The Taos (NM) varsity basketball team is scheduled to face Hope Christian (Albuquerque, NM) in a neutral tournament game today at 4:30 PM as part of the Hope Christian Invitational.

Game Details:

• Matchup: Taos vs. Hope Christian
• Date: Friday, January 17, 2025
• Time: 4:30 PM
• Location: Hope Christian Invitational
• Live stream: Watch Here

Stay tuned for score updates and matchup information

Comparative Analysis: Hope Christian vs. Taos Basketball Teams (2024-25 Season)

As the 2024-25 basketball season progresses, Hope Christian and Taos have proven themselves as competitive forces within New Mexico high school basketball. Below is a breakdown of their performance, strengths, and comparisons, highlighting key statistics and players.

Overall Records and Rankings

• Hope Christian:
  • State Rank: 24
  • Class Rank: 3
  • Record: 8-6
  • Home: 4-1, Away: 4-2, Neutral: 0-3
  • Win Percentage: .571
  • Points For (PF): 898, Points Against (PA): 953
• Taos:
  • State Rank: 46
  • Class Rank: 11
  • Record: 9-5
  • Home: 5-2, Away: 4-3
  • Win Percentage: .643
  • PF: 869, PA: 779

Scoring and Game Flow

Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring Averages

• Hope Christian:
  • Q1: 13.7
  • Q2: 12.5
  • Q3: 16.5
  • Q4: 17.0
  • Final: 64.1
• Taos:
  • Q1: 16.3
  • Q2: 14.4
  • Q3: 16.1
  • Q4: 15.9
  • Final: 62.1

Analysis: Hope Christian tends to finish stronger, with higher scoring averages in the second half. Taos, however, establishes an early lead with stronger performances in the first half.

Statistical Comparison

Team Leaders

Hope Christian:

• Malakhai Ely (#52):
  • Points Per Game: 16.1 (Well above national average of 5.1)
  • Rebounds Per Game: 8.7 (Exceeding national average of 2.7)
  • Blocks Per Game: 2.4
• Mateo Salazar (#4):
  • Assists Per Game: 2.7
• Roman Quintana (#11):
  • Steals Per Game: 2.6

Taos:

While individual stats aren’t listed, Taos demonstrates balanced scoring and consistent contributions across all quarters.

Head-to-Head and Common Opponents

• Common Opponent Record:
  • Hope Christian: 2-0
  • Taos: 2-1
• Notable Matchups:
  • Grants: Hope Christian secured a win (68-63), while Taos narrowly lost (57-55).
  • Bernalillo: Taos dominated with a decisive win (69-52).

Strengths and Challenges

Hope Christian:

• Strengths: Strong second-half performance, standout player contributions, particularly from Malakhai Ely.
• Challenges: Inconsistent results in neutral games (0-3) and high points allowed (PA: 953).

Taos:

• Strengths: Strong home record (5-2), consistent first-half dominance, and a higher win percentage.
• Challenges: Close losses in tightly contested games and slightly lower second-half scoring averages.

Conclusion

Both teams bring unique strengths to the court, making them formidable competitors. Hope Christian’s reliance on star performances contrasts with Taos’ consistent team effort and strong starts. As the season progresses, these teams’ trajectories could shift based on adjustments and critical matchups. Basketball fans should watch closely as both teams aim for success in their respective classes.