Playoff Predictions Elite 8, Final 4, & State Championship Boys Basketball Colorado Class 3A

Playoff Predictions Elite 8, Final 4, & State Championship Boys Basketball Class 3A

These are the official Playoff Brackets for Class 3A Boys.

Class 3A

All games will be played at the University of Denver in the Hamilton Gym. This is what every team battles for and now it comes down to 8 teams playing for a state championship. There is no consolation bracket for Class 3A and only a third place game so if you lose Thursday you are done. I will give a full breakdown of first round match ups then a quick breakdown of the potential Final 4, 3^rd Place, and State Championship

Official 3A State Tournament Bracket:

#1 Kent Denver vs #9 Basalt @ 8:30 pm on 3/9

#9 Basalt finished second in the Western Slope league and that league proved that they were very tough were four of the teams for the Western Slope made it to the second round but 3 of the 4 came up short. Basalts journey to the Elite 8 was a very good run. They started with a 30 point victory over University then beat DSST-Green Valley for the second time this year by 13. Basalt let a bad third quarter let DSST-Green Valley back into the game but scored 18 in the fourth to put the game out of reach and advanced to the Elite 8. Basalt is led by 6’7 Senior Center Michael Glen who is scoring 21.1 ppg and 10.8 rpg. He will have to step up big in their next match against Kent Denver. Basalt does not have a big win this year and their 3 losses are to good teams twice to Coal Ridge and once to Del Norte (2A) who also qualified for state. Seed wise Kent Denver is #1 but I don’t think they are the best team in 3A so this game should be very good.
#1 Kent Denver won the Metro league and with winning the metro league jumped their RPI from 4^th or 5^th all the way up to #1. They then entered the State Tournament with the #1 seed. Kent Denver has 3 losses on the year, two of them to teams in the Elite 8 Alamosa & Manitou Springs and 1 to Jefferson Academy who lost in the first round. Kent Denver got to the Elite 8 by beating Ridgeview Academy 58 to 40 in the first round then beat La Junta 57 to 47 in the second round. Kent Denver is led by sophomore guard Coby Gold who is averaging 12.3 ppg and also led by sophomore big game James Doyle who is averaging 11.9 ppg and 5.9 ppg. Kent Denver has some very nice quality wins this year beating Bayfield, DST-Stapleton, Faith Christian, Manual, and Lutheran. Kent Denver is more battle tested than Basalt but the Western Slope has proven to be a hand full for teams this year.
This game will come down to Kent Denver frustrating the Basalt guards and keeping the players around Basalts big man out of double digit scoring. Basalt to win must get help to Michael Glen and get a few other players in double digit scoring. This will be a very close game and I think should come down to the wire. I am picking Kent Denver to squeeze past Basalt in a closer 5 point game.

#12 Alamosa vs #13 Faith Christian @ 10:15am on 3/9

Two team’s seed wise who were not supposed to be here made good enough runs and now they face off to see who keeps the Cinderella story alive. #13 Faith Christian was not consistent this year going 16-8 and picked up some losses it never should have and that is what gave them the #13 seed. Faith Christian has 4 losses to teams in the Elite 8, 1 to a top 4A team, and 3 to teams who made the 1^st or 2^nd round of the 3A tournament. Faith Christian journey to the Elite 8 is an amazing run. They easily beat Academy in the 1^st round 58 to 35 and then shocked the world beating undefeated #4 seed Resurrection Christian 69 to 57 avenging an 18 point loss from earlier in the year. Faith Christian now is looking to keep their revenge tour going when they face Alamosa and then possibly a rematch with Kent Denver. Faith Christian is led by junior forward Benjamin Hawkins who is averaging 20.9 ppg and 3.7 rpg. Also helping out on the offensive side of the ball is junior forward Jonah Gardner who is averaging 14.0 ppg.
#12 Alamosa had an up and down journey at the end of the regular season. They picked up 2 of their 3 losses at the end of the year and also finished second in the IML so they were going to have to travel in the first and second round. Once the bracket was released everyone right away thought a rematch between them and Bayfield was imminent. Instead Bayfield was upset by Delta and Alamosa survived a scare from Rye in the first round. Alamosa then had to make sure they didn’t fall victim to an upset and took care of a tough Delta team from the Western Slope. Alamosa now is tasked with a rematch from an OT game against Faith Christian. Alamosa has struggled getting players around guard Ryan Brubacher going and if they plan on beating Faith Christian again their role players going. Alamosa is led by Senior guard Ryan Brubacher who is averaging 20.3 ppg and 5.1 rpg. Alamosa must get help for him and if they do they should advance to the Final 4.
This is a rematch between Alamosa and Faith Christian. Alamosa won the first game 71 to 63 in OT and I am expecting a similar result. Both teams have some momentum on their side but I think Faith Christian has a little more after upsetting Resurrection Christian in the second round. This game could go any way but I am going with Alamosa in a tight 2 point game.

