UPDATE: Eunice's Almager commits to New Mexico Junior College

Brad Cox/News-Sun

Eunice's Tyler Almager committed Tuesday to play baseball at NMJC.

  It's only been a few hours since I blogged that Eunice pitcher/SS Tyler Almager was still considering baseball offers from Midland College, Cochise College, Eastern Arizona and University of the Southwest while visiting New Mexico Junior College today.
  Well the visit must've gone well at NMJC because I just heard from NMJC coach Josh Simpson that Almager has committed to the T-Birds.
  We will be putting together a story for Thursday's edition of the Hobbs News-Sun as Almager and his family and friends will get together Wednesday to make the commitment official.
  Almager was the 2011 News-Sun Baseball Player of the Year and led Eunice to a state title in 2010 and a runner-up finish in 2011.

Eunice's Caraza commits to Fort Lewis, Almager pulling in offers

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Eunice's Junior Caraza (20) stiff arms a player during the Class 2A state title

game in Santa Rosa. Caraza committed to Fort Lewis College on Monday.

  Amid all the late-breaking news Monday night with Eunice deciding not to renew football coach Daniel Hutchins' contract after taking the Cardinals to the state championship game in his first season, I learned of some good news for a local athlete.
  Eunice safety/wide receiver Junior Caraza has committed to play football next season at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., according to Hutchins. The hard-hitting senior was the Lea County News-Sun Defensive Player of the Year this past season after leading the Cardinals with 102 tackles and 11 interceptions to go along with three fumble recoveries and seven pass breakups.

BREAKING NEWS: Hutchins no longer football coach at Eunice

  I just talked with Daniel Hutchins and he informed me he'll no longer be the head football coach at Eunice.
  Hutchins said Eunice informed him that it wanted to go in a new direction with its football program. 
  Hutchins led Eunice through an undefeated season until losing in the Class 2A state title game to Santa Rosa.
  The story was broke by NMPreps.com.
  I'll have more on this in Tuesday's edition of the Hobbs News-Sun.

Hobbs' Ibarra drops 47 on Deming, NMJC teams make statement

Brad Cox/News-Sun

Hobbs' Aaron Ibarra takes a shot during the

Eagles' win Saturday at Tasker Arena.

  I had started writing a blog post after New Mexico Junior College's men's and women's teams made huge statements by defeating Midland College on Thursday night – probably the most electric night at Caster Activity Center in my six seasons of covering NMJC basketball.
  I was close to posting it and just had to cover Hobbs' Saturday game against Deming (a game I figured nothing too exciting would happen) then come back and read it through one last time before posting it.
  After Aaron Ibarra's performance against Deming, however, I've had to perform a few edits on that blog post.
  The Hobbs senior scored 47 points – including the final nine points to break an 87-87 tie – to help the 5A No. 9 Eagles overcome a sloppy start and flat play to defeat 4A No. 10 Deming 96-87.
  Ibarra's 47 points is the third most in Hobbs history behind Larry Robinson's 49-point performance during a 170-104 Hobbs win over Carlsbad in 1970 and Jeffery Taylor's 48 points during a 100-80 win over Rio Rancho in 2008.

THIS JUST IN: Eagles add game this Saturday at home against Deming

  The Hobbs boys basketball team has added a game against Deming this Saturday at Tasker Arena.
  The varsity game is set to start at 2:30 p.m. while the the junior varsity game will begin at 1 p.m.
  This is a replacement for the Dec. 19 game at Amarillo High that was canceled due to inclement weather in the Amarillo area.

Turnover woes, slow rotation on press burn Eagles in loss

  Yes, Tuesday night's boys basketball matchup between Roswell High and Hobbs in Roswell had the feel of Hobbs games of past with 184 combined points scored during the Class 4A  top-ranked and undefeated Coyotes' 94-90 victory over the 5A No. 9 Eagles in a four-quarters-of-fury affair.
  However, while the style of play was there, Hobbs' execution wasn't. The Eagles committed 30 turnovers (leading to several points for Roswell) and rotated poorly on the press and didn't protect the basket (leading to several Roswell layups).
  Hobbs has to start taking care of the ball. Lets just put it this way, if Hobbs commits even 10 less turnovers and scores on half of those possessions (Hobbs shot over 50 percent in the game), the Eagles win this game.
  It starts at the guard position as the Eagles are having way too many turnovers come from a position that should cherish each possession. I understand Hobbs wants to play uptempo, but it also has to play under control or games like Tuesday will happen.

No. 5 Lady Eagles may be gearing for another run, crush No. 9 Cruces

Clayton Jones/News-Sun

Hobbs' Mackenzie Latimer attempts a shot during

the No. 5 Lady Eagles' win over No. 9 Las Cruces

on Saturday at Las Cruces High School.

  With limited home games to watch the fifth-ranked Hobbs girls basketball team play, I'll admit I wasn't sure what to think of the Lady Eagles as they got off to a 9-7 start heading into a three-game-in-five-day stretch on Friday against Goddard.
  After all, Hobbs was a state semifinalist a year ago with a lot of the talent returning from that run yet was only two games over .500 – though it had ventured through an incredibly difficult schedule.
  While I still wasn't sure after Hobbs pounded a struggling Goddard squad on Friday, the Lady Eagles showed a lot by hitting the road and dominating ninth-ranked Las Cruces High 60-37 on the Lady Bulldawgs' court.
  Hobbs (now 11-7), led 47-13 after three quarters before letting off the gas some in the fourth. The Lady Eagles dominated ever facet of the game, particularly on the defensive end and on the boards. Hobbs' myriad of defensive sets led to Las Cruces being disorganized and unable to get into anything offensively.