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

Playoff Predictions Elite 8, Final 4, & State Championship Girls 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 might only have one team not very strong but I think 7 or the 8 teams have a chance to lift the Championship.

2A State Tournament Predictions:

#1 Yuma vs #8 Ignacio @ 8:45am on 3/9

• #8 Ignacio surprised me getting by first winning the District 3 Championship but then beating a tough Rangely squad 47-31 to advance to the Elite 8. Ignacio now must quickly refocus as they are playing the second best team in the state I feel.  Ignacio will be looking to show it deserves some respect and will have a shot in the first round of the playoffs.  Ignacio enters the Elite 8 at 16-6 and are really missing that signature win.  They are led by Junior Gomez averaging 15.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg and also helping out is freshman Herrera averaging 13.7 ppg.  This Ignacio team is pretty young and I expect them to be in the Elite 8 again next year
• #1 Yuma capped off their District 2 run with a 59-38 victory over Wray in the district championship. Yuma received a bye but it would be challenged by a tough Limon team but they were victorious winning 43-30.  Yuma is your defending state champion and are going to look to repeat but the 2A field is very tough so it won’t be easy.  Yuma enters the Elite 8 with a 20-3 record their losses are to Wray twice but then beat Wray twice and also to Haxtun who also advance into the Elite 8 as well.  Yuma I am sure is hoping to get their title run off to a good start and must play solid against a young Ignacio team.  Yuma is led by sophomore guard Cody Robinson averaging 14.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg.
• Ignacio will keep it close I think in the first half but I think the depth and playoff experience will allow Yuma to extend the lead and help put this game away. Yuma I am picking to the Elite 8 with a 15 point victory over Ignacio.
• Winner plays @ 7:00pm & loser plays @ 8:45am on 3/10

#4 Wray vs #5 Simla @ 11:45am on 3/9

• #5 Simla came out and shocked everyone this year and put together a very solid campaign this year. They went 19-4 picking up losses to Akron (first game of the year), Kiowa (1A), Ellicott, and Evangelical Christian.  Simla was able to avenge one of those losses at Regionals.  At Regionals they started off by beat Colorado Springs School 57-33 then forced a rematch with Ellicott and Simla came away victorious winning 40-36 and advancing to the Elite 8.  Simla will have to play at an extremely high level to upset Wray in the Elite 8 to advance to the Final 4.  Simla is led by junior forward Jerraldawn Rector averaging 14.1 ppg, 4.5 apg, and 4.8 rpg.  She is the only player form Simla scoring double digits and she will need to get some help from her teammates to be successful.
• #4 Wray faded a bit towards the end of the season. They picked up a loss to Holyoke entering districts but finished second to #1 Yuma.  They did receive a bye in the Regional tournament and faced off against Clear Creek in the regional finals.  They took care of business winning 63-44 to advance to the Elite 8.  Wray will need to be careful in this first round and not overlook this Simla team.  Wray enters the Elite 8 with a 17-6 record and 2 of those 6 losses come to Yuma.  Wray will need to avoid playing like they did in the District Championship and play like they did at the beginning of the season.  Wray is led by senior guard Paige Beckman averaging 14.2 ppg and sophomore center Morgan Smith averaging 10.2 ppg and 8.3 rpg.  They will both need to play huge this year to advance farther than just the first round.
• Simla is going to be a tough out for Wray. Wray will need to play like they did earlier in the year to avoid getting upset in the first round.  Simla will be looking to shock everyone this year beating a perennial power.  I think Simla may have found a groove here but I don’t think they have the fire power to upset Wray.  I am picking Wray to advance to the Final 4.
• Winner plays @ 7:00pm & loser plays @ 8:45am on 3/10

