CLASS 1A BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
With only three weekends left in the regular season, the top six teams in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index have started to pull away from the rest of the field. The final two hosting spots in the regional round could come down to the wire. As of Thursday morning, the teams sitting seventh through 14th in the Seeding Index were within one-tenth of one point of each other.
#7 ELBERT (12-4)
The Bulldogs got their fourth straight win earlier this week, as they got past Briggsdale 78-45 on Monday. Eli Cornell surpassed 1000 career points last Thursday in Elbert’s 56-16 win over Kiowa. The Bulldogs share the lead in the Black Forest with Pikes Peak Christian, who will host them on Friday. Elbert also goes to Bethune on Saturday, and will host 2A #1 Simla next Tuesday.
#8 DENVER WALDORF (13-4)
Denver Waldorf wrapped up the 5280 title on Tuesday with a 56-47 win over Denver Jewish Day. It was the sixth win in a row for the Spartans, who saw Henry Lottridge go over the 1000 point mark in his career with 21 in the victory. He also pulled down 10 rebounds. The Spartans host Caliche next Monday.
#9 SANGRE DE CRISTO (15-1)
The winning streak of Sangre de Cristo reached 13 games with victories over Kim/Branson (64-46) and Aguilar (65-19) last weekend. The Thunderbirds share the lead in the Southern Peaks with #14 Sierra Grande, and they meet on Friday at Sierra Grande. Sangre de Cristo also hosts Antonito in league play on Saturday.
#10 PEETZ (13-4)
Peetz picked up its sixth straight win earlier in the week, as the Bulldogs downed Potter-Dix (NE) 66-56 on Tuesday. The Bulldogs sit second in the North Central behind #6 Prairie, to whom they’ve lost twice. They will host #12 Otis in a big non-league showdown on Thursday, and will travel to Front Range Baptist on Saturday.
#11 WILEY (14-4)
Wiley had its five-game winning streak snapped by #3 Cheyenne Wells last Saturday, 43-29, but the Panthers got back on track on Tuesday, when they outlasted Holly 51-49 to grab second place in the Arkansas Valley. Grant Mauch scored 19 points in that win, and Bentyn Tixier added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Wiley goes to Rocky Ford on Thursday, and hosts South Baca on Tuesday.
#12 OTIS (11-4)
The Bulldogs ride a three-game winning streak into Thursday’s clash with Peetz. All three wins were in the YWKC league, as Otis took down Arickaree/Woodlin (66-30), Hi-Plains (55-19), and Lone Star (64-33). The Bulldogs share the lead in the league with Idalia, and the two get together on Tuesday in Otis. Otis goes to 2A #10 Merino on Friday.
#13 DE BEQUE (12-5)
After losing four out of five, the Dragons picked up their third straight win last Saturday, beating Soroco 70-33. Trenton Sandidge led the way with 18 points, while Burke Largent added 17. Jace Graham had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Dragons are one game behind Vail Christian and Caprock Academy in the Western Slope with one league loss. They will travel to Caprock Academy on Thursday, and Hayden on Saturday. De Beque also has a road game at Plateau Valley next Tuesday.
#14 SIERRA GRANDE (12-4)
The Panthers are the co-leaders in the Southern Peaks along with Sangre de Cristo, and they will take a nine-game winning streak into their match-up with the Thunderbirds on Friday. The latest win in the run came on Tuesday against Hoehne, 78-49. Jadyn Martinez hit on 15 of 19 shots and tallied 33 points, while snagging 14 rebounds. Rolando Najera had his own double-double, recording 18 points and 13 rebounds. He also finished with nine rebounds. Following the big showdown with Sangre, the Panthers head to 2A #14 Center on Saturday.
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