The Aztec High School varsity basketball team will host Espanola Valley High School (Espanola, NM) for a non-conference game today at 3:30 PM.

Game Details:

• Teams: Espanola Valley HS vs. Aztec HS
• Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025
• Time: 3:30 PM
• Live stream: Watch Here
• Live stream: Watch Here
• Location: Aztec High School, Aztec, NM

Espanola Valley vs. Aztec: A Tale of Two Teams in New Mexico Basketball

The 2024-2025 New Mexico high school basketball season has brought an exciting rivalry to the forefront, as the Espanola Valley Sundevils and the Aztec Tigers face off with contrasting records and performances. Let’s break down the teams’ stats, their performances against common opponents, and how their overall records compare.

Team Overview

Espanola Valley has enjoyed a dominant season with a 12-3 record overall, which translates to an impressive win percentage of .800. Their offense has been strong, averaging 62.7 points per game (PPG), with a well-rounded attack led by an average of 11.0 points in the first quarter, 15.0 in the second, and 16.0 in the third quarter. With a strong balance between home, away, and neutral site games, the Sundevils have shown consistency, particularly at home with a 5-1 record.

In contrast, Aztec has struggled this season, sitting at 3-8 overall with a win percentage of just .273. Their scoring average is a bit lower at 61.2 PPG, with the team generally showing strength in the third quarter (17.0 PPG) but underperforming in the fourth (11.5 PPG). Their performance away from home has been particularly challenging, with a 0-3 record on the road, and a 2-4 mark at home.

Head-to-Head and Common Opponents

Looking at their performances against common opponents, Espanola Valley holds a 2-0 record, while Aztec has yet to secure a win against these same teams, posting a 0-3 mark. The common opponents include strong teams like Bernalillo, Capital, Taos, and Kirtland Central.

For example:

• Espanola Valley vs. Bernalillo: The Sundevils won 63-52 at home on December 18, 2024, while Aztec fell short 65-62 against Bernalillo on December 14, 2024.
• Espanola Valley vs. Capital: The Sundevils had a dominant victory, 88-65, on December 23, 2024, whereas Aztec struggled, losing to Capital 75-53 on December 12, 2024.
• Espanola Valley vs. Taos: The Sundevils will face Taos on February 4, 2025, at home, while Aztec lost 83-63 to Taos on November 30, 2024.

Record Breakdown

The record breakdown further highlights the contrasting nature of these two teams:

• Espanola Valley:
  • Strong home record: 5-1
  • Solid away performance: 3-2
  • Perfect record at neutral sites: 4-0
  • An undefeated 2-0 record against common opponents
• Aztec:
  • Struggling at home: 2-4
  • Weak on the road: 0-3
  • A 1-1 record at neutral sites
  • A 0-3 record against common opponents

Conclusion

Espanola Valley has clearly outperformed Aztec this season, with superior overall records, higher scoring averages, and a stronger track record against common opponents. While Aztec still has a chance to turn things around with upcoming matchups, including a home game against Kirtland Central, Espanola Valley looks poised to continue its strong season with a balanced offense and solid defense across all types of games.