Class 1A Top Ten Boys Basketball Breakdown
Ranking Notes: More movement yet again in 1A. Heritage Christian lost to Rocky Mountain Lutheran and they fall to #7. Peetz is your new #2 team. #3 Creede stays put yet again at #3. Holly also moves up to #4 with impressive wins against Kansas teams. Rocky Mountain Lutheran joins the rankings at #5 after upsetting Heritage Christian. South Baca stays at #6. Shining Mountain Primero and Longmont Christian all drop one spot due to moving Heritage Christian back. Front Range Baptist falls out of the rankings because I cannot rank them ahead of Longmont Christian who they lost to.
#1 Cheyenne Wells (3-0)
Cheyenne Wells is off to a quick 3-0 start including an upset win over then ranked #1 South Baca. Cheyenne Wells has a huge rematch though tonight 12/14 against South Baca (1-1). Cheyenne Wells has one last game in December against Idalia (1-3). Cheyenne Wells had a long break their last game was last Tuesday 12/5 and now must be prepared for a huge showdown against South Baca. After break Cheyenne Wells plays to non-league games against Springfield and Weskan KS before opening league play. Cheyenne Wells is currently the favorite to win District 2.
#2 Peetz (5-0)
Peetz has completed their December schedule. Peetz played one game this week on 12/12 and played 2A Haxtun. Peetz took care of business against a solid Haxtun team and won 79 to 67. Peetz through the first part of the season has 7 players scoring over 7 ppg and are led by Logan Sircy 16.6 ppg and Gabe Naegele 9.6 ppg. Peetz after break opens league play against Briggsdale and then a non-league game against 2A Merino. Peetz is currently the favorite to win District 4 but will be challenged by Longmont Christian and Heritage Christian.
#3 Creede (5-0)
Creede is off to a great start at 5-0 and have won every game by 10+ points. Creede last week played in the Cotopaxi tournament and had a great showing. Creede in the first round played Moffat and won 57 to 26. Creede then played Cotopaxi in the championship and rolled by them as well winning 59 to 41 to win the tournament. Creede has been impressive through December. Creede currently has 3 players scoring over 10 ppg and are being led by Isaac Borchers 14.6 ppg and Casper Freedle 13.6 ppg. Creede has two final games in the month of December but they are league games and have huge importance for the rest of the season. Creede opens league play tonight 12/14 against Aguilar (0-2). Creede then plays Centennial (1-2) on 12/15. After break Creede will play a non-league game against 2A Crested Butte and then jump right back into league play. The game to have circled on your calendar is against Primero on 1/13. Creede is currently the favorite to win District 6 but will be challenged by Primero, Sierra Grande, Cotopaxi, and Sangre De Cristo.
#4 Holly (5-0)
Holly is your defending State Champion and they are doing a great job of defending their state championship. They are a perfect 5-0 and had a solid month of December with blowout wins and close games. Holly played 3 games last week in the Border War against Kansas. Holly beat Greeley County 56 to 53, Elkhart KS 59 to 44, and Stanton County KS 62 to 49. Holly has one last tournament in the month of December and it’s the Lamar Holiday Tournament which is an 8-team tournament. Holly opens the tournament against Granada (0-4) on 12/14. Holly should win that game and will face the winner of Wiley and Eads on 12/15. This tournament should be another great test for Holly. Holly is currently the favorite to win District 3 but will be challenged by South Baca for the crown.
#5 Rocky Mountain Lutheran (3-2)
Rocky Mountain Lutheran is currently 3-2 but have yet to lose to a 1A school. Last week they played 2 games going 1-1. RML played 2A Alexander Dawson on 12/4 and fell short 58 to 45. Rocky Mountain Lutheran then picked up a huge upset win over Heritage Christian 65 to 54. That win moved Rocky Mountain Lutheran into the rankings. RML played one game this week already. They played 3A Skyview Academy and lost 65 to 54. RML currently has 3 players scoring 7 ppg or more and are being led by Andrew Zemlicka 16.3 ppg and Charlie Hahm 12.0 ppg. Rocky Mountain Lutheran will have a chance to rebound quickly as they still have 2 games left in the month of December. RML plays 2A Gilpin County (0-2) on 12/14 and then closes December against Nebraska Lutheran (5-0) 12/16 and are the #10 team in Class D1 in Nebraska. RML will get a good test in both games and we will see how they far against Nebraska Lutheran. RML will be battling with Denver Jewish Day, Front Range Baptist, and Shining Mountain for the District 8 crown.
