Big Time Hoops

Here are the 5A, 4A, 3A seedings for the 2010 state championship games.

Seeding Committees to meet

The seeding committees will meet at 10:00 in Albuquerque to decide the seeding of the respective classes. To view the complete committee list, download from the NMAA site. The final seeds are usually available by 12 noon.

Scores from last night

Mayfield 42, Las Cruces 40

Mayfield was determined to get a win against their nemesis, and while it may have taken them four regular season games and numerous match-ups over the summer, they finally got it.

Mayfield’s Elena Holguin lead the Lady Trojans on the night with 15, but it was Alina Burger’s two clutch three-point goals in the final minutes of the game that deflated the ‘Dawgs.

Las Cruces almost made the comeback with an Andrea Aragon three-point shot to bring them within two, but with Mayfield running an aggressive press, there were able to get the steal and hold on the ball for the win.

Eldorado 71, Rio Grande 48

Kya DeGarmo was in the zone last night, with 34 points (9 off 3-pointers) as Eldorado took care of business in the 5-5A district championship game. Very nice. Again, it looks like the majority of the Eldo bench got to see some play against the Ravens.

It wasn’t enough, but Monique Macias racked up 25 points of her own, followed by Bernadette Sanchez’s 17. Unfortunately, the combined total of the only other two players to score was six points.

Other Scores

Scores from last night

Cleveland 37, Cibola 31

Kudos to Cleveland for making it to the district tournament championship game in their inaugural season. Lead by Sara Hattis’s 14 and Courtnie Latham’s 9, the Storm now gets to travel to Gallup and take on the tough Lady Bengals in an even tougher place to play. I wonder how effective Hattis will be with Gallup swarming all over her.

With Cibola’s Chapman out with a broken foot the bench needs to step up and produce (I posted about earlier this season.) Cibola’s Amber Battle lead the Cougars with 9 points before she fouled out. Elyse Brewster had 6 before she fouled out.

Rio Grande 49, Manzano 46

I did a double take; both Sanchez and Macias with only 11 apiece? Luckily Jocelyn Gamboa was able to put down 20 to help the Ravens get past the up-and-coming Manzano. Nice peformance from Lady Monarch Caroline Lantor, who lead her team with 15.

Next up for the Ravens is Kya DeGarmo and the Eldo squad. The Ravens need Sanchez, Macias and the rest of the squad to be in top form to have a chance at the might Lady Golden Eagles tonight.

Texico 37, Santa Rosa 35

Another close one for the Wolverines, senior guard Victoria Richards was able to lift Texico over the scrappy Lions on a three-point play.

The rest of the scores

Games to Watch

A quick rundown of games to watch:

Mayfield @ Las Cruces 7:00 PM

This is the fourth regular season meeting between these arch-rivals. Las Cruces has been able to hold off the Lady Trojans thus far, but Mayfield made a game of it in their last match-up.

Hatch Valley @ Socorro 5:30 PM

These two have split the regular season, each winning on their home court.

Cleveland @ Gallup 7:00 PM

Cleveland played them tough in their last match-up, Cleveland’s Latham and the rest of the Storm will really need to step it up to make this a game.

La Cueva @ Sandia 7:00 PM

Sandia, #3 in the state, takes on the always-relevant Bears.

Scores from Thursday night

Scores from Wednesday night

Games to Watch

Lots of good ones going into the district tournament championship games. From here on out, I don’t think you can go wrong–so get out and support your favorite team!

As far a games to watch, I spotted a trend from last year. Both of these match ups happened about the same time last year, and both were nothing short of major upsets. You can bet the two underdogs are hoping history repeats itself.

Texico hosts Santa Rosa @ 6:00 PM

Santa Rosa hasn’t bested the Lady Wolverines yet this year, but there is always a chance for the upset. You might remember that last year, Santa Rosa traveled to Texico and beat the Wolverines, 33-29, to win the district tournament.

Rio Grande host Manzano @ 7:00 PM

The big upset in last year’s District 5-5A tournament was Manzano winning over Rio Grande, and saw coach Rick Espinoza’s ejection from the game.

Losing by 40 to the Lady Ravens in the first match up this season, Manzano was able to close the point differential to 10 in their last meeting. I’m not sure if they’re slowing solving Rio Grande’s offense, but containing Bernadette Sanchez and Monique Macias is going to be a critical, and the most difficult, task for the Lady Monarch defense. Winner gets Eldorado in the district championship.

[Ed. note] The following is a response from Bill Krum to the post “Journal weighs in with brackets” that was posted a on Tuesday. Bill is an Albuquerque-area club coach and fan with a good perspective of the basketball scene in the Metro area. Rather than being buried in a comment, I feel this deserves its own post. Disagree? Then sound off by leaving your own comment.

Seeding for 5A
1-Eldorado vs 16-Alamogordo
2-Sandia vs 15-Carlsbad
3-Gallup vs 14-Onate
4-Las Cruces vs 13-Cleveland
5-Clovis vs 12-Manzano
6-Cibola vs 11-LaCueva
7-Valley vs 10-Rio Grande
8-Mayfield vs 9-Hobbs

No doubt about Eldorado about being the #1 seed. Sandia beat Las Cruces earlier in the year and for that they get the #2 seed.I take Gallup as your #3 because of strength of schedule and if they take down Cibola again at home they deserve it. If not Las Cruces get the #3. Las Cruces as the #4 with Clovis as your #5. Cibola getting the #6 seed since they have dropped off after losing Korina due to a foot injury. Valley Vikings are the 7 seed as long as the make to the district finals. #8 belongs to Coach Maya’s Mayfield Trojans.#9,10,11,12 are solid slots and the rest of the field you could mix them up if you want.Things could change if Cleveland makes it to the district finals which would not be a long shot. Also if La Cueva gets by Valley that could knock out the Vikings from getting a home game in the first round. I see the top 8 seeds making it to the next round and La Cueva as a three peat champion comes to an end.

Quarterfinals
1-Eldorado vs 8-Mayfield
2-Sandia vs 7-Valley
3-Gallup vs 6-Cibola
4-Las Cruces vs 5-Clovis

I see Kya DeGarmo leading the Golden Eagles past the Trojans into the semis. My Cinderella pick will be Valley and Angel Reyes getting by Sandia after the fifth try and pulling off the upset. Gallup takes down Cibola as Justina Prairie-Chief leads her team to the semis.The Bulldawgs contain Antiesha Brown and the rest of the wildcats and end up playing the Golden Eagles in the semi finals.

Semi-Finals

1-Eldorado vs 4-Las Cruces the rematch that didn’t happen because the Hobbs Eagles took down Eldorado in the Las Cruces tournament.The speed of Kya DeGarmo and the rest of the Lady Golden Eagles will be to much for the Dawgs and DeGarmo will see her second finals in four stellar years at Eldo.The other Semi finalists will be the 3-Bengals vs the 7-Vikings.The crowd and the experience of the Bengals will be too much for the young Vikings and Gallup squeaks into the finals.

Finals

1-Eldorado vs 3-Gallup
Close your eyes and picture the PIT in Orange and Black on one side matter of fact all sides and the texas burn’t orange white and gold mixed in.The PIT will be rockin at 2:30pm on Saturday March 13TH. Be There!!!!!!

Eldorado wins the Blue trophy and DeGarmo is the MVP!!!! Sorry Bengal Fans.See you next year.