Class 3A Boys & Girls Basketball Bubble Watch Week 11
Since we did not include the Bubble watch for Class 3A Boys & Girls with our projections I have decided to go back and do it for both in the same article. We are going District by District and talking about each district. No projections on this article look back earlier in the week for those. Remember you must be in the top 32 of the seeding index or win your district to get in.
Class 3A Boys
District Metro-Confluence-Lower Platte Champion Prediction: Forge Christian
This is a very tough District with 5 teams sitting inside the top 20 of the index. Whoever wins this district will be battle tested and ready for a deep run. Forge Christian is my pick to win the district. Yuma and Manual are the main threats with Stargate School and Prospect Ridge as other teams who can cause chaos. Forge Christian, Yuma, Manual, Stargate School, and Prospect Ridge are all locks for regionals.
Regional Contenders: Forge Christian (1), Yuma (2), Manual (8), Stargate School (17), Prospect Ridge (18)
Lock for Regionals: Forge Christian, Yuma, Manual, Stargate School, Prospect Ridge
Near Locks: None
Bubble: None
Out of Regional Contention: Lotus School (41), William Smith (53)
District Frontier Champion Prediction: Bennett
The Frontier District is one of the weaker Districts in Class 3A. Bennett is the favorite to win the district with head to head wins over both Lake County and Platte Canyon. Bennett joins Lake County on the bubble this week. Bennet dropped from #22 to #29 and are on the bubble. Lake County is also on the bubble but moved up a spot to #30. The rest of the district is eliminated from regional contention barring a district win.
Regional Contenders: Bennett (29), Lake County (30),
Lock for Regionals: None
Near Lock: None
Bubble: Bennett, Lake County
Out of Regional Contention: Platte Canyon (43), KIPP Collegiate (45), Pinnacle (47), Bruce Randolph (52)
District Intermountain-Southern Peaks Champion Prediction: Centauri
Centauri is the favorite to win the IML-SPL district championship. Crested Butte & Ignacio look to be the main challengers for the district crown. Centauri and Crested Butte are locks for regionals. Ignacio is closer to the bubble but are left off the bubble currently. Montezuma-Cortez is on the bubble at #28. They would be the last team into the regional field.
Regional Contenders: Centauri (9), Crested Butte (15), Ignacio (24), Montezuma-Cortez (28)
Lock for Regionals: Centauri & Crested Butte
Near Locks: Ignacio
Bubble: Montezuma-Cortez
Out of Regional Contention: Bayfield (43)
District Black Forest-Santa Fe Champion Prediction: Peyton
The Black Forest-Santa Fe District has just four teams and three of the four teams are in the running for a regional spot. Peyton is the favorite to win the district with Thomas MacLaren as the main threat, also don’t count out Fountain Valley. Peyton is a lock for regionals. Thomas MacLaren is near a lock at #19 but leaving them as a near lock for now. Fountain Valley is on the bubble at #22. They will need to end the season strong and I am afraid a loss drops them down the Seeding Index.
Regional Contenders: Peyton (13), Thomas MacLaren (19), Fountain Valley (22)
Lock for Regionals: Peyton
Near Locks: Thomas MacLaren
Bubble: Fountain Valley
Out of Regional Contention: Rocky Ford (48)
District Patriot Champion Prediction: Strasburg
Strasburg is the favorite to win the Patriot District. Strasburg will be challenged by Highland, Platte Valley, and Liberty Common. Strasburg and Highland are locks for the regional field. Platte Valley is just outside of the bubble and a near lock. Liberty Common, Timnath, and Frontier Academy are all on the bubble. Liberty Common would make it to regionals at #27 and Timnath would as well at #31. Frontier Academy would be on the outside looking in.
Regional Contenders: Strasburg (5), Highland (10), Platte Valley (21), Liberty Common (27), Timnath (31), Frontier Academy (38)
Lock for Regionals: Strasburg, Highland
Near Locks: Platte Valley
Bubble: Liberty Common, Timnath, Frontier Academy
Out of Regional Contention: Brush (41), Estes Park (44), Wellington (55)
District Tri-Peaks Champion Prediction: Banning Lewis
This is another very tough district with 6 teams sitting inside the top 22. Banning Lewis is my pick to win the district. The main challengers are Vanguard and Salida. Buena Vista, Rye and Florence will also be in the mix. Banning Lewis, Vanguard, Salida, and Buena Vista are locks for the regional field. Rye and Florence are near locks at 20 & 23. St. Mary’s is on the bubble at #34 but would be on the wrong side of the bubble.
