Week Five is here and plenty of action across the state of New Mexico. Several Top-25 games take place, while other unranked teams make a name for themselves.
Highlights: Game of the Night
No. 9 La Cueva 105, No. 19 Rio Grande 82
LA CUEVA HIGH SCHOOL- Senior guard Bryce Alford did what he wanted on Tuesday night, he finished the night with 32 points. Alford, listed as the frontrunner in week four for New Mexico's most prestigious award the Mr. Basketball, also displayed his passing skills dishing the ball for several assists.
The No. 19 Rio Grande Ravens (2-3) kept it close through two and a half quarters before the No. 9 La Cueva Bears (3-1) pulled ahead by over 25 points at one point. The Ravens stayed in the contest early thanks to sophomore guard Juwan Brooks, who is sure to see his name rise in the charts. Also, Top-15 player from this summers NMPreps.com Top 100 Player Rankings, Mike Torrez had a decent second half and finished the night with 17 points.
The Bears and Ravens traded baskets early in the second half. The Ravens seemed to get bothered throughout the night by the Bears full court press.
Sophomore, Ryan Wenze-Bullard also in double figures for the La Cueva Bears with 14 points. The Bears take on No. 13 Atrisco Heritage on Thursday night in what will be a major game.
Grine: Three Things Learned Tuesday
1. Bryce Alford writing his own bio: I've seen just about every one of the top players since the 1998-1999 basketball season and Bryce Alford will be one that hangs among the top. Smooth passer and a beautiful shooting touch. He was listed as the frontrunner in week four for the Mr. Basketball of New Mexico and could stay up top as long as the Bears keep winning. They are currently riding a 3-game winning streak.
2. Paybacks are a....known thing in hoops: Just one week ago the No. 17 Alamogordo Tigers and No. 18 Santa Teresa Desert Warriors faced each other with the Tigers winning by 6. Well, another close one this week has the Desert Warriors pulling out a ten point win, 52-42.
3. First time I was brushed off by (usually) the "coolest" guys: I have a great rapport, though very distant, with guys of the ink (newspaper guys). I have a great respect for the ones I follow and love the love they have for this great sport. I can't name them all but they know who they are. Truly, NM has some good ones out there! I guess I can say not everyone likes me though (haha). I am three for three on having bad experiences at LCHS in my three years at NMPreps.com (haha).
Tuesday: Box Score Recaps
(Note: Joshua Henderson, NMPreps.com Basketball and Football camera man and reporter contributed the recaps.)
No. 2 Valley Vikings 56, Valencia Jaguars 29:
The Valley Vikings faced off against the Valencia Jaguars on Tuesday night as Valley looked to continue their winning ways this week. The Vikings were able to come out early and set the tone for the rest of the game with their physical brand of play, and would end up winning in decisive fashion thanks to the combined efforts of the Vikings. Adonis Saltes led the way for Valley with 19 points.
No. 7 Sandia Matadors 53, West Mesa 50:
In a closer than expected finished the Matadors improved to (4-1) on the season beating the Mustangs who are now (0-3). The Matadors were led once again by Mr. Basketball candidate, Tim Brennan who had 17 points. The Mustangs were led by Eric Guiterrez who had 18 points.
No. 11 Rio Rancho Rams 75, Gallup Bengals 64:
The Rio Rancho Rams improved to 2-2 on the season with the win over Gallup who fell to (1-3). The Rams were led by their sophomore Brady Patterson who had 27 points. The Bengals got 20 points from guard Darren Spencer.
No. 12 St. Pius X Sartans 55, Grants Pirates 35:
The Sartans (3-0) start the season perfect with another win on Tuesday night over Grants (1-2). The Sartans were led by guard Micah Sanchez who finished with 17 points. The Pirates were led by Orlando Wake with 11.
No. 13 Atrisco Heritage Jaguars 69, Del Norte Knights 55:
The Jaguars improved to (4-1) on the season followed by 17 points from top guard Corbin Waquie on Tuesday night. The Knights fell to (0-4) on the season. They were led in scoring by Richard Hollingshead with 17 points.
No. 18 Santa Teresa Desert Warriors 52, No. 17 Alamogordo Tigers 42:
The Desert Warriors revenged a loss from last week and topped the Alamogordo Tigers this week. The Desert Warriors were led by Mario Ramirez and his double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Speedy point guard Jacob Fernandez paced the Desert Warriors with 12 points.
