X-Factor: Hobbs is extremely athletic and can get up and down but if it comes down to a half-court game, like I think it will with the Dawgs guards able to handle the pressure. I have to go with the Dawgs big men in Kai Williams and Kamryn Dixon. If Trevor Noel returns soon they would be even more dangerous.
Grine's Pick: Upset Pick Dawgs +1.2
Potential Final Four Game
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4TH
No. 7 Roswell Coyotes (10-0) vs. No 13 St. Pius X Sartans (6-2)
Where: Roswell, NM
Why Watch: This potential 4A Final Four match-up has everything you would want in a game for a Friday Night. Both teams are ranked in the Top-3 of their classification and both in the Top-25. The Coyotes and Sartans both provide a game with several NMPreps.com Top 100 Players.
The must see match-up come between guards Cesar Nava (Roswell/Junior) and St. Pius X senior guard Micah Sanchez but that doesn't stop their as in the frontcourt you also have two top players in Anthony Olguin (Roswell) and Nick Stafford (SPX).
Grine's Pick: Coyotes at home +3
Seeding Implications Game
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5TH
No. 6 Clovis Wildcats (7-3) vs. No. 11 Las Cruces Bulldawgs (7-4)
Where: Rock Arena, Clovis, NM
Why Watch: The No. 11 Las Cruces Bulldawgs (7-4) will play in two of the most difficult arenas in back-to-back nights and we will be able to see which of three teams are true contenders for the Final Four or State Championship.
The Clovis Wildcats (7-3) have played close with several of the Top-25 opponents this season. The Wildcats are (3-1) when playing a Top-25 team and (4-1) if you count newly ranked Manzano Monarchs.
X-Factor: I like the Dawgs front court and backcourt but in this match-up I like the what the 'Cats bring to the table. Marquette signee John Dawson is one of the finest players in the state but wing/forward DJ Blackmon has been the talk lately and causing many match-up issues for opposing teams. The Dawgs could be coming in a llittle drained from the travel along with playing in two difficult venues.
Grine's Pick: Clovis +6
Other Games to Keep An Eye On
No. 19 Carlsbad Cavemen (7-3) vs. Onate Knights (6-6): Saturday- The first time the Cavemen get to prove that they are a legit Top-25 team comes on Saturday night as upset minded Knights are looking for that resume builder game.
X-Factor: Daemund McCants (NMPreps.com Top 150 Player) is highly underrated and this game could put him on the next level of player rankings.
Grine's Pick: Upset Alert, Knights +4
Valencia Jaguars (3-10) at Mayfield Trojans (4-7): Saturday- Both teams claim that they are bracket teams and need wins to rise in the rankings. This game is a definite can't lose if either want to be playing in March.
Grine's Pick: Trojans+4
Rest Of The Schedule
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Raton vs Cimarron
Walatowa vs Roy
4:30 Penasco vs Escalante
7:30 Pecos vs Coronado
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Espanola Valley vs St. Michael's
Gateway Christian vs Grady
Los Alamos vs Albuquerque Academy
Quemado vs Ramah
Santa Fe Prep vs Cuba
Santa Rosa vs Melrose
Silver vs Mesilla Valley
Vaughn vs Clovis Christian
4:30 McCurdy vs Dulce
7:30 Mora vs Mesa Vista
Friday, January 4, 2013
Des Moines vs Clayton
Dora vs Mescalero
Farmington vs Miyamura
Gallup vs Bernalillo
Hobbs vs Las Cruces
Los Alamos vs Taos
Los Lunas vs Sandia Prep
Quemado vs Magdelena
Roswell vs St. Pius
Santa Teresa vs Gadsden
Tatum vs Hagerman
Thoreau vs Crownpoint
West Las Vegas vs Ruidoso
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Academy vs St. Michael's
Alamo Navajo vs Quemado
Artesia vs Centennial
Bosque vs Tucumcari
Clayton vs Springer
Clovis vs Las Cruces
Grady vs Des Moines
Hobbs vs Midland Lee (TX)
Magdalena vs Ramah
Mayfield vs Valencia
Mesilla Valley vs Los Lunas
Onate vs Carlsbad
Robertson vs Socorro
Ruidoso vs Hatch Valley
Santa Rosa vs Laguna Acoma
Silver vs Tularosa
Taos vs Santa Fe
Tatum vs Melrose
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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.