CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REGIONAL DAILY DIGEST – MAR. 2ND
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
One-eighth of the state tournament field is set as we head into the final day of regionals. The defending champion, Denver Jewish Day, has locked up a spot in Greeley as the Tigers look to repeat. By late-afternoon, the remaining seven challengers will have emerged.
REGION ONE (HOSTED BY #1 MCCLAVE)
#1 McClave (18-4) vs #17 Pikes Peak Christian (17-5) 2:30PM
McClave’s winning streak reached a baker’s dozen on Friday, as the Cards handled #32 North Park 71-32. The Cardinals led 47-21 at the half. Seven players had at least seven points, with Ray Mungaray (13), Conner Forgue (11), and Kielan Mallard (10) all hitting double figures.
Pikes Peak Christian used a 27-9 second quarter to pull away from Springfield and advance with an 81-47 victory. Noah Sachsenmaier led the Eagles with 25 points, while Eddie Harmon recorded a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double. Isaiah Wehner made it three in double figures, scoring 16 points.
REGION TWO (HOSTED BY #2 CHEYENNE WELLS)
#2 Cheyenne Wells (19-4) vs #18 Denver Waldorf (15-6) 1PM
Cheyenne Wells took it right to #31 Dove Creek on Friday, building a 33-9 halftime lead on the way to a 62-19 victory over the Bulldogs. Corey Hill double-doubled, scoring 25 points and hauling in 14 rebounds. Zach Dickey connected four times from long range to add 14 points.
Denver Waldorf jumped out to a 24-10 first quarter lead on Arickaree and the Spartans went on to win by that 14-point margin, avenging an earlier loss to the Bison, 53-39. Cayden Quinn led the way with 18 points, and Henry Lottridge finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.
REGION THREE (HOSTED BY #3 DENVER JEWISH DAY)
As noted in the opening, Denver Jewish Day will be making a return trip to state after beating Front Range Baptist 52-41 on Friday. It was the third win of the season by the Tigers over the Falcons, the previous two by 10 points each. The Tigers will roll into Greeley next Thursday with a seven-game winning streak.
REGION FOUR (HOSTED BY #4 STRATTON)
#4 Stratton (18-5) vs #13 Otis (15-7) 2:30PM
For the fourth time this season, and the tenth time since the tail end of the 2021-22 campaign, Stratton and Otis will meet on Saturday. The Eagles have won the previous eight contests in the series, with two of the last three being decided by a total of seven points.
Stratton earned its shot at the regional final by beating Moffat 73-39. Otis had to work to the final buzzer to beat Sangre de Cristo 50-48. Charlie Kendrick led the Bulldogs with 12 points, while Mitchell Stivers and Sawyer Packer both scored 11. Packer also grabbed 13 rebounds.
Both teams qualified for state last year, and Stratton won a quarterfinal contest between the two, 60-48.
REGION FIVE (HOSTED BY #5 BELLEVIEW CHRISTIAN)
#5 Belleview Christian (19-3) vs #12 Idalia (18-5) 1PM
A finalist in 2023, Belleview Christian is one win away from having a chance to getting back to Greeley. The Bruins pulled away from Granada with a 20-13 fourth quarter on Friday, eventually taking a 62-53 victory over the Bobcats. Brandon Ewing (23), Garrett Owen (21), and Joshua Norman (10) were all in double figures in the scorebook.
Idalia had to endure some tense moments, too, before the Wolves pulled out a 70-61 win against Primero. The Wolves have now won 17 of their last 19.
REGION SIX (HOSTED BY #6 SIERRA GRANDE)
#6 Sierra Grande (17-5) vs #11 De Beque (17-4) 2PM
Sierra Grande built a 38-15 halftime lead in its clash of Panthers with Wiley on Friday, and cruised into the Sweet 16 with a 67-42 victory. Aron Ojeda led a quartet of players in double figures for Sierra Grande with 16 points. Jadyn Martinez chipped in 11, while Brian Ontiveros and Manuel Miranda both scored 10.
De Beque got 32 points from Scottie Vines, 20 from Burke Largent, and 14 more from Jace Graham as the Dragons took down Cheraw 71-53. One of the big highlights in the contest was Vines heaving one in from beyond three-quarter court to beat the buzzer at the end of the first.
REGION SEVEN (HOSTED BY #7 PEETZ)
#7 Peetz (18-4) vs #23 Genoa-Hugo (12-11) 1PM
Peetz used strong first and third quarters (16-5, 18-7) to beat Centennial 60-41 on Friday. Aiden Hill led the Bulldogs with 18 points, including 10 in a 13-0 run during the third period. Noah Naegele missed a double-double by one rebound, finishing with 10 points and nine boards.
Genoa-Hugo hit seven three-pointers in upsetting Eads 48-44 in OT. Trey Smith had 30 to lead all scorers. Just two weeks earlier, he was held to six and Eads ran away with a 69-42 victory. Dane Lockhart added 10 on Friday night.
REGION EIGHT (HOSTED BY #8 NUCLA)
#8 Nucla (15-7) vs #9 Flatirons Academy (16-7) 2PM
Nucla built itself a 46-26 lead through three quarters on Friday, and then fought off a late flurry by Prairie to defend the home court, 51-38. It was the fifth straight win for Nucla.
Flatirons Academy outscored Briggsdale 43-19 in the second half to pick up a 75-46 win. It was the second lopsided win by the Bison over the Falcons in a month.
MileHigh Prep Report 