New Mexico Military Institute at Portales

7 p.m. today

• Records: NMMI 1-11, Portales 8-5.

• Last meeting: Last season, Portales crushed NMMI 74-20.

• Comments: NMMI is having a rough year since dropping down to Class 2A, but coach Pilar Carrasco will have them ready to play said Portales coach Mark Gallegos.

“We’ve got to come out and not take anything for granted,” Gallegos said about a team the Rams have beaten once this season. “We’re going to pressure them alittle more this time because they struggled with it. We’re going to show them some different looks and hope for easy baskets on turnovers.”

Gallegos said NMMI is a young team with no standout players on the roster, but can spread out a defense and play a half court game.

• Of note: NMMI comes into today’s game on a 11-game losing streak. … The Rams have lost their last two games, but have a 4-1 record at home this season.

Mesilla Valley at Portales

4 p.m. Saturday

• Record: Mesilla Valley 8-8

• Last Meeting: Last season, Mesilla Valley beat Portales 61-33.

• Comments: The Sonblazers are the defending Class 2A champions, and are favored to win it again, Rams coach Mark Gallegos said.

“They are ranked No. 3 in (Class) 2A,” he said. “The deal with Mesilla is they’re very hard to defend and have four new players who came eligible around Christmas. I haven’t had a chance to look at the video of them. Right now, I’m just trying to focus on NMMI.”

Gallegos said Mesilla Valley has played a tough schedule featuring several games against Class 3A and 4A teams, adding that the Sonblazers have tall guards who shoot well.

• Of note: Mesilla Valley stumbled at Chaparral 49-40 last week.

— Compiled by Clarence Plank