Regional Contenders: Banning Lewis (6), Vanguard (3), Salida (4), Buena Vista (16), Rye (20), Florence (23), St. Mary’s (34)
Lock for Regionals: Banning Lewis, Vanguard, Salida, Buena Vista
Near Locks: Rye, Florence
Bubble: St. Mary’s
Out of Regional Contention: C.S Christian (42), Woodland Park (49), Ellicott (51)
District Western Slope Champion Prediction: Meeker
Meeker is my pick to win this district. They are the lone team inside the top 24 of the seeding index and are playing good basketball. Meeker will be challenged by Cedaredge and Roaring Fork for the district crown. Meeker is the lone lock for regionals. Cedaredge and Roaring Fork are on the bubble but would currently make the field of 32. Grand Valley and North Fork are also on the bubble but would be on the outside looking in.
Regional Contenders: Meeker (11), Cedaredge (26), Roaring Fork (32), Grand Valley (37), North Fork (35)
Lock for Regionals: Meeker
Near Locks: None
Bubble: Cedaredge, Roaring Fork, Grand Valley, North Fork
Out of Regional Contention: Gunnison (46) & Olathe (50)
District Mile High-Foothills Champion Prediction: Machebeuf
All 6 teams in this district are in the running for a spot at regionals. Machebeuf is my pick to win the district. Windsor Charter and SkyView Academy will also be in the mix for the district crown. Windsor Charter, Machebeuf, and SkyView Academy are also locks for regionals as well. Dawson School, Clear Creek, and Lyons are on the bubble.
Regional Contenders: Machebeuf (7), Windsor Charter (12), SkyView Academy (14), Dawson School (25), Clear Creek (33), Lyons (36)
Lock for Regionals: Windsor Charter, Machebeuf, SkyView Academy
Near Locks: None
Bubble: Dawson School, Clear Creek, Lyons
Out of Regional Contention: None
Class 3A Girls
District Metro-Confluence-Lower Platte Champion Prediction: Yuma
Yuma is the favorite to win this district. St. Mary’s Academy and Forge Christian will challenge for the district crown as well. Yuma and St. Mary’s Academy are locks for regionals as both sit inside the top 18 currently. Forge Christian is right on the edge of the bubble at #24. Prospect Ridge would currently miss the field at #38.
Regional Contenders: Yuma (7), St. Mary’s Academy (16), Forge Christian (26), Prospect Ridge (36)
Lock for Regionals: Yuma & St. Mary’s Academy
Near Locks: None
Bubble: Forge Christian & Prospect Ridge
Out of Regional Contention: Manual (41) & Stargate School (47)
District Frontier Champion Prediction: Bennett
The Frontier District would currently get three teams into regionals. Bennett is the favorite to win the district with Jefferson and Platte Canyon to challenge. Bennet is a lock for regionals sitting at #12. Jefferson is close to being a lock at #19 I am just worried if they pick up a loss how much they will fall. Platte Canyon is on the bubble at #29.
Regional Contenders: Bennett (13), Jefferson (19), Platte Canyon (29)
Lock for Regionals: Bennett
Near Locks: Jefferson
Bubble: Platte Canyon
Out of Regional Contention: Bruce Randolph (49), KIPP Collegiate (50), Lake County (54), Pinnacle (55)
District Intermountain-Southern Peaks Champion Prediction: Centauri
Centauri will be the favorite to win the IML/SPL district but they will be challenged by Ignacio and Montezuma-Cortez (who already defeated them). Should be a good battle for this district crown. Centauri and Montezuma-Cortez are all locks to reach regionals. Ignacio is still in very good shape to reach regional but falling to #20 I have moved them to a near lock. If they avoid any bad losses to end the season, they will be ok. Crested Butte is on the bubble but would currently not make the field at #34.
