Journal weighs in with brackets

This article is courtesy of the Albuquerque Journal. For the 5A Low-Down, it makes one wish (at least me) of the dream match-up that never happened: Eldorado vs Cruces at the Hoopla in December.

When it comes down to it, all that matters are the girls are on the court and the game they bring with them–seedings become useless. Last year’s finals with heavily favored Rio Rancho falling to La Cueva is all you need to look at. I guarantee all the coaches will be using this as a warning or a motivator.

Whatever your opinion, you know it’s going to be another great finale to a great season!

GIRLS CLASS 5A

Who’s In: Las Cruces, Clovis, Valley, Cibola, Gallup, La Cueva, Sandia, Eldorado, Rio Grande, Mayfield, Cleveland, Manzano, Carlsbad, Hobbs
Who’s Out: West Mesa, Santa Fe, Highland, Los Lunas, Gadsden
On the Bubble: Rio Rancho, Oñate, Alamogordo, Albuquerque High
Seeding:

1. Eldorado
2. Sandia
3. Las Cruces
4. Clovis
5. Gallup
6. Cibola
7. Rio Grande
8. Valley
9. Mayfield
10. La Cueva
11. Hobbs
12. Manzano
13. Cleveland
14. Carlsbad
15. Oñate
16. Alamogordo

Last In & Out: Onate and Alamogordo get in before Rio Rancho and Albuquerque High. Putting the Rams and Bulldogs into the bubble conversation is a stretch anyway, but Bracketology rules are Bracketology rules. Gotta have bubble teams.

The Low-Down: The field is pretty much set, meaning the only suspense this week comes in how the seeding process shakes out through district tournament results. Regardless, the top three teams are not much source of debate. Eldorado has established itself as the clear favorite while Sandia and Las Cruces follow in step in the 2-3 seeds. Putting the clamps on Eldo is a pretty tall order, though. The Eagles are undefeated since the new year and haven’t played a game decided by single digits since a 51-43 at La Cueva on Jan. 12. Beware of Sandia. Two of the Matadors’ three losses were to Eldorado and they handed Las Cruces its only loss – by 16 points – back on Dec. 12.

GIRLS CLASS 4A

Who’s In: Kirtland Central, Shiprock, Volcano Vista, Roswell, Espanola Valley, Los Alamos, Silver, St. Pius, Deming, Piedra Vista, Del Norte, Artesia
Who’s Out: Grants, Goddard, Taos, Bernalillo, Aztec, Farmington, Abq. Academy
On the Bubble: Valencia, Chaparral, Moriarty, Capital, Santa Teresa, Belen
Seeding:

1. Kirtland Central
2. Shiprock
3. Espanola Valley
4. Roswell
5. Los Alamos
6. Volcano Vista
7. Piedra Vista
8. Deming
9. St. Pius
10. Del Norte
11. Silver
12. Artesia
13. Chaparral
14. Valencia
15. Capital
16. Moriarty

Last In & Out: Moriarty and Valencia have benefitted from a 5-4A slate in which none of the four teams created much separation. That allowed the Pintos and Jags to stack up a few meaningful wins down the stretch. Chaparral finished above .500 but played a week schedule without a marquee win.

The Low-Down: An all-Four Corners finals showdown is a distinct possibility with KC and Shiprock running roughshod over the competition. Espanola Valley and Los Alamos could sneak in there, but the cream of the 4A crop is the pair of 1-4A heavyweights. Volcano Vista’s final season in 4A could end in a semifinal run, but the real sleepers are St. Pius and Del Norte. The Sartans, lest anyone forget, are the reigning champs while Del Norte is a district winner with a starting lineup that can hold up to nearly anyone else’s in 4A.

GIRLS CLASS 3A

Who’s In: Santa Fe Indian, Miyamura, West Las Vegas, Portales, Socorro, Lovington, Pojoaque Valley, Thoreau, Wingate, St. Michael’s, Hot Springs, Hope Christian, Newcomb
Who’s Out: Crownpoint, Sandia Prep, Raton, Dexter, Laguna-Acoma, Cobre, Tohatchi
On the Bubble: Robertson, Cuba, Zuni, Hatch Valley, Ruidoso, Bloomfield
Seeding:

1. Portales
2. Santa Fe Indian
3. West Las Vegas
4. Socorro
5. Lovington
6. Thoreau
7. Hope Christian
8. Miyamura
9. Pojoaque Valley
10. St. Michael’s
11. Wingate
12. Hot Springs
13. Newcomb
14. Ruidoso
15. Hatch Valley
16. Robertson

Last In & Out: Robertson has taken an absolute beating in 2-3A, all of which makes them a dangerous low seed. They’ve hung tough against 3A’s elite, so seeding them 16th might make the top team a little nervous. Bloomfield fell apart down the stretch, losing its last three and five of its last eight. Anything short of a sustained run through the 1-3A tournament means they’ll remain on the outside looking in.

The Low-Down: Giving Portales the No. 1 seed over SFIS and West will ruffle some feathers, but anyone familiar with 3A knows the final won-lost record of the Rams doesn’t mean as much as strength of schedule. Portales usually plays the toughest schedule of any team in the state, meaning the losses tend to pile up. The real fight comes in the following four seeds. SFIS and West are good enough to go all the way, but Roxanne Silva (the state’s leading scorer and rebounder) has the talent to carry her team to the finals. And never count out Lovington, one of the state’s more athletic teams.