Class 3A Girls Basketball First Round Playoff Predictions

Class 3A Girls Basketball First Round Playoff Predictions

The State Basketball Playoff Brackets were released this yesterday and we kick State Tournament playoff tonight.  We move right into my First Round Predictions.  I will also have my full Playoff Predictions released later but want to get my round-by-round predictions completed.  First thing I want to say congratulations to all teams that made the State Brackets.  Second, this is all for fun and just my predictions.  I always enjoy having conversations about my missed picks and like seeing everyone predictions as well.  Finally, let’s play basketball!!

#16 Lamar over #17 Basalt

Lamar enters the playoffs with an 10-2 record and finished 3^rd inside the Tri-Peaks.  Lamar won their final 4 games and found big success this season.  Lamar is led in scoring by So. Abby Robbins (14.8 ppg), Jr Alee Tice (6.3 ppg), and So. Sydney Dunning (5.5 ppg).  Lamar went 2-2 against tournament teams.  Basalt enters the playoffs with an 9-3 record and finished 3^rd in the Western Slope League.  Basalt had a big turnaround this season after finishing with a losing record a year ago.  Basalt is led in scoring by Sr. Gracie Reardon (13.9 ppg), Sr. Riley Dolan (8.7 ppg), and So Ava Lane (5.5 ppg).  Basalt went 2-3 against tournament teams.  I am going with Lamar over Basalt.  Lamar has shown they can play with anyone and proved it with their win over St. Mary’s.  Neither team have playoff experience from a year ago and will be a good test for both teams.

#9 Pagosa Springs over #24 Grand Valley

Pagosa Springs enters the playoffs with an 10-3 record and finished second in the Intermountain League.  Pagosa Springs only lost to playoff teams and ended the season winning 3 of their final 4 games.  Pagosa Springs is led in scoring by Sr. Adelyn Dozier (13.9 ppg), Jr. Molly Graham (12.2 ppg), and So. Chantelle Caldwell (7.8 ppg).  Pagosa Springs went 2-3 against tournament teams.  Grand Valley enters the playoffs with an 8-6 record and finished 6^th in the Western Slope league.  Grand Valley won 4 of their 6 last games to get into the playoffs with an upset of Coal Ridge in the process.  Grand Valley is led in scoring by So. AbbeyRose Parker (16.0 ppg) and Fr. Jaycee Pittman (12.6 ppg).  Grand Valley went 1-4 against playoff teams.  I am going with Pagosa Springs over Grand Valley.  Grand Valley is a young team and any playoff experience will be huge for them going forward.  Pagosa Springs has playoff experience and are always a threat in the tournament. 

#12 Moffat County over #21 Manitou Springs

Moffat County enters the playoffs with an 9-3 record and finishing second in the Western Slope League.  Moffat County won their final 4 games to enter the playoffs on a hot streak.  Moffat County is led in scoring by Sr. Emaleigh Papierski (14.3 ppg), So. Cayden King (11.4 ppg), and Jr. Halle Hamilton (9.3 ppg).  Moffat County went 3-3 against tournament teams.  Manitou Springs enters the playoffs going 6-3 overall and finishing 4^th in the Tri-Peaks.  Manitou Springs had a two week break due to covid but ended the season winning 2 of their final 3 games including a key win over C.S Christian in OT.  Manitou Springs is led in scoring by So. Grace Allen (12.4 ppg), Jr Alexia Vigil (11.7 ppg), and Sr. Alexis Harper (5.7 ppg).  Manitou Springs went 0-3 against tournament teams.  I am going with Moffat County over Manitou Springs.  Moffat County has the playoff experience plus have key wins over playoff teams.  Manitou Springs has a young team and will be good experience for them going into next year.

#13 Resurrection Christian over #20 Peak to Peak

Resurrection Christian enters the playoffs with an 10-4 record and finished 5^th n the Patriot League.  Resurrection Christian ended the season winning their final 5 games including an upset of Heritage Christian on Friday.  Resurrection Christian is led in scoring by Fr. Mackenzie Fikkema (12.9 ppg), Jr. Bryliegh Schweer (10.4 ppg), and Jr. Taylor Wright (9.1 ppg).  Resurrection Christian went 2-4 against tournament teams.  Peak to Peak enters the playoffs with an 8-3 record and a 3^rd place finish in the Metro League.  Peak to Peak had a losing season a year ago and this season had a big turnaround.  Peak to Peak is led in scoring by Jr. Mattie Stevens (12.6 ppg), Jr. Mary Reilly (11.9 ppg), and So. Rory West (6.3 ppg).  Peak to Peak went 2-2 against tournament teams.  I am going with Resurrection Christian over Peak to Peak.  I think this has the potential to be a very good game.  Resurrection Christian does have the experience over Peak to Peak but both teams will look to score and should be a fun game.

