Class 2A Boys Basketball Week Nine Report

Class 2A Boys Basketball Weekly Preview

By Anthony Garcia

This week we look at each league and quickly breakdown the league races & Regionals.  Most leagues are in full swing and teams are fighting for that automatic berth into regionals.  For each league I will mention the league race and also touch on which teams are in regional contention.

3A/2A/1A San Juan League

Nucla (18-0) is currently in control of the San Juan League.  Nucla hold a three-game lead over the teams sitting in second place.  Nucla will face Telluride on 2/13 but cannot lock up the league title till their matchup with Dolores on 2/17.  Telluride (7-10), Dolore (10-8), and Ouray (10-7) sit tied for 2^nd place with a 5-3 record in league.  All three must face Nucla still but all Nucla needs is two wins, and the league title is theirs. 

Regional Contenders:

Nucla (2), Ouray (19)-1A

Dolores (27), Ridgway (30)-2A

Four teams currently are regional contenders in the San Juan League.  In Class 1A Nucla and Ouray are both locks for regionals.  Both teams will hope to improve their seed or keep it the same.  In Class 2A Dolores and Ridgway are regional contenders.  Dolores is at #27 and is a near lock for regionals.  Dolores will have to avoid any bad loses and should make regionals.  Ridgway sits at #30.  They are on the bubble and will be a team that has to secure a few wins to avoid being jumped the teams chasing on the outside.  Ridgway win over Crested Butte could be huge coming down the stretch. 

League Leaders

Scoring Leaders	Rebound Leaders	Assist Leaders
Henry Deppen, Ridgway 24.8 ppg	Henry Deppen, Ridgway 13.7 rpg	Brycen Rummel, Nucla 7.0 apg
Cavan Pasek, Ouray 17.6 ppg	Langston Silbergeld, Telluride 11.9 rpg	Koby McClellan, Dolores 4.1 apg
Langston Silbergeld, Telluride 16.9 ppg	Brycen Rummel, Nucla 9.5 rpg	Jeep Demuth, Ouray 3.4 apg

3A/2A/1A Mile High League

The Mile High League is currently being led by Heritage Christian (12-4) who sits at 9-0 in league.  Heritage Christian control their own destiny and with just 3 league games remaining could nearly lock things up on Saturday when they face Front Range Christian.  Heritage Christian with a win over FRC would hold the tie breaker over all three teams chasing them and a win over Estes Park on 2/17 would give them the league title.  SkyView Academy (11-5), Flatirons Academy (14-2), and Front Range Christian (13-3) all sit with an 8-1 record in league play.  SkyView Academy and Flatirons Academy both already lost to Heritage Christian and they will hope Front Range Christian can upset Heritage Christian and then things would get interesting with tie-breakers down the stretch.

Regional Contenders:

Flatirons Academy (4)-1A

Heritage Christian (3), Front Range Christian (7), Union Colony Prep (19), Belleview Christian (22), Dayspring Christian (25)-2A

SkyView Academy (15), Lyons (33), Clear Creek (35)-3A

Eight teams currently are in regional contention for the Mile High League.  Flatirons Academy is the lone 1A team and are a lock for regionals and should host a regional.  In Class 2A Heritage Christian, Front Range Christian, and Union Colony Prep are all locks for regionals and two of the three are in contention to host a regional.  Belleview Christian and Dayspring Christian are both in very good shape to reach regionals and baring a huge disaster should make it to regionals.  Looking at Class 3A, SkyView Academy is a lock for regionals.  Lyons and Clear Creek currently are on the outside looking in.  Lyons is less than .001 behind #32 Wray.  Lyons has three games remaining before the end of year tournament, the Mile High League plays.  Lyons will have critical matchups against Union Colony Prep and Clear Creek on their schedule.  Clear Creek is a bit farther behind Wray but there game against Lyons will have big regional implications. 

League Leaders

Scoring Leaders	Rebound Leaders	Assist Leaders
Zephyr Schuessler, Clear Creek 23.1 ppg	Gunnar Ast, Flatirons Academy 13.3 RPG	Zephyr Schuessler, Clear Creek 6.3 APG
Tanner Sarchet, Union Colony 20.3 ppg	Landon Church, Gilpin County 12.1 rpg	Henry Dehaan, Flatirons Academy 4.6 apg
Zeke Paznokas, Lyons 20.2 ppg	Haedan Morton, Front Range Christian 12.1 rpg	Tanner Sarchet, Union Colony Prep 4.4 apg

2A Southern Peaks League

The Southern Peaks League currently has a pair of undefeated teams sitting atop the league standings.  Sanford (16-1) and Center (12-5) both remain undefeated in league and they square off on Thursday Night for the league title.  It should be a great matchup with regional implications as well.  Trinidad (10-6) is the team sitting in third place with a 2-2 league record and they are hoping to improve their regional contention but out of the league title race.

