CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT – WEEK TEN by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT – WEEK TEN

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

There is still quite a bit to be decided in the league races as the regular season hits its penultimate weekend. While most of the focus is on district brackets, league titles still mean a lot to the teams who are pursuing them. All rankings are from the Thursday morning release of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.

5280

The 5280 will be decided next Tuesday when #3 Belleview Christian hosts #4 Denver Jewish Day. It will be a rematch of last year’s state title game which Denver Jewish Day won 55-42. The Tigers have won two straight in the series and three of the last four. The winner of this clash is the top seed in District 8.

The Bruins have non-league games against #17 Pikes Peak Christian on Thursday and 3A #15 Peyton on Saturday. Denver Jewish Day is off until that big game on Tuesday. The Tigers have lost two of their last three, to 3A #4 Bishop Machebeuf and 2A #22 Loveland Classical.

ARKANSAS VALLEY

South Baca (#19) shares the lead in the Ark Valley with #28 Kim/Branson and the two get together on Saturday. The Patriots secure no less than a share of the crown with a win, while Kim/Branson still has #14 Springfield next weekend. A win by the Mustangs this weekend and a loss in that final clash with the Longhorns creates a three-way tie. Regardless, Springfield looks to be in solid position to be the #1 seed in District 3.

BLACK FOREST

Pikes Peak Christian has taken out all challengers in the Black Forest and is in line to be the top seed in District 7. The Eagles have the big measuring stick game against Belleview Christian on Thursday and a win would be huge in locking up that #1 spot. Miami-Yoder (#31) and #46 Hanover meet next Tuesday with second place in the league on the line.

FISHERS PEAK

With only three teams in the league this year, #24 Primero has already locked up the title. The Bulldogs are currently the #3 seed in District 3, behind Springfield and South Baca. Those two own wins over Primero in non-league play. Their best chance of either catching the Patriots or remaining ahead of Kim/Branson comes next Thursday at #20 Moffat in non-league action.

HIGH PLAINS

Twelve straight wins have Cheyenne Wells sitting on top of the Seeding Index, just ahead of league rival McClave. The Tigers put that streak on the line on Friday at #13 Eads. A win gives them the High Plains title, as they would own the tiebreaker over their top two pursuers. However, Eads creates a possible three-way tie with a win. But, the Eagles would also need to beat #26 Granada next weekend to make that happen.

Eads has a big non-league affair with South Baca on Thursday prior to its contest with the Tigers on Friday, and Cheyenne Wells challenges 2A #9 Holly on Saturday. McClave’s best chance to overtake the Tigers for the #1 seed in District 2 comes next Saturday when the Cards host #9 Sierra Grande.

NORTH CENTRAL

Briggsdale (#29) has the lead in the North Central and the Falcons can win the league by beating #23 Prairie next Friday. The Mustangs get a share of the title by winning that match-up and beating #48 Weldon Valley the following night. That would also bring #6 Peetz back into the mix. The Bulldogs already have the top seed in District 4 locked up. They host #16 Otis in non-league play on Thursday, two days before Prairie hosts Otis.

SAN JUAN BASIN

Nucla (#18) is third in the San Juan Basin, but the Mustangs are the top 1A team in the league. They visit 2A #15 Telluride, who leads the league, on Friday. The Mustangs also have a non-league contest at home on Tuesday against 2A #4 Plateau Valley. Wins in those two would help them close the gap between themselves and #7 De Beque for the top seed in District 1.

SOUTHERN PEAKS

Sierra Grande hosts #19 Sangre de Cristo on Friday, with the winner taking sole possession of the league lead. Sierra Grande still has #27 Centennial on Saturday, while the Thunderbirds host #20 Moffat that same day. So, there will either be a league champion by the end of the week, or the standings will be a complete mess.

On an individual note, Sierra Grande’s Brian Ontiveros enters play needing 31 points to reach the 1000-point mark in his career. He was held to nine in the Panthers’ win over Moffat last Friday. Last Saturday’s game with McClave was postponed until next Saturday due to weather issues on La Veta Pass.

UNION PACIFIC

Stratton (#4) goes into Thursday’s game at 2A #18 Burlington tied with 2A #10 Limon for the lead in the UP. The Eagles travel to Limon next Friday, so a win on Thursday makes that contest for the league title. Cyler Notter score 12 first quarter points on Tuesday to surpass 1000 points in his career, and guide Stratton to a 74-37 league win over Flagler. Stratton has a massive non-league game at home on Friday against 2A #1 Simla.

WESTERN SLOPE

De Beque sits third in the Western Slope, with the two leaders being from 2A. The Dragons lost to one of them, Plateau Valley, last week, and will visit the other, Vail Mountain (2A #19), next Tuesday. They’re pretty much a lock to be the top seed in District 1. Everything behind them and Nucla is a quagmire. There is very little separation between Dove Creek (#31), Ouray (#33), Caprock Academy (#35), and North Park (#36) for seeds 3-6. None of those four play each other down the stretch.

YWKC

Idalia (#11) won the YWKC league without dropping a contest, but the Wolves are still looking at only being the #3 seed in District 5. The Wolves trail Stratton and #10 Arickaree in the standings. They will have several chances to help their cause over the next 10 days, starting with a home game against 2A #42 Caliche on Friday and at 2A #27 Wiggins on Saturday. Plus, they visit Stratton next Thursday. Arickaree has a few chances to boost its standing, including a home game on Monday against #14 Denver Waldorf. Otis has won six of seven ahead of Thursday’s game at Peetz. Along with Saturday’s game at Prairie, the Bulldogs still have a trip to 2A #3 Merino next Tuesday.