With selection Sunday just a few weeks away (Feb. 26) and the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Poll a part of the criteria in selecting the teams, lets take a look where the Lea County teams sit in their respective classifications.
Hobbs leaped up to No. 6 from No. 10 after defeating Clovis 78-68 on the road Friday (Clovis was ranked fifth at the time and dropped to eighth). I think a sixth ranking is OK but I probably would've had Hobbs fifth ahead of Eldorado. Hobbs has wins over Clovis and Volcano Vista (both by double digits), teams Eldorado has lost to this season.
In 3A, Lovington jumped into the top 10 at No. 8 after wins on the road against District 4-3A foes Ruidoso and Portales. With the Wildcats at 2-0, Ruidoso 1-1 and Portales 0-2, Lovington can clinch the district title and an automatic berth into state Friday with a win at home over Ruidoso. Not bad for a team that had lost four of its last five heading into district.
As for the rest of the Lea County boys teams, work will have to be done between now and Feb. 26 to solidify a spot in the state tournament.
Boys
Class 5A
1. Las Cruces (8) 149
2. Cibola (6) 145
3. La Cueva (1) 123
4. Albuquerque (1) 119
5. Eldorado 78
6. Hobbs 74
7. Sandia 71
8. Clovis 52
9. Manzano 25
10. West Mesa 15
Also receiving votes: Volcano Vista 12, Mayfield 10, Rio Rancho 4, Valley High 3
Class 4A
1. Goddard (15) 176
2. Roswell (2) 161
3. St. Pius X (1) 138
4. Grants 113
5. Capital 112
6. Gallup 98
7. Los Lunas 50
8. Bernalillo 48
9. Santa Teresa 29
10. Kirtland Central 18
Receiving votes: Atrisco Heritage 17, Valencia 11, Piedra Vista 6, Santa Fe 3, Deming 3, Moriarty 2, Los Alamos 2, Farmington 1, Espanola Valley 1, Del Norte 1
Class 3A
1. Hope Christian (11) 110
2. St. Michael's 97
3. Sandia Prep 89
4. Shiprock 75
5. Robertson 64
6. Taos 52
7. Pojoaque Valley 34
8. Lovington 20
9. Socorro 17
19. Silver 15
Receiving votes: Ruidoso 10, Portales 9, W. Las Vegas 7, Wingate 3, Hot Springs 3
Class 2A
1. Laguna Acoma (9) 163
2. Mesilla Valley Christian (9) 162
3. Tularosa 154
4. Mora (1) 125
5. Santa Fe Prep 91
6. Pecos 65
7. Texico 55
8. Clayton 52
9. Bosque School 44
10. Magdalena 33
Receiving votes: Dexter 21, Dulce 18, Tucumcari 13, Mesa Vista 9, Tohatchi 8, Navajo Pine 8, Santa Rosa 5, Navajo Prep 5, Monte de Sol 4, Estancia 3, Penasco 2, Rehoboth 2, Cuba 2, Loving 1
Class 1A
1. Cliff (10) 162
2. Fort Sumner (3) 135
3. Logan 126
4. Springer (3) 116
5. Dora 89
6. Capitan 61
7. Hagerman 49
8. To'Hajiilee 37
9. Menaul (1) 32
10. Ramah 29
Receiving votes: Gallup Catholic 19, Escalante 18, McCurdy 13, Tatum 10, Melrose 8, Mescalero Apache 8, Des Moines 6, Questa 6, Alamo Navajo 4, Jal 3, Animas 2, Cimarron 1, Floyd 1
