Girls Basketball Class 1A Regional Predictions
Region 1 Predictions Winners of each Pod Advance to State:
Pod A
North Park over Cornerstone Christian
North Park played well on their way to a District 1 Championship. North Park cruised to the title and now are looking for a trip to the State Tournament. They will have to continue to play consistent basketball and are battle tested form playing a 2A schedule. North Park plays Cornerstone Christian for the right to advance. Cornerstone Christian took second place in the District 8 tournament losing to Belleview Christian in the final. Cornerstone Christian played well all year and took care of business to lock up a regional spot. Cornerstone Christian will be looking to pull a big upset but will need to play their best game of the season. North Park is my pick to advance to the Elite 8.
Pod B
Belleview Christian over Dove Creek
Belleview Christian came out of know were to win the District 8 title. Belleview Christian beat Front Range Baptist to secure their spot then beat Cornerstone Christian to lock up the #1 seed. Belleview Christian must continue to play at a high level if they plan on playing in the Elite 8. Belleview Christian play Dove Creek in Pod B. Dove Creek played well down the stretch pulling an upset win over Ouray. Dove Creek is now hoping to pull another upset for a shot at the Elite 8. Dove Creek must elevate to beat a solid team and will be interesting to see how they do. I am going with Belleview Christian to beat Dove Creek to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 2 Predictions-Winner of each pod advance to State
Pod A
#7 Genoa-Hugo over #6 Idalia, #1 Fleming over #7 Genoa-Hugo
Pod A first game features #6 Idalia vs #7 Genoa-Hugo. Idalia finished 3rd in District 5. Idalia was upset by Flagler/Hi Plains and will be looking to bounce back against a tough Genoa-Hugo team. Genoa-Hugo pulled one big upset this year beating Burlington and will need a similar effort if they want a shot at Fleming. I am picking Genoa-Hugo over Idalia. The Pod Final features #1 Fleming vs #7 Genoa-Hugo. Fleming is looking to continue their dominating style of basketball. Fleming, one lose on the year is to Kit Carson. Fleming took care of business against everyone else and are hoping to continue that in the Pod final. Genoa-Hugo will take their best shot at upsetting one of the best teams in the state. I am going with Fleming over Genoa-Hugo to advance to the Elite 8.
Pod B
#8 Kiowa over #5 Flagler/Hi Plains, #2 Briggsdale over #8 Kiowa
Flagler/Hi Plains surprised everyone winning the District 5 title. Flagler/Hi Plains will need to play solid basketball again to have their shot at Briggsdale. Flagler/Hi Plains seems to be peaking at the right time and hope to continue to play good basketball. Flagler/HI Plains plays Kiowa in the first game. Kiowa is also playing very good basketball after winning the District 4 title. Kiowa has come together as a team and are hoping to continue playing solid basketball. Kiowa only lost to Kit Carson by 24 as well and maybe a team to watch out for in Pod B. Kiowa must have a solid game to beat Flagler/Hi Plains. I am going with Kiowa to beat Flagler/HI Plains. In the Pod final we have #2 Briggsdale vs #8 Kiowa. Kiowa will need to play their best game of the season and if they do could scare Briggsdale a bit. Briggsdale cannot over look Kiowa and must play solid basketball. Briggsdale is looking for another shot in the Elite 8. I am going with Briggsdale to win Pod B and advance to the Elite 8, but this will be a much closer game than anticipated.
