1A-2A-3A Final Week Scenarios – Girls Basketball

There’s quite a bit to figure out both conference race and playoff bracketing wise in girls’ basketball this week.  Several clubs have already clinched league titles while many more get the chance to do so this week.  There are also quite a few non-league pairings of teams battling for better positioning in the postseason.

In projecting teams to the playoffs, Colorado Preps uses rankings from the standings on February 26^th.  They were taken before games on Friday were played but will be updated with a new set on Tuesday.

Photo provided by Jen Metz.

 

CLASS 1A

5280:  Flatirons Academy (3-0) moved into first place with their win over Rocky Mountain Lutheran last Thursday.  That win gave the championship to the Bison as they close the league slate against Mile High Academy this week.  A bigger game will be on Tuesday at Fleming; a contest that will impact post-season bracketing.  League runner-up Shining Mountain has a very challenging week as they meet three top 10 opponents over a six-day period; culminating with a challenge against top ranked Briggsdale.  Flatirons Academy should get a first-round bye and Shining Mountain is close.  Belleview Christian is a third team that could qualify as the Bruins were 25^th in our latest combined rankings.

• MONDAY: Shining Mountain at Heritage Christian (non-league)
• TUESDAY: Flatirons Academy at Fleming (non-league)
• THURSDAY: Shining Mountain at Elbert (non-league)
• SATURDAY: Shining Mountain at Briggsdale (non-league)

ARK VALLEY:  South Baca (3-0) is the league champion with Kim/Branson finishing second.  The Wiley-Springfield winner on Friday will end up third.  Both the Patriots and Mustangs are working to a first-round bye as they entered last weekend 7^th and 10^th in combined rankings.  Springfield (16^th) was also a lock for the bracket with Wiley (26^th) on the bubble.

• THURSDAY: South Baca at McClave (non-league)
• FRIAY: Springfield at Wiley

BLACK FOREST:  Evangelical Christian (4-0) stands alone in first by one game over Elbert and Simla.  The Eagles play both challengers in the final week so many options are on the table concerning league order.  Elbert beat Simla 37-35 last week so they have the tiebreaker over the Cubs.  Simla (6^th) and Elbert (8^th) could both earn first round byes.  ECA (29^th) may have to win the league title just to qualify.

• TUESDAY: Elbert at Evangelical Christian
• SATURDAY: Evangelical Christian at Simla

HIGH PLAINS:  League unbeatens Kit Carson and McClave are slated to face off on Friday and if that game is played it will determine the top two spots.  McClave is in quarantine right now so we’re not sure if that contest will actually be played.  The Cardinals are also scheduled to meet South Baca on Thursday and both games are very important to their final standing in the combined rankings.  They were fifth before they entered quarantine.  Kit Carson topped the rankings listed on Friday.  Eads (20^th) is another league team that could get in with Cheraw (27^th) also hoping to break through.

• THURSDAY: South Baca at McClave (non-league)
• FRIDAY: McClave at Kit Carson

NORTH CENTRAL:  Briggsdale must still beat Prairie this week to wrap up the league championship.  The Mustangs can earn a piece of the crown if they spring the major upset.  Briggsdale was second in our latest composite rankings with Fleming at #18.  Prairie was not in the top 30.  Fleming is getting health and hot at the right time.  The Wildcats pushed Briggsdale in a five-point loss last Monday and then took out 2A top 10 Sedgwick County on Saturday (54-40).  They can also climb the seeding ladder with wins over Flatirons Academy and Lone Star this week.

• TUESDAY: Flatirons Academy at Fleming
• FRIDAY: Briggsdale at Prairie
• FRIDAY: Fleming at Lone Star
• SATURDAY: Shining Mountain at Briggsdale (non-league)

SOUTHERN PEAKS:  Sangre De Cristo rolled Sierra Grande on Friday and with it claimed the league championship.  The Panthers settle for second with Antonito in third.  The champion T-Birds get in one more big game before the playoffs open.  Sangre was third in combined rankings before the Sierra Grande game.  The Panthers were 15^th and will qualify.

• WEDNESDAY: Sierra Grande at Hoehne (non-league)
• FRIDAY: Rocky Ford at Sangre De Cristo (non-league)

YWKC:  Lone Star secured the league championship by beating Arickaree/Woodlin on Saturday.  Idalia is also the second- place club.  Lone Star gets a tough test with Fleming on Friday; one of four games in the closing week.  The Longhorns were 14^th in our most recent combined rankings.  Idalia is 21^st and could use wins against Arickaree/Woodlin, Cheyenne Wells and Stratton/Liberty last week.

