CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

The race at the top of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index got a little closer after last week’s contests all got entered into the books. McClave is still #1, but the Cards had their nine-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday by #12 Stratton. Tuff Kelley blew up for 28 points and 18 rebounds in the 67-59 loss. The sophomore had gone for 14 and 13 last Thursday in a win over 2A Limon. The Cards have big showdowns this weekend with #16 Granada and #19 Holly.

Denver Waldorf got a top-20 win of its own last Saturday, overcoming #20 Arickaree/Woodlin for a 51-48 victory. Cayden Quinn (15) and Henry Lottridge (13) combined for 28 points, and each nearly notched double-doubles. Quinn came up one assist shy, while it was one rebound that kept Lottridge from getting one. Next up for the Spartans are 5280 league games with Rocky Mountain Lutheran and #26 Denver Jewish Day.

Third-ranked Sierra Grande picked up a quality win over #18 Kim/Branson on Tuesday, 70-59. That ran the winning streak of the Panthers to six. Aron Ojeda (27/10) and Jadyn Martinez (11/12) both posted double-doubles with points and boards. The only remaining action for the week on the schedule is Moffat on Saturday.

Wins over Sangre de Cristo, Walsh, and Walsenburg in a four-day period pushed Primero’s winning streak to nine. Mat Pachorek went off for 29 points in the Monday victory over Walsenburg, and Brett Kendall added 21. The Bulldogs have La Veta of Thursday, Antonito on Friday, and Trinidad next Tuesday.

Flatirons Academy has seen its stock slide a bit, as the Bison have dropped three straight. The most recent came on Tuesday, a 52-49 loss to Estes Park. Flatirons had a one-point lead going into the fourth, but was outscored 12-8. Road trips to Denver Jewish Day and Gilpin County are on tap for Thursday and Friday, and the Bison will be home on Tuesday for a league tilt with Dayspring Christian.

Cheyenne Wells is also on a streak, with the Tigers having won their last four. Last year’s champs added wins over Cheraw and Genoa-Hugo/Karval last weekend, and then tacked on a tight victory over Greeley County (KS) on Tuesday. Corey Hill posted a ridiculous 32 point, 28 rebound double-double in that contest. The Tigers will host South Baca on Friday and travel to Hi-Plains on Saturday.

Otis remained perfect in the month with wins over Briggsdale and Weldon Valley. Charlie Kendrick averaged 20 points in the two wins. The Bulldogs will host Prairie on Friday.

Another team of Bulldogs is right on the heels of Otis in the Seeding Index, as Peetz checks in at #8. Peetz has put five straight wins in the ledger after beating Fleming and Caliche in the last week. Rhyder Bayne is on pace to surpass 1000 career points within the next two weeks. First up is Belleview Christian on Saturday.

Sticking with the Bulldog theme, Elbert sits ninth in the Index, following wins over Calhan and Hanover last week. The Bulldogs blocked 13 shots as a team against Calhan, five by Eli Cornell. Cornell had a double-double of 12 points and 13 boards. They blocked 13 more against Hanover, with five coming from Ethan Tesman. Elbert travels to Evangel Christian on Friday and hosts Flagler on Saturday.

Front Range Baptist rounds out the top-10, with the Falcons riding a three-game winning streak into the  Pensacola Christian College tournament this weekend. The Falcons got 20 points from Nathan Jacques in a 74-48 win over Loveland Protestant Reformed Christian on Monday in the final tune-up before heading out of state.

Back in state, Nucla heads into Thursday’s clash with Mancos trying to not only sweep the Bluejays, but also return to the win column after having its four-game streak snapped by Dove Creek on Tuesday. The last two in that winning streak were against De Beque and Dolores last weekend. The Mustangs are off for the rest of the week after that contest with Mancos.

Stratton’s won two straight and three of the last four with the upset of McClave on Tuesday. The earlier win in the streak came last Friday at Eads. The Eagles will have three games in five days, visiting Fleming on Thursday, hosting Kit Carson on Friday, and traveling to Deer Trail next Tuesday.

Cotopaxi had a four-game winning streak ended by Sierra Grande last Saturday, 56-34, but got right back on the beam with a 54-40 decision over Miami-Yoder on Tuesday. Terrance Evans put 26 in the books in that victory. Lake City visits on Friday.

After dropping a tough one to Nucla last Wednesday, De Beque has reeled off two consecutive wins, averaging 70 points a game in the process. The last of those came on Wednesday, when the Dragons got a 61-52 victory over Caprock Academy. Burke Largent popped off for 36 points and completed his double-double with 10 boards. The Dragons are off until next Saturday.