Class 1A Boys Basketball Breakdown

Class 1A Boys League Predictions Update 1/21

Class 1A Boys League Predictions

We have just over one month left of regular season play and we wanted to update our League Predictions plus update our regional contenders.   We will have the 32 teams we think make the playoffs plus We will also list the 3 to 6 players we think are in the hunt for the MHPR Player of the League as well.  Remember this is all for fun and we are not cheering against any team.

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YWKC League

1. Otis (13)

2. Idalia (28)

3. Arickaree (19)

4. Lone Star (41)

5. Bethune (48)

6. Hi-Plains (53)

The YWKC League will get an automatic qualifier into regionals since they have five teams in their league.  Otis is my pick to win the YWKC League.  Otis is 6-3 and has picked up some big wins to start 2026 including a win over Haxtun.  Idalia and Arickaree are the main league title contenders and are regional contenders.  Lone Star also could become a regional contender if they can get hot down the stretch.

My predictions for YWKC League

League Champion: Ots

Regional Contenders: Idalia, Otis, Arickaree, Lone Star

Dark Horse: Arickaree

Player of the League: Grady Bechtle, Otis

Others to watch for: Austin Wright Arickaree, Broderick Kite Idalia, Jackson Cordell Arickaree, Anderson Weather Lone Star, Angel Millan Bethune

1A Southern Peaks

1. Sierra Grande (17)

2. Sangre De Cristo (8)

3. Moffat (36)

4. Centennial (38)

5. Creede (47)

6. Antonito (55)

7. Lake City (56)

The 1A Southern Peaks will get a team automatically into regionals since they have 5 teams.  My pick to win the SPL will be Sierra Grande. Sierra Grande is 6-4 currently and they have played a tough schedule with all 4 loses coming to quality opponents in Sanford, Ignacio, Byers, and De Beque.  Sangre De Cristo will be the main challenger for the league title and they are sitting at 8-1.  When these two square off it will be one of the better games in the San Luis Valley.  Moffat and Centennial are regional contenders.

My predictions for 1A Southern Peaks

League Champion: Sierra Grande

Regional Contenders: Sierra Grande, Sangre De Cristo, Moffat, Centennial

Dark Horse: Moffat

Player of the League: Jadyn Martinez, Sierra Grande

Others to watch for: Deagon Rogers Sangre De Cristo, Preston Heater Moffat, Rolando Najera Sierra Grande, Bajung Nginoe Centennial, Chase Shellabarger Moffat

1A North Central

1. Prairie (6)

2. Peetz (14)

3. Weldon Valley (32)

4. Fleming (40)

5. Briggsdale (46)

The North Central League will get an automatic berth into regionals because they have 5 teams in their league.  Prairie is my pick to win the North Central League.  Prairie is 8-3 currently and they picked up a huge win over Peetz to kick off league play.  Peetz will be the main challenger for the league crown.  Peetz did fall to Prairie but if they can run the table could still push for a regional host spot.  Weldon Valley and Fleming are regional contenders.

My predictions for North Central

League Champion: Prairie

Regional Contenders: Peetz, Prairie, Weldon Valley, Fleming

Dark Horse: Weldon Valley

Player of the League: Connor Schumacher Peetz

Others to watch for: August Filter Weldon Valley, Scot Francis Briggsdale, Zander Braun Weldon Valley, Rhyder Bayne Peetz, Treyson Kirkwood Fleming, No Stats Prairie

1A High Plains

1. McClave (3)

2. Cheyenne Wells (2)

3. Granada (15)

4. Cheraw (22)

5. Kit Carson (31)

6. Eads (35)

The High Plains League will get an automatic berth into regionals because they have over 5 teams in league.  McClave is my pick to win the High Plains League.  McClave has started 2025/2026 season the way the ended 2024/2025 with a state championship.  McClave has just 1 loss on the season to 3A Yuma.  Cheyenne Wells is the main challenger for the league title and also have just 1 loss on the season.  Granada Cheraw, Kit Carson, and Eads are all regional contenders.

My predictions for High Plains League

League Champion: McClave

Regional Contenders: McClave, Cheyenne Wells, Granada, Kit Carson, Eads, Cheraw

Dark Horse: Cheraw

Player of the League: Tuff Kelley, McClave

Others to watch for: Corey Hill Cheyenne Wells, Edgurr Morales Granada, Alejandro Perez Granada, William Ledbetter Cheraw, Trey Scheler Cheyenne Wells

Fishers Peak (Will not get automatic berth)

1. Primero (42)

2. Manzanola (44)

3. La Veta (45)

4. Aguilar (49)

The Fishers Peak League will not get an automatic berth into regionals and teams will have to qualify by being in the top 32 of the CHSAA Seeding Index.  With just four teams in the league the Fishers Peak league will rely on their out of league schedule to help them get into regionals.  Primero is my pick to win the league.  I believe only the league champion will get into regionals! 

