Girls Basketball Class 3A Regional Predictions
Region 1 Predictions
#1 Kent Denver over #32 Eagle Ridge Academy, #16 Resurrection Christian over #17 Delta, #1 Kent Denver over #16 Resurrection Christian
Kent Denver grabbed the #1 seed via RPI. Kent Denver won the Metro league upsetting Lutheran in the finals. Kent Denver will be the favorite to make it to the Elite 8. Kent Denver opens Tournament play against #32 Eagle Ridge Academy. Eagle Ridge Academy secured their spot by finishing second in the Confluence League, losing to Weld Central in the finals. Kent Denver is looking to continue their great run this year. I am going Kent Denver over Eagle Ridge. The other game is #16 Resurrection Christian vs #17 Delta. Delta finished 4th in the Western Slope losing to Cedaredge for the fourth time. There are plenty of question about how good the Western Slope League was this year, and this will be a good test for Delta. Resurrection Christian finished 4th in the Patriot League losing to University in the 3rd Place game. Resurrection Christian struggled this year against quality opponents, but they have a good chance at reversing that against Delta. I am going with Resurrection Christian over Delta in a close game. The Regional Final puts #1 Kent Denver vs #16 Resurrection Christian. I am going Kent Denver to win big and advance to the Elite 8.
Region 2 Predictions:
#8 Moffat County over #25 Machebeuf, #9 Lutheran over #24 The Academy, #9 Lutheran over #8 Moffat County.
Region 2 Sweet 16 game looks to be a good one if it happens. #8 Moffat County won the Western Slope League to secure their playoff spot and to host a region. Moffat County had a very solid run in the Western Slope league and seem to be peaking at the right time. Moffat County opens tournament play against #25 Machebeuf. Machebeuf finished 6th in the Metro League losing to Jefferson Academy in the consolation finals. Machebeuf will need a solid performance to pull the upset. I am going with Moffat County to beat Machebeuf. The other game is #9 Lutheran vs #24 The Academy. The Academy qualified for State by winning the Frontier League. The Academy RPI was not high enough to host a region. The Academy had a great run toward the end winning 5 of 6 games. Lutheran started the season slow but once into league play really took off and have come together as a team. Lutheran lost in the Metro finals to Kent Denver but are playing good basketball. Lutheran has a really good chance at making it to the Elite 8 but will need back to back consistent games. I have Lutheran over The Academy. The Sweet 16 games between #8 Moffat County and #9 Lutheran will be one of the better games in the Sweet 16 rounds. I still have a lot of questions bout how good Moffat County is and they will be tested by Lutheran. I am going Lutheran over Moffat County for the spot in the Elite 8.
Region 3 Predictions
#5 Centauri over #28 Stargate School, #12 Manitou Springs over #21 Faith Christian, #5 Centauri over #12 Manitou Springs
Centauri did not end the year the way they wanted falling to Pagosa Springs in the IML final. Centauri did have a high enough RPI to host a region still and will have a good opening round game to bounce back. Centauri plays Stargate School in the first round. Stargate School finished 4th in the Confluence league but their RPI was high enough to get into the tournament. This will be a good experience for this team heading into next year. Centauri should cruise to a win over Stargate School. The other game is #12 Manitou Springs vs #21 Faith Christian. Faith Christian finished 4th in the Metro league losing to Colorado Academy by 3 in the 3rd place game. Faith Christian won their final 4 regular season games to get them into the State Tournament. Manitou Springs finished 5th in the Tri-Peak league. Manitou Springs was upset by Salida in the first round and then picked up back to back wins to finish 5th. Manitou Springs will have to find some answers as they have back to back tough games. Manitou Springs should beat Faith Christian, but they need to elevate their play to beat Centauri. I have Manitou Springs over Faith Christian. The Sweet 16 matchups between #5 Centauri and #12 Manitou Springs could be an interesting game. Manitou Springs played a tough schedule and are hoping the experience paid off. Centauri also played a tough schedule and will have some motivation to get into the Elite 8 following a tough IML loses. I am going Centauri over Manitou Springs by 20+ points.
Region 4 Predictions
#4 Colorado Springs Christian over #29 Brush, #13 Eaton over #20 St. Mary’s Academy, #4 Colorado Springs Christian over #13 Eaton.
