Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Updated district tournament schedule for Lea County basketball teams

  With some of the tiebreakers (the Hobbs girls lost to Clovis and the Lovington boys lost to Portales – read tomorrow's News-Sun for game recaps) and first-round games done, here is an updated schedule for the district tournaments for the teams from Lea County.

Wednesday – District 8-1A Tournament: Jal boys vs. Floyd, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday – District 4-5A Tournament: Hobbs boys vs. Carlsbad, 8 p.m.; Hobbs girls vs. Carlsbad, 5 p.m.; District 4-3A Tournament: Lovington boys vs. Ruidoso, 7 p.m.; Lovington girls vs. Ruidoso, 5:30 p.m.; District 8-1A Tournament: Tatum boys vs. Floyd/Jal, 6:30 p.m.

Friday – District 8-1A Tournament: Tatum girls vs. Floyd/Dora, 6:30 p.m.; District 5-2A Tournament: Eunice girls @ Dexter, 6 p.m.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

District tournament schedule for Lea County basketball teams

  District tournament time is here for prep basketball. It's either time to build some momentum heading into state for some or the end of the season for others. This is the schedule of each teams' first game of their respective District Tournament (or playoff game for the district title in the case of the Lovington boys and Hobbs girls).

Monday – District 5-2A Tournament: Eunice boys vs. Loving, 6 p.m.; District 8-1A Tournament: Jal girls @ Floyd, 5:30 p.m.; Jal boys @ Floyd, 7 p.m.

Tuesday – District 4-5A tiebreaker: Hobbs girls vs. Clovis (at Roswell High), 7 p.m.; District 4-3A tiebreaker: Lovington boys vs. Portales (at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell), 7 p.m.; District 5-2A Tournament: Eunice girls vs. Loving, 6 p.m.

Thursday – District 4-5A Tournament: Hobbs boys vs. Carlsbad, 7 p.m.;  District 4-3A Tournament: Lovington girls vs. Ruidoso, 7 p.m.; District 8-1A Tournament: Tatum boys vs. Jal/Floyd, 6:30 p.m.

Friday – District 8-1A Tournament: Tatum girls vs. Jal/Floyd/Dora, 6:30 p.m.

  The tiebreaker games will determine when the Lovington boys and Hobbs girls open district tournament play. I know for the Hobbs girls, if they win they'll host the 4-5A championship 7 p.m. Saturday and if they lose they'll host Carlsbad 6 p.m. Thursday (and the Hobbs boys game against Carlsbad would be moved to 8 p.m.).

Monday, February 18, 2013

Hobbs wins should give Eagles push into postseason, sets up interesting Tuesday

  It was a weekend of redemption for the No. 7 Hobbs boys basketball team as the Eagles ousted a Carlsbad team 88-50 Friday after losing to the Cavemen 69-66 in Carlsbad earlier this season, and then beat No. 6 Las Cruces High 78-60 Saturday to avenge a 21-point loss to the Bulldawgs last season in Las Cruces.
  More importantly, however, Hobbs after going on a small two-game skid may be regaining steam heading into its regular-season finale in Clovis on Friday, the District 4-5A Tournament and the state tournament.
  Prior to Friday and Saturday, Hobbs (19-6 overall, 1-2 district) was looking rough around the edges, particularly defensively and with its press as the Eagles were giving up a ton of easy buckets in losses to Carlsbad and Clovis.
  This weekend Hobbs was able to get out and run and puts some points on the board after scoring 66 and 59 in its last two contests.
  But the importance of Friday's game in Clovis will be determined Tuesday when Clovis (2-0 in district) travels to Carlsbad (1-2).
  A Clovis win means the Wildcats win district, Hobbs is second and Carlsbad finishes third (Hobbs owns the tiebreaker over Carlsbad via point differential) and Friday's game is more about keeping good momentum heading into the playoffs (oh, and that whole rivalry things too).