Class 3A Girls State Tournament Predictions

Class 3A Girls State Tournament Predictions

Doug Wright and I have come together and predicted are Class 3A State Tournaments. For my predictions I am just listing them, but Doug Wright has dived into much more depth. I would like to Thank Doug for helping with the Metro League breakdown and the Class 3A State Tournament Predictions. I look forward to next year!

Class 3A State Tournament Predictions (Doug Wright)

The 3A girls State championship Great Eight features three Patriot League schools, two each from the Tri-Peaks and Intermountain Leagues, and Delta from the Western Slope League. A quintet of Metro League teams failed to advance this weekend, including perennial State championship contender Lutheran, reinforcing the notion that the strength of smaller school girls’ basketball resides outside of metro Denver. Here are my Great Eight projections, which rely in part on the participants’ experience in the championship crucible the past few years:

St. Mary’s over The Vanguard School. St. Mary’s defeated Vanguard 82-39 in January. Enough said…

Pagosa Springs over Delta. A good matchup, but the experience of Pagosa Springs and Coach Wes Lewis from multiple Great 8 or better State championship runs will prove decisive. Unfortunately for the Pirates, a Final Four date with St. Mary’s follows.

Eaton over Brush. The 18^th seed Beetdiggers pulled off two huge upsets to get to DU, including ending the undefeated season of #2 seed The Academy despite committing 33 turnovers (a 22-29 vs. 4-8 free throw differential made the difference for the ‘Diggers). Their fairy tale postseason run ends, however, against their Patriot League rival Reds. This could be a close game if the 45-44 Eaton win at Brush is any teacher. Experience from a second consecutive March visit to the University of Denver will prove the difference for Eaton.

Centauri over University. This could be the best game of the tournament thus far. University ran the gauntlet of the Patriot League, going undefeated both in the regular season and in the league tournament and taking out fellow Great 8 competitors Eaton and Brush en route to the league tournament title. Led by two coach’s daughters the Kravig sisters, the Bulldogs’ only losses this season were in December to #1 and #2 seeds St. Mary’s and The Academy, respectively. Centauri also faced stiff competition in the Intermountain League; only three losses to archrival seemingly Kryptonite-possessing Pagosa Springs kept the Falcons from an undefeated season. We think Centauri’s multiple consecutive years’ experience in Great Eights will propel it into a Final Four berth this year.

3A Final Four

St. Mary’s over Pagosa Springs. In a battle of the Pirates, St. Mary’s is just too experienced—and too talented—to be denied.

Centauri over Eaton. This should be a tight battle for the right to lose to St. Mary’s in the championship game. A toss-up between two solid, well-coached teams that may come down to the last shot.

3A Championship Game

St. Mary’s over Centauri. A three-peat for the Pirates, and a fitting conclusion to the careers of a quartet of fine players—Catherine Cummings, Seneca Hackley, Josephine Howery and Brooklyn Valdez.

3A Third Place Game

Pagosa Springs over Eaton. The Pirates avenge a two-point loss to the Reds in last year’s third place game.

Class 3A State Tournament Predictions (Anthony)

Great 8

#1 St. Mary’s over #9 Vanguard

#5 Pagosa Springs over #4 Delta

#10 Eaton over #18 Brush

#6 Centauri over #3 University

Final 4

#1 St. Mary’s over #5 Pagosa Springs

#6 Centauri over #10 Eaton

Championship Round