Class 2A Boys Basketball Weekly Update Week 4

Class 2A Boys Basketball Weekly Update Week 4

We have decided for the month of December to look at the top 10 teams and teams who are off to great starts.   We will look back at the past week plus look ahead to this week & weekend.  This will be the final update for the 2023 season.

#1 Wray (2-3)

Wray wraps up the 2023 portion of the season with a win against Chase County 57 to 50.  This was a key win going into the 2024 portion of the season.  Wray will open 2024 with a game against #7 Merino (4-1) on 1/5 before their last of state opponent for the season against Dundy County-Stratton (5-1) on 1/6. 

Players to Watch: Rafael Trejo Sr. (17.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg), AB Ruiz Sr. (10.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg), and Adonay Gonzalez Jr. (8.2 ppg & 2.8 apg)

#2 Simla (7-0)

Simla continued their hot start to the season picking up a pair of wins this past weekend.  Simla hosted their own tournament and walked away with a 2-0 record.  Simla defeated 3A Crested Butte 63 to 44 and 1A Sangre De Cristo 55 to 19.  Simla had one last game this week and defeating 3A Peyton  67 to 53.  Simla will open 2024 with a bang facing 1A #5 McClave (5-2) on 1/6 and then Byers (3-2) on 1/9.

(No Stats)

#3 Plateau Valley (5-1)

Plateau Valley moved to 5-1 on the season this past week picking up a quality win over 1A De Beque (4-2) 70 to 37.  Plateau Valley ends 2023 on a 5-game winning streak with quality wins over Prospect Ridge, Vail Christina, Telluride, Crested Butte, and De Beque.  Plateau Valley will open 2024 with a pair of matchups.  They face 3A Cedaredge (1-4) on 1/5 and 1A North Park (1-4) on 1/6.  After those games Plateau Valley moves into the league portion of their schedule.

Players to Watch: Jack Vig Jr. (18.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg), Jackson Bevan Jr. (10.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg), and Ethan Morse Sr. (8.6 ppg, 2.8 apg)

#4 Crowley County (7-0)

Crowley County improved to 7-0 on the season picking up a pair of wins during the C-Town Showdown.  Crowle County defeated 1A #7 Sierra Grande 67 to 57 and then defeated previously undefeated Calhan.  Both wins were quality wins and add to Crowley County resume.  Crowley County has completed their 2023 portion of the schedule.  Crowley County opens 2024 with game against 1A Kim/Branson (1-5) on 1/6 then another quality matchup with 1A Cheraw (4-1) on 1/9.  After those two games Crowley County open their league portion of the schedule.

(No Stats)

#5 Sanford (2-1)

Sanford improved to 2-1 on the season picking up a quality win over 3A #9 Centauri 57 to 54.  Sanford will have 3 games left on their 2023 portion of their schedule participating in the Katte Classic hosted by Denver Christian.  Sanford will open tournament play against 3A Thomas MacLaren (1-3) then await the winner between 4A Jefferson or 1A #6 Belleview Christian.  Sanford will open 2024 with a very tough schedule facing 4A #9 Pagosa Springs (6-1) and 4A Alamosa (5-2).

(No Stats)

#6 Limon (2-2)

Limon competed in the Bank of Colorado Tournament hosted by Yuma last week going 1-1.  Limon fell to 4A Sterling 50 to 45 before snapping their two-game losing streak defeating Rangely 73 to 26.  Limon has wrapped up their 2023 parts of the schedule.  Limon opens 2024 against 1A Genoa-Hugo (3-2) on 1/5 then face Dolores Huerta (0-5) on 1/6.  Limon won’t move into league play until 1/12 when they face Flagler.

Players to Watch: Jordan Rockwell Sr. (20.3 ppg, 3.3 apg), Aiden Kollath So. (8.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Treyton Marx Sr. (5.8 ppg, 11.0 rpg)

#7 Merino (4-1)

Merino competed in the NJC Tournament this past weekend and walked away as the Tournament Champions.  Merino went into the tournament playing just two games and sitting at 1-1.  Merino then defeated Prairie 57 to 29, Akron 63 to 32, and Holyoke in the Championship 57 to 53.  Merino now sits at 4-1 and with key momentum heading into the break.  Merino opens 2024 with a league game against #1 Wray (2-3) on 1/5 then face another ranked opponent in 1A #2 Peetz (4-1) on 1/6.

(No Stats)

#8 Mancos (4-1)

Mancos had a pair of games this past week and were looking for their first win over a varsity opponent.  Mancos faced rival Ignacio on 12/14 defeating them 67 to 42.  Mancos then hit the road to face Del Norte and defeated them 52 to 28.  Mancos now sits at 3-1 overall and played their final game of 2023 against Cedaredge last night.  They defeated Cedaredge last night 61 to 54.  Mancos enters the break with some momentum.  Mancos opens 2024 with three games in three days against Ouray (3-4) on 1/11, Thomas MacLaren (1-3) on 1/12, and Sanford (2-1) on 1/13.

