Two games pitting league unbeatens matching up for the outright lead top the 2A boys’ basketball schedule for the week. Both games are set for Saturday as Sedgwick County heads to Yuma in the Lower Platte and Vail Christian meets 1A DeBeque on the Western Slope.
Both Sedgwick County and Yuma head to the weekend at 3-0 in the Lower Platte so the winner will be alone in first provided they both collect league wins on Friday as well. Sedgwick County has a tough date with 1A Merino while Yuma is favored against Holyoke.
The Indians are the two-time defending state champions and have won 21 straight in the conference. Their last loss came on February 3rd, 2017 to Merino (54-47) and ironically, the Indians last lost to Sedgwick County a week before that game (42-34). Yuma averages 51 points per game including nearly 29 from Clay Robinson (15.0) and Chase McCreath (13.5). Each also pulls down 7.9 rebounds per game.
Sedgwick County is unbeaten and has played just one game within single digits all season. They beat Holyoke 47-40 in overtime before Christmas and int he rematch won by 14 (51-37). They still have a game left with Wray so even with two league wins this week, the Cougars still have some work remaining before claiming the crown.
Brycce Wilbur, Jared Ehmke, Tate Dille and Terrance Heath all work the perimeter for Sedgwick County with Dille and Heath also effective on the inside. Gavin Thode gives the Cougars size and production on both ends in the paint.
Vail Christian and DeBeque are two games up on all other Western Slope teams so the winner on Saturday should end up with the league title. The Saints have won five straight including four league victories by at least 19 points apiece. Alec Moritz (19.8) and Jamison Lee (18.3) are both effective scorers with Moritz combining for 49 points in his last two games and Lee 34. Since no other player scores more than five points a game, the Dragons defense will be centered on those two.
DeBeque, the defending 1A state champion, has won 37 consecutive games overall. The Dragons though have struggled in league play of late; surviving Meeker (59-52) and Caprock Academy (45-41) last weekend. Wes Ryan (22.7) paces DeBeque offensively and he went over the 1,000 point mark in his career earlier this season. Jaden Jordan (13.2), John Chapman (12.1) and Logan Wingfield (10.3) also average double figures for the Dragons.
Both teams have a game ahead of their weekend showdown. Vail Christian entertains West Grand on Friday with DeBeque at home against Paonia on Wednesday.
Crested Butte took a major step to earning a top two finish in the Southern Peaks with their league win at Center on Tuesday (48-43). The Titans improved to 2-0 in the conference and remain tied with Sanford. They host the Indians on February 8th in what could turn out to be the league championship tilt. At this point, Sanford though would be favored based on their 50-28 non-league win over the Titans earlier in January.
The Titans are back on the court Friday at home against Cotopaxi (non-league) and then returns to Southern Peaks action at Sargent the next night. Sanford is home for two games with Custer County (Friday) and Del Norte (Saturday).
Dawson’s 82-71 win over Heritage Christian on Tuesday also loosened up the Mile High standings a bit. Both teams had just one conference loss going in but Dawson remains tied with Union Colony Prep (both 5-1) in fourth place with Denver Christian, HIghland and Dayspring Christian still unbeaten in conference play.
Phil Geragthy led the Mustangs with 25 points with Brandon Day and Coby Grant-Kerz each chipping in 18. Caleb Stockton paced Heritage Christian with 19 but the Eagles still dropped their second straight game. A third straight is possible as the Eagles next host Denver Christian on Friday.
Limon is favored to again win the Union Pacific chase but Byers and Burlington collide on Saturday to determine which team will be the top challenger. Both the Bulldogs and Cougars are unbeaten in conference and enter the game tied with the Badgers for the league lead.
Burlington (5-6) is below five hundred for the season but they’re starting to play their best basketball. They pushed Yuma before falling 54-40 and then responded with two solid wins over Genoa Hugo (60-22) and Peyton (48-42). They should stretch that streak to three wins against Flagler/Hi Plains on Friday.
No stats have been posted on the club this year but Andrew Burton continues to be their leader. H e averaged 19 points and six rebounds a game as a junior. He managed 15 in a 51-44 loss to Byers a year ago.
Byers (8-5) has just one loss to a 2A opponent as they fell to Wiggins (42-31) before Christmas. Other setbacks are against 3A rivals Grand Valley, Strasburg and Frontier Academy and 1A #4 Flatirons Academy. League wins are against Stratton/Liberty, Genoa Hugo and Flagler/Hi Plains.
Seniors Zaine Mikita (16.2) and Cayden Eymann (12.2) are the top two scorers and together average 13 rebounds a game. Classmate Ty Miller tops the rebounding charts (10.7) and also sits third in scoring (7.4).
Limon is set to face Burlington on February 8th and Byers six days later. They take a break from league play this week as they’ve already beaten Simla (58-19) and will face Merino on Saturday. The Tuesday win over Simla was their fifth straight and all have come by at least 39 points. Kory Tacha (18.8) has been hot of late with a combined 56 points in the two games leading up to Simla including 27 vs Flagler/Hi Plains and 29 vs Holyoke.
Telluride took a step to earning the third seed in the 2A San Juan district tournament as they beat Ridgway 53-50 on Tuesday. The Miners though are still looking up to Ignacio and Mancos in the conference standings. Telluride lost to both in the first conference meetings and will challenge both again over a three day stretch starting on February 6th.
The Santa Fe standings changed quite a bit in the past week. Before action last weekend, Fowler and Hoehne were both unbeaten and shared the lead with Crowley County and Holly a game back. Hoehne lost to both Holly (73-60) and Crowley County (66-55) last week so the Farmers tumbled down to fourth. They can remain in title contention by beating first place Fowler on Friday.
That will be a tough task. The Grizzlies have won seven straight overall with each of their league wins coming by at least 17 points. Val Leone has totaled at least 12 points in every game this year and averages 18 for the season. Johnathon Mobbley averages a double-double and went for 25 and 12 against Calhan last week.
Second place clubs Crowley County and Holly also collide for the second time in less than two weeks. Game one went to Holly as they scored a narrow 50-48 win in Ordway. It was tight throughout with Holly leading 14-12 after one, Crowley 27-25 at halftime and 38-37 after three before the Wildcats won the fourth quarter 13-10.
