Girls Basketball Class 2A Regional Predictions
Region 1 Predictions
#1 Yuma over #32 Las Animas, #17 Ellicott over #16 Haxtun, #1 Yuma over #17 Ellicott
Yuma comes into Regionals undefeated and playing the best basketball. Yuma won the District 2 Championship beat Wray. Yuma is the favorite in the Region to move onto the Elite 8. Yuma plays #32 Las Animas in the first round. Las Animas finished 4th in the District 6 tournament. Las Animas lost to Hoehne and moved them down to the #32 spot. Las Animas had a great run, and this will be a good experience for this team. I am going with Yuma over Las Animas. The other regional game is #16 Haxtun vs #17 Ellicott. Haxtun finished 3rd in the District 2 tournament beating Holyoke. Haxtun is playing good basketball but drew a tough region and a tough first opponent as well. Haxtun most continue to play solid basketball. Ellicott had a solid run in the District 8 tournament falling just short to Simla in the championship. Ellicott will have to play two very good games to move into the Elite 8. I am picking Ellicott to beat Haxtun to advance. The Regional final would be between #1 Yuma and #17 Ellicott. Ellicott would have to play their best basketball game of the entire season to pull the upset. Ellicott must play great defense to have a shot at pulling the upset. Yuma must not overlook Ellicott or could end up in trouble. Yuma has played a tough schedule and I expect them to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 2 Predictions
#8 Ignacio over #25 Sanford, #9 Denver Christian over #24 Paonia, #9 Denver Christian over #8 Ignacio
#8 Ignacio won the District 3 tournament to host a region. Ignacio played a weaker schedule and really hurt their RPI. Ignacio will be tested in the opening game and if they advance will have to really fight to advance to state. Ignacio opens regional play against Sanford. Sanford played extremely well against Del Norte falling just short. Sanford is going to have to play a similar style game and hope they can pull the upset. Sanford will give Ignacio all they can handle and have a shot at pulling the upset. Ignacio must take care of the basketball and cannot overlook Sanford, or they could get upset. I am going Ignacio over Sanford in an extremely close game. The other regional game is #9 Denver Christian vs #24 Paonia. Paonia had a bit of a down year finishing 5th in the Western Slope. Paonia lost a great senior class and finding pieces to replace a great team was tough but this experience for them is good. Denver Christian comes into regionals with the #3 RPI and hoping to prove the numbers correct. Denver Christian played a very tough schedule and came out with a solid record. Denver Christian finished 2nd in District 4 losing to Limon in the Championship. Denver Christian has a really good shot at the Elite 8 but must make sure to take care of business against Paonia. I have Denver Christian over Paonia. The Regional final has #8 Ignacio vs #9 Denver Christian. This could be one of the better matchups in the Regional Final round. Ignacio will have to play their best basketball to beat a very good Denver Christian team. Denver Christian is in the same boat and must also play solid basketball and take care of the basketball to pull the upset. I am going Denver Christian over Ignacio to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 3 Predictions
#5 Swink over #28 Byers, #12 Wray over #21 Colorado Springs School, #5 Swink over #12 Wray
Region 3 features probably the best game in the Regional Final round if it happens. #5 Swink comes into the Regional Tournament on a hot streak and of course winners of the District 6 championship. Swink has played well all season and the RPI #’s did not help them. Swink should get things rolling in the first round but must not overlook their opponent. Swink plays Byers in the first round. Byers took 4th in District 4. I have Swink over Byers. The other Regional game is #12 Wray vs #21 Colorado Springs School. Colorado Springs School finished 3rd in District 8 and had a solid season. Colorado Springs School will need to play their best game of the entire season to pull of a huge upset. Wray finished second in District 2 falling short to Yuma. Wray is hoping to rebound against Colorado Spring School. Wray must make sure to not over look Colorado Springs School. I have Wray beating Colorado Springs School. The best Regional final game could be #5 Swink vs #12 Wray. This should be a game happening in the State Tournament, but these two teams will clash in the Sweet 16. In my opinion this will be the best game of the Regional tournament. Wray will have to find answers for a very solid Swink team. Wray best option is their height on the inside but must have answers for the solid guard play that Swink has. Swink must play good defense on the height that Wray has, and this game will come down to the wire. I am going with Swink due to guard play and their ability to shoot the ball. Swink wins by less than 5 points and advances to the Elite 8.
