Class 2A Boys Basketball Weekly Update Week 11

Class 2A Boys Basketball Weekly Update Week 11

We make a small change to the way we are doing the 2A Weekly Preview this week.  We will look at the top 10 teams according to the CHSAA Seeding and Selection Index.  We will then look at three teams who are on the rise and wrap things up with 6 teams on the bubble.  Remember all rankings are the CHSAA Seeding and Selection Index.  We less than one month left of the regular season and its crunch time.  To quality for regionals, you must win your District or be ranked in the top 32 of the seeding index.

#1 Simla (17-0) (LW:#1)

Simla continues to hold onto the #1 spot in the CHSAA Seeding and Selection Index.  Simla played a pair of games last week picking up a key win over 1A #4 Stratton 73 to 50 and over rival #42 Calhan 80 to 39.  Simla kept things rolling last night defeating #34 ECA 65 to 36.  Simla has two games left to play in the final week of the season and with a win over #21 Elbert (12-4) on 2/16 for sure lock up the #1 seed in the District 8 Tournament.  Simla ends the season on 2/17 against 1A #42 Kit Carson (42).

(No Stats)

#2 Merino (15-3) (LW:#3)

Merino moved up one spot last week from #3 to #2 and they had a very interesting week last week.  Merino started the week with a tough loss to Holyoke 62 to 57 but bounced back nicely defeating 3A Yuma 62 to 55.  Last night Merino picked up another key win over 1A Otis 50 to 48 to push their record to 15-3.  Merino has one game remaining on 2/16 against #36 Haxtun (5-13).

(No Stats)

#3 Crowley County (18-0) (LW:#2)

Crowley County is your regular season Santa Fe League Champions.  They completed regular season play last week defeating Ellicott 67 to 22.  That game did drop Crowley County from the #2 spot to #3 this week.  Crowley County will be the #1 seed in the District 6 tournament and will be hoping to move into a top 2 seed in the regional tournament.  Crowley County ends the regular season with a perfect 18-0 record.  The District Tournament will be another great test for the Chargers as they look to push for the State Tournament again.

Players to Watch: Gunner Hughes Jr. (21.0 ppg, 3.8 apg), Elijah Mcneil Sr. (11.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Anthoni Walter Jr. (9.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

#4 Plateau Valley (17-1) (LW:#4)

Plateau Valley holds the #4 spot again this week.  Plateau Valley will face #19 Vail Mountain (12-6) on 2/17 and that is for the regular season Western Slope League Title.  That game will also be for the #1 seed in the District Tournament (If seeded by League Standings).  Plateau Valley will hope to keep a top 4 seed at regionals and look for a return trip to the State Tournament.

Players to Watch: Jack Vig Jr. (15.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Jackson Bevan Jr. (10.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Parker Ralston Sr. (8.7 ppg, 2.9 apg)

#5 Sanford (13-4) (LW:#6)

Sanford moved up from #6 to #5 this week after a pair of key wins a week ago.  Sanford defeated Sargent 56 to 32 and Cotopaxi 58 to 26 to improve to 13-4 on the season and push their winning streak to 9.  Sanford with a win over #52 Center (3-13) on 2/16 locks up the #1 seed in the District Tournament.  Sanford then ends the season against rival #39 Del Norte (6-11) on 2/17.  Sanford will look to avenge last season loss to Del Norte.  Sanford is in a great position to have a top 5 seed for the Regional Tournament.

Players to Watch: Cash Caldon Sr. (15.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Trason Gartrell So. (10.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Ben Sittler Jr. (9.9 ppg, 3.0 apg)

#6 Heritage Christian (15-2) (LW:#5)

Heritage Christian fell one spot from #5 to #6 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Heritage Christin is still in control of their District and should be the #1 seed in the District 4 Tournament.  Heritage Christian played a pair of games last week defeating 3A Opponents Clear Creek (63-54) & Dawson School (61 to 37).  Heritage Christian then picked up one of their best wins of the season defeating #9 Wray 62 to 59.  Heritage Christian has two games remaining against #41 Denver Academy (7-11) on 2/15 & a huge game against #8 Denver Christian (14-4) on 2/17. 

Players to Watch: Raul Bertinato Sr. (16.2 ppg, 4.6 apg), Levi Hermsen Jr. (13.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg), Nolan Buehrlen Sr. (9.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

#7 Limon (14-4) (LW:#10)

Limon jumped back up in the Seeding Index this week moving from #10 back to #7.  Limon played a pair of games last week both quality wins.  Limon defeated Byers 68 to 42 and Fowler 53 to 30.  Limon win over Byers should lock up Limon as the #2 seed in the District 8 Tournament.   Limon has just one game remaining.  Limon will host 1A #4 Stratton (13-4) on 2/16.  This is the Union Pacific League Championship game and will be key for both teams hoping to improve their Seeding Index. 