CSCS picked up a massive upset over St. Mary’s in the Tri-Peaks final. CSCS seems to be playing great basketball and could have a tough game in the Sweet 16 looming. CSCS dominated league play besides Lamar and St. Mary’s. CSCS must be ready to play to get to the Elite 8. CSCS plays #29 Brush in the first round. Brush finished 6th in the Patriot league and really struggled against quality opponents this year. Brush lost to Resurrection Christian and Liberty Common in the League Tournament. Brush will need their best game of the season and then some to pull the upset. CSCS over Brush is my pick in the first round. The other game is #13 Eaton vs #20 St. Mary’s Academy. St. Mary’s Academy place in the Metro league losing to Lutheran and Jefferson Academy. St. Mary’s Academy will have to quickly bounce back to have any shot against Eaton. St. Mary’s Academy must find answer against good teams and have consistency. Eaton finished 2nd in the Patriot League losing to Sterling by 13 points. Eaton had some inconsistent play this year but for the tournament really need to turn it around. Eaton must get going in the first direction in round 1. I have Eaton over St. Mary’s Academy in round 1. The Sweet 16 games between CSCS and Eaton should be a solid test for CSCS. Eaton at times has played extremely well but must find answers against top opponents. CSCS is hoping to continue their roll this season. CSCS is playing well and hope to continue that. I have CSCS over Eaton to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 5 Predictions
#2 Pagosa Springs over #31 Middle Park, #18 University over #15 Grand Valley, #2 Pagosa Springs over #18 University
Pagosa Springs pulled a shocker in the IML finals upsetting Centauri to win the IML title. Pagosa Springs with the win jumped up to the #2 seed but still have a tough region ahead of them. Pagosa Springs plays #31 Middle Park in round 1. Middle Park finished 2nd in the Frontier League losing to The Academy in the finals. Middle Park drew a tough first round game and will have to play extremely well and have things fall their way to pull the upset. Pagosa Springs seems to have found some consistency and will need their team to continue that heading deeper into the Tournament. The other game is #15 Grand Valley vs #18 University. Grand Valley finished 2nd in the Western Slope league. Grand Valley fell short against Moffat County but also are playing extremely well. Grand valley will need their A game to beat a University is playing good basketball right now winning 4 of 5 games and are coming together as a team. University finished 3rd in the Patriot league beating Resurrection Christian. University will be a tough team to beat. University has played well against top opponents but have fell just short. I am going University over Grand Valley to advance to the sweet 16. The Sweet 16 matchups between #2 Pagosa Springs and #18 University will be a tough matchup. University has played well against better quality teams but will need to play their best game of the season to pull the upset. Pagosa Springs cannot overlook Grand Valley and must play solid basketball to advance. I am going Pagosa Springs over Grand Valley to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 6 Predictions
#7 Sterling over #26 Weld Central, #10 Lamar over #23 Alamosa, #10 Lamar over #7 Sterling
Sterling did not get any help from the RPI and drew a very tough region. Sterling won the Patriot league beating Eaton in the finals by 6 points. I have mentioned that Sterling is playing really good basketball and are peaking at the right time. Sterling will have their hands full against Weld Central in the first round. Weld Central won the confluence league and are having a solid season thus far. Weld Central will have to play their best game this season to pull the upset but they are well coached and well see if they can shock the world. I am going with Sterling over Weld Central to advance. The other game is #10 Lamar vs #23 Alamosa. Alamosa finished 3rd in the Intermountain League. Alamosa couldn’t seem to hang with Centauri and Pagosa Springs losing by double digits both games. Alamosa will need to figure out a way to stop a very solid Lamar team and shooting the ball extremely well could help. Lamar finished 3rd in the Tri-Peaks league beating Salida in the 3rd place game. Lamar struggled beating the teams ranked ahead of them but will need an upset win to advance to the Elite 8. I am going Lamar over Alamosa to advance. The sweet 16 games between #7 Sterling and #10 Lamar will be the best game in the Sweet 16. Sterling has not played any of the top 5 teams in the state and are looking to prove they are legit title threats. Lamar has the experience and a good coach to have them ready to play. Lamar will need to have a solid game from their main players, but I expect Lamar to beat Sterling in the finals.
Region 7 Predictions
#6 Cedaredge over #27 Liberty Common, #11 Jefferson Academy over #22 Vanguard, #11 Jefferson Academy over #6 Cedaredge
Region 7 is the weakest region out of them all. Cedaredge finished 4th in their league but still ended up with a home game due to RPI. Cedaredge will have to find what worked form them early in the season to try and bounce back. Cedaredge is facing #27 Liberty Common. Liberty Common finished 5th in the Patriot League. Liberty Common beat the teams they were supposed to this year but struggled against the top 4 teams in the Patriot League. Liberty Common will have to find some way to score points if they play on beating Cedaredge. I have Cedaredge over Liberty Common in round #1. The other game is #11 Jefferson Academy vs #22 Vanguard. Vanguard finished 7th in the Tri-Peaks league and will need to pull back to back upsets to advance to the Elite 8. Jefferson Academy finished 5th in the Metro League beating Machebeuf in the 5th Place game. Jefferson Academy must continue to come together as a team and must have solid consistency to advance. I have Jefferson Academy over Vanguard. The Sweet 16 matchups between #6 Cedaredge and #11 Jefferson Academy will be a good one. Cedaredge is struggling right now and must snap out of it. Jefferson Academy seems to be playing good basketball and are looking for the upset. I am going with #11 Jefferson Academy to upset #6 Cedaredge to advance to the Elite 8.
Region 8 Predictions
#3 St. Mary’s over #30 Roaring Fork, #14 Colorado Academy over #19 Salida, #3 St. Mary’s over #14 Colorado Academy
St. Mary’s comes into the first round after picking up their first loss of the season and falling to CSCS in the Tri-Peaks finals. St. Mary’s will now have to bounce back quickly to make a run for the Elite 8. St. Mary’s has a solid first game matchup and should be able to bounce back. St. Mary’s will play #30 Roaring Fork in the first round. Roaring Fork didn’t place in the Western Slope tournament but did enough during the regular season to snag the final playoff spot. Roaring Fork will be well rested and will need a lot to upset St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s should cruise to a round 1 win over Roaring Fork. The other game is #14 Colorado Academy vs #19 Salida. Salida pulled a huge upset beating Manitou Springs on their way to finish 4th. Salida will need another similar effort this week if they plan on upsetting Colorado Academy. Salida has played good basketball the end the year but will need to continue to have a shot at St. Mary’s. Colorado Academy finished 3rd in the Metro League. Colorado Academy has had problems with consistency and scoring the basketball. They do play great defense and that could help cause problems for teams. Colorado Academy is the favorite against Salida but cannot over look Salida. I am going with Colorado Academy over Salida to advance. The Sweet 16 matchups will be #3 St. Mary’s vs #14 Colorado Academy. Colorado Academy would need to play their best offensive and defensive game to pull the upset. St. Mary’s cannot overlook Colorado Academy or could find themselves in a tough spot. St. Mary’s is my pick to advance to the Elite 8.
Elite 8 Teams
Kent Denver
Lutheran
Centauri
Colorado Springs Christian
Pagosa Springs
Lamar
Jefferson Academy
St. Mary’s
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