Class 2A Top Ten Boys Basketball Breakdown
#1 Crowley County (10-0)
Crowley County has opened the new year with 3 straight wins. Crowley County picked up a huge win last week beating Hoehne and helping Crowley County move up the district standing. Crowley County also beat Rocky Ford and John Mall both by 20+ points. Crowley County currently has 6 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Bradley Carnes-Clabey 13.6 ppg and Hayden Carter 10.2 ppg. Crowley County has a huge game this week against Fowler which will be for first place and they also play Swink. Crowley County can take a huge leap towards the #1 district tournament seed with a win against Fowler. Crowley County is currently projected as the #1 team in District 6 and have already beat Rocky Ford and Hoehne. Crowley County will be tested by Fowler and anything can happen in rivalry games.
#2 Sedgwick County (9-1)
Sedgwick County has played 5 games in the month of December and were on a solid roll in January until running into #2 Peetz (1A). Sedgwick County was trailing by 3 going into the fourth quarter when they went on a scoring slump and only scored 5 points in the 4th quarter and lost their first game of the year to Peetz 67 to 49. Sedgwick County is still perfect in league but will likely drop a little in the rankings losing to the #2 1A team. Sedgwick County has two games left this week 1 is a league game and the other is not. Sedgwick County plays Merino on 1/19 which is a huge league game and then play Otis on 1/20 which is not a league game but a good way for Sedgwick County to bounce back. Sedgwick County is still the favorite to win District 2 but will have to hold back Yuma, Akron, Holyoke, and Haxtun for that spot.
#3 Del Norte (8-2)
Del Norte made the leap ahead of Yuma after starting the new year with back to back 20+ point wins. Del Norte which only has two losses to 3A teams starts January blasting South Park 65 to 34 and beating Sargent 49 to 24. Del Norte also has solid wins on Salida, Fowler, Lamar, and Sierra Grande. Del Norte currently has 3 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by 2A scoring leader Carlos Parra 31.0 ppg and Izeah Peterson 12.8 ppg. For Del Norte to have sustained success they will need other players to step up and score points. Del Norte has 2 games this week against Center (1/19) and Custer County on 1/20. Del Norte will be favored in both games and with Sanford on the schedule next week they must take care of business until then. Del Norte is projected as the #1 team in District 1 ahead of Sanford.
#4 Yuma (6-2)
Yuma has only played 1 game so far in 2018 and they opened with a bang blowing out Wiggins 55 to 12. Yuma which was not even in my Top 25 preseason picks has really played well but heading into league play they will be tested and see if they deserve the #4 spot. Yuma has 2 games this week both are big games. Yuma will play Holyoke (1/19) which is a league game and then face Burlington (1/20) in a non-league game but very important for their RPI. Yuma then has a pair of tough games next week so after their next four games we will learn more about how good Yuma is. Yuma is projected as the #2 team in District 2 but will be chased by Akron, Holyoke, and Haxtun.
#5 Vail Christian (9-1)
Vail Christian continues their rise up the rankings moving up 2 spot up to #5. Vail Christian has been busy in 2018 with 5 games. Vail Christian is 5-0 in January and picked up important wins against West Grand, Vail Mountain, and Plateau Valley. Vail Christian was challenged in multiple games as well beating West Grand by just 10 and Plateau Valley by 13. Vail Christian road get much tougher heading forward with a lot of top teams to play this season. Vail Christian currently has 6 players scoring over 5 ppg and are being led by Bryan Trujillo 16.4 ppg and Sebastian Moritz 15.3 ppg. Vail Christian has two games on tap this week against Soroco (1/18) and Meeker on 1/20. Meeker will be a huge test for Vail Christian and will be one of the better games of the weekend. Vail Christian is currently projected as the #1 team in District 5 but Meeker, Rangely, and Paonia will all challenge for the #1 spot.
#6 Highland (7-3)
Highland has played 4 games to start 2018. Highland is off to a very solid start going 4-0 and picking up solid wins against Dayspring Christian and Longmont Christian. Highland has played a tough schedule so far and it’s paying off in 2018. Highland currently has 4 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Tate Bessire 17.6 ppg and Trey Allmon 13.4 ppg. Highland has only 1 game on tap this week and will be a tough one. Highland travels to Akron on 1/19 and should be another solid test for Highland. Highland jumps back into league play next week against Dawson School. Highland currently is projected as the #1 team in District 7 but will be challenged by Clear Creek, Dayspring Christian, and Gilpin County.
#7 Limon (7-1)
Limon made their first appearance in the rankings a few weeks back and have not disappointed picking up 3 wins in 2018 and a big win to end the 2017 year against Evangelical Christian. Limon in 2018 beat Genoa-Hugo, Denver Christian, and Flagler/Hi Plains. Limon lone loss is also to #1 Crowley County. Limon is the #1 team in the RPI and with some tough games ahead will be tested. This week Limon has a pair of games against Deer Trail (1/19) and Akron on 1/20. Limon will be tested by Akron and should be a solid test. Limon will face Simla and Peyton next week which will also be solid tests for this team. Limon currently has 5 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Camden Smithburg 12.9 ppg and Kory Tacha 10.0 ppg. Limon is currently projected as the #1 team in district 4 but will have to watch out for Byers, Burlington, and Front Range Christian.
#8 Ignacio (6-3)
Ignacio has played a much tougher 2018 than 2017 and picked up their 2nd and 3rd losses of the season. Ignacio lost to 3A Montezuma-Cortez and 3A Bayfield. Ignacio bounced back nicely beating Ridgway and Telluride. Ignacio has already beat everyone in their District and will be the hands down favorite to win District 3. Ignacio has 5 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Johnny Valdez 17.9 ppg and Kai Roubidequx 13.3 ppg. Ignacio has 2 games on schedule this week against Sargent which will be a good challenge and a league game against Norwood.
#9 Evangelical Christian (6-3)
Evangelical Christian has opened the 2018 year with a bang beating Byers, Peyton, and Ellicott. Evangelical Christian moved into the rankings for the first time this year due to beating Byers 55 to 53 in OT. Evangelical Christian currently has 4 players scoring over 5 ppg and are led by Justin Holt 14.7 ppg and Bradley Hartsock 10.6 ppg. Evangelical Christian has one game this week against Miami-Yoder who has started well this season. ECA plays three tough games next week. District 8 will be a great District to watch and with ECA beating Byers have moved into the #1 slot just ahead of Calhan and Simla.
#10 Byers (8-2)
Byers rejoins the rankings after a sort break outside the top 10. Byers started 2018 with a tough OT loss but their two recent wins over Simla (who was ranked) and Burlington they have shot right back into the rankings. Byers schedule gets much tougher going into the rest of the year and will really test how good Byers is. Byers currently has 3 players scoring over 10 ppg and are led by Austin Davis 17.1 ppg and Brady Shelley 14.5 ppg. Byers will need to get some other people scoring over 5 ppg and currently have a solid group that can score. Byers has two games this week against Flagler/Hi Plains (1A) and Denver Christian on 1/20. Byers will be tested by Denver Christian and will be a good shot for them to defend their ranking. Byers is currently projected as the #2 team in district 4 just behind Limon. Byers will have to hold off Burlington, Front Range Christian, and Denver Christian for that spot.
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