Class 3A State Tournament First and Second Round Predictions
Region 1 Predictions:
#1 Sterling over #32 Ridgeview Academy, #16 Delta over #17 Arrupe Jesuit, #1 Sterling over #16 Delta.
Sterling is the heavy favorite to escape from Region 1 and make it to the Elite 8. Their opening round matchup against Ridgeview Academy should get them ready for a long tournament run. Delta playing Arrupe Jesuit will be a very competitive game and should be a good one. Delta, I am predicting will pull out a close win and they are playing solid basketball. Sterling vs Delta to advance to the Elite 8 will be much closer than people think. Delta is playing very good basketball and have some size to matchup with Sterling. I am going with Sterling over Delta to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 2 Predictions:
#8 DSST-Stapleton over #25 Montezuma-Cortez, #9 Strasburg upset by #24 Pinnacle, #8 DSST-Stapleton over #24 Pinnacle
Region two features 4 very competitive teams. DSST-Stapleton has a tough opening round game against Montezuma-Cortez. Cortez nearly upset Alamosa early in the season so this is not a push over game for DSST-Stapleton. DSST-Stapleton should win a close game. #9 Strasburg vs #24 Pinnacle will be a very good game. If Pinnacle can get back to their early season ways they could make a surprise run at the Elite 8. Strasburg is playing solid basketball right now but still think they could be on upset alert. Pinnacle has an upset win over DSST-Stapleton and if they can rekindle that game watch out. I am picking Pinnacle to upset Strasburg. DSST-Stapleton vs Strasburg will be a very good game. It was an OT game last time and if they clash again I expect another close game. I am picking DSST-Stapleton to sneak out a close win over Pinnacle to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 3 Predictions:
#5 Vanguard over #28 DSST-Green Valley, #12 Lutheran over #21 La Junta, #5 Vanguard over #12 Lutheran.
Region 3 could feature a epic clash in the Regional Final. Vanguard opens play against DSST-Green Valley Ranch. Vanguard will be tested by Green Valley but should pull away late. DSST-Green Valley is playing very good basketball, but the level of competition is down for them. Vanguard is also playing good basketball and must make sure to not over look DSST-Green Valley. I am picking Vanguard to win. #12 Lutheran opens play against #21 La Junta. La Junta had a tale of two season winning their first 8 games but struggled down the stretch but still finished 3rd in the Tri-Peaks to solidify their playoff spot. La Junta plays excellent defense and will need to play at the top of their game. Lutheran also is playing good basketball and surprised quite a few people winning the Metro League regular season title. Lutheran lost to Faith Christian in the semifinals but still finished 3rd in the League Tournament. Lutheran must make sure to play solid on both side of the ball and cannot overlook La Junta or could be upset. I am going Lutheran over La Junta. The big battle between #5 Vanguard and #12 Lutheran should take place. Both teams are very good, and the winner will earn the berth to the Elite 8. Both teams are playing very good basketball and will come down to which teams takes care of the ball. This game could have easily been a Elite 8 or even final 4 game but they will settle it out in the Sweet 16. I am going Vanguard to sneak past Lutheran but I could see it going the other way as well. I have Vanguard in the Elite 8.
Region 4 Predictions:
#4 Platte Valley over #29 St. Mary’s, #13 Roaring Fork over #20 Colorado Academy, #13 Roaring Fork over #4 Platte Valley
Platte Valley has struggled to close out the season finishing 4th in the Tri-Peaks after entering as the #2 seed. Platte Valley will need to rekindle the earlier part of the season and if they do should win this region. They play #29 St. Mary’s first and this will be a good game for Platte Valley to bounce back. St. Mary’s surprised most after a slow start to the season. They get into the State Tournament by finishing the season strong. I have Platte Valley over St. Mary’s. Another great First round game features #13 Roaring Fork vs #20 Colorado Academy. Colorado Academy played tough in the Metro tournament and are a very athletic team. Colorado Academy will need to keep the tempo high for them to pull the upset. Roaring Fork played well the entire season and nearly pulled a stunner in the League Tournament. Roaring Fork fell just short to Coal Ridge but showed they could be a team to watch for. Roaring Fork must play the game they want to play and cannot play the pace that Colorado Academy wants to play. Roaring Fork I believe will pull out a very close win and set up another good game in the second round. #4 Platte Valley vs #13 Roaring Fork will be another very solid game. Both of these team’s matchup quite well and I expect a very solid battle. If Colorado Academy wins I also believe this will be a very good game. Platte Valley will be on upset alert for whichever team they play. I do believe that if Platte Valley plays Roaring Fork then Roaring Fork will pull the upset. I expect 3 very good games in this Region. I am going Roaring Fork to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 5 Predictions:
#2 Alamosa over #31 Cedaredge, #18 Colorado Springs Christian over #15 Grand Valley, #2 Alamosa over #18 Colorado Springs Christian