Players to Watch: Jordan Rockwell Sr. (18.8 ppg, 4.1 apg), Mason Jaques Sr. (10.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Treyton Marx Sr. (10.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg)

#8 Denver Christian (14-4) (LW:#7)

Denver Christian fell one spot from #7 to #8.  Denver Christian extended their winning streak to 6 but hit one of the weaker spots of their schedule.  Denver Christian picked up a pair of wins last week defeating 3A Dawson School 45 to 38 and Dayspring Christian 59 to 34.  Denver Christian also picked up a win last night defeating Union Colony Prep 79 to 24.  Denver Christian has one last game remaining against #6 Heritage Christian (15-2) on 2/17.  This game will impact the regional seeding.  Denver Christian should be the #1 seed in the District 7 Tournament.

(No Stats)

#9 Wray (10-8) (LW:#8)

Wray also moved down a spot from #8 to #9.  Wray played just one game last week defeating Sedgwick County 55 to 41.  Wray did play a key game this week hosting Heritage Christian on Monday.  Wray was defeated by Heritage Christian 62 to 59.  Of the 8 losses Wray has they have lost 6 of them by 5 or less points.  Wray will be the #2 seed in the District 2 Tournament.  Wray will close out their season on 2/15 against #26 Wiggins (7-11).  This is a must win for Wray to hold onto a top 10 top.

Players to Watch: Rafael Trejo Sr. (17.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg), AB Ruiz Sr. (12.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg), Aaron Tena So. (8.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

#10 Holyoke (11-6) (LW:13)

Holyoke makes one of the bigger jumps from last week moving up three spots from #13 to #10 this week.  Holyoke is on an impressive run winning 5 of their last 6 games including their past two games.  Holyoke last week picked up their best win of the season defeating #2 Merino 62 to 57.  Holyoke followed that up with a 68 to 55 win over Wiggins and are in control of the #3 seed in the district tournament.  Holyoke will end the season against #23 Akron (8-10) on 2/15. 

Players to Watch: Wyatt Sprague Sr. (16.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg), Cash Weber Sr. (11.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Reid Sprague Jr. (10.9 ppg, 4.1 apg)

Three Teams on the Rise

We dive into three teams who are currently on the rise.

#12 Mancos (12-4) (LW:#12)

Mancos has been very consistent the past few weeks holding onto a top 16 spot.  Mancos since their loss to Telluride on 1/19 have won 8 of their past 9 games with their lone loss to 4A Pagosa Springs (50-43) on 2/6.  Mancos last week fell to Pagosa as mentioned but also picked up a quality win over Ouray 68 to 38 on 2/9 and defeated Ridgway 55 to 48.  Mancos last night picked up another quality win over 3A Montezuma-Cortez 72 to 59.  Mancos has two games remaining against #51 Dolores (4-13) on 2/16 and the rematch against #16 Telluride (13-5) on 2/17.

Players to Watch: Brian Veach Sr. (16.9 ppg), Kaiden Wyatt Jr. (10.3 ppg), Andrew Jaime Sr. (9.8 ppg)

#20 Loveland Classical (12-5) (LW:#23)

Loveland Classical pushed their winning streak to 7 and continue to fly up the Seeding Index.  Loveland Classical moved from #23 to #20 this week and wrapped up their regular season schedule.  Loveland Classical played their final two games last week defeating 1A #5 Denver Jewish Day 48 to 45 and Poudre Community 90 to 31.  Loveland Classical will go into the District 4 tournament as the #4 seed and will hope to continue to improve their Seeding Index before regionals.

Players to Watch: Caedon Meyer Sr. (18.3 ppg), Luke Sainz Sr. (13.2 ppg), Jaden Jorgenson Sr. (7.6 ppg)

#24 Monte Vista (10-6) (LW:27)

Monte Vista is another team who made a big jump last week moving from #27 to #24 this week.  Monte Vista is on an impressive run winning 5 of their past 6 games with their only loss coming last night to 4A Pagosa Springs 54 to 27.  Monte Vista last week picked up a trio of wins defeating Del Norte 56 to 42, Custer County 44 to 32, and South Park 64 to 24.  Monte Vista has two games remaining.  The first will be for the #2 seed in the District 1 Tournament when Monte Vista hosts #18 Sargent (13-4) on 2/15.  The final game is against #57 Trinidad (0-16) on 2/17

Players to Watch: Azariah Hurtado So. (13.0 ppg), Alex Marquez Jr. (12.8 ppg), Kaden Madrid Jr. (6.2 ppg)

Teams on the Bubble

We look at 6 teams who are on the bubble and fighting for a spot at regionals.

