Class 3A Girls Basketball League Predictions
The official start to basketball was last week and most teams will kick off play sometime next week. We dive into each league that we are putting as Class 3A. Some mixed Classes will be in the 2A League Predictions. Remember, for Class 3A you now must be ranked inside the top 32 of the CHSAA Seeding and Selection Index to make it to Regionals or win your league (Minimum of 5 teams). Regionals will still be first two rounds with the highest seed as the host and the brackets will not be reseeded before state. Class 3A will play a modified Consolation Bracket.
4A/3A/2A Tri-Peaks
1. C.S Christian
2. Lamar (4A)
3. St. Mary’s
4. Salida
5. Ellicott
6. Vanguard
7. Buena Vista
8. Banning Lewis
9. Manitou Springs (4A)
10. La Junta (4A)
11. Woodland Park (4A)
12. Rye
13. Florence
14. James Irwin (2A)
The 4A/3A Tri-Peaks will automatically get a berth to regionals since they have over 5 teams. Only the team that finishes in First Place in the league regardless of Class will get the automatic berth. C.S Christian is my pick to win the Tri-Peaks League. C.S Christian lose a few key pieces from last season team in their top two scorers but I believe this is still a top team and they are the defending State Champions. Lamar, St. Mary’s, Salida, Ellicott, and Vanguard I believe are the main contenders for the league title plus are regional and some are Elite 8 contenders. Buena Vista, Banning Lewis, and Manitou Springs are also considered Regional Contenders. Ellicott is my dark horse pick. Ellicott returns their entire roster from last season and could be a team to watch to push the top 4 teams.
My predictions for 4A/3A Tri-Peaks
League Champion: C.S Christian
Regional Contenders: C.S Christian, Lamar, St. Mary’s, Salida, Ellicott, Vanguard, Buena Vista, Banning lewis, Manitou Springs
Dark Horse: Ellicott
Player of the League: Brooklyn Robbins Sr. Lamar
Others to watch for: Rose Ross So. C.S Christian, Jordyn Rollins Jr. C.S Christian, Abigail Perry Sr. C.S Christian, Tatum Milenski Sr. Lamar, Chloe Weber Sr. Lamar, Jaela Pedro Jr. St. Mary’s, Sydney Ramirez Jr. St. Mary’s, Hope Chavez Sr. St. Mary’s, Braeden Johnson Sr. Salida, Graysa Kindle Jr. Salida, Madelyn Johnson jr. Salida, Kassiah Ducworth Sr. Ellicott, Jacey Lujan Sr. Ellicott, Kayley Wright Sr. Ellicott, Jordyn Christensen Sr. Vanguard, Lily Blanchard Jr. Vanguard, Joy Johncock Sr. Vanguard, Daisy Lubbers Jr. Buena Vista, Bailey Turner Sr. Buena Vista, Natalie Burton Sr. Banning Lewis, Brooklynn Sheffield Jr. Manitou Springs, Isabelle Aragon So. La Junta, Raquel Rodriguez Jr. La Junta, Emma Larsen Jr. Woodland Park, Lacie Laca Sr. Rye, Kaydence Martinez So. Florence, Romina Lozoya Sr. James Irwin
4A/3A Metro
1. Peak to Peak
2. Denver Christian (3A)
3. Colorado Academy
4. Kent Denver
5. Jefferson Academy
6. Forge Christian (3A)
7. Prospect Ridge
8. St. Mary’s Academy
9. Eagle Ridge Academy
10. Stargate School
11. The Academy
The 4A/3A Metro will automatically get a berth to regionals since they have over 5 teams. Only the team that finishes in First Place in the league regardless of Class will get the automatic berth. Peak to Peak is my pick to win the Metro League. Peak to Peak returns their top scorer from a season ago but depth must step up behind her to avoid being caught by the rest of the league. Denver Christian, Colorado Academy, Kent Denver, Jefferson Academy, and Forge Christian are the main threats to the league title and regional contenders. In Terms of the 3A teams Denver Christian and Forge Christian both teams are regional contenders with Denver Christian an Elite 8 contender.
