Class 1A Boys Basketball Regional Predictions
Region 1 Predictions: Winners of each Pod Game advance to State
Pod A:
DeBeque over Cornerstone Christian
Pod B:
Front Range Baptist over North Park
Pod A features the #1 team from District 1 and the #2 team from District 8. DeBeque comes into regionals winning the District 1 tournament. DeBeque has proven they can hang with most teams after they upset Creede a few weeks ago. DeBeque will need to play consistent basketball and they did play a 2A schedule so they will be ready to battle for a State Playoff Spot. Cornerstone Christian gets into regionals finishing second in the District 8 tournament. Cornerstone Christian lost to Front Range Baptist by only 5. Cornerstone Christian will have to play solid basketball again to beat a solid DeBeque team. This will be a very good game and should come down to the wire. I have DeBeque winning by less than 5 points and grabbing 1 of the Elite 8 spots.
Pod B features the #1 team from District 8 and the #2 team from District 1. Front Range Baptist comes into regionals winning the District 8 tournament. Front Range Baptist early in the season was beat by Longmont Christian and Denver Waldorf but have since 13 straight games and seem to have shook those early seasons loses. Front Range Baptist will be the heavy favorite in this game. This is a one game regional so if you win you are into the Elite 8. North Park upset perennial power Ouray 48-41 to secure their spot into Regionals. North Park like De Beque played a 2A Schedule and will need to play top basketball to upset Front Range Baptist. I am going with Front Range Baptist to win and advance to the Elite 8.
Region 2 Predictions: Winners of each Pod advance to State
Pod A
#6 Arickaree/Woodlin over #7 Elbert, #1 Heritage Christian over #6 Arickaree/Woodlin
The first game of Pod A features #6 Arickaree/Woodlin vs #7 Elbert. Elbert finished second in their District. They were beat in the District finals by Genoa-Hugo. Elbert drew a tough Pod with Arickaree/Woodlin and Heritage Christian. Elbert would need back to back upsets to get to the elite 8. Arickaree/Woodlin will be the favorite in the first round. Arickaree/Woodlin won the District 5 tournament and seem to be playing well towards the end of the season. District 5 was way down this year tough. Arickaree/Woodlin has played well against teams who are weaker than them and should cruise past Elbert. I am going Arickaree/Woodlin over Elbert. In the Pod Finals we have #1 Heritage Christian vs #6 Arickaree/Woodlin. Heritage Christian won District 4 upsetting Peetz in the Final. Heritage Christian has now jumped way up on the list as a 1A title contender. Heritage Christian will be the favorite to advance to the Elite 8 but will be challenged by Arickaree/Woodlin. I have Heritage Christian advancing to the Elite 8.
Pod B
#5 Otis over #8 Deer Trail, #2 Peetz over #5 Otis
The first game of Pod B will feature #5 Otis vs #8 Deer Trail. Deer Trail had a tough season but finished 3rd in District 7. Deer Trail has a very tough opening round game and will need to play their best game of the season. Otis finished second in District 5 but before losing were on a solid roll. Otis will need to rekindle that to get past Deer Trail. Otis in the Pod final will have to play amazing basketball to pull the upset. In the Pod Finals we have #2 Peetz vs #5 Otis. Like we mentioned Otis would need to play their best game of the season and hope for a bad shooting night from Peetz to pull the upset. Peetz picked up their first lose of the season losing to Heritage Christian. Peetz will have no time to bounce back and will be thrown right into the fire against either Otis or Deer Trail. Peetz must not overlook any teams and I expect them to beat Otis to advance to the Elite 8.
Pod C
#4 Genoa-Hugo over #9 Stratton/Liberty, #3 Longmont Christian over #4 Genoa-Hugo
The first game of Pod C features #4 Genoa-Hugo vs #9 Stratton/Liberty. Stratton/Liberty finished 3rd in District 4 after losing to Arickaree/Woodlin in the District semifinals. Stratton/Liberty then beat Flagler/HI Plains to secure their regional berth. Stratton/Liberty is playing good basketball and will need to continue to pull the upset. Genoa-Hugo will be the favorite in the first game. Genoa-Hugo won the District 7 title beating Elbert in the finals. Genoa-Hugo cannot over look Stratton/Liberty, or they will get upset. Genoa-Hugo is hoping to get into the Pod Finals where they can hope to pull an upset. I am going Genoa-Hugo over Stratton/Liberty. In the Pod Finals we have #3 Longmont Christian vs #4 Genoa-Hugo. This is the only game I think an upset could happen in Region 2. Every year Genoa-Hugo pulls an upset that shouldn’t happen, and this could be that game. Longmont Christian lost a ton of talent from their team last year and returned 2 good players that are powering this team. Longmont Christian will be looking to avoid the upset minded Genoa-Hugo team. Longmont Christian better play good basketball or I could see an upset here. I am picking Longmont Christian over Genoa-Hugo to get to the Elite 8.