Region 4 Predictions
#4 Rangely over #29 Norwood, #13 Calhan over #20 Dayspring Christian, #4 Rangely over #13 Calhan
#4 Rangely got a regional host by beating Meeker in the District 5 Championship. Rangely has played well all season but question marks arise for how good the District 5 teams are. Rangely did not play a single team on the other side of the mountain and their biggest non-league win was against Rowland Hall-St. Marks UT but they were eliminated in the first round of the UT playoffs. Rangely will face #29 Norwood first. Norwood finished 3rd in District 3. Norwood had a tough year but played well enough to get a Regional berth. I am going Rangely over Norwood in the first round. The other game features #13 Calhan vs #20 Dayspring Christian. Dayspring Christian pulled a very nice upset of Highland in the District semifinals but fell short against Clear Creek in the finals. Dayspring Christian finished the season winning 6 of their final 7 games. Calhan took a big lose losing to Ellicott in the semifinals. Calhan did recover well and beat Colorado Springs School to finish 3rd in District 8. Calhan will need to play well to avoid the upset minded Dayspring Christian team. I am going with Calhan over Dayspring Christian. The Regional final could be #4 Rangely vs #13 Calhan. Calhan is looking to bounce back from their end of the year slump and will have to play back to back consistent games. Rangely is looking to show that they are a legit team from the Western Slope and I am picking them to beat Calhan and advance to the Elite 8.
Region 5 Predictions
#2 Simla over #31 Sargent, #15 Highland over #18 Fowler, #2 Simla over #15 Highland
Simla may be playing some of the best basketball of the season. Simla has only one lose on the season and that came way back on 1/20. Simla has bounced back with some very impressive wins and of course a District 8 title. Simla will be facing a tough Sargent team in the first round. Sargent finished 3rd in the District 1 tournament. Sargent beat Custer County and are also a very young team. Sargent has two senior leaders on the court but other wise young and this is a great experience for this team. Simla is looking to continue their run of good basketball and I am picking them over Sargent. The other game is #15 Highland vs #18 Fowler. This will be one of the better games in the first round. Fowler finished second in District 6 losing to Swink by 13 points. Fowler has played well so far, this year and will need to continue to do so if they plan on upsetting Highland. Highland finished 3rd in their District Tournament beating Lyons. Highland bounced back nicely after the upset and now we will have to see if they can continue to rebound from that loss. Highland is the favorite against Fowler and I expect this to be a close game. I am going with Highland over Fowler to advance. The Regional Final features #2 Simla vs #15 Highland. Highland will be looking to shock everyone and pull a huge upset. Highland will have to paly great basketball to pull the upset. Simla is looking to march into the Elite 8. I am going with Simla advance into the Elite 8.
Region 6 Predictions
#7 Clear Creek over #26 Custer County, #10 Meeker over #23 Lyons, #7 Clear Creek over #10 Meeker
Region 6 seems to have the most question marks out of all the regions. We have 3 teams that we are not 100% sure about. Clear Creek played a 3A schedule and only have 2 losses on the year. Clear Creek lost to Kent Denver and to Denver Christian both by less than 5 points. The Frontier League was way down this year and Clear Creek was not tested much in league. Clear Creek did win the District 7 title beating Lyons by 7 in the semifinals and Dayspring Christian in the finals by 24. Clear Creek plays #26 Custer County first and will be a good way to establish themselves in regionals. Custer County finished 4th in the District 1 tournament. Custer County had a solid stretch down the end of the season and pushed Del Norte to the end. Custer County will need to play great basketball again if they want to pull the upset. I am going Clear Creek over Custer County. The other two teams also have a ton of question marks. #10 Meeker vs #23 Lyons. Meeker played well in District 5 only losing to Rangely during the regular season and the District finals. Meeker also never play any teams from outside the Western Slope and have losses to Moffat County, Cedaredge, and Grand Valley. Meeker will be pushed in this first game and we will know how good they are. Lyons finished 4th in the District 7 Tournament. Lyons has been very inconsistent this year with close losses to Clear Creek and Heritage Christian but also a blowout loss to Highland. Lyons will need to find some consistency and if they do they could pull the upset. I am going with Meeker to play more consistent basketball and advance. The Regional Final between #7 Clear Creek and #10 Meeker looks to be a solid game. Meeker like Rangely is looking to prove they are a legit team and will have two good teams to prove it against. Clear Creek is also looking to show that they are a legit title contender. Clear Creek looks like they could be a real threat for a title but only if they can play well against two tough opponents. I am going with Clear Creek to beat Meeker.