My predictions for Fishers Peak

League Champion: Primero

Regional Contenders: Primero, Manzanola

Dark Horse: Manzanola

Player of the League: Julian Chavez, Manzanola

Others to watch for: Mark Holland Manzanola, Blake Vargas La Veta, (No Stats Primero)

1A Black Forest

1. Elbert (7)

2. Evangelical Christian (9)

3. Pikes Peak Christian (37)

4. Hanover (29)

5. Miami-Yoder (43)

The 1A Black Forest will get an automatic berth into regionals as they have more than 5 teams in their league.  Elbert is my pick to win the Black Forest League and be a state tournament contender.  Elbert sits at #7 in the Seeding Index and could host.  ECA looks to be the main challenger for the league title sitting inside the top 10 of the seeding index.  Pikes Peak Christian and Hanover are regional contenders.

My predictions for 1A Black Forest

League Champion: Elbert

Regional Contenders: Elbert, Evangelical Christian, Pikes Peak Christian, Hanover

Dark Horse: Pikes Peak Christian

Player of the League: Eli Cornell, Elbert

Others to watch for: Matthew Crocfer Pikes Peak Christian, Hector Lopez Hanover, Ethan Tesman Elbert, Jordan Hume Miami-Yoder

1A Ark Valley

1. Wiley (11)

2. Holly (26)

3. Kim/Branson (25)

4. Walsh (34)

5. Springfield (27)

6. South Baca (52)

The 1A Ark Valley will get an automatic berth into regionals.  Wiley is my pick to win the Ark Valley League.  They are off to a great start at 8-2 overall and will look to hold off the other league title contenders.  Holly, Kim/Branson, Walsh, and Springfield will all take their shot at the league title and are regional contenders. 

My predictions for 1A Ark Valley

League Champion: Wiley

Regional Contenders: Walsh, Kim/Branson, Wiley, Holly, Springfield

Dark Horse: Holly

Player of the League: Grant Mauch Wiley

Others to watch for: Trotter Watkins Kim/Branson, Will Doherty Kim/Branson, Drayden Williams Holly

1A 5280 League

1. Denver Waldorf (10)

2. Denver Jewish Day (18)

3. Rocky Mountain Lutheran (24)

4. Front Range Baptist (30)

5. Mile High Academy (39)

6. Victory Prep

The 5280 League will get an automatic berth in regionals.  The 5280 has 6 teams this season.  Denver Waldorf is my pick to win the 5280 League.  Denver Waldorf sits at #10 in the Seeding Index and hope to push into a regional host spot.  Denver Jewish Day and Rocky Mountain Lutheran are the main league title threat and I think near locks for regionals.  Front Range Baptist and Mile High Academy are regional contenders.

My predictions for 5280 League

League Champion: Denver Waldorf

Regional Contenders: Denver Waldorf, Denver Jewish Day, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Mile High Academy, Front Range Baptist

Dark Horse: Front Range Baptist

Player of the League: Solly Bielsky Denver Jewish Day

Others to watch for: Nathan Jaques Front Range Baptist, Henry Lottridge Denver Waldorf, Cayden Quinn Denver Waldorf, Abraham Rivas Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Elijah VanDenBerghe Front Range Baptist, Ronen Trujillo Denver Jewish Day

Regional Predictions

I will still give my regional predictions for the 32 teams I think make regionals.  I am missing a few leagues that are 2A/1A or 3A/2A/1A league and they will be mentioned tomorrow.

5280

Denver Waldorf, Denver Jewish Day, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Front Range Baptist

Ark Valley

Wiley, Kim/Branson, Holly, Springfield

Black Forest

Elbert, Evangelical Christian

Fisher Peak

Primero

Hi-Plains

Cheyenne Wells, McClave, Granada, Cheraw, Kit Carson

North Central

Prairie, Peetz, Weldon Valley

Southern Peaks

Sangre De Cristo, Sierra Grande

YWKC

Otis, Arickaree, Idalia

2A/1A Lower Platte

Caliche

2A/1A Union Pacific

Stratton, Flagler

2A/1A West Central

Cotopaxi

2A/1A Western Slope

De Beque

3A/2A/1A Mile High

Flatirons Academy

2A/1A San Juan

Nucla, Ouray

Independent

Denver Academy of Torah

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