Class 3A Girls Basketball Breakdowns

State First & Second round Predictions Girls Basketball Colorado Class 3A

anthony5910

State First & Second round Predictions  Girls Basketball Class 3A

Official 3A State Girls bracket is released.

Class 3A

League Champions/Automatic Qualifiers

Confluence League/Colorado 7: Weld Central

Frontier: Academy

Intermountain: Centauri

Metro: Faith Christian

Patriot: Sterling

Tri Peaks: Colorado Springs Christian

Western Slope: Moffat County

First Highest RPI: Lamar

Bracket: The bracket is based straight off RPI seeds with the top 8 teams.

1 Sterling vs 32 Venture Prep 6:00pm @ Sterling HS

16 Olathe vs 17 Monte Vista 7:30pm @ Sterling HS

  • Winners play 1:00 pm @ Sterling HS
  • Sterling should not have to many problems getting into the second round but the other game should be much more interesting and the winner of that game will try and upset the #1 team. Olathe vs Monte Vista should be a great game.  Monte Vista was able to increase its RPI with a very important win over Alamosa in the third place game.  Monte Vista will look to early success against Centauri and Pagosa to try and rekindle those close losses to pull a huge upset on Olathe.  Olathe played a very tough schedule this year and playing against Del Norte, Centauri, Paonia, Delta, Lutheran, and Pagosa Springs.  They were not as successful as they hoped only able to top Del Norte and Lutheran.  To close out the season they struggled against Grand Valley and Moffat County and finished third in the very tough Western Slope tournament.  Olathe was at one point ranked in the top ten but fell out several times and now will playing against a pesky and very good 3 point shooting team in Monte Vista.  Both teams will need to play their best brand of basketball to advance.  Sterling will be the favorite against whichever team wins.  The winner of the Olathe vs Monte Vista game will then need a few things to go their way to upset Sterling.  I am going with Monte Vista in round 1 then Sterling to advance to the Final 8.

8 Weld Central vs 25 Jefferson Academy 5:30 pm @ Weld Central HS

9 St. Mary’s vs 24 Resurrection Christian 7:00pm @ Weld Central HS

  • Winners play 2:00pm @ Weld Central HS
  • Weld Central needed to finish in second or first to get into the state tournament and they were able to achieve that goal by beating Englewood in the semifinals and they were able to win the Confluence league beating Venture Prep 35 to 28. Weld Central now has home court advantage and they will need it for both games if they are able to survive round one.  They clash with Jefferson Academy in the first round and Jefferson academy enters this game on a bit of a down streak.  They have lost 4 of their past 7 games and finished 6th I believe in the Metro league losing to St. Mary’s Academy 53 to 46.  Early on Jefferson Academy looked like they were a top ten team and I had them ranked after they beat Academy 35 to 25 but have since fallen off and now will need to upset Weld Central in round one to continue their season.  Jefferson Academy will be in a tight battle and I am picking them to upset Weld Central in the first round.  The other game between St. Mary’s and Resurrection Christian will be heavily favored in St. Mary’s favor.  Resurrection Christian is on a bit of a down streak and I expect St. Mary’s to get to the second round. St. Mary’s potential match up with Jefferson Academy should be a good one.  Mary’s picked up their 2nd and 3rd losses of the season in the Tri Peaks tournament which is the toughest league this year.  Jefferson Academy will look at those games and see what those teams did but I expect St. Mary’s to rebound quickly and I am picking them to advance to the Final 8.

