Prep Hoops New Mexico: Week Two’s Top Matchups
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With the first week of the New Mexico High School regular season complete, we look forward to week two this week. With several teams getting started last week, some teams will kick off their season in week two. We will…
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Continue ReadingWith the first week of the New Mexico High School regular season complete, we look forward to week two this week. With several teams getting started last week, some teams will kick off their season in week two. We will go over the top matchups of the week from Monday November 28th Saturday December 3rd.
Monday November 28th:
Manzano vs Belen at 7:30pm
This will be the season opener for both teams this season. The most intriguing matchup will be between the best players from both teams. Belen’s Jordi Rojo vs Manzano’s Nick Dial Nick Dial 6'4" | SF Manzano | 2023 State NM . Both players play the Point Guard positions. Both players are the engines to their teams, and it will be interesting to see which player outplays the other.
Tuesday November 29th:
Las Cruces vs Carlsbad at 7:00pm
Tuesday Night will be the season opener for Las Cruces. This will be the first game for the Bulldawgs since their 5A State Championship loss last season. This will be a new era for Las Cruces in the post William “Deuce” Benjamin and Isaiah Carr era. They will be led by their star back-court Suge Valles and David Cruz David Cruz 5'9" | CG Las Cruces | 2024 NM who can space the floor. They are both pests defensively and will impact both ends. Carlsbad hopes to bouce back from their season opener loss to Eldorado last week and will be led by Damian Perez Damian Perez 6'5" | SF Carlsbad | 2023 State NM .
Sandia vs Volcano Vista at 7:30pm
Both the Hawks and Matadors won their season openers last week to open up the season. This Tuesday Night they both prepare for a big early season showdown between two of the best in New Mexico. In my opinion this is a playoff preview between my top two teams in the 5A Class at the moment. These two teams are opposites of each other, where Volcano Vista has the best front court in NM with Sean Alter Sean Alter 6'9" | PF Volcano Vista | 2023 State NM and Kenyon Aguino Kenyon Aguino 6'7" | PF Volcano Vista | 2025 State #257 Nation NM . The Matadors have arguably the best backcourt with Andrew Hill, Dalen Moyer Dalen Moyer 6'0" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM and Ely Lovato Ely Lovato 6'2" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM . The biggest X-Factors in this game could be David Guttierez, Hudson Brown Hudson Brown 5'9" | PG Volcano Vista | 2025 State NM and Lamarion Coleman Lamarion Coleman 6'2" | SF Sandia | 2023 State NM . This could be the top matchup of the week and of the season so far.
Cibola vs Highland at 7:30pm
Both of these teams come into this game differently than the other. Highland defeated Bernalillo in their season opener and Cibola lost to Sandia. This game will be centered around the Star Matchup between Highland’s Alexis Dominguez Alexis Dominguez 5'10" | PG Highlands | 2023 State NM vs Cibola’s Elijah Foster. Alexis Dominguez Alexis Dominguez 5'10" | PG Highlands | 2023 State NM scored 19 points in the season opener and Elijah Foster scored 16 points. I expect those two to both have great games.
West Mesa vs Atrisco Heritage at 7:30pm
Atrisco Heritage won their season opener last week vs Rio Grande 88-64 and this is West Mesa’s season debut. This game will come down to the guard play from both teams. Last game it was Chris Parra, Latavious Morris Latavious Morris 5'8" | PG Atrisco Heritage | 2025 State NM and Marquise Renfro who combined for 64 points. I believe the Jaguars “Big 3” will all have to play well to win on the road vs the Mustangs. The West Mesa “Big 3” of Brandon Lagunas, Sonny Ortiz Sonny Ortiz 6'5" | SF West Mesa | 2023 State NM and Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'2" | SF West Mesa | 2024 State NM will need to play the Jaguars “Big 3” in order to win their season opener at home.
Del Norte vs Valencia at 7:30pm
The Del Norte Knights won their season opener last week vs Pojoaque Valley and were led by Shane Douma-Sanchez Shane Douma-Sanchez 6'0" | PG Del Norte | 2023 State NM 35 points. It will be interesting to see him carry that momentum Tuesday Night vs Valencia. The Valencia Jaguars will be led by their star Ali Abdullah Ali Abdullah 6'5" | PF Valencia | 2023 State NM an athletic Forward. If the Jaguars want to upset the Knights, they will need a big game from their Star Forward.
Thursday December 1st:
Los Lunas vs Carlsbad at 11:30am
This matchup will be centered around the Stars; Los Lunas’s Jalin Holland Jalin Holland 6'5" | SG Los Lunas | 2025 State #85 Nation NM vs Carlsbad’s Damian Perez Damian Perez 6'5" | SF Carlsbad | 2023 State NM . This will be an in-season tournament hosted by Artesia. This will be a first-round matchup in the City of Champions Tournament. Whichever player gets the better of the other will give their team the best chance to win this week.
St. Michael’s vs Valencia at 3:30pm
At this point on Thursday, the St. Michael’s Horsemen will get ready for the second game of the season vs Valencia, and this will be the Jaguars third. This game will be centered around Star players Adam Montoya Adam Montoya 6'2" | PG St Michaels | 2023 State NM and Ali Abdullah Ali Abdullah 6'5" | PF Valencia | 2023 State NM . Adam is an elite scoring Shooting Guard and Ali is an athletic scoring Forward.
Belen vs Albuquerque Academy at 5:30pm
This will be a first-round matchup in the 2022 Sundevil Invitational in-season tournament. At this point in the season, this will be Belen and Albuquerque Academy’s second game this season heading into this tournament. Keep your eyes on Belen’s Jordi Rojo and Albuquerque Academy’s Joe Jack.
Atrisco Heritage Academy vs Sandia at 7:30pm
This matchup could arguably be the top matchup of the week and one of the best of the season so far. This matchup is also between arguably the two best back-courts in the State. Whichever backcourt imposes their will on the other will win this game. It will be the Jaguars Chris Parra, Latavious Morris Latavious Morris 5'8" | PG Atrisco Heritage | 2025 State NM , Marquise Renfro and Lorenzo Pacheco vs Andrew Hill, Dalen Moyer Dalen Moyer 6'0" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM , Ely Lovato Ely Lovato 6'2" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM and Lamarion Coleman Lamarion Coleman 6'2" | SF Sandia | 2023 State NM .
Friday December 2nd:
Volcano Vista vs Las Cruces at 7:00pm
Friday Night will be a 5A State Championship rematch from last season between Volcano Vista and Las Cruces. This matchup I will be pay close attention to the Guard play. The Guards from both teams are very similar in their styles of play. Hudson Brown Hudson Brown 5'9" | PG Volcano Vista | 2025 State NM and Anthony Gonzales vs David Cruz David Cruz 5'9" | CG Las Cruces | 2024 NM and Suge Valles. Each of these players are elite defensively and will play big roles in this championship rematch.
Saturday December 3rd:
Eldorado vs Atrisco Heritage Academy at 2:30pm
This Saturday will be a rematch of the 5A Boys First Round Playoff Matchup from last season. The Jaguars defeated the Eagles 62-58 at home last spring. This will be a battle of the “Big” 3’s of Chris Parra, Latavious Morris Latavious Morris 5'8" | PG Atrisco Heritage | 2025 State NM and Marquise Renfro vs Caileb Parham Caileb Parham 6'2" | SG Eldorado | 2023 State NM , Mike Knaub and Josh Jackson Josh Jackson 6'5" | PF Eldorado | 2024 State NM .