Going to take our basketball bracket projections in two phases this year. Now that we have posted our unofficial composite rankings from the end of the season, we will first post the pairings in true seed format where we simply place teams in the bracket based on their final ranking. Phase two will consist of then reviewing those pairings and moving some teams based on other seeding criteria.
That criteria includes moving some of the lowest seeds around a bit to lessen travel. Some teams could also be moved to avoid league matchups in the opening round and if teams that played one another are touching on seed line, they could be adjusted based on head-to-head results. For example, if team 17 beat team 16, then team 17 may be moved up one spot since they won the direct contest. But please note, this only applies if the teams are next to one another on the seed line.
League champions receive automatic bids to the tournament but are not given any special treatment for winning the crown. First round games are Tuesday night with the Sweet 16 set for Thursday and the Great 8 on Saturday. State semifinals will be played on Tuesday March 15th with the state finals March 19-20 at World Arena in Colorado Springs.
We will not post two different stories with the two sets of brackets. Our first headline will say “step one” and then we would move teams around, the headline will change to “updated”. Hope you follow our process. Please remember our brackets are for projection only. CHSAA will release official pairings on Monday.
CLASS 2A BOYS (True Seed)
- #1 Wray – BYE
- #16 Lake County vs #17 Monte Vista
- #8 Sedgwick County – BYE
- #9 Mancos vs #24 Custer County
- #4 Yuma – BYE
- #13 Thomas MacLaren vs #20 Holyoke
- #5 Holly – BYE
- #12 Wiggins vs #21 Vail Mountain
- #3 Peyton – BYE
- #14 Fowler vs #19 Atlas Prep
- #6 Denver Christian – BYE
- #11 Del Norte vs #22 Vail Christian
- #7 Sanford – BYE
- #10 Ignacio vs #23 Crested Butte
- #2 Limon – BYE
- #15 Meeker vs #18 Lyons
THOUGHTS: This bracket lays out nicely concerning the lack of league matchups in round one. There is some travel involved but not sure there are work arounds. Atlas Prep and Holyoke could change exchange placement but that creates more miles for the Dragons so the committee likely leaves that alone. Vail Christian to Del Norte is a long drive but moving them with Vail Mountain doesn’t solve that problem at all. Vail Christian can’t swap with Crested Butte as they would create a league matchup between the Titans and Del Norte. The only move we see the committee making is moving Ignacio ahead of Mancos in 9-10. The Bobcats beat the Bluejays twice during the regular season and since they’re touching on the seed line, that move could be made.
UPDATE: Been told by CHSAA that Thomas MacLaren is in quarantine and ineligble for the playoffs. That would bring Dayspring Christian into the bracket at #23 with Custer County staying at #24. All other teams behind Thomas MacLaren in the bracket would move up one -which would also give Monte Vista a home game in round one as they would bump from 17 to 16. Then the bracket could look like this:
- #1 Wray – BYE
- #16 Monte Vista vs #17 Lyons
- #8 Sedgwick County – BYE
- #9 Ignacio vs #24 Custer County
- #4 Yuma – BYE
- #13 Fowler vs #20 Vail Christian
- #5 Holly – BYE
- #12 Wiggins vs #21 Vail Mountain
- #3 Peyton – BYE
- #14 Meeker vs #19 Holyoke
- #6 Denver Christian – BYE
- #11 Del Norte vs #22 Crested Butte
- #7 Sanford – BYE
- #10 Mancos vs #23 Dayspring Christian
- #2 Limon – BYE
- #15 Meeker vs #18 Atlas Prep
Again travel would be a major issue with these pairings especially new entry Dayspring Christian going to Mancos. They could flip with Crested Butte as the Titans are now paired with league rival Del Norte. Still a major trip for Dayspring but Del Norte is about four hours shorter than Mancos.
CLASS 2A GIRLS (True Seed)
- #1 Holyoke – BYE
- #16 Lotus School vs #17 Hotchkiss
- #8 Wray – BYE
- #9 Sedgwick County vs #24 Peyton
- #4 Rye – BYE
- #13 Burlington vs #20 Center
- #5 Rocky Ford – BYE
- #12 Ignacio vs #21 Hoehne
- #3 Sanford – BYE
- #14 Olathe vs #19 Plateau Valley
- #6 Paonia – BYE
- #11 Soroco vs #22 Yuma
- #7 Heritage Christian – BYE
- #10 Limon vs #23 Gilpin County
- #2 Cedaredge – BYE
- #15 Del Norte vs #18 Sargent
NOTE: Peyton gets in as the 24th qualifier since they won the Black Forest title. Mancos is 17th in the numbers but is ineligible for the playoffs due to a COVID quarantine. Travel is tough in this bracket so we believe there will be many changes which we lay out below. All of the spots 18-23 are exchanged to prevent league matchups and reduce travel. We also moved Sedgwick County to #8 and ahead of Wray since they won the head to head matchup and are touching on the seed line. That would be a major step for the committee to take away a first round bye but the Cougars did win the head to head matchup and finished higher in the league standings. Travel is not greatly impacted either as the opponent remains Peyton.
- #1 Holyoke – BYE
- #16 Lotus School vs #17 Hotchkiss
- #8 Sedgwick County – BYE
- #9 Wray vs #24 Peyton
- #4 Rye – BYE
- #13 Burlington vs #20 Hoehne
- #5 Rocky Ford – BYE
- #12 Ignacio vs #21 Center
- #3 Sanford – BYE
- #14 Olathe vs #19 Sargent
- #6 Paonia – BYE
- #11 Soroco vs #22 Gilpin County
- #7 Heritage Christian – BYE
- #10 Limon vs #22 Yuma
- #2 Cedaredge – BYE
- #15 Del Norte vs #18 Plateau Valley