5 Faith Christian vs 28 Middle Park 5:00pm @ Faith Christian HS

12 Manitou Springs vs 21 Brush 7:00pm @ Faith Christian HS

  • Winners play 1:00pm @ Faith Christian HS
  • Faith Christian won a very competitive Metro league and was able to secure a home game and they got a very tough draw to advance to the Final 8. First up for Faith Christian is Middle Park and I believe that Faith Christian should win the first game and set up a potential huge clash in the second round.  Middle Park did a good job this year and was able to do enough to qualify for state.  The other game between Manitou Springs and Brush should be a fun game to watch.  Brush finished on a bit of a down note but picked up a good win over Resurrection Christian before dropping two straight to Sterling and Eaton.  Brush has been a good surprise this year but have a very tough challenge in the first round.  Manitou Springs gave St. Mary’s their 3rd loss of the year in OT in the 3rd place game and are playing better basketball.  Manitou Springs has not completely peaked yet and I think are starting their rise and should get by Brush in the first round.  The real potential battle will be between Manitou Springs and Faith Christian.  Manitou Springs proved it can beat a top 5 team when they beat St. Mary’s now they will have to try and beat #5 Faith Christian in the second round.  This is a tossup game and could go to either team.  Both are playing quality basketball right now especially since Faith Christian won the Metro league and Manitou Springs beat St. Mary’s.  It’s tough to pick against Manitou Springs after a huge win but I am going with Faith Christian to hold on against Manitou Springs and win by 2 and get to the Final 8.

4 Colorado Springs Christian vs 29 Strasburg 3:00pm @ CSCS

13 Eaton vs 20 Colorado Academy 6:00pm @ CSCS

  • Winners play 1:00pm @ CSCS
  • Strasburg was able to squeeze into the playoffs but will be playing the second best team I feel in the state right off the bat. They had a good run to get into state but their run could be over.  Colorado Springs Christian will need to get a good look at the opponent they are playing next because it could be a challenge in the second round but must not overlook Strasburg.  Colorado Academy had a great run this year and came up just short of hosting in the first round falling 6 points short of Faith Christian in the Metro Finals.  They have a very tough first round match up against Eaton and I believe both teams are very evenly matched and will come down to if Colorado Academy can score enough points to win.  Eaton finished third in the Patriot and ended the season winning 4 of 5 games.  They struggled against top teams in their league losing to Liberty Common by 15, Sterling by 22, and Colorado Academy by 6.  This is a good rematch between these teams and could be a similar style game from the first time.  I am going with Colorado Academy to beat Eaton in the first round but they have a huge road block ahead of them when they face off against Colorado Springs Christian.  Colorado Springs Christian proved they are a top 3 team when they beat Manitou Springs and Lamar in the District tournament and also beat St. Mary’s on 2/10 by nearly 20.  Colorado Spring Christian could potentially be facing a Colorado Academy team that is pesky on defense but struggles at time scoring.  I believe that Colorado Springs Christian is a one of the top two teams in the state and I am picking them to advance to the Final 8.

2 Centauri vs 31 Buena Vista 7:30 pm @ Centauri HS

15 Lutheran vs 18 Grand Valley 6:00 pm @ Centauri HS

  • Winners play 1:00 pm @ Centauri HS
  • Centauri should easily get by Buena Vista in the first round and set up a great game between either Lutheran or Grand Valley. Buena Vista had a good enough season to grab the second to last playoff spot but Centauri will be just too much to handle.  The Lutheran vs Grand Valley game should be a great one.  Grand Valley finished second in the Western Slope losing to Moffat County in the finals.  Grand Valley has been a very solid team this year and has some great victories along the way.  They will be tested against a Lutheran team looking to defend its state title.  Lutheran lost an OT game to Colorado Academy in the Metro Semifinals and will be looking to rebound quickly.  Lutheran at times has played great basketball but also has some losses that could have been avoided, like the loss to Bennett.  These two teams have a common opponent of Olathe and Grand Valley won 2 of 3 times and recently beat them by 9.  Lutheran lost to Olathe by 21 back in December but a ton of time has passed since then so both of these teams are evenly matched.  I am going with Lutheran over Grand Valley in a close 5 point game.  Centauri vs Lutheran could be a good game but Lutheran will need to play its best basketball of the season.  Centauri has quality wins over Olathe, Swink, Pagosa 3 times, and Monte Vista.  They have improved every week and will be a tough team to beat.  I am going with Centauri to advance to the final 8.

