Class 3A Boys Basketball Weekly Preview

Picture by Tayler Garcia (Centauri vs Bayfield)

Class 3A Boys Basketball Weekly Preview

By Anthony Garcia

We have just three weeks remaining in the regular season. A few teams will have two weeks left and play a tournament to end the season. This week we will look at the top 6 teams in the CHSAA Seeding Index then take a look at the teams ranked #29 thru #34 in the seeding Index.

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#1 Strasburg (17-1)

Strasburg comes into week 9 with a 17-1 record and sitting with a 8-1 record in league. Strasburg controls their own destiny in terms of winning the league title. Strasburg, with a win over Frontier Academy on 2/17 will win the Patriot League title. Strasburg also has a huge non-league game against #3 Forge Christian on Saturday (2/14). Strasburg has been on a tear since their loss to Brush on 1/27 winning 5 straight games with an average margin on 28.2 points.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Brody Hopwood	18.4 ppg	4.5 rpg	2.5 spg
Nick Glatfelter	13.2 ppg	7.3 rpg	4.1 apg
Cade Hemphill	12.2 ppg	2.1 rpg	2.1 apg

#2 Banning Lewis (16-0)

Banning Lewis comes into Week 9 undefeated (16-0) and leading the Tri-Peaks League with a record of 8-0. Banning Lewis has a one game lead over C.S Christian who sits in second place and they will square off on 2/20 and that game will be for the league title. This week Banning Lewis will face 4A La Junta (9-7) and Jaems Irwin (2-12). Banning Lewis has been an absolute juggernaut offensively averaging 74.2 ppg while also play well defensively giving up just 39.3 ppg.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Matthew Lebron	25.1 ppg	2.1 rpg	3.6 spg
Canon Meyer	9.1 ppg	5.6 rpg	0.7 bpg
Jordan Jones	8.8 ppg	6.3 rpg	1.5 apg

#3 Forge Christian (18-1)

Forge Christian comes into week nine with an 18-1 overall record and 5-1 record in Metro League Play. Forge Christian is currently in second in the 4A/3A Metro League. Forge Christian will get there shot at the league title when they face Kent Denver on 2/19. This week Forge Christian will play a big non-league game against #1 Strasburg on Saturday. Forge Christian lone loss on the season was a loss to 4A Peak to Peak on 1/20. Forge Christian since the loss has averaged 67.5 ppg while giving up just 45.0 ppg.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Levi Clark	22.6 ppg	7.2 rpg	2.0 apg
Sebastian Still	12.8 ppg	4.6 rpg	4.1 apg
Treysen Eye	11.4 ppg	7.5 rpg	1.4 bpg

#4 Yuma (16-2)

Yuma comes into Week Nine with a 16-2 overall record and 7-1 record in Patriot League play. Yuma currently sits tied for second place in the Patriot League and will look to break that tie when they face #5 Windsor Charter on Friday Night. Yuma would need some help to win the Patriot League since they lost to Strasburg (77-59) last week, Yuma needs Strasburg to lose to Frontier Academy and then beat Windsor Charter to win the Patriot. Yuma has been tested in close games all year playing 6 games decided by 8 points or less and going 6-0 in those games.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Brody Sheffield	24.9 ppg	8.3 rpg	3.8 apg
Alex Pensado	13.3 ppg	3.8 rpg	3.3 spg
Jalen Rose	7.2 ppg	2.0 rpg	2.1 apg

#5 Windsor Charter (15-4)

Windsor Charter comes into Week Nine with a 15-4 overall record and 8-1 record in Patriot League play. Windsor Charter is tied with #4 Yuma for second place in the Patriot League and they will break their tie on Friday Night when they square off. Windsor Charter can still win the league, but they will need Strasburg to get upset by Frontier Academy and defeat Yuma. This season Windsor Charter is averaging 67 ppg while giving up 54.6 ppg.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Dayton Long	20.9 ppg	6.3 rpg	1.8 spg
Andrew Schams	19.9 ppg	5.5 rpg	2.9 apg
Talmadge Anderson	11.9 ppg	6.8 rpg	3.3 bpg

#6 Peyton (14-3)

Peyton is currently 14-3 on the season and are the Class 3A Black Forest League Champions. Peyton will be looking to improve or hold onto a top 8 spot for a Regional Host. Peyton will play a mix of opponents to end the season. Peyton currently is riding a three game winning streak with wins over Denver Jewish Day (67-38), 5A Harrison (64-56), and 4A Village (62-39). Peyton has just one game this week against 1A Holly (9-6). Peyton does have some big games remaining against TCA, ECA, North Fork, and Cedaredge.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Michael Perry	21.0 ppg	3.9 rpg	5.3 apg
Bryce Love	13.2 ppg	9.9 rpg	1.1 bpg
Gabe Gatti	10.7 ppg	3.9 rpg	2.9 spg

