Class 3A 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 Vanguard (7-0)
Vanguard took over as the #1 team this week and they opened 2024 with a 78 to 69 win over Florence. That win pushed Vanguard to 7-0 on the season. Vanguard will stay in league play this week against 4A Lamar (7-2) on Saturday 1/13. This is a key test for both teams. Vanguard will also play Monday 1/15 against Peyton (5-3)
Players to Watch: Cameron Rowney (19.0 ppg, 4.3 apg), JJ Wetters (14.8 ppg, 8.0 apg), Matty Dessalegn (12.6 ppg, 11.0 rpg)
#2 Strasburg (8-1)
Strasburg has kicked off 2024 on the right foot. Strasburg started things off with a 72 to 16 win over Rocky Ford last weekend then picked up a huge 83 to 66 win over #5 Highland. Strasburg moved to 8-1 last night defeating Ellicott. Strasburg will close out the weekend on Saturday 1/13 against Valley (2-5).
Players to Watch: Tyce Bollers Jr. (16.0 ppg, 1.9 apg), Austin Velasco Sr. (13.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg), Landen Martin Sr. (11.0 ppg, 9.4 apg)
#3 Manual (7-1)
Manual has been busy to start 2024 playing 3 games already and going 3-0 in that stretch. Manual defeated 6A Far Northeast Warriors 78 to 63, 4A DSST-Cedar 89 to 51, and Prospect Ridge 66 to 63 in OT. All three wins will be quality wins for Manual on the season. Manual will wrap up play this week tonight against 4A Denver West (10-0). Another shot for a quality win for Manual.
Players to Watch: Deshawn Fox Sr. (26.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg), Marquell Marquez Sr. (19.4 ppg, 3.1 apg), Jovin Collins-Falcon Sr. (10.3 ppg, 3.5 apg)
#4 Yuma (6-1)
Yuma opened 2024 with a huge win over previous #1 Highland 71 to 68 and that saw Yuma climb to #4 in the poll. Yuma will see their schedule pick up with a pair of games this weekend. Yuma will face Holyoke (6-2) tonight 1/12. This is a quality matchup. Yuma will end the weekend against Haxtun (3-6).
Players to Watch: Brody Sheffield (19.7 ppg, 4.0 apg), Jonathan Thomson (15.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg), Cristian Duarte (14.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg)
#5 Highland (5-4)
Highland has played three games already in 2024. Highland kicked 2024 off with a win over 4A Sterling 65 to 51. Since then, Highland has dropped a pair of games falling to Yuma 71 to 68 and Strasburg 83 to 66. Highland won’t play another game will 1/19 when they face Liberty Common. Highland will get a much-needed break to fix mistakes and look to bounce back.
Players to Watch: Carson Steinke Sr. (18.8 ppg, 3.2 apg), Sawyer Morgan Jr. (18.0 ppg, 10.4 rpg), Jacob Wares Sr. (11.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
#6 Forge Christian (7-1)
Forge Christian has played well to start 2024 picking up wins over Stargate School 46 to 39 and Addenbrooke Classical 85 to 21. Forge Christian has moved up the rankings to #6 following the win over Stargate School. Forge Christian improved to 7-1 on the season defeating Platte Valley last night. Forge Christian ends the weekend against 4A Colorado Academy (9-1) tonight 1/12.
Players to Watch: Peyton Miller (13.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Owen Hovis (12.6 ppg, 3.3 apg), Jakan Sederwall (11.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
#7 Salida (7-2)
Salida ended 2023 on a tough note losing back-to-back games, but have kicked 2024 off winning back to back games. Salida opened 2024 with a win over Florence 65 to 45 then followed that up with a 54 to 40 win over Rye. Salida took on Peyton last night defeating them 60 to 49. Salida ends the weekend tonight against 4A Manitou Springs (4-5).
Players to Watch: Ryan Osness (21.2 ppg, 2.0 apg), Kason Westphal (12.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Dylan Grant (8.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
#8 Stargate School (5-3)
Stargate School has played 3 games to kick off 2024 going 1-2 in those games and falling in the rankings. Stargate School opened 2024 with a loss to Forge Christian 46 to 39 but bounce back two days last defeating Regis Groff 73 to 40. Stargate School got this week kicked off with a 68 to 42 loss to 4A Colorado Academy. Stargate School will look to bounce back this Saturday when they face 4A Jefferson Academy (7-3).
