Girls Basketball Class 3A Top Ten Breakdown
Ranking Notes: The Top 5 teams in Class 3A have really separated themselves from the rest of the pack and unless a team like Resurrection, Manitou Springs, or Kent Denver knock one of them off I don’t see the Top 5 changing very much. The bottom 5 still has a ton of questions to answer. #6 Resurrection Christian is off to a great start and have really solidified themselves in the Top 10. #7 Manitou Springs still has a lot of questions especially after beating Lutheran by only 6 and losing to Pagosa Springs by 20. #8 Kent Denver has really improved since losing their opening game of the season and had a huge win against Denver Christian last week. #9 Cedaredge is undefeated and have a pair of close games, but the Western Slope is still very much in the air. Cedaredge is also new to the rankings. #10 University wraps up the final 10 joining the rankings for the first time this year. University still has a lot of questions but with only a 4-point loss to Kent Denver and starting league, we shall see.
#1 Centauri (7-0)
Centauri is off to a perfect 7-0 start and have played a tough schedule as well. Centauri has played 3 Top 3 teams in Classes 3A and 2A. Centauri last week played 1 game against Buena Vista and took care of business winning 61 to 38. Centauri has 1 final game in the month of December against Sanford (3-2). Centauri has been led by Caroline Van Berkum 11.6 ppg and Melissa Wilson 11.3 ppg. 4 players for Centauri are scoring over 6 ppg. Centauri after break has a non-league game against Trinidad before jumping into league play against Bayfield on 1/12. Centauri is currently the favorite to win the Intermountain League but will be challenged by Pagosa Springs and Alamosa.
#2 St. Mary’s (6-0)
St. Mary’s is also off to an undefeated start at 6-0. They have yet to be challenged in a game and their closest game was a 17-point win over Pagosa Springs. St. Mary’s played two games last week beating Faith Christian 60 to 31 and Salida 63 to 26. St. Mary’s is currently done with games for the month of December and have 5 players scoring over 6 ppg. St. Mary’s is led by Josephine Howery 16.2 ppg and Makenna Bodette 13.3 ppg. After break St. Mary’s jumps head first into league play with a MONSTER game against #4 Lamar on 1/5 and this will be the only time these two teams meet up. I can honestly say the Tri-Peaks league race will be one of the better races to watch. St. Mary’s is the favorite to win the league but with #3 Colorado Springs Christian, #4 Lamar, #7 Manitou Springs, and Vanguard in the same league it will be a great race and when those teams meet up a league title could be on the line.
#3 Colorado Springs Christian (4-0)
Colorado Springs Christian only played 4 games in the Month of December but were not challenged in any of those games. Colorado Springs Christian only played 1 quality team but also took care of them easily. CSCS has only 3 players over 6 ppg and they are led by Megan Engesser 28.0 ppg and Rachel Ingram 18.0 ppg. Right before break some questions will be answered when CSCS played #5 Pagosa Springs. After break CSCS plays in a very tough Rampart Tournament where they will face undefeated 4A Pueblo West, 3-3 5A Rampart, and 7-1 5A Fruita Monument. Getting at least 1 win or playing close in every game will be a huge achievement in this tournament. CSCS will then open league play on 1/9 against Rye. CSCS is currently projected as the #2 team in the Tri Peaks but as I said in the St. Mary’s breakdown there are 4 ranked team in the Tri-Peaks plus a solid Vanguard team anything can happen.
#4 Lamar (5-1)
Lamar finished their December schedule last weekend with a pair of victories. Lamar beat Rye 60 to 15 and Burlington 60 to 30. Lamar had a solid December schedule, but some questions have arisen especially with their 33 to 16 lose to Centauri. Lamar after break jumps into league play against #2 St. Mary’s and seeing who ends up on top of the standings early on will be key in the Tri-Peaks. Lamar currently is projected as the #3 team in the Tri-Peaks and the race for the #1 spot will be an exciting race to watch.
