Class 2A Boys Basketball Update
We have decided for the month of December to look at the top 10 teams and look at their past results and also look at the teams who are off to great starts but not ranked. This week we will look at the past two weeks and next week we will look back at the previous week and any remaining games until the Winter Break. (Rankings used were from MileHigh Prep Report)
#1 Wray (1-3)
Wray is off to a 1-3 start and I debated on moving them from the #1 spot. Wray has played a tough schedule with losses to #8 Class 3A Yuma, Goodland KS (4-0), and Colby KS (2-1). They have played one of the more difficult schedules to open 2023 and will help as they get deeper into the year. They did get a solid win over Burlington and have a big clash with Chase County NE (1-3) on 12/15 to end 2023.
Players to Watch: Rafael Trejo Sr. (17.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg), AB Ruiz Sr. (11.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg), and Adonay Gonzalez Jr. (9.0 ppg & 4.3 spg)
#2 Simla (4-0)
Simla is off to a fantastic start at 4-0. They opened the year ranked #7 and have quickly jumped to #2 following a four straight quality wins. Simla defeated Peyton to open the season 63 to 48 and followed that with an upset win over Limon 54 to 41 (I know Limon will only have minimal practices). Simla then continued the trend of quality wins with a 64 to 45 win over Holyoke and a 55 to 47 win over Merino. That is three ranked wins in 4 games. Simla hosts their own tournament this weekend and will face 3A Crested Butte who is 3-1.
(No Stats)
#3 Plateau Valley (4-1)
Plateau Valley has opened 2023 with a great string of games. Plateau Valley is 4-1 to open the year with a pair of wins over 3A opponents and a pair of quality wins over 2A opponents. Plateau Valley did open the year with a loss to 4A Aspen but bounced back the next day defeating 3A Prospect Ridge 81 to 63. Plateau Valley then picked up a pair of 2A wins over Vail Christian and Telluride both were regional teams from a season ago. Plateau Valley then handed 3A Crested Butte their only loss of the season 74 to 43. Plateau Valley will face De Beque (3-1) tonight and this is another quality matchup for the Cowboys.
Players to Watch: Jack Vig Jr. (18.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg), Jackson Bevan Jr. (10.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg), and Parker Ralston (7.0 ppg, 3.0 apg)
#4 Crowley County (4-0)
Crowley County is off to a great start at 4-0 and looking to push their record to 7-0 before heading into the new year. Crowley County so far has not played the toughest schedule with blowout wins over Rocky Ford, Walsenburg, and Granada. Walsenburg is a quality win as they should be much improved this season. Crowley County then picked up another quality win Saturday defeating 3A Florence 67 to 45. Florence is off to a rough start at 0-4 but look for them to still push for a regional spot. Crowley County will compete in the C-Town Showdown this weekend and face #5 1A Sierra Grande (3-1) in the opening round.
(No Stats)
#5 Limon (1-1)
Limon has played just two games to open 2023 after coming off a Class 1A State Football Championship. Limon defeated Wiggins 63 to 55 before falling to Simla 54 to 41. Limon will only improve as they get to practice together after the football season. Limon will close 2023 out competing in the Bank of Colorado Tournament in Yuma and face 4A Sterling in the opening round. This will be a great test for Limon after a couple weeks of practice.
(No Stats)
#6 Sanford (1-1)
Sanford has played three games to open 2023. Sanford fell to 3A #5 Salida to open 2023 but have since bounced back. Sanford bounced back against 3A Ignacio 52 to 44 and then picked up their best win over the season over 3A Centauri 57 to 54. Sanford will partake in the Katte Classic (hosted by Denver Christian) next weekend and that tournament features a ton of great schools and we will dive into that tournament more next week.
(No Stats)
#7 Merino (1-1)
Merino has played just two games to open 2023. Merino opened the year with a win over Flatirons Academy 61 to 42 before falling to #2 Simla 55 to 47. Merino will partake in the NJC tournament this weekend and open against Prairie (2-2). The NJC tournament is another top tournament and should test the Rams.
(No Stats)
#8 Mancos (1-1)
Mancos like a lot of other top ten 2A schools has played just two games so far this year. Mancos has opened 2023 with a 1-1 record defeating NVTO and falling to 5A Palisade 63 to 49. Mancos has a pair of games this week facing off against Ignacio (3-2) on 12/14 and then Del Norte (1-3) on 12/16. Both games will test the Bluejays.
