Pulling for Rio, Corpus

Brahmas have huge weekend ahead

With three games this weekend, the Brahmas have an opportunity to really pull away from the Laredo Bucks in the standings.

As of now, the Brahmas sit in the third place in the Southern Conference with a 26-17-5 record and 57 points. They will not play again until Friday night.

The Bucks are in fourth place with a 23-16-9 record and 55 points. They host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Thursday and have the opportunity to tie the Brahmas once again for third. They are coming off a 3-2 shoot out loss to Rio on Sunday. The series record is 3-2; advantage Rio when playing at the Laredo Entertainment Center this season. Each has been a one point contest. But Laredo has won seven of the 11 games played between the two teams this season overall and obviously has just as much at stake as the Brahmas when it comes to ending the season in third place.

Laredo is 12-6-6 at home. Rio is 9-11-4 on the road and battling Corpus Christi for the fifth and final playoff berth.

On Friday night the Brahmas host the Wichita Thunder (7-35-4, 18 points) at the NYTEX Sports Center. A probable win? Sure. But don’t count the Thunder out completely. They’ve managed to upset Tulsa, Bossier-Shreveport and Mississippi this month with their new roster. The teams have played just once this season, a 2-0 win for the Brahmas at NYTEX on December 27th.

The real test comes with one of the biggest games of the season, when the Brahmas host the Odessa Jackalopes on Saturday night. With a 37-9-4 record and 78 points, the Jacks lead the league in many categories and are probable Governor’s Cup shoe-ins.

The Brahmas have played Odessa once at NYTEX this season (November 25th), losing 5-3. The two teams have played twice at the Ector County Coliseum splitting wins. The Brahmas won the first meeting on November 19th, 7-3. The Jacks won on December 31st, 4-2. But while it’s the same Odessa team we’ve seen before, this is a new and improved Brahmas squad that, with a little discipline, can take down the Bucks at home.

After the game, the Brahmas head north to face Wichita on Sunday afternoon for the first time at the new Intrust Bank Center.

The Bucks meanwhile, will go on the road to face the Corpus Christi Ice Rays on Friday night and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Saturday Afternoon. Corpus is 4-1 when hosting Laredo this season but Rio is 0-5 when hosting the Bucks this season.

In the end, there are six points up for grabs this weekend for the Brahmas. A huge six points. Three games in three days.

There are 16 games left in the regular season; half versus Northern Conference teams and half versus Southern Conference teams. Nine games at home and seven on the road. And once again, it all starts with this weekend. C'mon Brahmas - take six!

Photo Credit: Robert Keith