NMJC basketball programs given fuel for upcoming 2012-13 season

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

NMJC freshman Tre'Vaun Hymer goes up for a

dunk during a T-Bird practice earlier this month.

  I’ll be honest, I had a completely different column written and ready to go about how success breeds expectation for the New Mexico Junior College men’s and women’s basketball programs as each team opens its season at the Thunderbird Classic this week in Hobbs.
  For a quick refresher, the NMJC men finished tied for second in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference last season, made the Region 5 Tournament for the first time since the 1990s and lost to eventual national champion South Plains in the regional semifinals to cap a 23-9 season.

Hobbs girls soccer gets fifth seed in Class 5A state tournament

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Hobbs' Bailey Martin (13), Joslynn Nelson and the rest

of the Lady Eagles got the No. 5 seed in state tourney.

  The Hobbs girls soccer team after a 17-3 record in the regular season and a District 4-5A championship picked up the No. 5 seed in the Class 5A state tournament when the NMAA released the brackets Sunday (view bracket here).
  The Lady Eagles will host No. 12 Cleveland (9-11) 1 p.m. Saturday at Watson Stadium in the first round of the state tournament.
  The Hobbs boys soccer team didn't make the 12-team field.

Must Watch: Hobbs girls soccer puts 11-game win streak on line vs. C-Bad

  In what is arguably the most important regular-season game in Hobbs this fall sports season, the Hobbs girls soccer team will put its 11-game winning streak on the line when the Lady Eagles host rival Carlsbad 6 p.m. Tuesday at Watson Stadium.
  Hobbs (16-2 overall, 2-0 District 4-5A) can clinch district and a spot into the 12-team Class 5A  state playoffs with a win over Carlsbad (14-5, 2-1), and with a win over Clovis on Friday, can be the hottest team heading into the state playoffs.
  These Hobbs/Carlsbad games are usually highly contested with plenty of intensity on the field and in the stands. The game in Carlsbad on Oct. 9 was won by Hobbs thanks to a goal by Lizzy McCarthy in the second overtime period. Tuesday's contest will definitely be a fun watch – a game people should come out and enjoy.

Quick Hits Week 8 - Lea. Co. football

  Week 8 of the New Mexico prep football season for Lea County teams saw three teams get blanked while Tatum rebounded from its loss to Gateway with a big homecoming win.
  – Hobbs was coming off a win over Lovington in a Lea County matchup and was hoping to use that momentum heading into its contest against Cleveland. Instead, the Eagles came out flat and were beaten 42-0 by the Storm with all 42 points coming in the first half. Hobbs is backed up against it now, having to beat Carlsbad (at home this week) and Clovis (on the road two weeks from Friday) in district to qualify for state – two games the Eagles will be underdogs in. More than anything (and something I mentioned in my Sunday column), Hobbs has to start overcoming adversity and not take a step back if it gets punched in the mouth. Starting to do this is something that can transition into next season. Also, it could be a stamp these seniors can put on the program – knowing they helped move this program in the right direction (even if it is just slightly) after 30 years of struggles.

Video - Hobbs vs. Lovington football

  This my video of Hobbs' 16-14 victory over Lovington at Wildcat Stadium in Lovington that lasted two days due to lightning.

Quick Hits Week 7 - Lea Co. Football

Brad Cox/News-Sun

Hobbs' Kolin Zembas, left, breaks up a pass to

Lovington's Jason Hare on Saturday.

  It was an odd week with two Lea County team playing on Thursday (Eunice, Jal), the Hobbs versus Lovington game spanning two days due to a postponement due to lightning and Tatum's game Friday being canceled all together due to the same storm.
  – The Hobbs and Lovington game was far from a thing of beauty, but as usual it went down to the wire with Class 5A Hobbs holding on for a 16-14 win – breaking three-time defending Class 3A state champion Lovington's three-game win streak against the Eagles. When the game was postponed Friday with 8:08 left in the second quarter, Lovington led 6-0. When play resumed Saturday, Hobbs scored 16 points in the 8:08 left in the second to take a 16-6 lead and held on for the 16-14 win.

Video: Hobbs football team's loss to Alamogordo at Tiger Stadium

  These are highlights from the Hobbs football team's 34-14 loss to Alamogordo on Friday at Tiger Stadium in Alamogordo.

Quick Hits, Week 6 - Lea Co. Football

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Hobbs' Brandon Amaya runs after catching a

pass against Alamogordo on Friday.

  With Lovington and Tatum off this week, only three Lea County teams were in action with Eunice coming away with a much-needed statement win while Hobbs and Jal both felt the sting of defeat.
  – The Hobbs football team couldn't put all phases of the game together at the same time as the Eagles lost an important Class 5A matchup to Alamogordo 34-14 (I'm working on video highlights from game). Hobbs' defense played well in the first half but couldn't get a stop in the second half while the Eagles' offense sputtered in the first half (67 yards, no points) but scored touchdowns on two of its three possessions in the second half. At 1-5, Hobbs has a lot of work to do if it wants to even sniff the playoffs and that work begins this week against Lea County foe Lovington.

Video: Hobbs volleyball against Goddard at Tasker Arena

  The Hobbs volleyball team lost to Goddard 3-1 on Thursday night at Tasker Arena. The Lady Eagles dropped to 5-9 while Goddard is 10-4. Here is some action from the match.

Video of Hobbs boys soccer defeating Artesia in penalty kicks

  In an effort to develop more diverse multimedia options for our readers, I'm going to attempt to provide some video from Lea County games (granted, using my phone ... but better than nothing). This is my first video effort from last night's Hobbs boys soccer win over Artesia in penalty kicks.

Hobbs girls basketball 2012-13 schedule released

  The Hobbs girls basketball team's schedule is again filled with tough opponents for the 2012-13 season to get the Lady Eagles prepared for district play and the postseason, a staple during Johnny Casaus' decade-plus run as coach. The theory has worked as the Lady Eagles have made it to the state semifinals in each of the last two years and return several pieces from last year's squad. Is this the year they take the next step?

Hobbs girls basketball 2012-13 schedule

Nov. 16 @ El Paso Socorro, 7 p.m.

Nov. 17 @ El Paso Americas, 1 p.m.
Nov. 19 vs. Amarillo High, 7 p.m.
Nov. 27 vs. Amarillo Palo Duro, 7 p.m.

Hobbs boys basketball 2012-13 schedule released

  I just got a copy of the Hobbs boys basketball schedule for the upcoming season and it definitely will challenge the Eagles and second-year coach Mike Smith.
  New to the schedule this season is the McDonald's tournament in El Paso (arguably one of the toughest tournaments in the area) and a home game against state power Hope Christian. The schedule is filled with challenges for a Hobbs team coming off a state quarterfinal appearance and a 20-9 record.
  The Eagles officially begin practice Nov. 5.

Hobbs boys basketball 2012-13 schedule

Nov. 13 @ Odessa High, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 16 vs. Permian, 7 p.m.