#3 Del Norte vs #6 Haxtun @ 7:00pm on 3/9

• #6 Haxtun was able to escape the tough and rugged District 2 tournament and finish 3^rd. They didn’t receive a bye at regionals so the battle would be an uphill to get to the Elite 8.  They took care of business beat Highland in the first round 55 to 38 then faced a red hot Evangelical Christian team in the Regional Finals and took care of business winning 42-31 to advance to the Elite 8.  Haxtun enters the Elite 8 at 19-4 with losses to Fleming (1A), Wray, Chase County NE, and Wray in the District tournament.  Haxtun has a nice win over Yuma right before the District tournament and that was their best win of the season.  Haxtun is led by senior Josi Kurtzer 14.2 ppg and 8.7 rpg and also Dawson Knode 13.2 ppg and 10.0 rpg.  These two players will need to play huge for Haxtun to pull the upset.
• #3 Del Norte finally got challenged in the District tournament by Sargent but still were victorious and then took care of Sanford by 19 in the district finals. Del Norte received the #2 seed at Regionals and took care of business.  They faced off against Meeker in the regional finals and won easily 50-33 and were in control the entire way.  Del Norte now must get refocused and must only foucus on this game.  Del Norte enters the Elite 8 at 21-2 their two losses are to Olathe (3A second round) and #3 Lamar (3A Elite 8).  They have two good regular season wins over Swink and Fowler.  Del Norte is led by freshman guard Kendra Parra averaging 15.4 ppg and also helping is senior Bailey Jones averaging 12.6 ppg.  These two are the heart of the scoring for Del Norte but they have two other scorings averaging 8 ppg and 7ppg.  Del Norte must focus one game at a time and not overlook Haxtun.
• Haxtun played in a much tougher league than Del Norte so they have the advantage their but Del Norte has the edge in scoring and are starting to hit their peak. I am picking Del Norte to beat Haxtun to advance to the Final 4.
• Winner plays @ 4:00pm & loser plays @ 11:45am on 3/10

#2 Paonia vs #7 Swink @ 4:00pm on 3/9

• #7 Swink quietly put together one of the better season in 2A. They picked up two very early season losses to #2 Centauri (3A Elite 8) and #2 Del Norte.  They bounced back nicely and won 19 straight games with good wins over Hoehne, Peyton, and Fowler.  Swink dominated District 6 league play and then capped it off winning the District 6 championship and now are looking to prove they can hang with the big dawgs.  Swink beat a red hot Denver Christian team in the regional Championsip 39-35 and now have their sites on Paonia.  Swink is led by sophomore forward Brianna Denton averaging 14.2 ppg and 5.4 rpg and also helping out is sophomore guard Kyla O’Neal averaging 12.1 ppg and 7.7 rpg.  Those two are going to have to play their best game of the year.  Swink will need every player to raise their level of play if they plan on upsetting Paonia.
• #2 Paonia is the favorite to win the 2A State Championship but cannot overlook Swink to a possible match up with Del Norte. If they get caught off guard Swink can pull the upset.  Paonia dominated District tournament play blowing out Meeker 62-31 in the Championship then struggled in the first half against Center before pulling away in the Regional Finals 78-37.  Paonia has dominated the Western Slope this year but after seeing Meeker and Rangely blownout in the Regional Finals I am questioning the strength of the Western Slope League.  Paonia does not have the huge victory they have a couple good ones over Olathe (3A) and Delta (3A) but no other huge wins.  Paonia is looking to cap off an undefeated season.  Paonia is led by senior guard Sophia Anderson averaging 16.3 ppg and 4.9 rpg and senior guard Emily Pieper 12.1 ppg and 6.2 steal per game.  Paonia must focus one game at a time to avoid the upset by Swink
• Paonia like I said is the favorite to win state. They returned the majority of their runner up team from last year but they have not been challenged in a while so it will be interesting to see how they do when they get challenged.  I am picking Paonia to advance to the Final 4
• Winner plays @ 4:00pm & loser plays @ 11:45am on 3/10

Rest of the bracket Predictions

Consolation Bracket

#5 Simla over #8 Ignacio

#7 Swink over #6 Haxtun

Consolation Championship

#5 Simla over #7 Swink

Winners Bracket

#1 Yuma over #4 Wray

• It’s always tough to beat a team three times in one season but that is what Yuma will have to do to reach yet another State Championship game.

#2 Paonia over #3 Del Norte

• In what I consider the Championship game before the championship game. I think the state champion will come from this game.  I am picking Paonia because of their experience in the tournament but Del Norte will give them all they can handle and will have a shot at the upset.

3^rd Place Game

#3 Del Norte over #4 Wray

• Del Norte caps off their season with a good third place win over Wray.

State Championship

#2 Paonia over #1 Yuma

• Paonia finishes off their perfect campaign and wins the tournament. I think their tougher games comes in the Final 4 vs Del Norte but Yuma will also challenge them.