Regional Contenders: Centauri (5), Montezuma-Cortez (15), Ignacio (20), Crested Butte (34)
Lock for Regionals: Centauri, Montezuma-Cortez
Near Locks: Ignacio
Bubble: Crested Butte
Out of Regional Contention: Bayfield (44)
District Black Forest-Santa Fe Champion Prediction: Peyton
Peyton is the heavy favorite to win this district. They are the lone team ranked inside the top 26 of this district and have already defeated the other teams in this district by 25+. Rocky Ford and Thomas MacLaren will give their best shot to try and knock off the #1 team. Peyton is a lock to reach regionals. Rocky Ford and Thomas MacLaren are on the bubble currently. Rocky Ford is at #31 and would make the field with Thomas MacLaren sitting at #33 they would not make the field.
Regional Contenders: Peyton (1), Rocky Ford (31), Thomas MacLaren (33)
Lock for Regionals: Peyton
Near Locks: None
Bubble: Rocky Ford & Thomas MacLaren
Out of Regional Contention: Fountain Valley (45)
District Patriot Champion Prediction: Highland
This is another tough district with 3 teams sitting inside the top 10 currently. Highland is my pick to win this district. They have wins over both Strasburg and Timnath who will be the main challengers. Strasburg, Highland and Timnath are all locks for regionals. Platte Valley is a near lock sitting at #24. If they continue to play well down the stretch they will be a lock. Brush, and Liberty Common are all bubble teams. Brush would make the field at #28 but Liberty Common is on the wrong side at #35.
Regional Contenders: Strasburg (6), Highland (8), Timnath (9), Platte Valley (24), Brush (28), Liberty Common (35)
Lock for Regionals: Strasburg, Highland, & Timnath
Near Locks: Platte Valley
Bubble: Liberty Common, Brush
Out of Regional Contention: Frontier Academy (43), Wellington (42)
District Tri-Peaks Champion Prediction: C.S Christian
This is another district that will be a challenge with 4 teams sitting inside the top 16 and 7 teams sitting inside the top 26. C.S Christian is the favorite to win this district and look to defend their state championship from a season ago. St. Mary’s, Vanguard, and Banning Lewis appear to be the main challengers. C.S Christian, St. Mary’s, Vanguard, and Banning Lewis are all locks for the regional field. Buena Vista and Salida are near locks but must avoid any bad losses. Ellicott and Woodland Park are on the bubble but would currently make the field.
Regional Contenders: C.S Christian (2), St. Mary’s 45), Vanguard (12), Banning Lewis (14), Salida (18), Buena Vista (21), Ellicott (25), Woodland Park (30)
Lock for Regionals: C.S Christian, St. Mary’s, Vanguard, Banning Lewis
Near Locks: Buena Vista & Salida
Bubble: Ellicott & Woodland Park
Out of Regional Contention: Rye (46), James Irwin (52), Florence (53)
District Western Slope Champion Prediction: Grand Valley
Currently all but 1 team in the Western Slope District is in play to reach regionals. 5 teams currently are inside the top 24 of the seeding index. Grand Valley is my pick to win the district with Olathe and Roaring Fork appearing to be the main challengers. Grand Valley, Olathe, Roaring Fork, and Cedaredge are all locks into regionals. Meeker is a near locks for regionals but cannot afford a bad loss. Gunnison and North Fork are on the bubble. Gunnison would be the last team in at #32 and North Fork is at #37.
Regional Contenders: Grand Valley (3), Roaring Fork (10), Olathe (11), Cedaredge (17), Meeker (22), Gunnison (32), North Fork (37)
Lock for Regionals: Grand Valley, Roaring Fork, Olathe, Cedaredge
Near Locks: Meeker
Bubble: Gunnison & North Fork
Out of Regional Contention: Aspen (48)
District Mile High-Foothills Champion Prediction: Windsor Charter
One of the weaker districts in Class 3A Girls. This district currently has no teams inside the top 20 of the seeding index and probably won’t host a regional. Windsor Charter is my pick to win the district with Machebeuf as the main threat. Windsor Charter is a near lock sitting at #23. Machebeuf, SkyView Academy, Lyons, and Dawson School are all on the bubble.
Regional Contenders: Windsor Charter (23), Machebeuf (27), SkyView Academy (38), Lyons (40)
Lock for Regionals: None
Near Locks: Windsor Charter
Bubble: Machebeuf, SkyView Academy, Lyons,
Out of Regional Contention: Dawson School (41) Clear Creek (51)
MileHigh Prep Report 