Class 2A Boys Basketball Weekly Update Week 6
For the next 3 weeks of January, we will continue to look at the top 10 ranked teams via the MileHigh Prep Report Rankings and 6 other teams who are just outside of the rankings. Then during the final week of January until Districts we will switch to breaking down the playoff bubble. This week we will look back at the past week plus look ahead to this week & weekend.
#1 Simla (9-0)
Simla has kicked off 2024 with another quality win to their schedule. Simla defeated 1A #6 McClave this past week 58 to 44. That win moved Simla to 8-0 on the season and helped move them into the top ranked spot in Class 2A. Simla started this week with another key win over Byers 76 to 45. Simla continues to add to their impressive total of key wins including Peyton (2X), Limon, Holyoke, Merino, Crested Butte, Sangre De Cristo, and McClave. Simla will face Burlington this Friday (1/12) in another key matchup.
(No Stats)
#2 Plateau Valley (7-1)
Plateau Valley opened 2024 on the right foot with a pair of wins. Plateau Valley kicked the 2024 part of their schedule with a 63 to 39 win over 3A Cedaredge and the following night defeated 1A North Park 61 to 17. Plateau Valley improved to 7-1 on the season and they will face their rival Rangely on Thursday (1/11). This is not a league game but will be important for momentum as they head into the league part of their schedule.
Players to Watch: Jack Vig Jr. (15.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg), Jackson Bevan Jr. (12.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg), and Ethan Morse Sr. (9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Parker Ralston Sr. (8.2 ppg, 3.0 apg)
#3 Crowley County (8-0)
Crowley County continued their great start to the season moving to 8-0 on the season with a 61 to 41 win over Kim/Branson last Saturday. Crowley County faced another quality opponent last night in Cheraw, no final score has been reported. Crowley County schedule to open 2024 is a tough one and they will face the majority of the challengers for the league crown by the end of January. Crowley County gets back into league play with a tough matchup against Swink (4-4) on Friday (1/12).
(No Stats)
#4 Merino (6-1)
Merino kicked open the door to 2024 with a pair of quality wins and jumping up the rankings. Merino opened 2024 upsetting previous #1 Wray 46 to 31 on the road. Merino then followed that win up with another quality win at home defeated 1A #2 Peetz 62 to 47. Merino jumped from #8 in the rankings to #4 and is now viewed as one of the favorites to win the LPAA. Merino will move back into league play on Friday (1/12) when they travel to Wiggins (3-5). Merino will end their weekend with a non-league quality matchup against 1A Genoa-Hugo (4-3).
(No Stats)
#5 Denver Christian (6-2)
Denver Christian ended 2023 on a high note winning the Kate Classic defeating 1A #3 Belleview Christian 53 to 44. Denver Christian opened 2024 play with a win over Lyons 47 to 27. Denver Christian improved to 6-2 on the season and will face another top opponent this weekend. Denver Christian will host #6 Wray on Saturday (1/13). This will be another quality test for a Denver Christian team who has flown up the rankings to end 2023 and start 2024.
(No Stats)
#6 Wray (4-4)
Wray opened 2024 with a mixed bag of results. Wray fell at home to Merino 46 to 31 and that caused them to fall from #1 to #6 in the rankings. Wray then had a great bounce back game defeating Dundy County-Stratton (8-3) 64 to 57. That was a quality win that Wray needed and a big bounce back game. Wray moved into the second week of 2024 with another quality win over Burlington last night 77 to 27. Wray is back at the .500 mark on the season. Wray has a pair of games this weekend as they play their second league game against Akron (3-4) on Friday (1/12). Wray then will face #5 Denver Christian on the road on Saturday (1/13). This will be another big test for Wray as they look to jump back up in the rankings.
Players to Watch: Rafael Trejo Sr. (16.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg), AB Ruiz Sr. (9.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg), and Adonay Gonzalez Jr. (8.3 ppg & 2.4 apg), Aaron Tena So. (7.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
#7 Limon (5-2)
Limon played just 4 games in 2023 and entered 2024 with a 2-2 record. Limon kicked off 2024 with a pair of wins over Genoa-Hugo 66 to 38 and Dolores Huerta 74 to 38. Limon is now on a 3-game winning streak and is over the .500 mark. Limon continued their hot start to 2024 defeating Calhan last night 87 to 30. Limon now sits at 5-2 on the season and move back into league play this Friday. Limon will face Flagler (3-4) this Friday (1/12). Limon will close out the weekend with a non-league matchup on Saturday (1/13) against Elbert (3-2).
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)
#8 Sanford (4-4)
Sanford has opened the 2024 part of their schedule on a 2 game slide falling to 4A Pagosa Springs 62 to 34 and 4A Alamosa 32 to 31. Both losses for Sanford are quality losses but things don’t get much easier for Sanford this weekend. Sanford with play a pair of non-league games this weekend. Sanford will hit the road to face Escalante NM (7-3) on Friday (1/12). Sanford then ends the weekend with another quality matchup against #9 Mancos (4-1) on Saturday (1/13). Sanford will look for momentum before they move into league play.
