Class 1A Girls Basketball Regional Predictions
Regionals is here and it’s win or go home time. Reaching regionals is one of many steps for teams looking to reach the State Championship. If I had to pick 3 potential great games they would be: Lone Star vs Merino, Sangre De Cristo vs Kit Carson, Cheyenne Wells vs Kim/Branson. Good Luck to all teams competing this weekend at regionals.
Region 1
Flatirons Academy over North Park
Flatirons Academy comes in with a record of 19-2 and coming off a dominate performance in their District Tournament. They have bounce back well since their last loss to Lone Star. North Park comes in at 13-8 and a second-place finish in their district. North Park and Flatirons Academy have faced off before with Flatirons winning by 30+ points. I expect a closer matchup this time around, but I still feel like Flatirons Academy gets the win and advances to the State Tournament.
Dove Creek over Rocky Mountain Lutheran
Dove Creek enters regionals with a 20-1 record and a dominate run thru the 2A San Juan League. Dove Creek cruised to the District Title and now look for a berth to state. Rocky Mountain Lutheran enters with a 11-9 record and second place in their district. They will have to play their best game of the season to upset Dove Creek. I think Dove Creek cruises in this game and reaches the state tournament.
Region 2
For Region 2 and 3 it’s split into 3 pods with the winner of each pod going to the state tournament.
Bracket 1
Stratton over Simla
This should be a great game. Stratton finished in 3rd place in their District and Simla finished in 2nd place in their District. Both teams enter with some momentum, but I think Simla could be playing their best basketball. I think Stratton gets the win but should come down to the wire.
Briggsdale over Stratton
Briggsdale will look to continue their dominate run this season. They were tested in the District finals and look for them to get back on track. Stratton, I think pushes them early, but I think Briggsdale pulls away late. Briggsdale is my pick to advance to the state tournament.
Bracket 2
Kiowa over Idalia
Another good regional round game and should come down to the wire. Idalia must have big performances from Camren Morris and Kiowa will look to match with Kendra Byrd. Kiowa has the momentum and I think are able to snag the win late over Idalia, but this will be a great game.
Fleming over Kiowa
I think the winner of Kiowa and Idalia will be tired because I think it will be a good game. Fleming will be well rested and Fleming always plays well this time of year. Fleming will be tested by either Kiowa or Idalia but I expect Fleming to pull away in the second half and advance to the State Tournament.
Bracket 3
Lone Star over Elbert
Lone Star enters winning their District Tournament and Elbert enters regionals finishing in third place. Elbert was able to pull everything together and upset ECA in the third-place game. Lone Star has shown they can play with the best and I think get the win over Elbert.
Lone Star over Merino
I think this is the best game in Region 2. Merino will be the better rested team but I think Lone Star has the momentum. Lone Star has proven they can beat the top teams and last year nearly knocked off #2 seeded Kit Carson. Merino has also shown they can play with the best losing by just 5 to #1 Briggsdale. This will come down to who gets hot in this game. Both teams feature top scorers and I think this will be a great game. I am going with the upset Lone Star over Merino.
Region 3
Bracket 1
South Baca over Centennial
South Baca will be looking to shake off their District final loss to Springfield when they face Centennial. Centennial will also be looking to shake off their District final loss to Sangre De Cristo. Centennial regional appearance is the first in many years. They have shown they can hang with the top teams but must have big performances from the Maestas sisters. South Baca is a perennial power and their experience plus more of a rounded scoring helps them get by Centennial.
McClave over South Baca
McClave and South Baca have faced off before with McClave winning by 10. I expect another good matchup and defense will be key in this game. McClave is coming off a hard-fought win over Kit Carson and maybe some weakness were exposed. I still think McClave gets the win but must get back on track from their leading scorers.
Bracket 2
Kit Carson over Springfield
Another good matchup in the opening round of regionals. Springfield is coming off a District Tournament win and with back-to-back hard-fought wins could give them some needed momentum. Kit Carson finished in second place in their District but nearly upset McClave. These two teams faced each other earlier in the season with Kit Carson getting the win. I expect a much closer game this time around, but I think Kit Carson gets the win.
Sangre De Cristo over Kit Carson
I think the best game in region 3 happens here. Sangre De Cristo and Kit Carson are both perennial regional teams and state tournament teams. Sangre De Cristo will be well rested and have shown they can hang with the best teams losing in OT to Sanford. Sangre De Cristo must play better than they did at District to get by Kit Carson. Kit Carson will have the momentum with the win the day before, but guard play will be very important in this game. I am going with Sangre De Cristo in a barn burner over Kit Carson.
Bracket 3
Kim/Branson over Sierra Grande
Kim/Branson finished in 3rd place in their District bouncing back from a tough 3 point loss to Springfield in the semifinals. Sierra Grande also finished in 3rd place in their District bouncing back from a loss to Centennial. Kim/Branson has the experience and I think that proves to be the difference in this game. Sierra Grande will need to play their best game this season to try and upset Kim/Branson.
Cheyenne Wells over Kim/Branson
This will be another great game in the regional round. Cheyenne Wells finished in third place after being upset by Kit Carson in the semifinals. Cheyenne Wells will look to regain momentum and this young team will need to get over the jitters as well. Kim/Branson does have the experience but must get their offense going. Cheyenne Wells defeated Kim/Branson early in the year by 9 and I expect another classical this time around. Cheyenne Wells is my pick over Kim/Branson.
State Tournament
Here are the 8 teams I think qualify for the State Tournament:
Flatirons Academy
Dove Creek
Briggsdale
Fleming
Lone Star
McClave
Sangre De Cristo
Cheyenne Wells
My guess at the State Tournament seeding based on my predictions. I used RPI but also looked at head-to-head and common opponents. I think this could go in many different ways. This first seeding is using head-to-head and RPI.
#1 Briggsdale vs #8 Lone Star
#4 Fleming vs #5 Sangre De Cristo
#2 McClave vs #7 Cheyenne Wells
#3 Flatirons Academy vs #6 Dove Creek
This is seeded using RPI only.
#1 Briggsdale vs #8 Lone Star
#4 Flatirons Academy vs #5 Dove Creek
#2 McClave vs #7 Cheyenne Wells
#3 Fleming vs #6 Sangre De Cristo
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