NON TOP-25 RECAPS
Centennial 60, Hot Springs 17:
The Centennial Hawks took on the Hot Springs Tigers as the two teams met for the First time in school history, and the outcome was a blow out.The defense of the Hawk's would prove to be too much for the smaller opponent as the Hawks were able to lead 28-8 at the half and would never look back. Offensively the Hawks were lead by freshman Kevin Vasquez who had 14 points and Ricardo Garay who had 9 points.
Goddard 65, Portales 63
The Goddard Rockets took on the Portales Rams on Tuesday night in Roswell, The Rockets would hang on to win one of the more closely contested matchups in the state of new mexico on the night.
The Rockets teams combined efforts were enough to get it down on the night but the key to tonights win was the physicality that the 3 newly crowned state champions brought to the hardwood as David Sweet, Anthony Ornales and Cody French all took the court for Goddard on the night and will be a big factor in Goddards success down the road.
Shiprock 66, Aztec 43
The Shiprock Chieftans 4-1, took on the Aztec Tigers 2-1, as the two teams did battle on Tuesday Night. The Cheiftans managed to control the game all night long thanks to the offensive output by Patdric Toehe's 18 points, and Kevin Aspass also had 16 points to help the Chieftan charge that helped seal the deal for Shiprock.
Bloomfield 59, Navajo Prep 35
The Bobcats took on the Navajo Prep Eagles on Tuesday night as both teams meet on Tuesday night and Defense was the message early on for the Bobcats as they were able to stifle the Eagles from getting anything going on the inside. The Bobcats played well offensively also allowing for a game high 19 point performance from Michael Crockett that would help the Bobcats walk away victorious.
Small School Division
Santa Fe Prep 46, Ecalante 37:
The Escalante Lobos 3-1 took on the Santa Fe High Blue Griffins 7-1 on the year as the two teams met for the first time on the year. Will Lenfestey had a game high 21 points and helped lead the last quarter charge as the Blue Griffens were able to overcome a losing deficit in the fourth quarter.
Girls High School Basketball Recaps:
Mayfield 63, Santa Teresa 30
The Mayfield Lady Trojans faced off against Santa Teresa on the night and the main storyline here is that Mayfield Girls basketball is still undefeated though 7 games so far 7-0 and won again last night in convincing fashion as the lady Trojans were lead by Daeshi McCants who had 19 points for the Trojans, also contributing was Scottie Bayles who had 16 points of her own.
Las Cruces 76, Parkland 27
The Las Cruces Lady Bulldawgs took on Parkland on Tuesday Night in Las Cruces. The Lady Bulldawgs controlled he momentum and the game all night long thanks to a total combined team effort as 11 players scored in double digits for the Dawgs.Leading the charge offensively was Darian Cabrales with 23 points and Kayla Sparks who had 20 points of her own.
Santa Fe Prep 48, Coronado 38:
The Santa Fe High Lady Blue Griffins faced off against the Coronado Lady Leopards and proved that they were the more dominant team on the night physically. The Lady Blue Griffins had a29-15 at halftime and never looked back. Olivia Cicci had 14 points and Maddie Fort helped out with 22 points and 15 rebounds for Prep.
St Pius X 46, St. Michael's 30
The St. Pius X lady Sartans took on the St Michael's Lady Horseman on Tuesday Night and both teams fought hard on the night despite an off night shooting the bal. The Sartanswere able to out shoot the struggling Lady Horsemen and ended up winning thanks to the offensive output of Minnie Estrada who had 15 points, and Kaitlain Martinez who added 14 points.
Cleveland 52, Piedra Vista 45
The Piedra Vista Lady Panthers took on the Cleveland Storm on Tuesday night and the headline of the night was Cleveland just being more mentally prepared, as the lady Panthers were turnover prone on the night which allowed for more opportunities that the Storm took advantage of to secure the win against the lady Panthers.
Clovis 63, Lovington 39
The Clovis Lady Wildcats took on the Lovington lady Wildcats on Tuesday night as the two teams did battle but the Height and experience of the Clovis lady wildcats overwhelmed the younger Lovington lady wildcats. For Clovis leading the way offensively was Danni Williams who had a game high 21 points, Clovis is now 5-0.
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Week Four: Mr. Basketball Race
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Joshua J. GrineClick Here to view this Link. joined NMPreps.com before the 2010 basketball season as our Senior Basketball Analyst. Grine is a former coach (Valencia, Rio Rancho) and basketball player (Grants, Rio Rancho) who has been around New Mexico for several years.
E-Mail: grinejosh@yahoo.com
Twitter: Twitter Here.