#29 Manual (11-6)

Manual comes into Week 9 with an 11-6 record and 7-4 record in City League Play. Manual has not had the end of season they would have liked dropping 2 of their last 4 games including a big one to Bruce Randolph (57-45) last week. Manual has just two games remaining on their schedule against 4A DSST-Conservatory (13-6) and 4A DSST-College View (9-9). Manual with at least one win in their final two games should be set up to get into regionals but two loses will put them square on the bubble.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Zubayr Carpenter	18.8 ppg	6.3 rpg	2.3 apg
Lee Byers	13.3 ppg	3.5 rpg	4.5 apg
Isaac Ebert	11.5 ppg	3.8 rpg	2.0 spg

#30 Centauri (8-10)

Centauri comes into Week Nine with a 8-10 overall record and a 3-5 record in IML play. Centauri snapped a 4-game losing streak picking up one of their biggest wins on the season against Bayfield (62-37) last week. Centauri added another important win over Rye (56-18) this past Tuesday. Centauri has 5 games remaining on their schedule. The Falcons will play a pair of games this week against Ignacio (8-9) on Friday and Monte Vista (10-8) on Saturday. Centauri needs to at least defeat Ignacio to keep ahold of that #30 spot but sweeping both games should put them in a very good spot to make it to regionals. If Centauri drops both games things will get very interesting to end the season.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Sean Jarvies	9.3 ppg
Shandon Gilleland	7.5 ppg
Keaden McGinnis	7.2 ppg

#31 Bruce Randolph (9-5)

Bruce Randolph comes into Week 9 with an 9-5 overall record and 7-5 record in City League Play. Bruce Randolph picked up a huge win last week over Sheridan and propelled them into the top 32. Bruce Randolph looks to have 3 games remaining on their schedule and all three must win games against Rocky Mountain Prep (2-17), Jefferson (0-20), and 4A Pinnacle (14-4). The Pinnacle game could be the game that locks the Grizzlies into regionals. Bruce Randolph dropping any of their next two games would see them drop out of the top 32.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Matthew Wright	24.2 ppg	4.1 rpg	3.3 spg
Daniel Torres	12.6 ppg	2.6 rpg	3.4 apg
Issac Varela	7.3 ppg	5.9 rpg	1.7 apg

#32 Wray (6-12)

Wray comes into Week Nine with a 6-12 overall record and 1-8 in Patriot League Play. Wray got moved back into the top 32 with a huge 68-58 win over Frontier Academy. Wray snapped an 8-game losing streak with that win and kept their regionals hopes alive. Wray has two games remaining, plus the end of the season tournament. Wray will face Wiggins (13-6) tonight (2/12) and end the season with a must win game against 2A Akron (7-10) on 2/17. Wray is just .0021 ahead of the #33 team so picking up wins will be key for the Eagle to get into regionals.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Alex Trejo	14.8 ppg	4.9 rpg	3.9 apg
Aaron Tena	11.4 ppg	5.6 rpg	1.5 apg
Chris Parra	8.8 ppg	2.6 rpg	1.0 apg

#33 Lyons (7-9)

Lyons comes into Week Nine with a 7-9 overall record and a 4-5 league record in the Mile High League. Lyons as mentioned is barely behind #32 Wray and winning will be key for the Lions. Lyons has three games remaining and then the end of season tournament the Mile High League does. Lyons will face a must win game against Gilpin County (2-15) tonight (2/12) and then end the year against Union Colony Prep (8-9) and Clear Creek (10-6). Lyons may need to win 2 of their 3 remaining games with a key game against Clear Creek as they sit at #35.

Stat leaders

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists/Steal/Blocks
Zeke Paznokas	21.2 ppg	5.6 rpg	1.9 apg
Jake Lacrosse	12.7 ppg	6.3 rpg	2.1 spg
Noah Shelton	6.9 ppg	3.9 rpg	2.0 spg

#34 Salida (7-10)

We wrap things up for our Week 9 preview with Salida. Salida sits at 7-10 overall and 4-5 in the Tri-Peaks League. Salida has been around the bubble most of the year and they will look to finish the year strong and get in. Salida will have four games remaining and I believe the Tri-Peaks will have a end of year tournament. Salida will face Manitou Springs (11-5) tonight (2/12) and St. Mary’s (11-5) on Saturday. Winning either of these games would greatly help the Spartans to get into regionals but I don’t think they are required for Salida to challenge the #32 spot. Salida will end the year against Florence (6-10) and Buena Vista (6-11) those are must win games for Salida and dropping either would probably see them eliminated from Regional Contention.

Stat leaders