Playoff Predictions Elite 8, Final 4, & State Championship Boys Basketball Class 2A

Playoff Predictions Elite 8, Final 4, & State Championship Boys Basketball Class 2A

Class 2A

I will only predict the Winners side of the bracket.  A full consolation bracket will be played out to a fifth place.  I will predict a fifth place winner but I will not do a full breakdown of the games.  I will only breakdown the winner’s side.  The 2A bracket is very equal up and down and anything can happen.

2A State Tournament Predictions:

#1 Sedgwick County vs #8 Sanford @ 1:15pm on 3/9

• #8 Sanford is your three time defending state champion and was not supposed to make the tournament they were not even supposed to win District 1 but because of great coaching and still a very solid team they are back into the state playoffs and also District 1 Champions. Sanford early on in the season struggled losing games La Junta (3A), Monte Vista (3A), and Pagosa Springs (3A).  Since suffering those three losses the other losses either came from Del Norte 3 times or Sargent once.  Their journey out to regionals and state was an exciting District Championship win over Del Norte 38-37 and then an equally exciting win over a tough Norwood team 44 to 37.  Sanford will have a chance in this game because of coaching but they will need to play their best game of the season to pull the huge upset.  Sanford is led by senior Casey McDaniel who is averaging 14 ppg and 5.2 rpg and junior Zach Sittler who is a defensive monster and is averaging 9.2 ppg.
• #1 Sedgwick County was a preseason favorite to make the Elite 8 and they fullfield that expectations. They only have 1 loss on the year to #2 Holyoke 43 to 38 in OT.  Sedgwick County revenged that loss by beating Holyoke in the district championship and then beat a tough Burlington team in the regional championship 55 to 49.  That is one of the closest game that Sedgwick County has played this year and possibly could give a solution on how to beat Sedgwick County.  Sedgwick County has plenty of quality wins over league opponents like Akron, Haxtun, and Holyoke the only problem I see is they don’t have many quality wins over non-league opponents they did beat Fleming (1A) who made the elite 8.  They have some good wins over some teams from Nebraska but we don’t get to see them play.  Those teams that Sedgwick County beat from Nebraska that are quality opponents are Garden County who is 17-6 and in the playoffs, and Leyton Ne who is 16-7 and made regionals but lost.  It will be interesting to see other teams from the state play Sedgwick County.  There are no stats uploaded from Sedgwick County.
• Seeing Sanford in the Elite 8 probably makes a few teams groan as they didn’t expect to see the three time defending state champion even here. Sanford will play Sedgwick County tough but I don’t think Sanford can score enough points to keep up with Sedgwick County.  Sanford only has 2 seniors so this is great experience for this young team and Sanford will be back in the Elite 8 next year.  Sedgwick County will grab the victory here and advance to the Final 4.
• Winner plays @ 8:30 on 3/10 & Loser plays at 1:15pm on 3/10

#4 Akron vs #5 Highland @ 8:30pm on 3/9

• #5 Highland was very successful this season going a perfect 23-0 but a lot a questions surrouned the strength of schedule. Their RPI was boosted due to their perfect record but that was not enough as they finished fifth in the RPI and were nearly jumped by both Del Norte and Paonia.  Highland will have somewhat of a chip on their shoulder to show that they are as good as their record indicates.  Highland has a few quality wins over Longmont Christian (1A), Akron, Alexander Dawson, Heritage Christian, and Denver Christian in the regular season.  They were challenged by Alexander Dawson in the district championship only winning by 10.  Highland did flex its muscles a bit in the Regional Finals blowing out Peyton 94 to 63.  That loss for Peyton was their second worst of the season suffering a similar loss to #2 Manitou Springs (3A).  Highland will have their hand full in the first round with a good shooting Akron team.  Highland is led by senior guard Cole Rouse who is averaging 18.3 ppg and 5.6 rpg and they are also getting good help from sophomore forward Koby Anderson who is averaging 13 ppg and 7.5 rpg.
• #4 Akron surprised me this offseason so far. I didn’t pick them to make the regional tournament and they surprised me beating Merino in double overtime in the first round of the District 2 tournament then beating Haxtun by 7 in the third place game and they advanced to regionals.  In the Regional Championship I picked them to lose to Crowley County and they surprised me once again and beat Crowley County by 11.  Akron is now looking for another big upset and will look to shock everyone once more.  Akron is led senior guards Jordan Herder 18.2 ppg and senior Levi Basler 16.8 ppg.  Those two must have monster games if they plan on pulling the upset.  Akron and Highland have already played once this year Highland won that meeting 62 to 44 but Highland better not come into this match up over estimating Akron or they too could fall upset to Akron.
• I am once again picking against Akron and that may be a good thing for the Rams. I am going with Highland to win this game but not by such a big margin as the first time.  I am picking Highland to win by 10 point and advance to play Sedgwick county in the Semifinals.
• The losers of the first round Sanford and Akron would meet @ 1:15pm on 3/10 the winner of that game which I will predict later would play in the Consolation finals @ 10:30am on 3/11