• MONDAY: Lone Star at Hi Plains
• FRIDAY: Fleming at Lone Star
• FRIDAY: Hi Plains at Idalia

 

CLASS 2A

BLACK FOREST:  Conference play has concluded with Peyton as the champion and Calhan runner-up.  The Panthers are only 22^nd in combined rankings but they’re assured a berth in the bracket due to winning the league crown.  Calhan is not in the top 30.

• THURSDAY: Peyton at Rye

LOWER PLATTE:  Holyoke is the league champion with Sedgwick County finished second.  The race for third is a logjam between Haxtun, Merino and Wray.  The game between Haxtun and Sedgwick County on Friday could help sort it out.  Holyoke is battling for the top overall playoff seed and could get a boost in schedule strength again this week.  Playoff wise, the league will get several bids.  Holyoke is 2^nd in the latest 2A polls with Sedgwick County 9^th and Wray 10^th.  Akron is also 23^rd and in contention.  Merino was 13^th in 1A with Haxtun 17^th.

• TUESDAY: Holyoke at Burlington
• FRIDAY: Haxtun at Sedgwick County
• FRIDAY: Wray at Yuma
• FRIDAY: Limon at Holyoke

MILE HIGH:  Heritage Christian landed the league title by beating Highland on Friday.  Now the Eagles prep for the playoffs with two tough non-league games in the final week but they get both at home.  Despite the loss, Highland remains in good position to end up second.  Heritage was 7^th in our latest combined rankings with Highland not in the top 30.  Gilpin County (24^th) may be the second team from the conference to qualify.  Longmont Christian (22^nd) also has a chance to reach the 1A bracket.

• MONDAY: Shining Mountain at Heritage Christian
• FRIDAY: Resurrection Christian at Heritage Christian

SAN JUAN:  No surprise that the champion and runner-up team will be decided in the final week when Ignacio and Dove Creek finally get together.  Both clubs are unbeaten with at least a two-game edge on all other clubs.    They are also the best bets to make the playoff brackets as they were both ranked 11^th in their respective class.  Nucla (24^th) is fighting for a spot in the 1A playoffs with Mancos (17^th) in good shape for the 2A bracket.

• THURSDAY: Ignacio at Dove Creek

SANTA FE:  Rye’s exciting win over Rocky Ford on Saturday pushed the Thunderbolts to the league championship and the Meloneers into second.  Combined the teams are 21-3 and each expects a deep playoff run starting next week.  Both have a chance to earn first round byes as well.  Fowler, Swink and Hoehne (all three losses) continue their battle for third.  Rocky Ford was 4^th and Rye 5^th in combined rankings before their game so those results will change.  Fowler was 20^th and Hoehne 28^th.

• THURSDAY: Rye at Peyton (non-league)
• FRIDAY: Rocky Ford at Sangre De Cristo (non-league)

SOUTHERN PEAKS:  Sanford and Center (both 5-0) push into the final week as co-leaders.  They’re up one game on Del Norte (4-1).  Both leaders are coming off losses to close last week as Sanford fell to Centauri and Center came up short to Cotopaxi.  This week, the leaders meet each other.  Sanford is in contention for the top overall seed with Del Norte (16^th) and Center (19^th) both solid in the bracket.  Sargent (25^th) could be a fourth invitee.

• TUESDAY: Del Norte at Center
• FRIDAY: Center at Sanford
• SATURDAY: Sanford at Del Norte

UNION PACIFIC:  Limon had wrapped up the crown before games last week and Burlington’s win over Byers earned the Cougars a strong second place showing.  Byers will take home third.  The leaders both face Holyoke this week with the Badgers also have a second good test on Saturday.  Limon was 8^th in our latest combined rankings but should fall with the loss to Wray.  They’re on the bubble for a first-round bye.  Burlington (14^th) is safely in the pairings with Byers (27^th) trying to find a way in.  For Class 1A, Stratton/Liberty is the highest ranked team (28^th).

• TUESDAY: Holyoke at Burlington (non-league)
• FRIDAY: Limon at Holyoke (non-league)
• SATURDAY: Fowler at Limon (non-league)

WEST SLOPE NORTH:  Soroco’s win over Rangely over the weekend gave the Rams the league championship while Rangely and Meeker are now tied for second with one loss apiece.  They play this week to break that tie.  Soroco has two games left; the first is against Vail Christian on Monday and the second is against Cedaredge for the overall Western Slope championship.  In looking to the playoffs, Soroco was 12^th in combined rankings with Rangely 21^st.  North Park is also 23^rd in 1A.

• THURSDAY: Meeker at Rangely
• SATURDAY: League Championship

WEST SLOPE SOUTH:   Cedaredge avenged an earlier loss to Paonia on Friday and the win pushed the Bruins to the top of the standings.  They must still beat Caprock Academy on Tuesday to officially win the crown but that’s almost a given since they won the first meeting 74-17.  Then the Bruins would face Soroco for the overall league title on Saturday.  Paonia has clinched second and will face the runner-up from the North that same day.  Cedaredge was third in combined rankings before the Paonia game with the Eagles at number six.  Both could earn first round byes.  Hotchkiss is 18^th and should be the bracket.  Plateau Valley (29^th) is within range of getting there.

