Northern New Mexico High School Basketball Updates (Santa Fe, Rio Rancho: college, gym)

[ThatTNGuy]

My family is actually good friends with the family of Los Alamos's star player, Alex Kirk. Apparently, he's been getting lots of looks from recruiters this season - places like Southern California, etc. It's been a while since Los Alamos has had a true contender in basketball (they won state in 2000), so it's nice to see things going their way so far.

[bradly]

Originally Posted by ThatTNGuy

My family is actually good friends with the family of Los Alamos's star player, Alex Kirk. Apparently, he's been getting lots of looks from recruiters this season - places like Southern California, etc. It's been a while since Los Alamos has had a true contender in basketball (they won state in 2000), so it's nice to see things going their way so far.

Yea, Los Alamos and Espanola both have great seasons this year, the two towns near.. its great to see that part of the state rise with some great basketball athletes. Espanola Valley has 2 seniors this year that have full ride scholarships to out of state schools and so far Los Alamos has 1, last year's 24-2 Espanola had one. I think Alex Kirk will have a great future ahead of him, his height is WOW too.

Regardless of whom does better or whom wins more, we will always be united... Espanola and Los Alamos ALL THE WAY TO STATE!

[rwalkernm]

Hi, I stumbled on this thread searching for NM HS Basketball rankings. I run a program that does power rankings for NM BBall varsity teams, if you're interested. You can get to the website at NMAA Basketball -- 2008 New Mexico High School Varsity Rankings -- there are quite a few northern teams that are doing quite well this year.

BobW

[bradly]

Boys Basketball 1/17/2009

(1)Espanola Valley 67, Albuquerque 49

Over 899 Fans from Espanola filled up Albuquerque High School's Gymnasium Saturday Night in a Non-District Boys Basketball Game.

Espanola Valley is ranked #1 in AAAA once again, this is Espanola's 11th time in just two years being ranked on the top spot of the New Mexico coaches association poll.

Espanola plays Hobbs High School this coming saturday at 6:30 in Espanola, only 4,240 tickets will be sold, lines and waiting lists will open friday afternoon, the game is expected to be sold out in the largest high school gym in the state seating over 4,200. This is the same team who brought the hometown into the pit with over 17,200+ fans.


Espanola is currently 16-2

[bradly]

Originally Posted by rwalkernm

Hi, I stumbled on this thread searching for NM HS Basketball rankings. I run a program that does power rankings for NM BBall varsity teams, if you're interested. You can get to the website at NMAA Basketball -- 2008 New Mexico High School Varsity Rankings -- there are quite a few northern teams that are doing quite well this year.

BobW

I dont get the way you do your rankings.. On yours Espanola is #3.. and in reality they are #1.. ψ ψ ψ

[rwalkernm]

Well, technically Espanola shows up as 3rd, but with only a one point difference between them and Artesia and Roswell, it is really just a tossup. Espanola did beat Roswell handily on 12/5, and that's a good reason to give them an edge.

I predict they'll get a chance to play each other later in the season (state tournament). And they have 4 credible games left in district (Los Alamos and Capital, home and away). If the strength ratings are good, then they should win all those 4 games by 5-15 points.

I'll be happy to explain the rating methodology if you're interested, it's all math/statistics, but maybe more than you ever wanted to know. The basic idea is to find a set of team strengths so that the difference in strengths between teams is as close as possible to the difference in their scores when they played.

BobW

[bradly]

Originally Posted by rwalkernm

Well, technically Espanola shows up as 3rd, but with only a one point difference between them and Artesia and Roswell, it is really just a tossup. Espanola did beat Roswell handily on 12/5, and that's a good reason to give them an edge.

I predict they'll get a chance to play each other later in the season (state tournament). And they have 4 credible games left in district (Los Alamos and Capital, home and away). If the strength ratings are good, then they should win all those 4 games by 5-15 points.

I'll be happy to explain the rating methodology if you're interested, it's all math/statistics, but maybe more than you ever wanted to know. The basic idea is to find a set of team strengths so that the difference in strengths between teams is as close as possible to the difference in their scores when they played.

BobW

Today Espanola won again (Defeating Capital, 10th Straight), a victory of 9 points.. but thats because they sorta played horrid. That brings them to 17-2 on the season, in the pre-season or during the summer I should say, they defeated some pretty though teams that also gives em' an advantage. I actually now understand your system.. I think it is great you have created such a useful site! Espanola plays Hobbs on Saturday now that will be an interesting game.. predictions are it is going to sell out before 4 on saturday which is great, I hope you can come. I cant belive how great my hometown b-ball team has become, I hope they can take home the blue however, Artesia will probably be one of the only or could be the few challeging teams to face in the state championships. Dont forget Espanola alone brought over 17,000+ fans into the pit last year, the only school in NMAA history to do so, also setting the second loudest record for the pit.

[6 FOOT 3]

Bradley.....since i did the nm hs football season rankings in the nm forums during football season .....you should be in charge of and post the nm basketball rankings once a week (thurs ''abq journal'' has them ?) in the nm forums and not just the santa fe forums so more people can see them.

[rwalkernm]

Boys games last night in the north went surprisingly true to form --

Pojoaque over Robertson by 7 (expected 11)
Espanola over Capital by 9 (expected 11)
Los Alamos over Taos by 31 (expected 29)
St Mike's over Raton by 37 (expected 39)
[boys have a 2 point home court advantage]

Girls games on 1/20 also true to form --

St. Mike's over Socorro by 6 (expected 8)
Los Alamos over Taos by 17 (expected 14)
[girls have a 1 point home court advantage]

The power ratings rarely work that well... 6 point error margins are typical

BobW

[bradly]

Originally Posted by rwalkernm

Boys games last night in the north went surprisingly true to form --

Pojoaque over Robertson by 7 (expected 11)
Espanola over Capital by 9 (expected 11)
Los Alamos over Taos by 31 (expected 29)
St Mike's over Raton by 37 (expected 39)
[boys have a 2 point home court advantage]

Girls games on 1/20 also true to form --

St. Mike's over Socorro by 6 (expected 8)
Los Alamos over Taos by 17 (expected 14)
[girls have a 1 point home court advantage]

The power ratings rarely work that well... 6 point error margins are typical

BobW

I just found out Hobbs was favored by a few 3.2 Percent, and another source gives Espanola the advantage, and I was thinking since you live in Los Alamos you should come!

Espanola vs Taos(GIRLS) in Espanola, Friday 1/22 Espanola expected to win by 20, this would be a bit higher but because the Espanola lead scorer is out, has not returned from Washington DC.


Also about the Espanola/Capital Game, Espanola was expected to win by 17, Some other sites I was looking at showed, this is also due to the fact that Araon Aragon, Espanola's lead scorer was out on suspension. Aragon averages 20-29 points a game.