CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
There are several big games on the weekend calendar, with at league one league title on the line. A number of teams head into tournaments next week, so this is unofficially the last weekend of regular play for them. All rankings are from Thursday morning’s release of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.
THURSDAY
#9 STRATTON AT #34 IDALIA
Stratton is in the mix for the final regional hosting position and the Eagles ride a 10-game winning streak into Thursday’s road game. Von Isenbart is coming off a career-high 32 points in their win over Merino last Friday.
Idalia is outside of the bubble for the final regional qualifying spot, and the Wolves have alternated losses and wins over the last seven games. They are just 5-7 since the start of January.
2A #26 VAIL CHRISTIAN AT #15 DE BEQUE
Behind a pair of 1000-point scorers in Burke Largent and Jace Graham, De Beque is in search of a third straight winning season. Largent is third in the classification in scoring at 22.6 a night, while Graham checks in at #6 with 20.5 a game. They’re the only set of teammates over 20 ppg in Class 1A. Third place in the Western Slope is at stake.
#8 FLATIRONS ACADEMY AT 2A #30 FRONT RANGE BAPTIST
Flatirons currently owns the final spot to host a regional bracket and is looking to stack up wins before the Mile High league tournament next week. The Bison snapped a two-game slide on Tuesday with a 68-53 win over Dawson School. Front Range Baptist is flirting with the 2A regional bubble.
FRIDAY
#3 CHEYENNE WELLS AT #1 MCCLAVE
It’s a rematch of sorts of last year’s state title game. Cheyenne Wells won two of three meetings last year, including that championship clash. The Tigers have won 10 straight heading into this contest. They have the classification’s second-leading scorer in Corey Hill, who averages 22.9 ppg. He’s also second in rebound (15.1), right behind De Beque’s Graham (15.2).
McClave had its six-game winning streak snapped last Saturday by 2A #1 Simla, 68-52. Tuff Kelley was held to 10 points in that loss, but still grabbed 13 rebounds to complete his double-double. It was his 13th in 19 games.
The winner claims the High Plains league title, as both enter 4-0.
#44 WELDON VALLEY AT #10 PEETZ
While it may not seem like a great match-up, Weldon Valley can really muck up the North Central standings with an upset. The Warriors are one of three teams in a jumbled mess behind Peetz. The Bulldogs just saw Rhyder Bayne join the 1000-point club last weekend, and they know that a loss kills any hope of climbing into the top-eight and snagging a regional hosting spot. They’ve locked up the #2 seed in next week’s crossover tournament with the YWKC.
#5 SIERRA GRANDE AT #4 PRIMERO
It’s a clash of league leaders, with Sierra Grande leading the Southern Peaks, and Primero owning the lead in the Fishers Peak. All that likely happens is a possible flip of seeding with a win by the Panthers. The two are currently on a collision course for a state quarterfinal, if they remain in the current 4/5 spots.
2A #17 LIMON AT #9 STRATTON
Plain and simple, Stratton wins the Union Pacific with a victory. Things get messier with a Limon victory. Stratton handed Byers its lone loss in league play,, and the Bulldogs have done the same to the Badgers. A three-way tie is possible.
SATURDAY
#22 PRAIRIE AT #44 WELDON VALLEY
In a continuation of the madness inside the NCL, Prairie begins the weekend right behind Peetz in the standings, but could find itself as low as third, depending on the outcome of Weldon Valley’s game on Friday and the turnout of this contest. A pair of wins means the Warriors are the runner-up. Even a split, with a loss to Peetz and a win on Saturday, creates a three-way tie for second place.
MileHigh Prep Report 