Class 3A Top Ten Boys Basketball Breakdown
Ranking Notes: Tons of movement in the polls. Platte Valley is off to a hot start upsetting Faith Christian. I moved them all the way to #3 because of the upset and a hot start. Vanguard also moved up to #5 starting 4-0. Faith Christian with two early loses drops to #6 but stays ahead of #7 Alamosa due to beating them head to head. Grand Valley also moved up a spot to #8. Pinnacle also joins the rankings because they beat Bayfield head to head. Bayfield holds on to the #10 stop due to playing #1 Sterling close. Well know if we keep them ranked if they beat their next two opponents. Delta drops out due to the new movement but are right on the outside same with La Junta. Academy opened with a couple loses and drop out of the rankings.
#1 Sterling (6-0)
Sterling is off to a very hot start this season opening with a perfect 6-0 mark. Sterling last week played three games and won all three by double digits. They played Fort Moran, Jefferson Academy, and Bayfield last week. Sterling beat Fort Morgan 54 to 28, Jefferson Academy 56 to 40, and Bayfield 58 to 46. Sterling early on is being led by Bodie Hume 18.3 ppg and Carter Keil 7.5 ppg. Sterling has one last game in the month of December and it’s a good one. Sterling plays Manual 3-2 on Friday 12/15. Manual just upset #9 Pinnacle and will be a very good test for Sterling. After break Sterling will be jumping straight into league play.
#2 Kent Denver (5-0)
Kent Denver like Sterling has opened hot to the season. In game #1 they were challenged by Bayfield but have since won every game by double digits. Last week Kent Denver played 3 games and won all three beating University 59 to 30, Eaton 76 to 51, and James Irwin 60 to 46. Kent Denver early on is being led by James Doyle 16.0 ppg and Coby Gold 15.4 ppg. Kent Denver has two tough games to close out December. Kent Denver played DSST-Stapleton (4-1) and Manitou Springs (2-3). After break Kent Denver will play a pair of games before jumping into league play, they will play #7 Alamosa and a improved Monte Vista team.
#3 Platte Valley (4-0)
Platte Valley is the one of the more surprising team of the year. They opened the season by upsetting then ranked #10 DSST-Green Valley Ranch and they followed the upset by pulling a bigger upset of then ranked #3 Faith Christian. Platte Valley last week only played one game against Faith Christian and the big upset will spark their season going forward. Platte Valley early on has 4 players in double digit scoring and are being led by Bryson Backer 19.3 ppg and Cameron Gentry 12.0 ppg. Platte Valley still has 3 games before break they play tonight 12/12 against 2A #9 Highland (2-2) and then play Arrupe Jesuit on 12/16. Platte Valley will have one last game next week against Weld Central and I will mention it next week. Platte Valle will play one more non-league game against Fort Morgan after break before jumping into league play.
#4 Coal Ridge (2-0)
Coal Ridge opened the season with a pair of solid victories. Last week Coal Ridge held off 2A Paonia 64 to 55. Coal Ridge still has plenty of question mark but with 3 games this week and 1 next week we will have a much better idea about how good Coal Ridge is. Coal Ridge through two games is being led by Kevin DiMarco 17.5 ppg and Brandon Herrera 16.0 ppg. Like I mentioned Coal Ridge will be tested this week. They play 4A Rifle (1-3) tonight 12/12, 4A Montrose (2-4) on Thursday 12/14, and then close out the week against South High School WY. Coal Ridge then will play Meeker next week but we will talk more about that next week. I believe we will have a much better understanding on how good Coal Ridge is.
#5 Vanguard (4-0)
Vanguard is also off to a perfect start. Last week they played one game against Evangelical Christian and easily took care of business winning 71 to 48. Plenty of question still arise from how good Vanguard is but with two tough games this week we will know how good they are. Through four games Vanguard is being led by Seth Fuqua 31.3 ppg and Carter Milroy 13.0 ppg. Vanguard two games this week are against Colorado Academy (3-2) and Jefferson Academy (3-3). Both games will be solid tests and we should have a better idea of how good Vanguard can be. After break Vanguard will jump straight into league play.
#6 Faith Christian (2-2)
Faith Christian got off to a rough start losing their first two games of the season but have since bounced back nicely. Faith Christian had 4 games last week splitting them 2-2. Faith Christian picked up losses to #3 Platte Valley and 4A Glenwood Springs. Faith Christian did bounce back though beat #7 Alamosa 60 to 46 and 4A Canon City 81 to 33. Faith Christian through 4 games is being led by Benjamin Hawkins 20.8 ppg and Jonah Gardner 15.3 ppg. Faith Christian has 3 games left in the month of December and 2 of those 3 will be tough games. Faith Christian plays St. Mary’s (1-4) on Wednesday 12/13, and then plays Frontier Academy (5-0) 12/15, and close the week out against Resurrection Christian (3-2) 12/16. Faith Christian will be tested this week. Faith Christian after break has a non-league game against Pinnacle before jumping into league play.
#7 Alamosa (5-1)
Alamosa finished off their December schedule last weekend. They took part in the Glenwood Springs Invitational. They went 2-1 in the invitational beating Canon City 56 to 33 and Glenwood Springs 54 to 43. The lone loss was to #6 Faith Christian 60 to 46. Alamosa now will wait till the new year before playing again. Alamosa will play #2 Kent Denver after break and then jump straight into league play.
#8 Grand Valley (4-0)
Grand Valley like Platte Valley are the two surprise team to start the year. Grand Valley played a pair of games last week in the Buena Vista Tournament. Grand Valley walked away with two victories beating Buena Vista 72 to 53 and Salida 59 to 54. Grand Valley through four games is being led by Kade Hurst 18.0 ppg and Indra Griggs 14.0 ppg. Grand Valley has two games left in the month of December. Grand Valley plays 2A #4 Meeker (3-0) on 12/15 and then 4A Eagle Valley (2-5) on 12/16. Grand Valley game against Meeker is a huge game for both teams and could really set the tone for both teams heading into break. Grand Valley after break has a non-league game then start their league schedule.
#9 Pinnacle (2-1)
Pinnacle moved into the rankings this week but a lose to unranked Manual may have them moving back out. Pinnacle played their only game this week against Manual and lost 87 to 80. Manual is now looking to move into the rankings but have two other huge games this week. Pinnacle through 3 games is being led by Luis Barron 30.7 ppg and Brian Soumsong 12.7 ppg. Pinnacle does have one more game in December against Middle Park on 12/19. Pinnacle will jump straight into league play after break.
#10 Bayfield (1-3)
This is proving week for Bayfield. Bayfield is 1-3 on the season and have played a brutal schedule to start the season playing the #1 and #2 team in the state. Bayfield has been in every game so far only falling to Sterling by double digits. Bayfield through 4 games is being led by Ryan Phelps 14.5 ppg and Keyon Prior 10.3 ppg. Bayfield is finally at full strength as well with Hayden Farmer returning the to lineup. Bayfield has two games left in December and both are this week. Bayfield plays San Juan UT (1-2) on 12/15 and then play Colorado Springs Christian (2-1) on 12/16. Bayfield will be looking to move to 3-3 before break. After break Bayfield still has 3 non-league games against #10 2A Ignacio, 4A Durango, and Kirtland Central NM.
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