Players to Watch: Brian Veach Sr. (17.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Kaiden Wyatt Jr. (10.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg), and Chris Medina Sr. (9.8 ppg, 1.4 apg)

#9 Holyoke (4-2)

Holyoke entered the NJC Tournament playing just 3 games and would add another three in three days.  Holyoke ended up finishing in second place in the NJC Tournament defeating Sedgwick County (52-47) and Haxtun (56-25).  Holyoke fell in the championship to Merino (57-53) but this was a great showing for Holyoke and a great way to end 2023.  Holyoke will open 2024 with a league game Caliche (2-3) on 1/5.

Players to Watch: Wyatt Sprague Sr. (17.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Cash Weber Sr. (12.7 ppg, 3.8 apg), Reid Sprague (9.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg)

#10 Heritage Christian (4-1)

Heritage Christian participated in a tournament this past weekend and played their final two games of 2023.  Heritage Christian defeated Prospect Ridge (58 to 57) which was a quality win for Heritage Christian.  Heritage Christian then defeated Hayden the following day 62 to 33 to go 2-0 on the weekend and push their record to 4-1.  Heritage Christian will open 2024 with 4 straight league games and will kick things off on 1/6 against Dayspring Christian (1-5).

(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 or close to being ranked.

Fowler (4-0)

Fowler played just one game last week defeating Las Animas 40 to 39.  Fowler will have three games remaining in 2023 participating in the Katte Classic hosted by Denver Christian.  Fowler will open the tournament against 1A Flatirons Academy (2-2) then will play either Denver Christian or Golden View Classical in the next round.  These three games are big games for Fowler to enter the break with some momentum.  Fowler will open 2024 with a pair of league games against Walsenburg (2-2) on 1/5 and possibly the league title matchup on 1/6 against Holly (6-1).

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)

Loveland Classical (7-0)

Loveland Classical is 7-0 to start the season and off to a great start.  Loveland Classical has some quality win on their schedule with wins over Addenbrooke Classical (2x), Golden View Classical, and Estes Park.  Loveland Classical has completed their 2023 schedule and will open 2024 with a pair of games on 1/11 against Rocky Mountain Lutheran (1-4) and possibly the league title game against Windsor Charter (8-1) on 1/12.

Players to Watch: Caedon Meyer Sr. (18.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Luke Sainz Sr. (12.6 ppg, 2.0 apg), Trevan Coberly Jr. (12.5 ppg, 3.3 spg)

Holly (6-1)

Holly participated in the Lamar Holiday Shootout this past weekend finishing in third place.  Holly defeated Granada to open tournament play before falling to 1A #5 McClave 53 to 39.  Holly did end the tournament and 2023 with a solid 49 to 10 win over Kit Carson.  Holly enters break with a 6-1 record and they will be looking for a solid end to the season.  Holly will open 2024 up with a possible league title matchup against Fowler (4-0) on 1/6.

Players to Watch: Truman King Jr. (17.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Devin Eaton Jr. (14.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg), Andre Salgado Sr. (11.4 ppg, 4.9 apg)

Byers (3-2)

Byers has wrapped up their 2023 portion of the schedule and ended the year on a high note defeating Elbert 53 to 38.  This is a quality win for Byers and gets them some key momentum heading into the 2024 portion of the schedule.  Byers will open 2024 with a pair of non-league games against Wiggins (2-4) on 1/5 and Simla (7-0) on 1/9.

Players to Watch: Quincy Eacret So. (14.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Chase Long Jr. (11.4 ppg, 3.8 apg), Zach Cary Sr. (10.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

Vail Mountain (3-2)

Vail Mountain is 3-2 to open the 2023/2024 schedule.  Vail Mountain has pair of quality wins under their belt defeating Lake County and Clear Creek (2x).  Vail Mountain will open 2024 with a pair of league games against Caprock Academy (2-5) on 1/11 and Rangely (2-4) on 1/13.  The 2A part of the Western Slope League will be interesting to see who steps up and makes a push to challenge Plateau Valley for the league crown. 

(No stats)

Sedgwick County (3-3)

Sedgwick County entered the NJC Holiday Tournament with a record on 1-2 overall and coming off a quality loss to 4A Pagosa Springs and quality win over Hoehne.  Sedgwick County fell in the opening round of the NJC Tournament to #9 Holyoke 52 to 47.  Sedgwick County then bounced back with a pair of wins over Dayspring Christian (61-26) and Wiggins (42-32).  Sedgwick County ended 2023 with a 3-3 record and momentum.  Sedgwick County will open 2024 with a league game against Akron (2-4) on 1/5.

(No stats)