#3 Del Norte vs #6 Paonia @ 5:30pm on 3/9

• #6 Paonia won the District 5 championship and easily cruised through the regional finals to get into the Elite 8. They beat Telluride 63-33 in the regionals finals.  Paonia went 21-2 on the season with both losses coming from 3A teams Coal Ridge (Second Round 3A playoffs) and Grand Valley (First Round 3A playoffs).  What is really missing from Paonia record is the big win.  They have good wins over league opponents but none of their league opponents advanced into the Elite 8 and the other two from District 5 were beat in the first round of the District tournament by Either Del Norte or Norwood.  Paonia did win big against their District opponents in the District tournament blowing out Hotchkiss 68-33 and Meeker 68-36.  Paonia will be looking to prove how good of a team they actually are but they are faced with a team who is starting to play a little better as well.  Paonia is led by senior Dagan Rienks who is averaging 22.9 ppg and 9.2 rpg he is the start of this Paonia team but also gets good help from senior guard Colby Simpson 15.4 ppg and 3.5 apg.
• #3 Del Norte suffered its second real loss of the season to Sanford in the District finals and made their road to the Elite 8 much different. Del Norte had to go through two teams if they planned on making it to Regionals and but that also helped their RPI.  Del Norte beat Hotchkiss 56 to 43 in the first round playing a little tight in the first game but took care of business then in the Regional Finals they played against a perennial Elite 8 team and easily took care of business beating Ignacio 55 to 34.  Del Norte seems to have shaken off the lose pretty well and will be looking to advance to the Final 4.  The one thing Del Norte clearly lacks is playoff experience.  They have not made it to state in quite sometime so they must come together as a team if they expect to survive the first round.  Del Norte can look to one big win very early on against Basalt to show that they can beat top teams.  Del Norte is led by junior guard Carlos Parra 20.2 ppg 6.2 rpg and senior big man Jeff Stevenson 10.4 ppg 5.5 rpg.
• I believe this will be the best first round game of the tournament. Both teams got to see each other play at Regional so they are somewhat acquainted.  They real test will be who can control the boards and which team will play the most relaxed on the big stage.  Paonia will have the playoff experience over Del Norte but I believe that these two teams are very evenly matched and should be a great game.  Del Norte will need to keep their turnovers in check and if they can keep them under 20 i think they have the talent to beat Paonia.  I am going with Del Norte to pull of a 3 or 4 point victory over Paonia and sneak into the Final 4.
• Winners play @ 5:30pm on 3/10 & Loser plays at 10:15am on 3/10

#2 Holyoke vs #7 Fowler @ 10:15am on 3/9

• Fowler stunned everyone beat Alexander Dawson 46 to 37 and advanced to the Elite 8. Fowler had to win two big games and the accomplished that beat Dayspring Christian in the first round then Alexander Dawson in the Regional Finals.  Fowler has quietly put together a good season going 20-3 with losses to Crowley County twice, and Centauri (3A).  Fowler will need to keep the magic alive if they plan on pulling a first round upset.  Fowler is led by senior guard Alexander Proctor 13.9 ppg and 7.0 rpg and also senior Dean Reed 10.0 ppg and 9.0 rpg.  The biggest knock on Fowler is can they score enough points to pull the upset or force Holyoke into a defensive struggle
• #2 Holyoke put together a very good season going 19-4 and finishing in second place in the District 2 tournament. Their four losses are to Vanguard (3A), Sedgwick County, Merino, and Sedgwick County.  Their journey to the Elite 8 is a Regional Championship victory over Byers 67-45 and that was a monster victory for Holyoke.  Holyoke didn’t play to much out of league because their league is so strong.  Holyoke now must refocus and get ready for a very good defensive team in Fowler.  Holyoke does not have one big score but three different players averaging 10 ppg.  They are Gunnar Kroeger 11.3 ppg, MJ Taylor 10.5 ppg, and Austin Herman 10.0 ppg and 10.8 Rpg.  Those three will need to play solid basketball if they plan to advance and be considered for the State Finals.  Fowler is a team that cannot be underestimated and will be looking to pull off one more upset against Holyoke.
• This should also be a pretty good game. My biggest problem with Fowler is their lack of scoring.  They are averaging 49.9 ppg and that is the second lowest in the Elite 8 only lower is Sanford at 48.1 ppg.  They are very solid on defense though only giving up 38 ppg.  Fowler will need to keep Holyoke under 50 ppg if they plan on pulling the upset.  I am not sure if Fowler can do that and I am going with Holyoke to advance to the Final 8.
• Winners play @ 5:30pm on 3/10 & Loser plays at 10:15am on 3/10

Rest of the bracket

Consolation Bracket

#8 Sanford over #4 Akron

#6 Paonia over #7 Fowler

Consolation Championship

#6 Paonia over #8 Sanford

Winners Bracket

#1 Sedgwick County over #5 Highland

• Sedgwick County is in a battle of high scoring teams but I think they have to much athleticism to lose this game and advance to the State Championship.

#3 Del Norte over #2 Holyoke

• The Del Norte vs Paonia again is somewhat a tossup but if this end up to be Paonia I would still pick them over Holyoke. I don’t think Holyoke has the big score that can take over a game like Del Norte or Paonia have.  With that being said I picked Del Norte to win and advance to the State Finals

3^rd Place Game

#2 Holyoke over #5 Highland

• Holyoke gets their heads back into the game and finishes in third place beating Highland.

State Championship

#1 Sedgwick County over #3 Del Norte

• Del Norte shocks everyone getting to the State Championship and are now faced with a similarly athletic team. Del Norte will fight hard in this game but I think Sedgwick County force one to many turnovers and get Del Norte in a great State Championship game.