Regional Contenders:

Sanford (2), Center (14), Trinidad (18), Crested Butte (34), Sargent (35), Del Norte (37)

All 6 teams are still in regional contention in the SPL.  Sanford is a lock for regionals and is in very good shape to host a regional.  Center and Trinidad are also locks for regionals, but both are hoping to improve their seed.  Crested Butte is at #34 and they probably need to win out which they will be favored in their remaining games.  Crested Butte will also need a good showing in the end of the year SPL tournament, Crested Butte is not far behind #32 Sedgwick County.  Sargent and Del Norte are barely hanging on to regional contention, but both will need some help to try and get into the mix.  Sargent is .092 behind #32 Sedgwick County and Del Norte is .116.

League Leaders (Missing Sanford, Center)

Scoring Leaders	Rebound Leaders	Assist Leaders
Isaiah Moreno, Trinidad 12.8 ppg	Isaiah Moreno, Trinidad 6.9 rpg	Bennett Crabtree, Crested Butte 2.0 apg
Cole Gegelman, Trinidad 12.5 ppg	Noah Bailey, Del Norte 6.5 rpg	Damon Ledford-Vigil, Del Norte 2.0 apg
Noah Bailey, Del Norte 11.4 ppg	Calvin Quintana, Del Norte 5.6 rpg	Isaac Jennings, Crested Butte 1.9 apg

2A Santa Fe League

The Santa Fe League is arguably the one league that does not have favorite currently.  5 teams currently sit with just 1 loss in league play.  Crowley County, Swallows Charter, Hoehne, Fowler, and Las Animas all just have one league loss.  Over the next two weeks we should start seeing the picture come into focus a bit more.  Plenty to still sort out though especially if teams keep beating each other.

Regional Contenders:

Swallows Charter (11), Crowley County (17), Hoehne (24), Las Animas (26), Fowler (28),

5 of the 8 teams in the Santa Fe League are regional contenders.  Swallows Charter is in the best shape to try and get into a host spot.  Swallows Charter has key matchups against Hoehne and Fowler still.  I am not sure if Swallows Charter can get into the top 8 but winning out could get them close.  Crowley County is a lock for regionals and Hoehne is very close to a lock but want to see how things look after this week.  Las Animas at #26 is in a similar spot to Hoehne and they have a bit more difficult schedule with Fowler, McClave, and Hoehne remaining.  Fowler is at #28 and closer to the bubble.  Fowler has a very difficult schedule remaining and if they lose their final 5 games will be pushed very close to the #32 spot.

League Leaders

Scoring Leaders	Rebound Leaders	Assist Leaders
Jacob Magninat, Hoehne 17.2 ppg	Titus Ballard, Fowler 7.6 rpg	Karson Kleven, Swallows Charter 3.4 apg
Landon Eccher, Walsenburg 14.7 ppg	Christian Garcia, Swallows Charter 7.4 rpg	Christian Garcia, Swallows Charter 3.4 apg
Aaron Vargas, Las Animas 14.5 ppg	Mike Vazquez, Swallows Charter 7.1 rpg	Kree Wallace, Las Animas 3.2 apg

2A/1A Lower Platte League

Merino (8-9) currently leads the way in the Lower Platte League with a perfect 3-0 league record.  Merino will play for the league title when they face Holyoke on 2/20.  Chasing the Rams are Haxtun (10-7) and Holyoke (7-10).  Both teams sit with just 1 league loss and Holyoke still has to face Merino.  If Holyoke can upset Merino, it would force a three-way tie.  Haxtun looks to keep pace with the league title they still must face Caliche and Sedgwick County in league play.

Regional Contenders:

Haxtun (9), Merino (10), Akron (21), Holyoke (23), Sedgwick County (32)-2A

Caliche (25)-1A

All 6 teams are still in regional contention in the LPAA.  Haxtun and Merino are the two teams looking to jump into the top 8 and host a region.  Both still have a few big games remaining plus the end of the year LPAA/UPL tournament.  Akron and Holyoke look to be in very good shape for regionals and are a near lock for that spot.  Caliche in 1A is in a similar position but they have a tough schedule to end the year.  Sedgwick County is the team with the most on the line sitting at #32 in the Seeding Index.  Sedgwick County is .014 ahead of #33 Vanguard Classical.  Sedgwick County has must win game against Burlington on 2/14 plus if they can upset either Holyoke or Haxtun could nearly punch their ticket to regionals.  Of course the LPAA/UPL has there crossover tournament to end the year.