• SATURDAY: League championship

 

CLASS 3A

CONFLUENCE:  Lotus School took control of the race by beating DSST-Byers on Saturday.  That leaves the Meteors one game up in the league chase over DSST-Byers and Addenbrooke Academy.  Lotus and Addenbrooke meet on Thursday.  If Lotus wins the championship this will be a one-bid league.  The Meteors drop into Class 2A for the playoffs and were 13^th in combined rankings before games on Friday.  No 3A league member was in the top 30 but the league champion, if a 3A team, will still get in.

• THURSDAY: Addenbrooke Academy at Lotus School

FRONTIER:  Academy has three conference games remaining but with a two-game lead they need a win in just one.  They should get that Tuesday against Jefferson.  If not, the Wildcats can also grab the trophy against Arrupe Jesuit or Bruce Randolph on the weekend.  Their biggest test is likely a non-league game with Kent Denver on the road. The Wildcats were 7^th in combined rankings but lost to University over the weekend.  That result could cost them a first-round bye.  Bennett, in 27^th, was the next highest ranked league team.  The Tigers could also drop after a narrow two-point loss to Middle Park on Saturday.  That outcome left the two teams tied with Pinnacle in second.

• WEDNESDAY: Academy at Kent Denver (non-league)

INTERMOUNTAIN:  Game two between Centauri and Pagosa Springs takes place this week.  If Centauri wins, they land the league championship outright.  Pagosa Springs though, earns a share of the top trophy if they avenge the earlier loss.  Game one ended up 53-48 in favor of the Falcons.  Centauri will get a first-round bye and Pagosa Springs (9^th) could get there by beating the Falcons. Alamosa is 29^th and may need some help to find their place in the bracket.

• FRIDAY: Pagosa Springs at Centauri

METRO:  Lutheran and Peak to Peak remain unbeaten in league play and they will break that tie on Friday in the regular season finale.  Kent Denver which lost to Lutheran last week, remains alone in third.  Machebeuf could play the spoilers role as the Buffs meet Peak to Peak on Wednesday and Kent Denver on Friday.  Lutheran should land a top four playoff seed.  Kent Denver is 10^th and in the discussion for a first-round bye.  Peak to Peak is 14^th in points with Colorado Academy 18^th.

• FRIDAY: Lutheran at Peak to Peak

PATRIOT:  Platte Valley goes into the final stretch unbeaten in the conference and with a one game edge on Eaton and Brush.  They’ve beaten Brush but still have a big date with Eaton on Wednesday.  Brush and Eaton also play on Friday so all three clubs have plenty of work ahead of them this week.  Combined rankings from last week had Platte Valley in 3^rd with Eaton fifth.  Brush was also 8^th so there’s the possibility that all three teams earn byes into the Sweet 16.  University is 11^th and coming off a nice win over Academy while Valley (22^nd) and Sterling (26^th) could also make the playoffs.

• WEDNESDAY: Eaton at Platte Valley
• FRIDAY: Brush at Eaton

TRI PEAKS:  The matchup of note in the final week takes place very early as Vanguard heads to St Mary’s on Monday night.  The Coursers are unbeaten in league play with St Mary’s just one game back.  St Mary’s also plays Manitou Springs to finish the regular season and if the Pirates fall short on Monday, that game will determine spots two and three.  Based on our combined rankings from last Friday, we don’t see a scenario where Vanguard is NOT the number one overall seed.  They had a commanding .14-point lead on second place Centauri and also has a head-to-head win over the Falcons.  St Mary’s was 12^th in points with Lamar 17^th, Ellicott 20^th, Manitou Springs 21^st and Colorado Springs Christian 23^rd.  La Junta is also hanging at number 30 so the league could possibly get seven clubs in the 24-team bracket.

• MONDAY: Vanguard at St Mary’s
• SATURDAY: St Mary’s at Manitou Springs

WEST SLOPE:  Delta is the league winner but has two solid tests against bigger schools to prep for the playoff run.  The Panthers face both Grand Junction Central and Fruita Monument this week.  The second is a rematch of an earlier contest won by the Panthers 56-37.  Moffat County hosts Basalt on Thursday in the game that decides second and third.  Concerning the playoffs, Delta is in position (6^th) to get a bye in round one.  Basalt (13^th), Coal Ridge (15^th) and Moffat County (16^th) will be in the bracket while Grand Valley (24^th) sits squarely on that bubble.

• TUESDAY: Delta at Grand Junction Central
• WEDNESDAY: Delta at Fruita Monument
• THURSDAY: Basalt at Moffat County