#29 CS School (6-9) (LW: #31)

CS School moves a bit farther from the edge of the bubble moving from #31 last week to #29 this week.  CS School played just one game last week defeating Miami-Yoder 51 to 33 and that game helped moved CS School up to #29.  CS School did play Byers last night falling 73 to 32.  CS School has two games remaining and needs at least one of the two to help their case of staying in the top 32.  CS School will face 3A #24 Fountain Valley (4-7) on Thursday and end the season on Saturday against #21 Elbert (12-4).  A win in either game should move them closer to safe territory. 

(No Stats)

#30 Cotopaxi (10-7) (LW:28)

Cotopaxi has hit a rough patch recently falling from a top 20 Seeding Index to #30 currently.  Cotopaxi has lost 4 of their past 5 games and have moved onto the bubble.  Last week Cotopaxi lost to La Veta 49 to 43 and then fell to Sanford 58 to 26.  Cotopaxi has a pair of must win games this week facing #55 Manzanola (1-10) on Thursday and then #51 Center (3-13) on Saturday.  These are must win games if Cotopaxi plans on holding onto a top 32 spot heading into the District Tournament.  I believe Cotopaxi will be the #4 seed in the District 1 Tournament.

Players to Watch: Terrance Evans Jr. (20.5 ppg), Joel Tezak Jr. (13.8 ppg), Kaiden Zeliznikar Sr. (8.7 ppg)

#31 Swink (6-12) (LW:#33)

Swink moves up a pair of spots and into the top 32 this week.  Swink moves from #33 to #31 and would be the penultimate team into the regional field.  Swink snapped their long losing streak defeating Las Animas last week 71 to 65.  Swink did play 1A #2 McClave last night falling 59 to 51.  Swink will end the season against 1A #18 Sangre De Cristo (12-5) on Saturday.  This is a huge game for the Lions to try and hold onto a top 32 spot as they head into the District Tournament.

Players to Watch: Hunter Bauserman Sr. (15.6 ppg), Nate Cabrera Jr. (13.7 ppg), Hunter Reynolds Sr. (3.9 ppg)

#32 Addenbrooke Classical (8-9) (LW:#32)

Addenbrooke Classical stays at #32 for consecutive weeks and would be the final team into the regional field.  Addenbrooke Classical defeated William Smith 85 to 49 and STEMS Highland Ranch 55 to 43 last week.  Addenbrooke Classical closed out their season last night falling to 1A Denver Waldorf 51 to 46.  They will now look for at least a trip to the Semifinals of the District 7 tournament and hope to upset Golden View Classical in the Semifinals. 

Players to Watch: Calum Michelsen So. (12.2 ppg), Joseph Wingrove Jr. (9.3 ppg), Riley Summers Jr. (8.8 ppg)

#33 Hoehne (7-11) (LW: #30)

Hoehne falls out of the top 32 this week falling from #30 to #33 this week.  Hoehne has hit the hard part of their schedule dropping 4 straight games.  Last week Hoehne lost to Holly 62 to 50 and Fowler 53 to 39.  Hoehne this week has already played two games and lost both games.  Hoehne fell to Del Norte 37 to 26 on Monday this game is what caused them to fall out of the top 32 and Hoehne fell to Walsenburg 54 to 46.  Hoehne will end the season with a game against 1A #13 Sierra Grand (13-4).  This is a huge game for the Farmers as they try and move back into the top 32 before Districts.

Players to Watch: Levon Bachicha Jr. (9.8 ppg), Nathan Zamora Jr. (8.0 ppg), Bobby Terry Jr. (6.8 ppg)

#34 Evangelical Christian (6-11) (LW:38)

Evangelical Christian has jumped up the Seeding Index moving from #38 to #34 and getting closer to the bubble.  ECA last week went 2-1 defeating Kit Carson 55 to 33 & Rocky Mountain Lutheran 62 to 19.  ECA fell to Burlington last week 63 to 37 and Simla last night 65 to 36.  ECA has two games remaining.  ECA will face #42 Calhan on Thursday and this is a must win game for ECA.  ECA will end the season against 4A James Irwin on Friday.

Players to Watch: Brock Jones Jr. (17.0 ppg), Bo Galliart Jr. (16.6 ppg), Drew Gregory Sr. (4.4 ppg)