League Leaders

Scoring Leaders	Rebound Leaders	Assist Leaders
Kolten Randel, Akron 18.9 ppg	Joshua Palic, Sedgwick County 11.1 rpg	Jace Curtis, Akron 5.4 apg
Chase Goddard, Haxtun 17.4 ppg	Avery Bell, Caliche 8.4 rpg	Zavier Trenkle, Merino 4.3 apg
Mason Hernandez, Caliche 15.7 ppg	Mason Hernandez, Caliche 8.1 rpg	Kipton Rockwell, Caliche 3.5 apg

3A/2A Foothills League

Golden View Classical (16-3) sits in the drivers seat in the Foothills League.  Golden View Classical took a big step towards winning the League when they picked up a critical win over Twin Peaks Classical.  Golden View Classical can win the league title when they face William Smith (9-5) on Friday Night.  Twin Peaks Classical (15-1) and William Smith (9-5) both sit with one league loss.  William Smith will look to pull the upset of Golden View Classical on Friday and force a three-way tie for first place.   

Regional Contenders:

Golden View Classical (5), Twin Peaks Classical (6), Loveland Classical (29)-2A

Addenbrooke Classical (25), William Smith (38)-3A

5 of the 12 teams in the Foothills League are in regional contention.  Golden View Classical and Twin Peaks Classical both control their own fate in terms of host a region in Class 2A.  Both are locks for regionals as well.  Loveland Classical sits at #29 in the Class 2A Rankings.  Loveland Classical looks to be safe but with remaining games against Golden View and Twin Peaks they could slip closer to the bubble.  Addenbrooke Classical looks to be in good shape in Class 3A sitting at #25.  Addenbrooke Classical does have a few big matchups remaining especially against Clear Creek on Saturday mainly due to Clear Creek being outside the top 32 currently.  William Smith would be on the outside looking in at #38.  William Smith would need to run the table to try and get into regionals.

League Leaders

Scoring Leaders	Rebound Leaders	Assist Leaders
Jordan Osei, William Smith 18.5 ppg	Matthew Wurth, Twin Peaks Classical 13.4 rpg	Luke Chronowski, Golden View Classical 4.2
Jacob Walker, Golden View Classical 17.6 ppg	Tribby Lopez, Addenbrooke Classical 10.6 rpg	Jacob Walker, Golden View Classical 3.4 apg
Matthew Wurth, Twin Peaks Classical 13.8	Kevyn Feldon, Two Roads Charter 9.5 rpg	Cole Meyer, Loveland Classical 3.4 apg

2A/1A Western Slope League

Just two undefeated teams remain in the Western Slope League.  Vail Christian (13-2) and Caprock Academy (10-5) both sit undefeated in league and won’t face each other until February 21^st.  Vail Christian does have a key non-league game against Custer County this week.  Caprock Academy will have a pair of huge league games this week.  Caprock Academy faces the two teams with just one loss in Plateau Valley (9-7) and De Beque (12-5).  We may be having a different talk next week after Caprock Academy faces the top teams in league.

Regional Contenders:

Vail Christian (8), Plateau Valley (12), Caprock Academy (13), Vail Mountain (39)-2A

De Beque (13)-1A

5 teams out of 9 are currently in the Mix for Regionals in the Western Slope.  Vail Christian, Plateau Valley, and Caprock Academy all will make it to regionals in Class 2A.  The question is can Vail Christian hold onto the #8 spot or will Plateau Valley or Caprock Academy push to get into a host spot.  De Beque is also a lock for Regionals in Class 1A.  They are hoping they can push for a top 8 spot and have some key games coming up.  Vail Mountain is the lone team outside the top 32 of the 5 teams.  Vail Mountain is at #39.  It looks like they are done with their regular season games and will await the end of the season Western Slope Tournament.  They will need a great showing in that tournament.