Players to Watch: Dylan Perkins (14.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Connor Rusch (13.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Hunter Roark (13.4 ppg, 2.9 apg)
#9 Centauri (5-3)
Centauri opened 2024 with a monstrous task of facing 6A Fruita Monument. Centauri fell in that game 71 to 36 but trailed by just 10 at halftime. Centauri did bounce back the next day defeating Delta 57 to 48 and improving to 5-3 on the season. Centauri opens league play this weekend kicking things off against 4A Pagosa Springs (9-1) tonight. Centauri will wrap up this weekend against Bayfield (1-7) on Saturday.
(No Stats)
#10 Windsor Charter (9-1)
Windsor Charter got their 2024 portion of their schedule kicked off with a 66 to 50 win over Estes Park last night. Windsor Charter will have a key game tonight against Loveland Classical (6-0). That will be the final game of the weekend for Windsor Charter.
Players to Watch: Andrew Schams (16.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Kellen Ball (14.5 ppg, 5.3 apg), Drew Hay (6.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
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.
Banning Lewis (7-2)
Banning Lewis kicked 2024 off on the right foot defeating Buena Vista 67 to 63 and following that up with a 60 to 34 win over La Junta. Banning Lewis has pushed their record to 7-2 and they will look for another key win tonight. Banning Lewis will face Lamar (7-2) tonight in a huge key matchup.
Players to Watch: Trey Oden (18.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Joseph Bjegovich (9.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Kobe Welch (7.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg)
Meeker (4-1)
Meeker played just 3 games in 2023 and have already nearly matchup that with two games in 2024. Meeker opened 2024 with a 59 to 33 win over Little Snake River. Meeker two nights ago was in a tight one defeating Roaring Fork 43 to 41. Meeker stays in league play this weekend against Olathe (2-5) tonight and Grand Valley (0-5) Saturday.
Players to Watch: Jace Mobley (14.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Jonathan Fitzgibbons (15.3 ppg, 14.5 rpg), Ethan Quinn (6.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Prospect Ridge (6-4)
Prospect Ridge is on the verge of being ranked after their win over Windsor Charter and close losses to Manual (OT) and Heritage Christian. Prospect Ridge has been one of the bigger surprises. Prospect Ridge moved to 6-4 with a win last night over Liberty Common. That was their final game of week. Prospect Ridge will face Regis Groff (3-7) on 1/16.
Players to Watch: Liam Schilling (16.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Samuel Vasquez (11.4 ppg, 4.0 apg), Jackson Brandt (10.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
Buena Vista (7-2)
Buena Vista opened 2024 with a tough loss to Banning Lewis 67 to 63 which is a quality loss for the Demons. Buena Vista did bounce back with a quality win over St. Mary’s 57 to 48 and followed that up with a win over Woodland Park last night. Buena Vista ends their weekend against Ellicott (0-9) on Saturday.
Players to Watch: Hudson Wingo (13.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Kaden Schell (11.3 ppg, 3.4 apg), Julian Lopez-Olsen (11.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
North Fork (5-3)
North Fork has moved onto the radar winning 3 straight games including one in 2024. North Fork kicked off play in 2024 with a 54 to 13 win over Rangely. Things do get tougher for North Fork as they face Gunnison (1-7) tonight and Roaring Fork (1-7) on Saturday. North Fork should be tested in both games and hopefully we learn more about the Miners in 2024.
Players to Watch: Moss Inman (15.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Nick Poutre (11.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Ryder Hart (9.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
Crested Butte (4-2)
The final team to mention this week is Crested Butte. Crested Butte is 4-2 on the season with quality losses to Plateau Valley and Simla. Crested Butte also has quality wins over Telluride and North Fork. Crested Butte has yet to open play in 2024 and they will kick things off this Saturday against Telluride (5-3).
Players to Watch: Adin Kurak (17.8 ppg, 2.8 apg), Weston Miller (12.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg), Riley Davis (12.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
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