My predictions for 4A/3A Metro
League Champion: Peak to Peak
Regional Contenders: Peak to Peak, Denver Christian, Colorado Academy, Kent Denver, Jefferson Academy, Forge Christian, Prospect Ridge
Dark Horse: Denver Christian
Player of the League: Alexandra Eschmeyer Sr. Peak to Peak
Others to watch for: Neve Gustafson So. Peak to Peak, Sydney Lewis Sr. Peak to Peak, Kamiree Fuller Sr. Denver Christian, Noelani Book Sr. Denver Christian, Natalie Bohannon Jr. Denver Christian, Anna Johnson Sr. Colorado Academy, Sam Clevenger So. Colorado Academy, Austin Duncan Jr. Kent Denver, Caroline Phillips Sr. Kent Denver, Kaylah Miller Sr. Kent Denver, Elsa Nygren Sr. Jefferson Academy, Rylin Chichirico Sr. Jefferson Academy, Finley Queen So. Forge Christian, Bella Geypens Jr. Forge Chistian, Aleena Nauman Sr. St. Mary’s Academy, Hazel Mills Sr. St. Mary’s Academy, Jaz Greenwood Jr. Eagle Ridge, Carole Tamburino Jr. Eagle Ridge, Kayah Robbins Sr. Prospect Ridge, Amelia Waggoner Jr. Prospect Ridge, Daniela Lewis Jr. Stargate School, Lilly Millan Sr. The Academy
4A/3A Intermountain
1. Centauri
2. Pagosa Springs (4A)
3. Alamosa (4A)
4. Monte Vista
5. Montezuma-Cortez (4A)
6. Ignacio
7. Bayfield
The 4A/3A Intermountain League will automatically get a berth to regionals since they have over 5 teams. Only the team that finishes in First Place in the league regardless of Class will get the automatic berth. Centauri is my pick to win the IML. Centauri returns a loaded roster from last and they should be a considered a state title contender. Centauri returns their top 5 scorers from last season only losing two total seniors from last year. Pagosa Springs, Alamosa, Monte Vista, and Montezuma-Cortez look to be the main league title contenders. Those four teams plus Ignacio must be considered regional contenders as well. My dark horse pick is Monte Vista. Monte Vista makes the move from Class 2A up to Class 3A and how will they contend against the top teams in league.
My predictions for 4A/3A Intermountain
League Champion: Centauri
Regional Contenders: Centauri, Pagosa Springs, Montezuma-Cortez, Monte Vista, Alamosa, Ignacio
Dark Horse: Monte Vista
Player of the League: Hannah Curtis Sr. Centauri
Others to watch for: Braelyn Tucker Sr. Centauri, Joselyn McCarroll Jr. Centauri, Jocelyn Jarvies Sr. Centauri, Elizabeth Currier Sr. Pagosa Springs, Karsyn Shahan Sr. Pagosa Springs, Kylie Ketchum Sr. Pagosa Springs, Morgan Ortega Sr. Alamosa, Laci Christensen Jr. Alamosa, Jaelin Garcia Jr. Alamosa, Allessah Archuleta Sr. Monte Vista, Heysenny Beltran Jr. Monte Vista, Daylin Castro Sr. Monte Vista, Taylor Whited Sr. Montezuma-Cortez, Sariah Jackson Jr. Montezuma-Cortez, Milah Begay So. Montezuma-Cortez, Marissa Olguin Sr. Ignacio, Alyssa Atencio Jr. Ignacio, Renae Foutz Sr. Bayfield
4A/3A City (Not In Order)
1. Manual
2. Bruce Randolph
3. KIPP Collegiate
4. Robert F STEAM
The 4A/3A City League will automatically get a berth to regionals since they have over 5 teams. Only the team that finishes in First Place in the league regardless of Class will get the automatic berth. Just 4 of the 14 teams in the City League are 3A teams. I am going to just quickly touch on the 3A teams for our Weekly Previews and we will talk about the league title races but, I am not going to dive into the full league. The 3A teams in the City play in a tough 4A League. Manual looks to have the best shot of the 3A teams to reach regionals and challenge for the City League Title. KIPP Collegiate and Bruce Randolph lose key pieces from last season and we will see how they do. Robert STEAM is a brand-new school and we will keep an eye out for this team.
3A Western Slope
1. Roaring Fork
2. Cedaredge
3. Meeker
4. Gunnison
5. Grand Valley
6. Olathe
7. North Fork
8. Aspen
The 3A Western Slope will automatically get a berth to regionals since they have over 5 teams. Only the team that finishes in First Place in the league regardless of Class will get the automatic berth. Roaring Fork is my pick to win the Western Slope League. Roaring Fork returns their top 4 scorers from last season and they should be an Elite 8 contender this season. Roaring Fork will be challenged by Cedaredge, Meeker, and Gunnison. Those three teams will be the main league title contenders plus will be regional contenders as well. Grand Valley and Olathe could have some rebuilding this season after losing good senior classes. My dark horse pick is Gunnison. Gunnison had a down year last year but return their entire roster and could challenge the top teams.