#6 South Baca (1-1)
South Baca played two game right off the bat to open the season but have since slowed way down and have not played a game since 12/1. South Baca will change that this week as they play two games. South Baca plays a huge game on tonight 12/14 against #1 Cheyenne Wells (3-0). This is a huge rematch between these two teams. South Baca then plays Cheraw (3-2) on 12/15 to close out the week. South Baca will play one last game in the month of December against Elkhart KS on 12/19. After break South Baca will play another Non-league game against Felt Ok and then jump into league play against Holly. South Baca will be battling with Holly for the District 3 crown.
#7 Heritage Christian (3-1)
Heritage opened the season winning the Falcon Invitational Tournament and starting 3-0. Last week Heritage Christian played one game against Rocky Mountain Lutheran and fell just short losing 65 to 54. Heritage Christian fell in the rankings due to that loss. Heritage Christian currently has 3 players over 7 ppg and are being led by Isiah Bowsher 16.5 ppg and Josiah Bowsher 15.7 ppg. Heritage Christian will need to bounce back and grab some momentum to close out December. Heritage Christian will get up a few classes to play Estes Park (4-2) on 12/15 and then play #8 Shining Mountain (4-1) on 12/16. Both games will test Heritage Christian and well see how they bounce back. Heritage Christian currently is projected as the runner up in District 4 but will battle Peetz, Longmont Christian, and Caliche for the Top 3 spots.
#8 Shining Mountain (4-1)
Shining Mountain is off to a solid 4-1 start. They played 3 games last week going 2-1 in those games. Shining Mountain picked up their first loss of the season falling to 2A Front Range Christian 66 to 36. Shining Mountain did rebound nicely winning the Prairie Classic and beating Briggsdale 51 to 32 and Prairie 50 to 34. Shining Mountain early on only has two scorers over 8 ppg and are being led by Nathan Fairmont 22.6 ppg and Leo Mason 13.8 ppg. A few questions still surround Shining Mountain, but some could be answered on 12/16 when they played #7 Heritage Christian (3-1). This game will give us a good insight to this team. Shining Mountain has one last game in the month of December against Mile High Academy on 12/19. Shining Mountain is projected as the #2 team in District 8, but District 8 will be very competitive and will also only get 2 teams into regionals.
#9 Primero (3-1)
Primero had a nice 9-day break after opening with 4 early games. Primero last played Aguilar on 12/6 and won easily 68 to 16. Primero has one last game in the month of December. Primero plays Kim/Branson (2-3) on 12/15. This game will be a very good test for Primero as Kim/Branson only lost to #1 Cheyenne Wells by 10. Primero after break will open league play against Manzanola but will play Des Moines NM on 1/11 for a non-league game. Primero currently is projected as the #2 team in District 6 but unlike last year District 6 will get 3 teams to regionals instead of 2.
#10 Longmont Christian (4-1)
Longmont Christian is off to a hot start this year at 4-1. Longmont Christian lone loss is to #7 Heritage Christian by 4. Last week Longmont Christian played 1 game and won 66 to 49. Longmont Christian also played one game this week as well beating Mile High Academy in a close won 62 to 61. Longmont Christian looks to be about 3 scorers deep with only 3 players scoring more than 4 ppg. Longmont Christian is being led by Dominic Puchino 22.8 ppg and Michael Voigt 21.0 ppg. Once the season really start to churn seeing if Longmont Christian can get another scorer will be key. Longmont Christian has 1 last game in the month of December against Beth Eden (0-4) on 12/15. Longmont Christian should win that game and grab some momentum into break. After break Longmont Christian open league play against Gilpin County. Currently Longmont Christian is projected to finish third in District 4 but will battle Peetz, Heritage Christian, and Caliche for a top 3 spot.
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