: Bottom (Play winner of Goddard vs Santa Teresa)
Santa Fe Indian Braves Classic: The field has a mixture between BSD (big school division) teams and SSD (small school division) teams. They will play in one of the best arenas in New Mexico. In the 8AM match up Questa will take on Francis Mulert Y Castillo a top player for Santa Fe Prep. The 11:30AM contest puts a Pecos Panthers team against NACA of Albuquerque. The Panthers should roll fairly easy in this one. Crownpoint and Espanola Valley (I'm assuming JV) will square off at 3PM. To finish the night host, Santa Fe Indian will take on Monte Del Sol.
THE BIG THREE FOR THE WEEKEND
Seed Game - Head-To-Head
Thursday: No. 8 Valley (0-1) vs No. 14 Cibola (1-0): This game become a lot more interesting as the Cougars seem to be an underrated team that could have playoff hopes. Desmond Carpenter opened the season with a 22-point performances. Valley returns after losing to La Cueva, unranked at the time, on opening night.
Resume Booster - Game I Like
Friday: No. 1 Carlsbad (1-0) vs No. 15 Gadsden (4-2): This game has some top players, both teams are ranked in the Top-25 and has the systems to create an intense game. Brenden Boatwright the high profile name for Carlsbad will have a game style that plays into his favor in this contest. The Panthers however have pushed the tempo more and will look to Tomas Cano a 2016 guard to pull the upset.
4A Match-Up To Watch
Friday: Kirtland Central (0-1) vs Pojoaque Valley (2-0): The best match up in 4A this weekend puts two northern school against each other. Shooting guard James Garcia a 6-4 junior had hype going into the season and will again be the player to look at in this contest. Small forward Bryson Dowdy (Soph) will carry the load in the paint, Eric Foutz a junior for the Broncos is a new name will look to back up a solid opening performance of 10 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds.
The Extra - Final Four Contenders
Friday: No. 3 Onate (1-2) vs No. 10 Volcano Vista (1-0): The Volcano Vista Hawks are coming into this game already a win over a Top-10 team and looking to upset an Onate team returning after a close overtime loss to Cleveland this week. The match-up is Johnny McCants (Onate) vs David Cormier) in the battle of who is the best forward in the state.
Rapid Fire
Onate vs Volcano vista: My pick Onate.
Kirtland Central vs Pojoaque Valley: My pick Pojoaque Valley
Cibola vs Valley: My pick is Cibola in the upset.
Rio Grande vs La Cueva: My pick is La Cueva.
Bernalillo vs St. Pius X: My pick St. Pius X
Note: Post your weekend picks here
My Record: (8-3)
Joshua J Grine of NMPreps.com
The first weekend of the regular season tournaments is among us. This weekend we have a few to take a closer look at, pick a winner and give our input.
AL ARMENDARIZ (Santa Fe, NM)
Capital High School
9:30 AM: Ramona, CA vs Santa Fe (0-2): On the bottom half of the bracket former Santa Fe Indian head coach Zac Cole returns to New Mexico with his Romona, California team. They will take on the Santa Fe Demons who are coming off back-to-back losses to open their season.
The Pick: Santa Fe +1
12:30PM: Santa Teresa (0-2) vs No. 25 Goddard (1-1): A, 5A match-up between two southern schools as the Goddard Rockets are coming into this one having played a tough game with No. 1 Carlsbad. LeAnthony Harrison, a shooting guard for Goddard will look to duplicate a hot shooting night.
The Pick: Goddard +9
3:30PM: No. 20 Espanola Valley (2-1) vs Pueblo West, Colorado: The Sundevils another top team in the field will match up with Pueblo West out of Colorado. The Sundevils a program loaded with guard play will look to senior guard Uriah Arrellano to mimic his 24-point night on Tuesday.
The Pick: Sundevils +3
Bracket: Top (Play winner between Ramona, Cal, v Santa Fe)
6:30PM: Jemez Valley vs No. 18 Capital (1-1): The host team in this one will take on small school division team Jemez Valley. The Jaguars led by two of the top guards in New Mexico, Eric Coca and Jeremy Anaya will likely have huge games in this one.
The Pick: Capital +15
Bracket: Bottom (Play winner of Goddard vs Santa Teresa)
Santa Fe Indian Braves Classic: The field has a mixture between BSD (big school division) teams and SSD (small school division) teams. They will play in one of the best arenas in New Mexico. In the 8AM match up Questa will take on Francis Mulert Y Castillo a top player for Santa Fe Prep. The 11:30AM contest puts a Pecos Panthers team against NACA of Albuquerque. The Panthers should roll fairly easy in this one. Crownpoint and Espanola Valley (I'm assuming JV) will square off at 3PM. To finish the night host, Santa Fe Indian will take on Monte Del Sol.
THE BIG THREE FOR THE WEEKEND
Seed Game - Head-To-Head
Thursday: No. 8 Valley (0-1) vs No. 14 Cibola (1-0): This game become a lot more interesting as the Cougars seem to be an underrated team that could have playoff hopes. Desmond Carpenter opened the season with a 22-point performances. Valley returns after losing to La Cueva, unranked at the time, on opening night.
Resume Booster - Game I Like
Friday: No. 1 Carlsbad (1-0) vs No. 15 Gadsden (4-2): This game has some top players, both teams are ranked in the Top-25 and has the systems to create an intense game. Brenden Boatwright the high profile name for Carlsbad will have a game style that plays into his favor in this contest. The Panthers however have pushed the tempo more and will look to Tomas Cano a 2016 guard to pull the upset.
4A Match-Up To Watch
Friday: Kirtland Central (0-1) vs Pojoaque Valley (2-0): The best match up in 4A this weekend puts two northern school against each other. Shooting guard James Garcia a 6-4 junior had hype going into the season and will again be the player to look at in this contest. Small forward Bryson Dowdy (Soph) will carry the load in the paint, Eric Foutz a junior for the Broncos is a new name will look to back up a solid opening performance of 10 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds.
The Extra - Final Four Contenders
Friday: No. 3 Onate (1-2) vs No. 10 Volcano Vista (1-0): The Volcano Vista Hawks are coming into this game already a win over a Top-10 team and looking to upset an Onate team returning after a close overtime loss to Cleveland this week. The match-up is Johnny McCants (Onate) vs David Cormier) in the battle of who is the best forward in the state.
Rapid Fire
- Bubble Game: Aztec vs Bloomfield - cross class but need the win either way.
- Cellar Dweller Game: Chaparral vs Deming - Chaparral still looking for a win streak is around 30 or more.
- Bubble to Seed Game: Moriarty vs Farmington - Moriarty needs it, Farmington can't afford it.
- 5A Resume Game: Bernalillo vs St. Pius X - Bernalillo looking for a big year, St. Pius X a question mark to this point.
- Dark Horse Game: Mayfield vs West Mesa - Mayfield still unknown, West Mesa coming off a big win over Sandia.
- The Test Game: Rio Grande vs La Cueva - We get to see who is the real deal.
Onate vs Volcano vista: My pick Onate.
Kirtland Central vs Pojoaque Valley: My pick Pojoaque Valley
Cibola vs Valley: My pick is Cibola in the upset.
Rio Grande vs La Cueva: My pick is La Cueva.
Bernalillo vs St. Pius X: My pick St. Pius X
Note: Post your weekend picks here
My Record: (8-3)