My predictions for Western Slope
League Champion: Roaring Fork
Regional Contenders: Roaring Fork, Cedaredge, Meeker, Gunnison
Dark Horse: Gunnison
Player of the League: Carly Crownhart Sr. Roaring Fork
Others to watch for: Riley Bevington So. Roaring Fork, Nikki Tardif Jr. Roaring Fork, Erice Crownhart Sr. Roaring Fork, Carley Malinowski Sr. Cedaredge, Sammy Denison Jr. Cedaredge, Rylee Sullivan Jr. Meeker, Charlie Rogers Sr. Meeker, Addie Knowles Jr. Meeker, Kylee McDougal Sr. Gunnison, Sienna Gomez Sr. Gunnison, Taylor Pittman Jr. Grand Valley, Alycia Bollinger Sr. Olathe, Alyssa Lovelace So. North Fork, London West Sr. North Fork, Audrey Woodrow Sr. Aspen
3A Patriot
1. Resurrection Christian
2. Yuma
3. Wiggins
4. Strasburg
5. Platte Valley
6. Highland
7. Brush
8. Frontier Academy
9. Windsor Charter
10. Wray
11. Liberty Common
The 3A Patriot will automatically get a berth to regionals since they have over 5 teams. Only the team that finishes in First Place in the league regardless of Class will get the automatic berth. The 3A Patriot is loaded with top teams and we could see possibly 4 teams reach the Elite 8. Resurrection Christian is my pick to win the Patriot. Resurrection Christian returns 4 of their top 5 scorers including their leading scorer from a season ago. Yuma, Wiggins, and Strasburg appear to be the main challengers and are also Elite 8 hopefuls. Platte Valley, Highland, and Brush look to be regional contenders in the Patriot League. Wiggins is my dark horse pick. Wiggins moves from Class 2A up to 3A this season. They return some key pieces from last season if healthy and could challenge right away for the league crown.
My predictions for Patriot
League Champion: Resurrection Christian
Regional Contenders: Resurrection Christian, Yuma, Wiggins, Strasburg, Platte Valley, Highland, Brush, Frontier Academy
Dark Horse: Wiggins
Player of the League: Olivia Klein Sr. Resurrection Christian
Others to watch for: Callie Gillespie Sr. Resurrection Christian, Lysette Baatz Sr. Resurrection Christian, Jade Lungwitz Sr. Yuma, Alina Moran Sr. Yuma, Taryn Sheffield So. Yuma, Kennedy Kerr Sr. Wiggins, Riley Hunt Sr. Wiggins, Natalie Damron Sr. Strasburg, Peighton Marrero Sr. Strasburg, Lauryn Uyemura Sr. Platte Valley, Alyssa Salazar Sr. Platte Valley, Briza Flores Sr. Highland, Jocelynn Middlemist Jr. Brush, Brisa Aguirre-Garcia Sr. Brush, Michelle Headley Sr. Brush, Emily Gesick Jr. Frontier Academy, Macee Flores Sr. Frontier Academy, Sadie Curry Jr. Windsor Charter, Ella Grasmick Jr. Windsor Charter, Danyelle Davis So. Wray, Addison Jones Jr. Wray, Akeeva Farrell Sr. Liberty Common
3A Black Forest
1. Fountain Valley
2. Peyton
3. Thomas MacLaren
4. Dolores Huerta
The Class 3A Black Forest will not get an automatic berth into regional unless they do combine with the Class 2A Black Forest. If not the only way a team from the 3A Black Forest can qualify for regionals is being inside the top 32 of the CHSAA Seeding Index. Fountain Valley is my pick to win the Black Forest 3A. Fountain Valley returns 4 of their top 6 scorers from last season including their top two. Fountain Valley will be tested by Peyton. Peyton was hit hard by graduation losing their top 4 scorers from last season and we will see who steps up for the Panthers.
My predictions for 3A Black Forest
League Champion: Fountain Valley
Regional Contenders: Peyton, Fountain Valley
Dark Horse: Peyton
Player of the League: Quin Lewis Sr. Fountain Valley
Others to watch for: Asha Monroe Sr. Fountain Valley, Miyah Woodard So. Fountain Valley, Sammie Nickell Jr. Peyton, Scarlett Clark Sr. Peyton,
Regional Predictions
I am going to pick the 32 teams I think qualify for Regionals. Remember to qualify for Regionals you either need to win your League or be in the top 32 of the CHSAA Seeding & Selection Index.
Black Forest
Fountain Valley, Peyton
City
Manual
Frontier
Jefferson, Middle Park
Intermountain
Centauri, Monte Vista, Ignacio
Metro
Denver Christian, Forge Christian
Mile High
Skyview Academy, Lyons
Patriot
Brush, Frontier Charter, Highland, Platte Valley, Resurrection Christian, Strasburg, Wiggins, Yuma
Tri-Peaks
Banning Lewis, Buena Vista, C.S Christian, Ellicott, Salida, St. Mary’s, Vanguard
Western Slope
Cedaredge, Gunnison, Meeker, Roaring Fork
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