#5 Pagosa Springs (5-1)
Pagosa Springs is off to a solid 5-1 start. Pagosa Springs played 2 games last week blasting Olathe 61 to 20 and then taking care of business against #7 Manitou Springs 56 to 36. Pagosa Springs played a game on 12/19 against Durango and picked up their 4th straight victory. Pagosa Springs has 1 game left in the month of December against Colorado Springs Christian. Pagosa Springs only has 2 players scoring over 6 ppg and are being led by Morgan Lewis 16.0 ppg and Taylor Lewis 8.2 ppg. Pagosa Springs final game in the month of December will be a good one against #3 Colorado Springs Christian. This will tell us a bunch about both teams. After break Pagosa Springs jumps into league play with games against Alamosa on 1/9 and then Monte Vista on 1/12. Currently the Intermountain League looks to be a two-horse race with Centauri currently as the #1 and Pagosa Springs as the #2 but Alamosa will also look to challenged for a top spot.
#6 Resurrection Christian (5-1)
Resurrection Christian finished off their December schedule with 3 straight wins. Resurrection Christian played just one game last week beating 1A Heritage Christian 60 to 41. Resurrection Christian has been solid in the Top 10 this year but with league starting up they will be tested. Through the month of December Resurrection Christian has 4 players scoring over 6 ppg and are being led by Juju Hemeyer 13.7 ppg and Elisabeth Perl 7.8 ppg. After break Resurrection Christian plays a non-league game against Coal Ridge and then opens league play on 1/9 against Valley. Resurrection Christian is currently the favorite in the Patriot league but will be challenged by University, Eaton, Brush, and Sterling.
#7 Manitou Springs (2-3)
Manitou Springs wrapped up their very tough December schedule last week. Manitou Springs participated in the Lutheran tournament and beat Lutheran 54 to 48 but were beat easily by #5 Pagosa Springs 56 to 36. Manitou Springs 3 losses are all very good losses, but questions arose with a narrow win over Lutheran. After finishing their December schedule Manitou Springs has just 2 players scoring over 6 ppg and are being led by Maren Mildestvedt 14.0 ppg and Caileen Sienknecht 10.6 ppg. Manitou Springs after break opens league play against La Junta but then have back to back non-league games against Sterling and Ellicott. Manitou Springs is projected as the #4 team in the extremely tough Tri-Peaks.
#8 Kent Denver (7-1)
Kent Denver has really impressed as of late after losing their second game of the season to #7 Manitou Springs they have won 6 straight games with quality wins against University, Eaton, and Denver Christian. Kent Denver played 3 games last week making quick work of all three beating Denver West 46 to 15, Academy 70 to 47, and Denver Christian 69 to 53. Kent Denver through the month of December has 3 players scoring over 6 ppg and are being led by Julia Doyle 16.0 ppg and Emma Boatman 10.4 ppg. After break Kent Denver jumps right into league play with games against Faith Christian on 1/10 and Peak to Peak on 1/12. Currently the Metro league looks to be an exciting race to see who wins the league. Kent Denver is currently the favorite in the Metro but will be closely chased by Jefferson Academy, St. Mary’s Academy, Machebeuf, and Colorado Academy.
#9 Cedaredge (6-0)
Cedaredge had a solid month of December and a perfect start to the season. Cedaredge played a few close games early on against Meeker and Soroco but have since blowout Ridgway and Hotchkiss. Cedaredge last week picked up a huge win over Delta to give them a big upset win. Cedaredge after break opens league play against Olathe and then a non-league game against Rangely on 1/12 will be a huge test for them. Cedaredge is currently the favorite to win the Western Slope League but will be challenged by Delta and Moffat County.
#10 University (6-1)
University joins the rankings for the first time this year after starting 6-1 and their only lose is a 4 point lose to Kent Denver. University last week picked up a pair of wins against Peak to Peak 51 to 32 and Prospect Ridge 37 to 24. A lot of questions are still present about this team and with league play around the corner we will get those questions answered. University through the month of December has 3 players scoring over 6 ppg and are being led by Taylor Gollhofer 11.8 ppg and Madelyn Malm 11.1 ppg. After break University plays back to back non-league games against Fort Lupton and Machebeuf. University opens league play on 1/9 against Sterling and all three early season games are huge for University. Currently University is projected as the #2 team in the Patriot League. University is chasing Resurrection Christian but are being chased by Brush, Eaton, and Sterling.
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