Girls Basketball Class 3A Top Ten Breakdown
There are a pair of really good tournaments this week that will help sort out 3A and I expect some very good game. The two tournament are the La Junta Holiday shootout which features 4 Top 10 teams in Classes 2A and 3A (Centauri, Lamar, Swink, and Del Norte) and the other tournament in the Buena Vista Invitational which features 4 Top 10 teams as well (Pagosa Springs, St. Mary’s, Colorado Academy, and Sterling). The 3A rankings could be drastically different next week and I am expecting some very good games.
#1 Centauri
Centauri opened the season at the Mountain Top Tournament. They went a perfect 3-0 and were nearly unchallenged blowing away the first two opponents. They meet up with #3 Del Norte (2A) in the championship and thru three quarters were in a fight. Centauri and their depth wore down Del Norte and pulled away late to beat Del Norte 76-56. Centauri early on has been led by Caroline Van Berkum 15.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg and Melissa Wilson 10.3 ppg, 2.0 apg. Centauri this week travels to the La Junta Holiday Shootout. In the first round the play Fowler (1-0) but have some top team in the tournament such as #2 Lamar, #2 Swink (2A), #3 Del Norte (2A) as well as good competition from Monte Vista, Sanford, and La Junta. A matchup with Lamar is possible in the Championship.
#2 Lamar
Lamar opened the season with a single game against Rye. They were victorious beating Rye 54-17. Lamar is also playing in the La Junta Holiday shoot out. They face off against 2A Sanford (1-0) in the first round. If they won they will play the winner between Monte Vista and Swink in the second round. We will learn more about Lamar after this tournament.
#3 Colorado Springs Christian
Colorado Springs Christian opened their season playing in the Jefferson Academy Invitational. The faced off against Grand Valley and Jefferson Academy going 2-0 and doing so in dominate fashion. CSCS won each game by 30+ points. Early on CSCS is being led by Meagan Engesser 30.0 ppg 7.0 rpg and Rachel Ingram 18 ppg 3.0 apg. CSCS does not have a game this week and have one more game in the month of December.
#4 Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs opens their season tonight 12/5 against Salida (2-1). Then this weekend Pagosa Springs travels to the Buena Vista Invitational Tournament. They are scheduled to face #5 St. Mary’s on Friday and then #6 Sterling on Saturday. This week is a proving week for most Top 10 teams.
#5 St. Mary’s
St. Mary’s opened their season with a single game against Prospect Ridge Academy and won 85-35. They were led by Makenna Bodette 22 points and Josephine Howery 22 points. St. Mary’s won easily but the road ahead will get much tougher. St. Mary’s plays #10 Lutheran tonight 12/5 and then this weekend travels to the Buena Vista Invitational were they are scheduled to face #4 Pagosa Springs and #8 Colorado Academy. Like I said nearly every Top 10 team is in action with other top 10 opponents and should be a great weekend of basketball.
#6 Sterling
Sterling opened the season traveling to Nebraska to compete in the Western Conference Tournament. They went 1-2 in the games beating Scottsbluff 44 to 33 but falling to Sidney 37-26 and Alliance 53-47. Sterling has a chance to break the two game losing streak tonight when they face Fort Morgan (0-3). Sterling then will also travel to the Buena Vista Invitational were they are scheduled to face off against Salida and #4 Pagosa Springs. Sterling played some good competition already this year and having a shot at some highly ranked Colorado team will be good for them.
#7 Resurrection Christian
Resurrection Christian opened the season with a single game against a good Denver Christian (2A) team. Resurrection Christian came away victorious 57to 46. Resurrection Christian was led by JuJu Hemeyer 19 points and Katelyn Anderson 10 points. Resurrection Christian plays another tough 2A team in Lyons (0-2) tonight 12/5. Resurrection Christian will then travel to the Trace Young Memorial Tournament at Weld Central High School. They are facing 4A Falcon in the first round. Other teams in the tournament are Prospect Ridge, Hinkley (4A), Weld Central, Aurora West Prep, Roaring Fork, and Stargate School. Resurrection will have some good competition at the tournament and will give us a good look at that team.
#8 Colorado Academy
Colorado Academy opened their season with a pair of games. They faced off against Kennedy (4A) and Coal Ridge. Colorado Academy beat Kennedy 58 to 46 and beat Coal Ridge 48 to 26. Colorado Academy this week will travel to the Buena Vista invitational were they are scheduled to face Buena Vista and #5 St. Mary’s. Colorado Academy will get tested by both teams and we will know if they deserve the Top 10 rankings after the tournament.
#9 Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs started their season with a single game with then ranked #8 Kent Denver. Manitou Springs pulled an upset beating Kent Denver 54-41 and moved into the rankings themselves. Manitou Springs was led by Maren Mildestredt 15 points and Haleigh Foster 12 points. Manitou Springs schedule gets very tough. Tonight they face 4A Discovery Canyon (3-1) and this will be a huge test for Manitou Springs. Manitou Springs then has another tough game against 4A Classical Academy (3-0) on Wednesday 12/6. Both of these games will really show how good Manitou Springs is.
#10 Lutheran
Lutheran opened their season competing in the Bennett Tournament. They faced Monte Vista, Bennett, and Faith Christian. Lutheran went 2-1 in the tournament with their lose to Monte Vista 60 to 50. Lutheran then bounced back nicely beat Bennett 55 to 39 and Faith Christian 54 to 39. Lutheran keeps their ranking due to beating Faith Christian. Lutheran is being led by Haley Shaklee 16.3 ppg and Kate Webster 13.0 ppg. Lutheran has 1 game this week and it will be a good one. Lutheran faces #5 St. Mary’s tonight 12/5. This will really see how good Lutheran is and if they can compete with a Top 5 team.
MileHigh Prep Report 