Week Four’s Top Matchups of the Week
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Now that we’re four weeks into the High School Basketball season in New Mexico, their is several teams that are starting to hit their stride before the New Year. Week Three was full of great In-Season Tournaments from around the…
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Continue ReadingNow that we’re four weeks into the High School Basketball season in New Mexico, their is several teams that are starting to hit their stride before the New Year. Week Three was full of great In-Season Tournaments from around the State and this upcoming week has several more intriguing non-district matchups across New Mexico. This week’s matchups will take place from Monday December 12th to Saturday December 16th.
Tuesday December 13th, 2022:
La Cueva (2-1) vs Albuquerque (6-1) at 7:30pm
This Tuesday Night matchup could possibly be the game of the week between the Albuquerque Bulldogs and the La Cueva Bears. This could be a potential playoff preview between two of the top contenders in the 5A Class. Albuquerque will be led by their star Duo; Leilani Love Leilani Love 6'1" | C Albuquerque | 2023 State NM and Ariana Sanchez Ariana Sanchez 5'10" | CG Albuquerque | 2023 State NM . Leilani Love Leilani Love 6'1" | C Albuquerque | 2023 State NM leads the team in scoring and rebounding averaging a double double this year. She is averaging 17.3 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game this season. Ariana Sanchez Ariana Sanchez 5'10" | CG Albuquerque | 2023 State NM is not far behind as the teams second leading scorer, averaging exactly 17 points per game. They are the states third highest scoring duo behind Emma Christiano Emma Christiano 5'4" | PG Las Cruces | 2023 State NM / Lila Ashida Lila Ashida 5'8" | SG Las Cruces | 2023 State NM from Las Cruces and Kathleen Obisike Kathleen Obisike 5'11" | C Hope Christian | 2023 State NM / Alyssa Vigil Alyssa Vigil 5'8" | SF Hope Christian | 2023 State NM from Hope Christian. The La Cueva Bears are led by their Star Guards Eva Love Eva Love 5'9" | SG La Cueva | 2024 State NM and Jordyn Dyer who are averaging 12.7 and 9.0 points per game. The Bears knocked off the defending 5A Champion; Volcano Vista Hawks last week. Which ever Star duo outplays the other, will put their teams in the drivers seat for a victory.
Friday December 16th, 2022:
Centennial (4-2) vs Hobbs (6-1) at 7:00pm
After reaching yet another 5A State Championship game last season, Hobbs has picked up where they left off from last year starting this years campaign at 6-1. They are led by their young guards Bhret Clay Bhret Clay 5'9" | SG Hobbs | 2025 State NM and Brynn Hargrove Brynn Hargrove 5'6" | PG Hobbs | 2025 State NM . They will be competing against the Centennial Hawks who just finished playing in the Joe Armijo Classic this past week and sit at 4-2 this season. The best player in this matchup could be Aspen Salazar Aspen Salazar 5'9" | SF Centennial | 2023 State NM . She comes into this game as a Top 15 scorer in New Mexico this year so far averaging an impressive 17.7 points per game. She does it all for her team and leads her squad in four of the five major statistical categories; points, assists, steals and blocks.
Eldorado (2-3) vs Albuquerque (6-1) at 7:30pm
This matchup will be between perhaps the two of best players in New Mexico; Bella Hines Bella Hines 5'10" | CG Eldorado | 2025 State NM and Leilani Love Leilani Love 6'1" | C Albuquerque | 2023 State NM . They are clearly opposites from each other considering that Bella Hines Bella Hines 5'10" | CG Eldorado | 2025 State NM is a Guard and Leilani Love Leilani Love 6'1" | C Albuquerque | 2023 State NM is a Forward/Center. Despite playing different positions, both are dominant and play huge roles for their respective teams. Bella Hines Bella Hines 5'10" | CG Eldorado | 2025 State NM leads the state of New Mexico in scoring with 28.3 points per game while Leilani is 16th in New Mexico averaging 17.3 points per game. Leilani Love Leilani Love 6'1" | C Albuquerque | 2023 State NM also ranks 9th in rebounding averaging 10.3 boards a game.
Valley (4-3) vs Highland (3-3) at 7:30pm
Friday Nights matchup between Valley and Highland are between two of 5A’s most underrated ball clubs. Highland will be led by Aaliyah Nevarez Aaliyah Nevarez 5'10" | SF Highland | 2023 State NM who is averaging a solid 13.8 points per game as the teams leading scorer. The Valley Vikings are led by Giana Roybal Giana Roybal CG Valley | 2025 State NM who is averaging 11 points per game. This matchup could prove to be important during playoff selection time with the seeding criteria.
Saturday December 17th, 2022:
Hope Christian (3-3) vs La Cueva (2-1) at 2:30pm
When this matchup takes place this weekend, La Cueva will have played Albuquerque earlier that week whereas Hope Christian will play their only game of the week this Saturday. Hope Christian will have had seven full days off from their last game this past Saturday during the Joe Armijo Classic. Will Hope Christian benefit from rest or will La Cueva Benefit from another win going into this game. Hope Christian will be led by their 1-2 punch; Kathleen Obisike Kathleen Obisike 5'11" | C Hope Christian | 2023 State NM and Alyssa Vigil Alyssa Vigil 5'8" | SF Hope Christian | 2023 State NM . Kathleen Obisike Kathleen Obisike 5'11" | C Hope Christian | 2023 State NM is averaging a double-double of 19.5 points per game and 13.3 rebounds per game. She ranks 7th in points per game and leads the state in rebounding this season. Teammate Alyssa Vigil Alyssa Vigil 5'8" | SF Hope Christian | 2023 State NM averaged 16.5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Huskies. Seeing them compete against Eva Love Eva Love 5'9" | SG La Cueva | 2024 State NM and Jordyn Dyer will be a great test for them this early in the season.
Organ Mountain (5-1) vs Hobbs (6-1) at 4:00pm
This matchup will be between two of the best teams the 5A Class has to offer. Both Organ Mountain and Hobbs could come into this game with just one loss this season. The biggest X-Factor of this game will be Organ Mountain’s Caitlin Turnbow Caitlin Turnbow 5'10" | PF Organ Mountain | 2024 State NM who is having a monster season. She is averaging a double-double of 18.0 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per game. She is New Mexico’s 9th leading scorer and the states 2nd leading rebounder this season. If she continues that play into this weekend vs Hobbs, don’t be surprised if the Knights knock off the Eagles.