Pod C
#4 Arickaree/Woodlin over #9 Elbert, #3 Heritage Christian over #4 Arickaree/Woodlin
Pod C opens up with #4 Arickaree/Woodlin vs #9 Elbert. Elbert locked up their spot in Regionals by beating Edison in the 3rd place game. Elbert is not hoping for their best shot at Arickaree/Woodlin. Arickaree/Woodlin will be hoping to bounce back from a tough 1 point loss to Flagler/Hi Plains. Arickaree/Woodlin will have a very good shot at rebounding against Elbert but cannot overlook them. I am going with Arickaree/Woodlin over Elbert. The Pod finals could be #3 Heritage Christian vs #4 Arickaree/Woodlin. Arickaree/Woodlin will need their best game of the season to beat Heritage Christian. Arickaree/Woodlin is hoping for consistency and a shot at the Elite 8. Heritage Christian was beat by Briggsdale in the semifinals but then beat Longmont Christian in the 3rd place game to lock up their spot. Heritage Christian must not overlook Arickaree/Woodlin or could be upset. Heritage Christian will have to play solid basketball to advance. I am going with Heritage Christian to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 3 Predictions-Winner of each pod advance to State
Pod A
#6 McClave over #7 South Baca, #1 Kit Carson over #6 McClave
Pod A opens play with #6 McClave vs #7 South Baca. McClave got into the Regionals by beating Cheyenne Wells in the third place game. McClave has not played consistent basketball this year but when they have they have been one of the better teams in the state. McClave must play consistent for another shot at Kit Carson. South Baca has seemed to awoken beating Wiley in the first round and clinching their berth by upsetting Springfield in the 3rd place game. South Baca now is looking for a shot at Kit Carson but will have to beat a very good McClave team first. South Baca most continue to play great basketball if they plan on beating McClave. I am going with McClave to beat South Baca in the first round. The Pod final would be #1 Kit Carson vs #6 McClave. McClave will have to play their best game of the season to pull this huge upset. Kit Carson has yet to be challenged by anyone this year. It will be interesting to see if they can keep up that level of play. Kit Carson is my pick to advance to the Elite 8.
Pod B
#5 Sangre De Cristo over #8 Eads, #2 Kim/Branson over #5 Sangre De Cristo
Pod B opens play with #5 Sangre De Cristo vs #8 Eads. Eads pulled a very nice upset of McClave in the semifinals of the District 2 tournament. Eads then lost to Kit Carson in the finals. Eads has played very well at times this year and did not get an easy draw at regionals. Eads will have to play back to back good opponents for their shot at State. Sangre De Cristo finished second in the District 6 tournament coming up just short against Antonito. Sangre De Cristo hopefully is well rested and can play two solid games of basketball. Sangre De Cristo is very young with only 1 junior and the rest sophomore and freshman. Sangre De Cristo will need to play solid basketball to pull the win. I am going with Sangre De Cristo over Eads to advance. The Pod Final would be between #2 Kim/Branson and #5 Sangre De Cristo. Sangre De Cristo lost to Kim/Branson earlier in the season by 17. Sangre De Cristo must fix the mistakes for another shot at them. Kim/Branson has seemed to fix their problems winning 5 straight games including the District 3 championship over Holly 56-34. Kim/Branson has figured out some problems and now hoping for a shot at the State Tournament. Whoever they play will push Kim/Branson the entire way and I expect a very good game. I am going with Kim/Branson to sneak past Sangre De Cristo to advance to the Elite 8.
Pod C
#4 Holly over #9 Sierra Grande, #3 Antonito over #4 Holly
Pod C opens play with #4 Holly vs #9 Sierra Grande. Sierra Grande locked their regional spot up by beating La Veta 44-42 in the 3rd place game. Sierra Grande now must refocus and give Holly their best shot. Sierra Grande was on a slump till they beat La Veta and we will see if they can pull back to back upsets. Holly fell in the district final to Kim/Branson. Holly though has played well this year and will look to make a trip to State. Holly must first get by a very good Sierra Grande team. Holly will need to find consistency and play good defense. I am going with Holly to beat Sierra Grande. The Pod Final would then be #3 Antonito vs #4 Holly. Holly will be tasked against a very good and very well coached team in the pod final. Holly will have to play their best game of the season. Antonito won the District 6 tournament beating Sangre De Cristo in the finals. Antonito is playing very good basketball and are hoping for a repeat trip to state. Antonito will must get good defensive play and they will have a shot at state. Antonito is my pick to advance to the Elite 8.
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