Hoops: Daily Dimes - January 9th
What to Watch: Preview of games for Tuesday, January 9th in New Mexico High School basketball. #nmpreps
BIG THREE FOR TUESDAY
BEST GAME: Belen (11-4) at Espanola Valley (14-0). The Belen Eagles are ranked 4th in the NMPreps.com Week 10 rankings. They have chance to make the upset of the classification. The Eagles a play well as the game goes and will need to calm early runs by Espanola. The Sundevils have one of the better inside-outside games in the classification. Wing JP Sena and PF Azaziah Salazar are two to watch for the Sundevils.
Line: Espanola -6
Prediction: Espanola Valley 74, Belen 64
TOP GAME: Eldorado (10-2) at Cleveland (11-5). Eldorado starts off quick each game and they are the newly ranked number two ranked team in the NMPreps.com team rankings. Look for Kameron Valencia to have a show down against Cleveland guard Taylor Turner between two of the top ranked players in the state.
Line: Eldorado -3
Prediction: Eldorado 81, Cleveland 79
MUST-SEE GAME: Hobbs (10-5) at Las Cruces (15-0). Is Hobbs the second best team in the district? They head to Las Cruces riding a 5-game winning streak behind Clay Stranser, the most underrated player in the classification. The former Las Cruces head coach Mike Smith will look to upset his former assistant and current LC head coach William Benjamin. The Dawgs have Markus Collins but one of the most cohesive units in the state.
Line: Las Cruces -2
Prediction: Las Cruces 64, Hobbs 59
RAPID FIRE FOR TUESDAY
Sneaky Good Games: Alamogordo (5-10) at Los Lunas (12-3), Clovis (7-7) at Goddard (8-8), Moriarty (9-4) at Roberston (5-9). Alamogordo and Los Lunas have two of the best head coaches in the state. Clovis and Goddard are regional rivals that need every win before district play.. Moriarty is back on track and Robertson is arriving to the tracks.
Quality Cross-classification Game: St. Pius X (8-4) at La Cueva (6-5), Albuquerque Academy (3-7) at Bernalillo (15-0), Piedra Vista (9-6) at Farmington (5-9). St. Pius and La Cueva will provide us with the game of rings, which HC has more? Albuquerque Academy, under the radar beat St. Mikes last week; can they upset the undefeated Spartans? Piedra Vista and Farmington the NW rivals.
Bubble Games: Miyamura (7-6) at Del Norte (4-9), Sandia Prep (5-9) at Socorro (4-8). Miyamura hanging on to a NMPreps.com Top-16 ranking and Del Norte has dropped out. Sandia Prep played well in week 9 and now have a chance to jump back into top-10 conversation against a slumping Socorro team.
Under-the-Radar Game: Volcano Vista (8-4) at Sandia (7-5), Portales (8-4) at Lovington (7-8). Sandia had steam but looking to rebound after a difficult 1-3 week 9 showing. Portales and Lovington from SE New Mexico will provide us with a regional contest.
Number Two, Three, or Four in 3-6A: Carlsbad (8-7) at Onate (11-5). District 3-6A enters week 2 of play. Both could be fighting for the runner-up spot.
Small School Game: Eunice (6-4) at Jal (4-6), Santa Fe Prep (5-3) at Menaul (8-2). Eunice and Jal are rivals and we all love a rivalry game. Prep playing better lately and Menaul a title contender.
Upset Chances: Fort Sumner (7-4) at Texico (14-0). Texico is too good but Fort Sumner will go to battle. The last game ended - Texico 53, FS 47 on December 9th.
Rebound Game: Taos (7-7) at Los Alamos (7-7).
Back Eight Game: West Mesa (9-3) at Manzano (7-4), Santa Fe Indian (7-6) at West Las Vegas (8-6). The Mustangs took round one last week. Santa Fe Indian is top ten right now but will need to get their legs back after taking off last week while West Las Vegas has been on a roll.
