CLASS 2A BOYS BASKETBALL – TEAM CAPSULES
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
With the defending champion, Limon, out of the mix, a new titlist will be crowned this weekend in Loveland. The program that came in second a year ago, Sanford, is in the field as the #8 seed. The Mustangs are one of only four teams to make a return appearance from last year, including Bishop Machebeuf, who was part of the 3A field last season. All of the games are held at the Blue FCU Arena in Loveland, beginning with quarterfinal action on Thursday.
Individual statistics quoted below are courtesy of MaxPreps. Teams are listed in bracket order.
#1 SIMLA CUBS (22-2)
COACH: David Guy
STATE TITLES: 1987 (A-II), 1983 (A-II)
LEAGUE: Won Black Forest title (4-0)
REGIONALS: Beat Burlington (74-39), Vail Mountain (53-35)
STREAK: Won 16 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 5-1
Wins: Crowley County, Byers, Yuma, McClave, Elbert
Losses: Strasburg
TEAM NOTES: Third straight appearance – third place last year – have won at least 20 games in each of last three years – 3-2 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1622-1028
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Tatum Kochera | 21.0 | 9.8 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 15 |
| Caston Cox | 15.3 | 5.0 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 60 |
| Treven Kochera | 10.2 | 4.4 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 22 |
| TJ Eurich | 7.4 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 6 |
| Evan Guy | 6.7 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 27 |
| Wyatt Stanko | 3.2 | 5.9 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 2 |
| Cameron McMullin | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 5 |
#8 SANFORD MUSTANGS (20-5)
COACH: Brice Crowther
STATE TITLES: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2003, 1995, 1977 (AA), 1950(B), 1949 (B)
LEAGUE: Won Southern Peaks title (5-0)
REGIONALS: Beat Two Roads Charter (79-29), Heritage Christian (52-50)
STREAK: Won 5 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 0-2
Wins: None
Losses: Centauri, Mesa Vista (NM)
TEAM NOTES: Sixth straight appearance – runner-up last year – 2-2 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1468-1012
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Ben Sittler | 15.7 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 33 |
| Trason Gartrell | 10.5 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 9 |
| Ben Faucette | 8.1 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 27 |
| Travis Canty | 5.2 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 8 |
| Colter Canty | 4.7 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 6 |
| Jared McCarroll | 4.6 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 4 |
| Cahl Larsen | 3.7 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0 |
#4 BYERS BULLDOGS (21-4)
COACH: Jeremy Kerns
STATE TITLES: None
LEAGUE: Second in Union Pacific (5-1)
REGIONALS: Beat Center (60-31), Akron (67-53)
STREAK: Won 8 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 1-2
Wins: Elbert
Losses: Simla, Stratton
TEAM NOTES: Making first appearance since 2019 – 6-2 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1441-1048
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Quincy Eacret | 13.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 47 |
| James Maes | 9.7 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 30 |
| Cameron Eastwood | 8.1 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0 |
| AJ Engle | 6.5 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 21 |
| Kaleb Willoughby | 6.3 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 10 |
| Chas Butterfield | 4.1 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Drew Mohatt | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 12 |
#5 PLATEAU VALLEY COWBOYS (22-1)
COACH: Mike Vig
STATE TITLES: None
LEAGUE: Won Western Slope title (9-0)
REGIONALS: Beat Union Colony Prep (77-53), Fowler (58-22)
STREAK: Won 22 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 0-1
Wins: None
Losses: Fort Lupton
TEAM NOTES: Did not make the field last year – consolation champion in 2023 – third straight year with more than 20 wins – 4-1 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1293-771
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Jack Vig | 17.0 | 10.2 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 9 |
| Colter Ralston | 10.8 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 27 |
| Jackson Bevan | 10.1 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Cash Salazar | 4.9 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 21 |
| Heston Bevan | 4.9 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0 |
| London Mitchell | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 10 |
| Cody Gutierrez | 2.7 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 9 |
#2 CROWLEY COUNTY CHARGERS (23-2)
COACH: Kyle Hughes
STATE TITLES: 1968 (AA)
LEAGUE: Won Santa Fe title (7-0)
-REGIONALS: Beat Dayspring Christian Academy (68-36), Holyoke (63-32)
STREAK: Won 13 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 0-1
Wins: None
Losses: Simla
TEAM NOTES: Fourth straight appearance – third straight season with at least 20 wins – consolation champions last year – 1-2 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1780-936
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Gunner Hughes | 23.4 | 9.0 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 63 |
| Anthoni Walter | 15.0 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 27 |
| Majestic McNeil | 8.7 | 6.0 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 24 |
| Aiden Vowles | 7.9 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 20 |
| Ghett Hughes | 4.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 19 |
| Ben Cuckow | 4.3 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 18 |
#7 GOLDEN VIEW CLASSICAL ACADEMY SENTINELS (22-3)
COACH: Cris Chacon
STATE TITLES: None
LEAGUE: Won Foothills title (10-0)
REGIONALS: Beat Belleview Christian (52-40), Haxtun (64-48)
STREAK: Won 16 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 0-1
Wins: None
Losses: Windsor Charter Academy
TEAM NOTES: Second appearance in three years – finished sixth in 2023 – 5-2 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1536-1050
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Jacob Walker | 14.0 | 6.6 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 20 |
| Luke Chronowski | 13.4 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 46 |
| George Hermanson | 9.5 | 7.2 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 5 |
| Isaiah Fresquez | 7.3 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 12 |
| Max Lindgren | 6.2 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 21 |
| Pieter Langedyk | 3.4 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 12 |
| Huck Hale | 3.3 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 11 |
#3 BISHOP MACHEBEUF BUFFALOES (20-4)
COACH: Seth Flageolle
STATE TITLES: None
LEAGUE: Won Mile High title (13-0)
REGIONALS: Beat Vail Christian (77-26), Limon (56-47)
STREAK: Won 2 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 2-2
Wins: SkyView Academy, Flatirons Academy
Losses: Windsor Charter Academy, SkyView Academy
TEAM NOTES: Made 3A Great 8 last season – lost in that round – second straight season with at least 20 wins – 1-3 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1709-1015
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Miles Edgar-Parchman | 14.1 | 9.0 | 5.1 | 32 | 18 |
| Jack Menke | 12.9 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 38 |
| John Menke | 11.2 | 2.6 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 38 |
| Matthew Menke | 7.7 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 54 |
| Landon Sulser | 7.3 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 26 |
| Ben Mages | 7.2 | 6.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 3 |
| Conrad Cichos | 6.0 | 5.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1 |
#11 SEDGWICK COUNTY COUGARS (16-8)
COACH: Ryan Renquist
STATE TITLES: 2008, 1997 (Julesburg), 1994 (Julesburg)
LEAGUE: Fifth in LPAA (2-3)
REGIONALS: Beat Hoehne (74-53), Merino (56-55)
STREAK: Won 3 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 1-0
Wins: Stratton
Losses: None
TEAM NOTES: Did not make the field last year – first appearance since 2021 – 2-3 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1383-1172
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Tate Renquist | 16.9 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 56 |
| Joshua Palic | 13.2 | 12.4 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 5 |
| Jace Ehmke | 11.6 | 9.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 13 |
| Jaxon Carlson | 7.5 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 9 |
| Noah Harens | 7.3 | 9.4 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 3 |
| Jackson Trum | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 |
MileHigh Prep Report 