The Cleveland varsity basketball team (Rio Rancho, NM) will face Hobbs (NM) in a home non-conference game today at 3:30 PM.

Matchup Details:

• Teams: Hobbs vs Cleveland
• Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
• Time: 3:30 PM
• Live stream: Watch Here
• Live stream: Watch Here

Hobbs vs. Cleveland: A Battle of Two Top New Mexico Basketball Teams

The Hobbs (24-25) and Cleveland (24-25) high school basketball teams have been impressively performing this season, with both showing excellent records in their respective conferences and non-conference games. Let’s take a closer look at these teams, their performances, and the upcoming clash.

Team Overview

Hobbs (24-25)
Hobbs is currently enjoying a dominant season with a 15-2 overall record, boasting an impressive .882 win percentage. They are undefeated at home, with a perfect 7-0 record, and have performed well on the road, achieving a 5-2 record. On neutral ground, they are also undefeated, with a 3-0 mark. Hobbs has been exceptional in both scoring and defense, averaging 67.3 points per game while allowing 52.4 points per game to their opponents.

Cleveland (24-25)
Cleveland, with a 10-5 record, is no slouch. While their win percentage is slightly lower at .667, they have been solid at home, with a 6-1 record. However, their performance away has been more inconsistent, as evidenced by their 1-1 mark. Cleveland has a slight edge in terms of points scored per game, averaging 64.3, but their defense has been slightly more vulnerable, allowing 56.4 points per game.

Head-to-Head Matchup

The latest head-to-head game between these two teams took place on December 28, 2024, in a neutral tournament. Hobbs triumphed over Cleveland with a 58-53 win, where Hobbs showed resilience despite Cleveland’s strong second-half surge. Hobbs controlled the game throughout, especially in the first quarter and fourth quarter, where they extended their lead to win by 5 points.

Statistical Comparison

Hobbs

• Points Per Game (PPG): 67.3
• Rebounds Per Game (RPG): 34.3
• Assists Per Game (APG): 14.0
• Steals Per Game (SPG): 8.0
• Blocks Per Game (BPG): 1.5

Cleveland

• Points Per Game (PPG): 64.3
• Rebounds Per Game (RPG): 29.0
• Assists Per Game (APG): 11.5
• Steals Per Game (SPG): 5.0
• Blocks Per Game (BPG): 2.0

Hobbs leads in virtually every major statistical category, including scoring, rebounds, assists, and steals. Their standout player, Abraham Pena, has been a key contributor, averaging 16.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4 steals per game. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s performance relies on a more collective effort, with no one player standing out significantly in any category.

Notable Team Leaders

• Hobbs
  • Abraham Pena (16.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4 SPG)
  • Jairus Turrubiates (8.0 RPG)
  • Parker Henderson (1.0 BPG)
• Cleveland
  • No standout player has emerged but contributions from several players like Jeremiah Martinez have kept them competitive.

Common Opponents and Performance Comparison

Both teams have faced several of the same opponents this season. Their performance against these common teams can shed light on how they might match up in future games.

• Hobbs defeated Rio Rancho 68-48 on December 5, 2024, while Cleveland lost to Rio Rancho 60-54 on January 11, 2025.
• Hobbs also beat Artesia 81-65 on December 7, 2024, while Cleveland had a closer 58-55 win over Artesia on December 27, 2024.

These results show that Hobbs has been more dominant in their matchups with common opponents, suggesting they may have the edge heading into any upcoming contests.

Upcoming Schedule

• Hobbs
  • January 24, 2025 – vs. Artesia
  • January 28, 2025 – vs. Roswell
  • February 11, 2025 – vs. Roswell
• Cleveland
  • January 23, 2025 – vs. Farmington
  • January 30, 2025 – vs. Volcano Vista
  • February 12, 2025 – vs. Farmington

Both teams still have plenty of games left to play, but with their strong seasons thus far, the showdown between Hobbs and Cleveland later in the season promises to be a highly anticipated clash of two of New Mexico’s finest basketball programs.

Conclusion

In summary, Hobbs enters this matchup as the more dominant team based on their record, statistics, and recent performance. They have excelled both offensively and defensively, led by standout players like Abraham Pena. Cleveland, on the other hand, will need to build on their solid home record and tighten their defense if they are to challenge Hobbs in their upcoming games. Both teams will be looking to improve as they head into the remainder of the season, making the next matchup between these two powerhouses a must-watch.