Boys Basketball League Predictions Class 3A

Boys Basketball League Predictions Class 3A

I am going to pick the Top 3 in Class 3A because in 3A only the Top 2 are guaranteed spots into the State Tournament.

Confluence/Colorado 8

1. DSST-Byers
2. DSST-Green Valley Ranch
3. Fort Lupton

The Confluence/Colorado 8 is once again shaping up to be one of the weaker Leagues in Class 3A.  A few of the top teams are making their moves into top positions.  Currently 4 team have .500 records and above they DSST-Byers, DSST-Green Valley Ranch, Lotus School (2A), and Fort Lupton.  DSST-Byers seems poised to win this league.  DSST-Byers has won 7 of 8 games in 2019 including a 21-point win over DSST-Green Valley Ranch.  DSST-Green Valley Ranch would be my pick for second place.  DSST-Green Valley Ranch has three losses in 2019 but have now won 4 straight games.  My pick for third place is Fort Lupton.  Fort Lupton at times has played good basketball but their last loss to Skyview raises some questions for Fort Lupton.

RPI #’s: #31 DSST-Byers, #45 DSST-Green Valley Ranch, #40 Fort Lupton

Frontier

1. DSST-Stapleton
2. The Academy
3. KIPP Collegiate

The Frontier League has one team rising to the top and that is DSST-Stapleton.  DSST-Stapleton has won the regular season title for the Frontier League and will go into the League tournament as the #1 seed.  My pick for second place is The Academy.  The Academy started the season going 0-4 but have played much better in 2019.  The Academy picked up a huge league win over Middle Park 62-42 to control their own destiny for the #2 seed in the league tournament.  The Academy has 2 games remaining with Arrupe Jesuit being their biggest challenge.  My pick for third place is KIPP Collegiate.  KIPP Collegiate beat Middle Park head to head and take over the #3 spot this week.

RPI #’s: #16 DSST-Stapleton, #33 The Academy, #34 KIPP Collegiate, #28 Middle Park

Intermountain

1. Centauri
2. Bayfield
3. Montezuma-Cortez

The Intermountain league has been a crazy race so far with many teams beating each other and we are getting ready for the second round of games.  Centauri has taken over the #1 spot in the IML this week.  Centauri picked up a big win for the second time over Bayfield.  Centauri still has three tough games remaining against Montezuma-Cortez, Alamosa, and Monte Vista.  Bayfield holds onto the #2 spot this week.  They did lose to Montezuma-Cortez in OT, but they split the season series.  Bayfield schedule is a bit easier than Cortez which is why I am giving them the #2 spot.  Montezuma-Cortez moves into the #3 spot beating Alamosa by 3 and Bayfield in OT.  Cortez has two tough games against Centauri and Monte Vista remaining.

RPI #’s: #7 Centauri, #11 Montezuma-Cortez, #18 Pagosa Springs, #22 Alamosa, #23 Bayfield, #43 Monte Vista

Metro

1. Manual
2. Faith Christian
3. Lutheran

Manual is in control of the Metro league but they cannot lock up the regular season title till they face Lutheran on 2/13.  That will be for the regular season title and the #1 seed in the League tournament.  Manual in my opinion may be playing the best basketball in Class 3A right now.  Faith Christian continues to hold the #2 spot.  Faith Christian has one league loss to Manual by 7.  Faith Christian has one game remaining against rival Kent Denver.  Faith Christian is also still in the hunt for the regular season title but need Lutheran to upset Manual.  Lutheran closes out the Top 3 teams.  Lutheran still has two league games remaining against Colorado Academy and Manual.  If Lutheran sweep the remaining games they can force a three way tie for first.

RPI #’s: #2 Manual, #3 Kent Denver, #4 Lutheran, #6 Faith Christian, #13 Colorado Academy, #25 Jefferson Academy, #35 Peak to Peak, #38 Machebeuf

Patriot

1. Sterling
2. Resurrection Christian
3. Platte Valley

Sterling is your regular season league champion and have just one league game remaining against University.  Sterling does have a big non-league game remaining against Lutheran on 2/15 and that will be a huge RPI and possibly big game for seeding the state tournament.  Resurrection Christian can lock up second place and the #2 seed in the district tournament if they win tonight 2/8 against Liberty Common.  Two teams sit tied for the #3 seed and they are Eaton and Platte Valley.  Platte Valley beat Eaton head to head and have the tie breaker.  Platte Valley will have to avoid being upset by Valley or Brush in their final two games.  Eaton would need some help to jump Platte Valley but must take care of their own business to finish 4^th.

RPI #’s: #1 Sterling, #5 Resurrection Christian, #19 Eaton, #24 Platte Valley, #26 University, #27 Frontier Academy, #29 Valley, #36 Strasburg, #46 Estes Park

Tri-Peaks

1. Vanguard
2. S Christian
3. Mary’s

Vanguard is in control currently of the Tri-Peaks with a two-game lead over the other teams.  Vanguard needs just one win this weekend to lock up the regular season title and the #1 seed in the district tournament.  Figuring out 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th in the Tri-Peaks was tough.  C.S Christian, St. Mary’s, and Lamar all have two losses and have all beat each other.  The tie could be broken if any of the teams are upset in the final two weeks of the season.  C.S Christian plays Ellicott and Florence both very winnable games for C.S Christian.  St. Mary’s plays Ellicott and James Irwin again both very winnable games.  Lamar plays James Irwin, Salida, and La Junta.  Lamar will be the favorite in all three games but the one game that has me concerned is La Junta.  That is a rivalry game and you just can’t predict what happens in a rivalry game.  I am interested to see the tie-breaker if all three teams run the table.  For the League tournament seeding is key and you want the #2 and #3 seed to avoid Vanguard.  Since I don’t know the tie breaker I will use the RPI to break the tie and that puts C.S Christian at #2 with St. Mary’s at #3 and that is who I am picking at #2 and #3.  If anyone knows the tie breaker let me know.

Western Slope

1. Delta
2. Roaring Fork
3. Coal RIdge

What a surprise the Western Slope league has turned into.  The preseason favorite to win the Western Slope league is sitting 5^th in the league standings.  Coal Ridge has lost to Gunnison, Delta, and Grand Valley and now are hoping to rise the league standing to try and improve their seed for the league tournament.  My pick for first place in the Western Slope league goes to Delta.  Delta has played well in 2019 picking up two losses to 4A opponents Montrose and Palisade.  Delta has taken care of business against League opponents beating Roaring Fork, Coal Ridge, and Grand Valley.  Delta cannot lock up a regular season league title until they face Gunnison on 2/14 or get a few upsets to help.  My pick for second place in the league is Roaring Fork.  Roaring Fork picked up a big 14-point win over Gunnison last weekend.  Roaring Fork has just 1 loss in 2019 but their remaining schedule will test to see how far this team has come.  Roaring Fork big remaining games are Coal Ridge on 2/12 and Grand Valley on 2/14.  My pick for third place is Coal Ridge.  Coal Ridge has had a rough 2019 but I think once they get into the tournament they will pick things up.  Coal Ridge should be able to win 2 of their final 3 games to help their league standings.  If Coal Ridge can finish with the #4 or #5 seed, they will get their shot at Delta and still have a shot in the third place game to finish 3^rd.