#15 Coal Ridge over #18 Ellicott

Coal Ridge enters the playoffs with an 11-3 record and finished 4^th in the Western Slope League.  Coal Ridge won their final 4 game to help clinch a home playoff game.  Coal Ridge is led in scoring by Sr. Taylor Wiescamp (16.7 ppg) and So. Jackie Camunez (9.6 ppg).  Coal Ridge went 1-3 against tournament teams.  Ellicott enters the playoffs at 9-4 and finished 5^th in the Tri-Peaks League.  Ellicott finished the year winning 4 of their final 6 games.  Ellicott has shown they can hang with the top teams, but can they take the final steps to beat a tough team.  Ellicott went 0-4 against tournament teams but were not blown out in any of those games.  I am going Coal Ridge over Ellicott.  This should be one of the better games in the first round.  I changed my pick multiple times while writing this and both teams have had big ups and downs.  I am going with the senior leadership of Coal Ridge to snag a close win.

#10 The Academy over #23 Valley

The Academy enters the playoffs with an 9-1 record and winners of the Frontier League.  The Academy won their final 4 games including a big win over Kent Denver.  The Academy is led in scoring by Jr. Aryanna Perez (21.3 ppg) and Jr. Mikylah Espinosa (18.4 ppg).  The Academy went 1-1 against tournament teams.  Valley enters the playoffs with a 8-6 record and finished 7^th in the Patriot League.  Valley was able to win 3 of their final 5 games to sneak into the playoffs.  Valley is led in scoring by Hallee Sherman (7.0 ppg), Makayla Kissler (6.9 ppg), and Marcela Carvajal (6.9 ppg).  Valley played a tough schedule going 0-6 against tournament teams.  I am going with The Academy over Valley.  I think The Academy has to much firepower for Valley, but this is very big experience for a Valley team.

#11 St. Mary’s over #22 Colorado Academy

St. Mary’s enters the playoffs with a 12-2 record and finished 2^nd in the brutal Tri-Peak League.  St. Mary’s won their final 3 games including key wins over Ellicott and Manitou Springs.  St. Mary’s is led in scoring by Jr. Ellie Hartman (19.8 ppg), Jr. Payton Kutz (13.8 ppg), and Fr. Maeve Salveson (12.3 ppg).  St. Mary’s went 3-2 against tournament teams.  Colorado Academy enters the playoffs with a 7-2 record and finished 4^th in the Metro League.  Colorado Academy won their final 3 games to get into the playoffs.  Colorado Academy is led in scoring by Sr. Ella Freimuth (12.9 ppg), Jr. Erishai Okra (9.4 ppg), and Fr. Alex May (9.3 ppg).  Colorado Academy went 0-2 against tournament teams.  I am going with St. Mary’s over Colorado Academy.  St. Mary’s has a ton of tradition and this year can score with the best of teams with 4 players over 10 ppg.  Colorado Academy will have to play their best defensive game to limit scoring, but I think St. Mary’s have too much fire power.

#19 Sterling over #14 Kent Denver

Kent Denver enters the playoffs with an 9-3 record and finished second in the metro league.  Kent Denver had a ton of success this season but did end the season losing two of their final 3 games.  Kent Denver is led in scoring by Amanda Licht (16.1 ppg), Sr. Sloan Hurley (7.6 ppg), and Jr. Kaci Karl (5.1 ppg).  Kent Denver will need a huge performance from Licht to move int the next round.  Kent Denver went 2-2 against tournament teams.  Sterling enters the playoffs at 8-6 and finished 6^th in the tough Patriot League.  Sterling ended the season on a 3-game winning streak and played tough in the Patriot League.  Sterling has found some key success for their women’s program.  Sterling is led in scoring by Hailey Fehringer (8.5 ppg), Jr. Jaden Newson (6.7 ppg), and So. Jalyssa Maker (6.5 ppg).  Sterling went 2-5 against tournament teams.  I am going with Sterling over Kent Denver in the upset.  Sterling played the tougher schedule and flew past Faith Christian in their final game of the season.  Kent Denver will need a huge performance from Licht to avoid the upset.