7 Academy vs 26 Delta 6:00 pm @ Academy HS

10 Liberty Common vs 23 Trinidad 7:30 pm @ Academy HS

  • Winners play 1:00pm @ Academy HS
  • This 2 game regional might be one of the best in 3A. You have 4 teams that all have winning records and all at one point received votes or even were ranked in the top 10 this year.  Academy vs Delta will be interesting.  Delta started the season on fire picking up wins against Olathe and Hotchkiss but towards the end of the year lost 4 of its last 5 and now will have to quickly rebound.  In the district tournament they lost by 10 to Olathe and Delta must quickly rebound against a tough Academy team.  Academy was able to close out its season winning the Frontier District tournament but on 2/14 lost to Clear Creek by 18 so that makes me wonder how good Academy is.  The Frontier league was way down this year so I am not sure about how good Academy is.  I am picking Academy to win its first round game but they will best tested in the second round.  The other game in the region between Trinidad and Liberty Common all depends which Trinidad team shows up.  If the Trinidad team that lost to Manitou Springs by 6 then they can give Liberty Common a run but if the Trinidad team that lost 52 to 16 to Colorado Springs Christian then Liberty Common might walk away with an easy victory.  Liberty Common lost for the 2nd straight time to Sterling in the Patriot finals.  Liberty Common was just not able to climb the hill and get past Sterling.  Liberty Common is a very solid team and has a good chance at making it to the final 8.  I feel confident picking Liberty Common over Trinidad setting up a potential match up with Academy in round 2.  Liberty Common actually is the favorite in the region to get to the final 8 and I am picking them to advance to the final 8.

6 Moffat County vs 27 Bennett 6:30 pm @ Moffat County HS

11 Pagosa Springs vs 22 St. Mary’s Academy 5:00 pm @ Moffat County HS

  • Winners play 1:00pm @ Moffat County HS
  • Moffat County did a great job of grabbing the Western Slope title. They were able to upset Grand Valley in the finals and now are hosting a region.  Moffat County should get by Bennett who eked into state and will be awaiting the winner between Pagosa Springs and St Mary’s Academy.  Pagosa Springs vs St. Mary’s Academy should be a good match up.  Mary’s Academy ranked by me at one point this season before falling to Lutheran by 25 and then losing to Kent Denver in the first round of the Metro District Tournament.  St. Mary’s Academy will need to play its best game of the season to pull the upset on Pagosa Springs.  Pagosa Springs was not able to get over the hump on Centauri and lost to them 3 times this season.  Pagosa nearly lost to Alamosa in the semifinals of the IML tournament but held on late.  Pagosa Springs will need better guard play if they plan on advancing to the Final 8.  I am picking Pagosa to set up a potential match up with Moffat County.  Moffat County will need to keep their momentum from the Western Slope tournament if they plan on advancing to the final 8.  For Pagosa Springs to advance they must get better guard play and they should advance past Moffat County.  I am picking Pagosa Springs to advance to the Final 8.

3 Lamar vs 30 University 6:30 pm @ Lamar Community Building

14 Cedaredge vs 19 Kent Denver 5:00 pm @ Lamar Community Building

  • Winners play 1:00 pm @ Lamar Community Building
  • Lamar revenged its earlier season loss St. Mary’s in the Tri Peaks tournament upsetting them and advancing to the Tri Peaks Championship. Lamar then fell to Colorado Springs Christian in the championship but Lamar is playing very good basketball and I wouldn’t want to play them.  University has the fortune of playing against a red hot Lamar team.  University had a good run this year and qualified to the state tournament.  I am picking Lamar to advance to the second round.  The game between Cedaredge and Kent Denver should also be a great match up.  Kent Denver lost to Faith Christian and Lutheran in the Metro Tournament but picked up a very good win against St. Mary’s Academy.  Kent Denver now must quickly find out what worked if they plan on getting past a good Cedaredge team.  Cedaredge lost back to back games in the Western Slope tournament to Moffat County and Olathe so both Kent Denver and Cedaredge are on a similar slump.  I think whichever teams rebound quickly from their loses will win this game.  I am picking Kent Denver to pull the upset in round 1 before running into Lamar.  Lamar will be a tough team to beat in their home gym and I can’t see them losing before making it to the final 8.  I am going with Lamar to advance to the final 8.

State Tournament Final 8

#1 Sterling vs #9 St. Mary’s

#4 Colorado Springs Christian vs #5 Faith Christian

#2 Centauri vs #10 Liberty Common

#3 Lamar vs 11 Pagosa Springs

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Published by anthony5910

I am the founder of MileHigh Prep Report. We are in are 5th year and excited for another year of small school high school sports!