Players to Watch: Brian Veach Sr. (23.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Kaiden Wyatt Jr. (9.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg), and Kail Wayman Sr. (8.0 ppg, 2.0 apg)
#9 Holyoke (2-1)
Holyoke has opened 2023 with a 2-1 record. Holyoke defeated St. Francis KS and then Burlington to open the year. Holyoke then fell to Simla 64 to 45. Holyoke will look to bounce back this weekend when they face Sedgwick County (1-2) in the NJC Tournament. This should be a great game for both teams. Holyoke will have 3 games in the NJC Tournament and that is how they will end their 2023 parts of the season.
Players to Watch: Wyatt Sprague Sr. (22.5 ppg, 4.0 spg), Cash Weber Sr. (17.0 ppg, 3.0 apg), Reid Sprague (8.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
#10 Heritage Christian (2-1)
Heritage Christian has played 3 games to open the 2023 season. Heritage Christian is 2-1 to start the year with wins over 3A Liberty Common and Hoehne. Heritage Christian did fall to 4A Pagosa Springs 64 to 49 but had a solid showing in that game. Heritage Christian will close out 2023 with a tournament facing 3A Prospect Ridge (2-2) and Hayden (3-3). Both games will be solid test for the Eagles.
(No Stats)
Team who are off to great starts and not ranked
We look at 6 teams who are not ranked but are off to a great start this season.
Holly (4-0)
Holly has opened the year at 4-0 and one of the few teams to play over 4 games to start the year. Holly defeated South Baca, Swink, and Swallows Charter. Holly best win so far is over 1A #5 Sierra Grande 63 to 54. Holly will close out 2023 participating in the Lamar Holiday Shootout where they will face Granada in the opening round. This tournament should be a solid test for Holly to end 2023.
Players to Watch: Truman King Jr. (20.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Devin Eaton Jr. (14.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg), Andre Salgado (14.0 ppg, 4.8 apg)
Fowler (4-0)
Fower is 4-0 to start the 2023-2024 basketball season. Fowler opened the year with wins over Evangelical Christian, Swallows Charter, C.S Christian, and Las Animas. Fowler picked up their fourth win of the season last night defeating Las Animas and adds another quality win to their record. Fowler will participate in the Katte Classic (Hosted by Denver Christian) next week.
Players to Watch: Gage Gottbehuet Sr. (16.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Harrison Proctor Sr. (8.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Dominic Armijo Jr. (7.0 ppg, 2.3 apg)
Denver Christian (1-2)
Denver Christian has opened their season with a 1-2 record but have competed in both losses to 3A Forge Christian and 4A Colorado Academy. Denver Christian got into the win column with a quality win over Byers 73 to 39. This win is huge going into the rest of December. Denver Christian will face DSST-Cedar (2-2) on Friday before hosting the Katte Classic next week.
(No Stats)
Byers (3-2)
Byers is 3-2 to open the season. Byers kicked 2023 off with a win over Flatirons Academy 86 to 74 before falling to Strasburg 77 to 47. Byers then got back to their winning ways defeating Bennett 67 to 34. Byers did fall last Friday to Denver Christian 73 to 39. Byers did get back to their winning ways last night defeating Elbert 55 to 38. Byers does not appear to play another game in 2023.
(No Stats)
Calhan (3-0)
Calhan is 3-0 to kick off 2023 and looking to build off the great start. Calhan has wins over Hanover, Kiowa, and Kit Carson. Calhan is still searching for that quality win but will get their shot in the C-Town Showdown. Calhan will open that tournament against Center and if they win will face either Crowley County or Sierra Grande.
(No Stats)
Sargent (4-0)
Sargent is the final team to mention. Sargent is off to their best start in some years at 4-0. Sargent won the T-Bird Tournament picking up wins over Cheraw, Center, and Sangre De Cristo. Sargent then moved to 4-0 defeating Sangre de Cristo again but this time by 30 points. Sargent won just 7 games last year and just 1 the previous year. Sargent will close 2023 with a quality game against 3A Ignacio on 12/15.
Players to Watch: Fernando Venzor Jr. (8.8 ppg, 2.0 spg), Hayden Lester Sr. (8.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Lucas Garcia Jr. (7.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
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