Region 7 Predictions
#6 Del Norte over #27 Dolores, #11 Holyoke over #22 Vail Christian, #6 Del Norte over #11 Holyoke
Del Norte was tested in both games in the District 1 tournament but came out on top and beat Sanford for the District 1 title. Del Norte must regain some confidence and I think will be tested in the Regional Finals. Del Norte first must get passed Dolores in the first round. Dolores finished 2nd in the District 3 tournament. Dolores will be looking to shock everyone and pull a huge upset. I think Del Norte will regroup well and move past Dolores to the Regional Final. The other game is #11 Holyoke vs #22 Vail Christian. Vail Christian finished 4th in the District 5 Tournament. Vail Christian lost to Soroco 42-40 and now will be looking to rebound off back to back losses. Vail Christian at times has played well but also picked up bad losses. Vail Christian is looking for some consistency and look to pull an upset. Holyoke also finished fourth in the District 2 tournament. Holyoke was upset by Haxtun and are also on a two-game losing streak. Holyoke will be looking to bounce back and see if they can make a run for the Regional Final. I believe this game will come down to which team can bounce back first. I am going with Holyoke to beat Vail Christian. The Regional Final would be between #6 Del Norte vs #11 Holyoke. Holyoke will have to find a way to get over the top against top opponents. Holyoke lost both times to Yuma (By +10 points) and Wray (3 points). Holyoke is hoping to strike and pull and upset. Del Norte is also hoping to have awoken after back to back close wins. Del Norte must not get complacent and need to go out and take care of business. Del Norte needs consistent play from their starters and if they do could make a deep run into the playoffs. I am going with Del Norte over Holyoke by 10.
Region 8 Predictions
#3 Limon over #30 Hoehne, #19 Burlington over #14 Soroco, #3 Limon over #19 Burlington
Limon won the District 4 tournament beating Denver Christian by 8. Limon is looking to make it to the state tournament and are a very young team. They will be challenged though in the Regional Final. Limon in the first-round plays Hoehne. #30 Hoehne struggled down the stretch in District 6 play but then woke up in the District tournament upsetting Rocky Ford to qualify for Regionals. Hoehne then upset Las Animas to finish 3rd in District 6. Hoehne is going to need a ton to upset Limon but this is a good experience for this team. I am going with Limon to beat Hoehne. The other game is #14 Soroco vs #19 Burlington. Soroco played well during regular season play earning the #3 seed in the District tournament. Soroco fell short against Rangely in the semifinals but bounced back nicely beating Vail Christian in the 3rd place game. Soroco is hoping to play consistent basketball and advance into the Regional Final. Burlington is one of the scarier teams in 2A. Burlington played a brutal schedule including losses to Yuma, Wray, Lamar, Holyoke, Yuma, Limon, and Simla. Burlington though played all teams close and pushed Limon into double OT. Burlington then shocked everyone when they upset Wray a few weeks back. Burlington is the one team that if they can play consistent watch out. I am picking Burlington to upset Soroco and set up a huge rematch with Limon. The Regional Final would be Limon vs Burlington and it’s also a rivalry game. This will also be one of the better games in the Regional Finals. Burlington nearly pulled the upset on 2/3 losing in Double OT. Burlington will be looking to get over the hill and pull a monster upset. Limon is looking to avoid the OT game and take care of business. Limon must play consistent basketball and play their style of game. I am going with Limon in a close one over Burlington.
Elite 8 Teams
Yuma
Denver Christian
Swink
Rangely
Simla
Clear Creek
Del Norte
Limon
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