Alamosa has been consistent all year but an upset in the League final raised a few questions. Alamosa still I believe is one of the better teams in the state, but an off-shooting night could doom Alamosa. Alamosa plays very good defense and have plenty of athletes to make a deep run in the tournament. Alamosa first game against Cedaredge should be a good way for them to get back on the right foot. Cedaredge snuck into the playoff snagging the last At-large berth. Cedaredge at times has played well and will need a top-notch performance. I am going Alamosa over Cedaredge. #15 Grand Valley vs #18 Colorado Springs Christian continues the string of very good first round games. Grand Valley did not end their season the way they wanted losing 2 of their final 3 games but have the potential to make a run. Colorado Springs Christian finished second in the Tri-Peaks and continue to improve. CSCS has plenty of height and will make it tough for whoever they play. CSCS will need to play consistent basketball to advance to the Elite 8 which would include back to back upsets. I think CSCS will pull the first upset in a close game against Grand Valley. #1 Alamosa vs #15 CSCS will be a good matchup. I am interested to see how Alamosa handles the height of CSCS, but I think Alamosa athleticism will be too much to handle. I am going with Alamosa to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 6 Predictions:
#7 Bayfield over #26 Brush, #10 Resurrection Christian over #23 The Academy, #7 Bayfield over #10 Resurrection Christian
#7 Bayfield pulled a shocker upsetting Alamosa in the District Final. Bayfield did something similar last year but then fell short in the state tournament getting upset by the #28 seed Delta. Bayfield must not look ahead this year and must take care of business against a very tough Brush team. Brush finished 5th in the Patriot. Brush will need to play great inside defense to have a shot against Bayfield. Bayfield must get plenty of points on the inside and cannot be forced to shoot nothing but 3’s. Bayfield has a lot of athleticism and a very good Center in Ryan Phelps. I expect Bayfield to beat Brush. #10 Resurrection Christian plays #23 The Academy in the other game. #23 Academy had a solid season and started living up to expectations finishing second in the Frontier League. Academy has the potential to make a deep run but a tough first round game will test them. Academy will have to play their best game to pull the upset. #10 Resurrection Christian is really finding their stride finishing second in the Patriot league and playing Sterling tough. Resurrection Christian could be a team to watch out for as they seem to be peaking at the right time. Resurrection Christian I believe will beat Jefferson and the Sweet 16 game looks to be a good one. #7 Bayfield vs #10 Resurrection Christian could be a huge game. Bayfield has the height and athleticism to compete with anyone, but shooting is not their strong point. Resurrection Christian also has the height and athleticism but lack the experience that Bayfield has. This will be one of the better games in the sweet 16 but I am going with Bayfield so sneak past Resurrection Christian and advance to the Elite 8.
Region 7 Predictions:
#6 Faith Christian over #27 Centauri, #11 Kent Denver over #22 Jefferson, #6 Faith Christian over #11 Kent Denver
Region 7 continues the string of potential solid Sweet 16 games. #6 Faith Christian plays #27 Centauri. Centauri has not played a game since 2/20. They were beat by Montezuma-Cortez in the first round of the IML tournament. Centauri will be well rested, and Centauri has shown flashes at times especially when they upset Alamosa. Centauri needs to play consistent basketball and if they can Faith Christian will get all they can handle. Faith Christian might be the hottest team in 3A right now. Faith Christian had a super impressive Metro League Tournament run beating Lutheran and then Kent Denver to win the Metro title. Faith Christian may be peaking at the right time and with the extremely tough region they will need this. I am going Faith Christian over Centauri. #11 Kent Denver plays #22 Jefferson in the other game. #22 Jefferson had a surprise run this year going 17-5. Jefferson finished 4th in the league tournament but picked up a solid win over Pinnacle in the opening round. Jefferson will need to play great basketball to upset Kent Denver. #11 Kent Denver has already beat Jefferson once this year but most not overlook Jefferson. Kent Denver was upset by Faith Christian, so a rematch is on their mind. I have Kent Denver winning over Jefferson. The Sweet 16 matchups between Faith Christian & Kent Denver will probably be the 1st or 2nd best matchup in the Sweet 16. Faith Christian is 1-1 against Kent Denver but grabbed the important Metro League Tournament win over them. Like I said I think Faith Christian is peaking at the right time which is why I am picking Faith Christian over Kent Denver to make it to the Elite 8.
Region 8 Predictions:
#3 Coal Ridge over #30 Frontier Academy, #14 Manual over #19 Pagosa Springs, #3 Coal Ridge over #14 Manual
Coal Ridge had an impressive season this year going 20-2 and were able to lock up the #3 seed winning the Western Slope League. Their first game against Frontier Academy will be a good way to get their footing right for the rest of the tournament. Coal Ridge has most of the pieces needed to make a deep run in 3A. Frontier Academy sneaks into the tournament as the 2nd to last team. They didn’t place in the Patriot League and would need a lot to pull the upset. I am going Coal Ridge over Frontier Academy. Another good first round game will be #14 Manual vs #19 Pagosa Springs. Pagosa Springs has not played a game since 2/20 when they were upset by Monte Vista. Pagosa Springs will have to bounce back on the go against a very solid Manual team. Pagosa Springs will be well rested and will need to play solid basketball. #14 Manual finished 4th in the Metro league losing to Lutheran in the 3rd place game. Manual has solid wins this year over DSST-Stapleton and Faith Christian. Manual could make a deep run, but consistency will be the key for them. Manual will have their hands full against Pagosa Springs and will need to get solid contributions right away. I am going Manual over Pagosa Springs. The Sweet 16 matchups between #3 Coal Ridge and #14 Manual also will be a good game. I believe Coal Ridge has the players to give Manual fits and I am going with Coal Ridge to advance to the Elite 8.
Elite 8 Teams
Sterling
DSST-Stapleton
Vangurad
Roaring Fork
Alamosa
Bayfield
Faith Christian
Coal Ridge
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