CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Big games are all over the calendar this week, with most of the top-15 in Thursday morning’s release of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index facing stiff challenges. Here’s a look at those top 1A squads and their schedules.
#1 CHEYENNE WELLS (7-1)
Cheyenne Wells suffered its first loss of the season on Tuesday, when #7 Stratton defended its home court 46-44. Corey Hill had 25 points and 13 rebounds, but his potential game-winning three-pointer slid off the iron just ahead of the buzzer. The Tigers will look to get back on track on Friday when they visit 2A Holyoke. That’s followed by a home tilt on Saturday against #17 Otis.
#2 MCCLAVE (6-1)
McClave opened January on a high note, as the Cardinals rolled Hoehne 89-54. They led 33-22 at the half, and then matched their first half output with 33 points in the third quarter. Myles Northrup went off for a career-high 29 points, and Drew Howe tallied 19. Tuff Kelley posted a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds. The Cardinals travel to Springfield on Thursday, and will have a rescheduled date with Eads on the road on Friday.
#3 FLATIRONS ACADEMY (7-1)
Flatirons Academy ran its winning streak to six with a gritty 64-59 victory at Union Colony Prep on Tuesday. The Bison are off to a 2-0 start in the Mile High, with home games against Denver Academy on Thursday, and Heritage Christian next Tuesday.
#4 NUCLA (10-0)
The Mustangs opened San Juan Basin play last weekend with wins over Ridgway (52-47) and Mancos (78-40). Four Nucla players scored double figures against Mancos, led by Brycen Rummel, who finished with 19 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. Holten McCluer (18), Daniel Zunich (14), and Austin Garvey (14) joined him in double digits. The Mustangs remain in league play on Thursday at home against #15 Ouray. Nucla visits Plateau Valley next Tuesday.
#5 PRAIRIE (7-2)
After beating Arickaree/Woodlin 41-33 last Friday, the Mustangs dropped their second game in three outings on Saturday, as 2A #7 Haxtun took a 53-51 decision. They are busy the next week, starting with home games against Fleming on Friday and Kimball (NE) on Saturday. The Mustangs will also travel to #8 Peetz next Tuesday.
#6 ELBERT (3-2)
Elbert rolled to a 63-33 win over Kit Carson last Saturday, but the Bulldogs dropped their second game of the month on Tuesday, when they were tripped up by 3A #8 Peyton, 74-66. Elbert hosts Deer Trail on Saturday, and is home next Tuesday against Denver Jewish Day. Next Wednesday will have Elbert traveling to 2A #2 Byers for a make-up game from December.
#7 STRATTON (5-2)
Von Isenbart cashed in two free throws with six seconds left to give Stratton the 46-44 victory over Cheyenne Wells on Tuesday. It was the fourth straight win for the Eagles, who picked up victories over 2A Holyoke and 2A Akron last weekend. They will face two more 2A opponents out of the LPAA this weekend, starting with a home contest against Sedgwick County on Thursday. They will also head to Merino on Saturday.
#8 PEETZ (7-2)
Peetz took wins over Merino (55-50) and Arickaree/Woodlin (50-39) in its first two outings of January, the latter coming this past Tuesday. Those were big wins for the Bulldogs, as they face a pair of top-10 foes in their next two contests. That starts on Friday with a trip to Haxtun, and follows with the Bulldogs hosting Prairie next Tuesday.
#9 WILEY (6-1)
It wasn’t easy, but Wiley won its first game of 2026 last Saturday, as the Panthers held on to beat Weskan (KS) 50-48. They led 43-29 entering the fourth quarter. Grant Mauch went for a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Panthers, who play three games in three days this weekend. Wiley hosts Eads on Thursday, before traveling to Kit Carson and Flagler on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
#10 SANGRE DE CRISTO (6-1)
It will have been almost four weeks since the Thunderbirds last saw action when they hit the floor this weekend for games with Moffat on Friday, and Cheraw on Saturday. Those are both at home, as is their game with Del Norte next Tuesday.
#11 DE BEQUE (8-4)
January has not been kind to the Dragons, who take a three-game losing streak into their game against Vail Mountain on Friday. De Beque was handed a a 52-50 loss by Caprock Academy on Wednesday, despite 19 points from Wyatt Carman and 11 from Burke Largent.
#12 EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (5-2)
ECA picked up two wins in the last week, beating Eads 56-32 last Saturday, and Hanover 65-39 on Tuesday. The latter of those was in Black Forest play. The Eagles will be home on Thursday against Kiowa, and again on Saturday to face Las Animas.
#13 DENVER WALDORF (5-3)
After opening the month with a loss to Golden View Classical Academy, Denver Waldorf got right back on track with a 59-25 win over Denver Academy of Torah on Monday. Cayden Quinn posted 20 points and nine rebounds for the Spartans, who also got 18 points out of Sarab Baidwan. The Spartans open the Lotus Meteor Shootout on Thursday against Vanguard Classical East. Denver Waldorf beat the Hawks 59-49 right before the break, with Henry Lottridge scoring 18 points and pulling down 18 boards.
#14 GRANADA (5-1)
The Bobcats were scheduled to face Cheyenne Wells last Friday, but with that corner of the state getting blanketed under several inches of snow, the game was postponed. Granada came out the next day and dominated La Veta 61-15. Angelo Martinez led the Bobcats with 18 points, and Edgurr Morales added 15. Granada makes the short trip east for its rivalry game with Holly on Thursday, and will host Swink on Saturday.
#15 OURAY (6-2)
The Trojans have been off since beating Mancos 69-35 last Thursday, giving them an important early win in the San Juan Basin. Cavan Pasek led the way with a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds. Wesley Rhoades and Conner Hill added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
MileHigh Prep Report 