Region 3 Predictions: Winners of each Pod Advance to State
Pod A
#6 South Baca over #7 McClave, #1 Holly over #6 South Baca
The first game of Pod A features #6 South Baca vs #7 McClave. This first game will be a good one. McClave won the District 2 title upsetting Cheyenne Wells and Kit Carson. McClave will need to keep the upsets going as they could face two very good teams if they want to get to the Elite 8. McClave is playing very good basketball winning 7 straight games and are peaking at the right time. South Baca finished second in District 3 losing to Holly for the second time on the season. South Baca is hoping that the third time is the charm if they can get by McClave. South Baca cannot overlook McClave and must take care of business first. I am going with South Baca to beat McClave and move into the Pod Final. In the Pod Final we have #1 Holly vs #6 South Baca. South Baca has lost both times to holly by 20 points and must figure out how to attack this very good Holly team. Holly is perfect on the season after losing a stellar senior class. Holly has won most of their games by double digits which is scary if a close game comes up. Holly cannot get complacent and must make sure to take care of business whoever they play. I am going with Holly to advance to the Elite 8.
Pod B
#5 Kit Carson over #8 Walsh, #2 Creede over #5 Kit Carson
The first game of Pod B features #5 Kit Carson vs #8 Walsh. Walsh finished third in the District 3 tournament to get into regionals. Walsh beat Kim/Branson in that game. Walsh has had games where they have really challenged opponents and will need to play aggressive to beat Kit Carson. Walsh nearly beat Cheyenne Wells to end the regular season and will probably need a similar effort to beat Kit Carson. Kit Carson finished second in the District 2 tournament falling to McClave in the finals. Kit Carson will have to quickly bounce back against Walsh or could be upset. This is going to be another very good game and I could see either team winning this game. I am going with Kit Carson to pull a 5-point win over Kit Carson. In the Pod Finals we have #2 Creede vs #5 Kit Carson. Kit Carson will need to have back to back consistent games to advance to the elite 8. Creede had a great run in the District 6 Tournament. Creede beat Sierra Grande in the finals to win the District. Creede seems to have found the groove again and are clicking on all cylinders. Creede will need to win 1 game to make another appearance at the state tournament. Creede is my pick over Kit Carson to advance to the Elite 8.
Pod C
#4 Sangre De Cristo over #9 Cheraw, #3 Sierra Grande over #4 Sangre De Cristo
The first game of Pod C features #4 Sangre De Cristo vs #9 Cheraw. These two teams have played each other before with Sangre De Cristo winning by 2. Cheraw will need to find that game again and hope to duplicate that performance but make a few tweaks to pull the upset. Cheraw finished third in the District 2 tournament knocking off Cheyenne Wells who was the runner up a year ago. Cheraw is hoping to continue that this week and pull another couple upsets. Sangre De Cristo punched their ticket into regionals by beating Primero in the third-place game 58-36. Sangre De Cristo has plenty of talent to get into the pod finals but must get consistent play to win. I am picking Sangre De Cristo to beat Cheraw and move into the Pod Finals. The Pod Finals would feature #3 Sierra Grande vs #4 Sangre De Cristo. These teams played each other last weekend with Sierra Grande winning 67-57. It was a very competitive game and I expect the same this week. Sierra Grande must find contributors to help Arthur Rodriguez. If Sierra Grande expect the upset, they will have to play great defense and get contributions from their other players. I am picking Sierra Grande beat Sangre De Cristo and advance to the Elite 8. I could see this going either way and what is scary is Sangre De Cristo has 0 seniors.
Elite 8 Teams:
De Beque
Front Range Baptist
Heritage Christian
Peetz
Longmont Christian
Holly
Creede
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