League Leaders

Scoring Leaders	Rebound Leaders	Assist Leaders
Burke Largent, De Beque 20.4 ppg	Jace Graham, De Beque 14.1 rpg	Burke Largent, De Beque 5.8 apg
Colter Ralston, Plateau Valley 19.1 ppg	Stran Lechman, West Grand 8.5 rpg	Colter Ralston, Plateau Valley 3.8 apg
Sanjay Geffers, West Grand 17.8 ppg	Cameron Morrison, Hayden 7.7 rpg	Cash Salazar, Plateau Valley 3.3 apg

2A/1A Union Colony Prep League

The Union Colony Prep is down to two teams atop the league standings.  Limon (8-8) and Stratton (16-2) both sit undefeated in league and won’t face each other until February 20^th.  Limon before that matchup must square off against Byers on Friday (2/13).  Stratton will also have a league game before their matchup with Limon against Burlington tonight.  Byers who sits in third place with just 1 loss has a chance to keep their league title hopes alive if they can defeat Limon on Friday.

Regional Contenders:

Byers (4), Limon (15), Burlington (39)-2A

Stratton (5), Flagler (36)-1A

5 teams out of the 7 teams are in the mix for Regionals in the Union Colony Prep League.  In Class 2A, Byers is in very good shape to host a region and are a lock for regionals.  Limon also is a lock for regionals sitting at #15.  Burlington sits at #39 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Burlington would need to have a huge stretch of wins to finish February and they have basically an elimination game against Sedgwick County on 2/14.  Looking at Class 1A Stratton is a lock for regionals and I believe are a lock to host a region.  Flagler is also in the mix but would be on the outside looking in at #36.  Flagler has a must win game against Bethune on Friday (2/13) and then have big games against Otis and Lone Star before the LPAA/UPL Tournament.

League Leaders

Scoring Leaders	Rebound Leaders	Assist Leaders
Von Isenbart, Stratton 17.8 ppg	Weston Schaal, Burlington 9.5 rpg	Drey Tacha, Limon 3.8 apg
Ryker Lockhart, Genoa-Hugo 14.1 ppg	Daniel Forristall, Limon 7.2 rpg	Adria Castells, Flagler 2.9 apg
Weston Schaal, Burlington 13.7 ppg	Keagen Mellott, Limon 6.7 rpg	Samuel Korber, Burlington 2.6 apg

2A Black Forest League

The Black Forest League Title will come down to a matchup between Simla (13-3) and Calhan (7-12).  These two teams won’t face each other till the end of the season on 2/27.  This will be for the league title and the automatic berth.

Regional Contenders:

Simla (1), Liberty Tree Academy (31), Calhan (35)

3 of the 5 teams are in the hunt for Regionals in the Black Forest League.  Simla is a lock for regionals and a lock to host a region.  The main question for the Cubs is what seed will they end up with.  Simla has a tough non-league stretch of games coming up.  Liberty Tree Academy would be the 2^nd to last team into regionals.  Liberty Tree sits at #31 in the Seeding Index.  They also have a tough stretch of games upcoming.  This week Liberty Tree will face Ascent Classical which is a must win game for Liberty Tree.  Calhan also is in the mix for regionals.  Calhan is at 35 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Calhan is .091 behind #32 Sedgwick County.  Calhan has four games remaining and probably need to win 3 of the 4 to jump up to #32.  Calhan will face Fountain Valley tonight and Crowley County on Friday both could be huge to improve their shot at regionals.

 League Leaders

Scoring Leaders	Rebound Leaders	Assist Leaders
Tatum Kocerha, Simla 22.1 ppg	Tatum Kocerha, Simla 10.5 rpg	Tatum Kocerha, Simla 4.4 apg
Evan Guy, Simla 13.6 ppg	Wesley Rains, Liberty Tree 7.9 rpg	Jaydence Smith, Liberty Tree 4.1 apg
Kaleb Mendez, Liberty Tree 12.6 ppg	Connor Maranville, Simla 7.1 rpg	Evan Guy, Simla 3.2 apg

League not Mentioned that have 2A Schools: 2A/1A West Central, 4A/3A/2A Frontier, 2A/1A 5280.  Here is a quick look at any teams from leagues not mentioned where their teams sit in the seeding index.

Locks for Regionals

Campion Academy (16)-Independent, I have still not gotten a for sure answer if they are able to play in the postseason.  If anyone knows let me know.

Custer County (20)-West Central, are a lock if they can get by Sargent and Cotopaxi.

Bubble Teams

Vanguard Classical East (33)-Independent, are just .012 behind #32 Sedgwick County.  Must win games for Vanguard Classical are against Poudre Community and Village this week.