#2 Manitou Springs vs #10 Sterling @ 5:30pm on 3/9

#10 Sterling was my favorite to advance to state and they were able to get through a tough second round game. Sterling journey to the Elite 8 started with a blowout 23 point win over Buena Vista. Their second round game was much closer and it took an OT to get it all sorted out. Sterling used an 11 to 4 third quarter to grab a lead heading into the fourth quarter but blew the lead and went to OT against Coal Ridge. Coal Ridge then came up short at the end of OT and Sterling was able to pull the upset and advance to the Elite 8 with a 61 to 59 win. Sterling has 5 losses on the year 2 of them to out of state teams Alliance NE & Sidney NE. Sidney NE ended the year 12-12 and didn’t make the playoffs but Alliance NE finished 19-5 and qualified for the Class B playoffs as a 4 seed. The other 3 losses for Sterling were to Resurrection Christian twice and Lutheran neither of which made the Elite 8. Sterling is led by junior forward Bodie Hume who is averaging 15.2 ppg and 5.3 rpg also helping is senior forward Wade Kellogg who is averaging 11.0 ppg and 5.2 rpg.
#2 Manitou Springs was expected to make the Elite 8 as a 2 seed and followed through on the seeding. Manitou Springs was one of the teams that the Western Slope teams scared in the second round. Manitou journey to the Elite 8 was a nice 18 point over Montezuma-Cortez but nearly was upset by Roaring Fork. Manitou Springs took a 9 point lead into the 4^th quarter but saw it nearly disappear following Roaring Forks 23 point fourth quarter. Manitou Springs did just enough and escaped with a 56 to 54 victory. Manitou Springs is 20-2 on the year with both losses coming to fellow Tri Peaks member and Elite 8 member Colorado Springs Christian. Manitou Springs has a few very good wins over playoff teams Kent Denver, La Junta, Rye, Buena Vista, and Vanguard. Manitou Springs is led by senior forward Lucas Rodholm who is averaging 15.5 ppg and they are also led by junior guard Cole Sienknecht who is averaging 13.8 ppg.
Usually a #2 vs #10 match up would not be intriguing but because of the rules for seeding Sterling could have been a much high seed. They will challenge Manitou Springs but Manitou is still the favorite in this game. I think Sterling will challenge them but I am not sure if they have the horses to beat Manitou Springs. Manitou Springs has proven it hang with the big dawgs and I am picking them to advance by a 10 or 12 point win.

#3 Colorado Springs Christian vs #6 DST-Stapleton @ 1:15pm on 3/9

#6 DST-Stapleton was very impressive on their journey to the Elite 8 picking up 10 point victories in every game. Stapleton beat Colorado Academy 85 to 69 and then followed that up beating Strasburg 76 to 49. DST-Stapleton I though also had one of the easiest road to the Elite 8. DST-Stapleton is 21-3. Their 3 losses are to D’Evelyn (4A) qualified for state, Pueblo South (4A) qualified for state, and Kent Denver who is in the Elite 8 with them. Stapleton has not been mentioned that much as a possible state winner because of playing in a very weak Frontier league. They do have some very good wins over Faith Christian, Academy, Lutheran, and Mountain View (4A). Stapleton is led by senior guard Blake Pullen who is averaging 16.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg they are also led by big man Jordan Heien who is averaging 13.6 ppg and 7.2 rpg. DST-Stapleton will need big games from the pair of seniors to pull the upset of who I think is the best team in 3A.
#3 Colorado Springs Christian would have been the #1 seeded team if it was not for the seeding being done by RPI. They have 2 losses on the season and none to a 3A opponent. Colorado Springs Christian lost to Pueblo West (4A) 48 to 41 Pueblo West made it to the Elite 8 in 4A and CSCS also lost to 5A Rampart 70 to 54, Rampart lost in the second round of the 5A tournament. Colorado Springs Christian journey to the Elite 8 is a 74 to 41 victory over Grand Valley and then another blowout victory over Lutheran 60 to 38. Colorado Springs Christian has been challenged by 3A teams though. They beat Manitou Springs 45 to 44 in OT in the District championship but CSCS is right now the favorite to win the 3A state title again. Colorado Springs Christian is led by senior forward Justin Engesser who is averaging 21.0 ppg and 9.5 rpg. He is the main cog in this CSCS machine and will need some help around him to win a state title.
I think this game could be pretty close but it will take the best game of the year from DST-Stapleton to upset Colorado Springs Christian. I think this will be a 15 point game in favor of Colorado Springs Christian.

Final 4 Predictions

#1 Kent Denver over #12 Alamosa

This would be a rematch from an exciting 55 to 50 victory for Alamosa. Alamosa will have to rekindle the type of basketball they were playing at the time just to get to this game. Alamosa may have peaked early and this could very well be Faith Christian vs Kent Denver. Either way I think Kent Denver will grab the victory and advance to the State Championship.

#2 Manitou Springs upset by #3 Colorado Springs Christian

In Another rematch between the two best teams in the state I expect another exciting game between the two. The last meeting was a 45 to 44 OT victory for Colorado Spring Christian and I think Colorado Springs Christian will win again but this time by 8 or 10 points. This will be a very exciting game but I am going with CSCS to advance

3^rd Place Game

#2 Manitou Springs vs #12 Alamosa

I think Alamosa may have peaked early and if this game would have been played in January the result could be different. I think Manitou Springs is starting to play better basketball but they won’t have a cake walk in the 3^rd place game. Alamosa has a pure scorer and he will keep it close but Manitou Springs is better around him and I am going with Manitou Springs to beat Alamosa by 10 points in the 3^rd place game.

State Championship

#1 Kent Denver vs #3 Colorado Springs Christian

In a battle of teams consistently in the Elite 8 and a pair of prestigious programs this should be a fun entertain battle between two good teams. Kent Denver was challenged all year in the Metro league so they are battle tested but they will have to play their best basketball if they plan on knocking off the defending state champions. Colorado Springs Christian is looking to repeat as state champions and to do that must continue to play basketball at a high level. They will have to quickly recover from a tough battle in the Final 4. Neither team will have a size advantage so it will come down to which team shoots better and I am going with Colorado Springs Christian to have the advantage in scoring. I think Colorado Springs Christian will win the 3A State Title again and do so by 7 or 8 points.