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 (11-0)
Centauri continued their perfect start to the season winning all three games of the new year. Centauri has beat Trinidad, Bayfield, and Montezuma-Cortez. Centauri has won all three games by 30+ points but Centauri still must face Pagosa Springs and Alamosa within league. Centauri has 4 players scoring over 8 ppg and are led by Caroline Van Berkum 11.4 ppg and Melissa Wilson 10.2 ppg. Centauri has two games this week facing Alamosa and Monte Vista which both could challenge Centauri. Centauri is currently projected as the #1 team in the Intermountain League, but Pagosa Springs will challenge for the #1 spot.
#2 St. Mary’s (10-0)
St. Mary’s is off to a great start to open the 2017 year. St. Mary’s has 4 wins in the new year. St. Mary’s beat Trinidad, Pueblo East, Manitou Springs, and the huge win against Lamar by 8. St. Mary’s has beat 2 of the top 3 teams already in the Tri Peaks but still awaits Colorado Springs Christian. St. Mary’s has 4 players scoring over 8 ppg and are led by Josephine Howery 14.8 ppg and Makenna Bodette 11.5 ppg. On tap this week for St. Mary’s is Buena Vista on 1/18. St. Mary’s has 2 games next week. St. Mary’s is still the slight favorite to win the Tri Peaks closely followed by Colorado Springs Christian.
#3 Colorado Springs Christian (9-2)
Colorado Springs Christian has played a tough January schedule so far. Colorado Springs Christian opened the new year playing in the Rampart Tournament which featured some of the top teams in 4A and 5A. Colorado Springs Christian beat Rampart by 18 but fell short against 4A Pueblo West and 5A Fruita Monument by 1. CSCS then jumped back into the 3A ranks last week blasting all 3 opponents they played. CSCS beat Rye, Buena Vista, and James Irwin. CSCS has 2 players scoring over 15 ppg and 4 players scoring over 5 ppg. CSCS is led by Megan Engesser 21.5 ppg and Rachel Ingram 16.1 ppg. CSCS has 1 game this week against a tough Vanguard team. CSCS should get by them and keep moving toward the tough part of their schedule. CSCS is currently projected as the #2 team in the Tri-Peaks but just trail St. Mary’s.
#4 Lamar (8-2)
Lamar is the third team from the very tough Tri Peaks league. Lamar has played 4 games in the month of January going 3 for 4 in those games. Lamar started the new year off against St. Mary’s losing by 8 points and picking up their second Top 5 loss of the season. Lamar beat Pueblo Central, Trinidad, and Buena Vista following those losses and beating them all by 30+ points. Lamar has 3 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Cali Clark 16.0 ppg and Brecken Payne 13.7 ppg. Lamar has 2 games on tap this week against John Mall in a non-league game and Vanguard on 1/19 which is a league game. Lamar has a huge game on 1/26 against Colorado Springs Christian and that could be for the #2 seed or #3 seed in the league tournament. Lamar currently is the #3 team in the Tri-Peaks and is hoping for a shot at the #2 spot when they play CSCS.
#5 Pagosa Springs (8-2)
Pagosa Springs has started the new year on fire winning 3 straight games including league wins against Alamosa and Monte Vista. Pagosa Springs beat Sanford on 1/16 by 20 and continue rolling in league. Pagosa Springs has two losses this year to St. Mary’s and Colorado Springs Christian. Pagosa Springs has plenty to improve upon this year and with their game against Centauri looming they hope to keep improving. Pagosa Springs has 2 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Morgan Lewis 14.4 ppg and Taylor Lewis 7.1 ppg. Pagosa Springs must continue to develop some of their role players to compete with the top teams. Pagosa Springs has Bayfield (1/19) and Montezuma-Cortez (1/20) on schedule this week. Pagosa Springs has 1/26 circled on their calendar that is when they face Centauri. Pagosa Springs is projected as the #2 team in the Intermountain League.
#6 Resurrection Christian (10-1)
Resurrection Christian has played 5 games to open the new year going a perfect 5-0. Resurrection Christian beat Coal Ridge, Valley, Brush, Aspen, and Platte Valley since the new year has started. Resurrection Christian has won all 5 games by double digits as well. Resurrection Christian has 5 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Juju Hemeyer 15.8 ppg and Molli Peacock 7.2 ppg. Resurrection Christian has a lot of depth on their team which will come in hand. Resurrection Christian has 1 game this week and it will be a tough one against Liberty Common on 1/18. Resurrection Christian would love to get another big-league win under their belt. Resurrection Christian is currently projected as the #1 team in the Patriot league but will be challenged by Liberty Common, Eaton, Sterling, and University.
#7 Kent Denver (9-2)
Kent Denver moved up one sport despite a loss to 4A Power Thomas Jefferson. Kent Denver has played well since opening the new year with wins against Faith Christian and Peak to Peak. Kent Denver has some very tough games on their schedule still and won’t have the #1 spot in the League tournament locked up till the run through some of their tougher opponents. Kent Denver has 5 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Julia Doyle 15.5 ppg and Emma Boatman 9.0 ppg. Kent Denver has two games this week against Skyview Academy (1/17) and Manual on 1/19. The Following week is being Kent Denver schedule ramps up with games against Colorado Academy and St. Mary’s Academy. Kent Denver is currently projected as the #1 team in the Metro league but will be challenged by Colorado Academy, Lutheran, and St. Mary’s Academy.
#8 Cedaredge (9-0)
Cedaredge continues their climb up the polls moving up from #9 to #8. Cedaredge has played 3 games in the month of January going a perfect 3-0 and picking up a monster win last night 1/16. Cedaredge beat Delta for the second times this year 41 to 39 in OT. The only bad part about the win is that this was not a league game and the league game is 2/6. Cedaredge though must feel pretty good after picking up another big win. Cedaredge also has solid wins against Olathe and Rangely in the month of January. Cedaredge currently has 6 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Makayla Kehmeier 10.2 ppg and Jade Gummo 6.6 ppg. Cedaredge has 1 game this week against a tough Coal Ridge team on 1/20. This is the first league game for Cedaredge and it’s a big one. Cedaredge is currently projected as the #1 team in the Western Slope but will have to hold Delta, Moffat County, and Roaring Fork for that spot.
#Eaton (9-2)
Eaton rejoins the rankings this week and they have not disappoint beating Valley 65 to 30. Eaton also beat Strasburg and Frontier Academy in the month of January. The road for Eaton does not get much easier from here on out with the tougher opponents at the end of their schedule. Eaton has 5 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Bailie Duncan 10.4 ppg and Addie Randel 10.0 ppg. Eaton has one game on tap this week against Brush. Eaton will get tested by Brush and then have 3 games next week. Eaton is currently projected as the #2 team in the Patriot league and they will have to hold off #10 Sterling, Liberty Common, and University for that spot.
#10 Sterling (6-4)
Sterling rejoined the rankings after a slow start to the season. Sterling since January has been on fire winning 4 straight games. Sterling has solid wins against Manitou Springs, University, Strasburg, and Frontier Academy. Sterling solidified their place in the rankings after beating Manitou Springs and University. Sterling currently has 4 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Brooke Polenz 10.9 ppg and Kyndal Feather 8.8 ppg. Sterling has two games on the schedule this week against Valley (1/18) and Sidney NE which is a non-league game. Sterling next week picks back up league play against Brush. Sterling currently is projected as the #3 team in the Patriot league but holding off Liberty Common and University for that spot will be tough.
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