(No Stats)
#9 Mancos (4-1)
Mancos ended 2023 on a 3-game winning streak including a quality win over Ignacio. Mancos has not opened play yet in 2024 but have a trio of games this week/weekend. Mancos will kick things off with a league game against 1A Ouray (4-4) on Thursday (1/11). Mancos then moves out league play with a pair of quality matchups against Thomas MacLaren (5-4) on Friday (1/12) and Sanford (4-4) on Saturday (1/13). All three games will be great tests for Mancos to kick off 2024.
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), Kail Wayman Sr. (7.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
#10 Heritage Christian (6-1)
Heritage Christian opened play in 2024 with a win over Dayspring Christian 57 to 21. That win over Dayspring Christian moved Heritage Christian to 5-1 on the season and winners of 5 straight games. Heritage Christian continued their hot start defeating Union Colony Prep last night 82 to 20 to improve to 6-1 on the season. Heritage Christian has just one game this weekend facing league opponent Lyons (1-6) on Friday (1/12).
Players to Watch: Raul Bertinato Sr. (12.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg), Alex Lundy So. (12.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Levi Hermsen Jr. (11.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
#10 Holyoke (6-2)
Holyoke kicked off play in 2024 with a win over Caliche 58 to 42 to improve to 5-2 on the season. Holyoke faced Haxtun last night picking up another league win 71 to 26 over Haxtun and improving to 6-2 on the season. Holyoke will stay in league this Friday when they face 3A #4 Yuma (6-1). This will be a big test for Holyoke to start the new year. Holyoke will end the weekend with a non-league game against Pine Bluffs WY (2-10) on Saturday (1/13).
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)
Other Teams just outside of the top 10
We look at 6 teams who are not ranked but are off to a great start this season.
Fowler (7-2)
Fowler is currently just outside the rankings as they move into the 2024 portion of their schedule. Fowler has started 2024 on the right foot defeating Walsenburg 58 to 35 and then grabbing a huge win over Holly 47 to 33. Fowler with the win over Holly has to be considered one of the two favorites to win the Ark Valley League. Fowler will face another key test this Friday when they host Hoehne (4-3). Fowler ends the weekend with a league game against Rocky Ford (1-7) on Saturday (1/13).
Players to Watch: Gage Gottbehuet Sr. (16.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg), Harrison Proctor Sr. (8.5 ppg, 3.5 apg), Cael True Jr. (6.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Hagen McCuistion Jr. (6.4 ppg, 2.1 apg)
Loveland Classical (7-0)
Loveland Classical opened 2024 play last night defeating Ascent Classical 68 to 32. Loveland Classical has improved to 8-0 on the season and face Rocky Mountain Lutheran (1-5) on Thursday (1/11). Loveland Classical will then face their toughest opponent to date when they travel to face Windsor Charter (8-1) on Friday (1/12). This will be their toughest opponent to date and give us more of an insight into Loveland Classical. Currently Loveland Classical best wins are over Golden View Classical (4-6), Estes Park (5-3), and Dawson School (3-4).
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)
Byers (4-3)
Byers opened 2024 with a solid win over Wiggins 53 to 47 to improve to 4-2. Byers faced #1 Simla last night falling 76 to 45. Byers will be looking to bounce back this weekend and face a quality opponent in Genoa-Hugo (4-3) on Friday (1/12). Byers will end the weekend against Dolores Huerta (0-6) on Saturday (1/13). Byers will look to gain key momentum before a tough stretch of games to end January.
Players to Watch: Quincy Eacret So. (12.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Chase Long Jr. (12.5 ppg, 3.3 apg), Zach Cary Sr. (10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Vail Mountain (3-2)
Vail Mountain is yet to open their 2024 portion of their schedule. They enter 2024 with a 3-2 record with quality wins over Lake County and Clear Creek. Vail Mountain is still a bit of a mystery, and they have a pair of games to open 2024. Vail Mountain will face Caprock Academy (2-5) on Thursday (1/11) then Rangely (2-6) on Saturday (1/13). I think we will get a much better look at Vail Mountain next week when they face a trio of tough games.
(No stats)
Sargent (6-1)
Sargent opened 2024 with a quality win over Centennial 50 to 27 to help improve the Famers to a 5-1 mark and their best start in many years. Sargent improved to 6-1 on the season with a win over Dolores 61 to 48. Sargent will have a pair of non-league games this weekend against Creede (1-6) on Friday (1/12) and La Veta (3-3) on Saturday (1/13). Sargent first true test won’t come until the end of January where they move into the heart of their league schedule. Sargent best wins currently are against Cheraw (4-1) and Sangre De Cristo (4-3).
Players to Watch: Fernando Venzor Jr. (10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Hayden Lester (9.3 ppg 7.2 rpg), Lucas Garcia (8.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
Akron (3-4)
Akron moved into the 2024 portion of their schedule picking up a quality win over Sedgwick County 42 to 31. This was a big momentum grab for Akron as they have a tough schedule upcoming. Akron this weekend will face Briggsdale (1-5) on Thursday (1/11) then face #6 Wray (3-4) on Friday (1/12). Akron will be tested in the next four games they play, and we will see how they emerge after next weekend.
Players to Watch: Anderson Filla Jr. (13.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg), Ryan McCaffrey Sr. (10.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Caleb Poss Jr. (8.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg), Tucker Stahn Jr. (7.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
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