CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

A good chunk of the top teams in Class 1A call the southeast corner of the state home, including last year’s state finalists. Fans won’t have to wait too much longer for a rematch of that championship, won by Cheyenne Wells over McClave as they meet next week. While that area is laden with challengers, there are a number of teams from across the state looking to make their own case for a deep run this season.

Cheyenne Wells has only lost to a pair of Kansas schools in the Border Wars, and Corey Hill has been a major part of the 4-2 start, averaging 24 points and 15 rebounds. As a team, the Tigers are scoring 45 points and grabbing 33 boards a game.

Granada hopes the home environment will help the Bobcats pull off an upset on Friday. The Bobcats, led by Maddox Coleman and his 19 points and nine rebounds, had a four-game winning streak snapped by McClave in the finals of the Lamar Holiday Basketball Tournament right before the break.

McClave will host Eads in a LHBT quarterfinal rematch on Friday. The Cards rolled 58-23 in that first meeting, with Ethan Bronniman (16) and Tuff Kelley (14) combining for 30 points. Kelley is averaging close to 16 points and nine rebounds for the Cardinals, whose only loss came against 3A Yuma.

Two of the four losses by Eads came in the Border Wars to Kansas squads, with the other two coming in the LHBT. Four Eagles score between eight and 13 points a night, led by Stockton Mitchek (13.4) and Adyn Hough (10.2)

It doesn’t get much easier for the Eagles, who will host Evangel Christian Academy on Saturday. That convocation of Eagles pushed the top team in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index, Flatirons Academy, before the break, falling 54-48.

That win by Flatirons helped the Bison bounce back from a 64-54 loss at Arickaree/Woodlin, who is also represented by the Bison mascot. Trey Abeyta and Parker Wilson led the way in the win with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Brandon Ewing, who leads Flatirons at close to 16 points a night will lead the Bison into a Friday contest with his former team, Belleview Christian.

The lone team to own a win over the #1 team in the Seeding Index, Arickaree/Woodlin will host Prairie on Friday and an improved Flagler on Saturday. Austin Wright led A/W in that win with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Jake King, the second leading scorer for the Bison added 18 points and eight boards.

Looking at that Saturday match-up with Flagler, the Panthers enter the weekend at 2-3, but the young squad was able to hang with Cheyenne Wells for close to three quarters in a 50-29 season opening loss. Both of their other losses were by single digits. Junior Brayden Hill is averaging 19 points and nine boards a game.

Primero hosts Kim/Branson in a rematch of the championship game of the Trinidad State College Tournament, which the Bulldogs won by a 55-52 count. Mat Pachorek was one of three Primero players in double figures with 23 points. He completed the double-double with 13 rebounds. The Mustangs also had three in double figures, with Kolter Cranson racking up his own double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Friday’s slate also includes De Beque squaring off against Plateau Valley in the Western Slope on the road. The Dragons started off 4-0, but finished December with losses in three of their last four, including two straight at the end of the month.

There’s two more big match-ups in the southeast corner, with Kit Carson hosting Cheraw in the High Plains and Wiley visiting Holly in the Ark Valley. The winners of each game will have a share of the lead in their respective conference.

Saturday’s schedule isn’t nearly as loaded as its predecessor. Highlighting the slate are two teams aiming for their eighth victory, a tally that would lead the classification. Nucla goes to a winless Mancos, while Peetz visits a one-win Merino.

The Mustangs had won six straight after beginning the season with a two-point loss, but have lost two of their last three, including a 65-58 to Ridgway on Thursday. The only loss for Peetz was against Cheyenne Wells in the opening night of the Idalia tournament. The Bulldogs were manhandled in that 52-17 loss.