The final field of eight teams is set for the Class 2A boys state tournament, and it includes the defending champion, Yuma. The Indians will open their defense as the #2 seed against Denver Christian, one of three teams to qualify from District 4. Here is a look at all eight teams that will be in action this week at the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland.
Individual statistics quoted below are courtesy of MaxPreps. Teams are listed in bracket order.
#1 HOLLY WILDCATS (24-0)
COACH: Dusty Heck
STATE TITLES: 2017, 2015, 1951
LEAGUE: Won Santa Fe title (13-0), won District 6 title
REGIONALS: Beat Thomas MacLaren School 80-51 and Sargent 31-26
STREAK: Won 24 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 4-0
- Wins: Fowler (twice), Walsh, Kit Carson
- Losses: None
TEAM NOTES: First year in 2A — 115-7 record over last five seasons — outscored opponents by 619 points on the season — only two games decided by single digits
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Brigden Parker | 15.3 | 5.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 51 |
| Jarett Rushton | 13.0 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 31 |
| Michael Rushton | 11.5 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 43 |
| Jesus Dominguez | 8.9 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 1 |
| Austin Jensen | 7.2 | 5.7 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 3 |
#8 MANCOS BLUEJAYS (17-6)
COACH: Elijah Knepper
STATE TITLES: None
LEAGUE: Tied with Ignacio for San Juan title (9-2), won District 3 title
REGIONALS: Beat Center 43-29 and Heritage Christian 64-55
STREAK: Won 6 straight and 9 of 10
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 0-1
- Wins: None
- Losses: Montezuma-Cortez
TEAM NOTES: Most wins in a season since 2006-07 (19 wins) — 2-3 record in games decided by single digits — outscored opponents by 255 points on the season
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Caden Showalter | 15.5 | 8.1 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 12 |
| Vassar Stephens | 14.2 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 9 |
| Show Showalter | 12.3 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 55 |
| Hunter Hoover | 6.9 | 7.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | |
| Christian Cova | 5.3 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 5 |
| Evan Sehnert | 3.3 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 4 |
#4 HIGHLAND HUSKIES (23-1)
COACH: Pete Freeman
STATE TITLES: 2000
LEAGUE: Won Mile High title (12-0), won District 7 title
REGIONALS: Beat Meeker 52-34 and Sedgwick County 79-73
STREAK: Won 20 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 1-0
- Wins: Beat Denver Christian
- Losses: None
TEAM NOTES: Won consolation championship last season — third place in 2016-17 — 108-15 record over last five seasons — outscored opponents by 760 points on the season — 2-1 record in games decided by single digits
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Tate Bessire | 21.1 | 2.6 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 60 |
| Koby Anderson | 14.3 | 10.1 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 1 |
| Jase Bessire | 11.0 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 28 |
| Holden Morgan | 9.4 | 6.0 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 4 |
| Logan Stewart | 7.6 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 38 |
| Bowen Tolle | 5.6 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 4 |
#5 LIMON BADGERS (20-4)
COACH: Dirk Pedersen
STATE TITLES: 1964, 1962, 1961, 1959
LEAGUE: Tied for 2nd in Union Pacific (4-2), won District 4 title
REGIONALS: Beat West Grand 60-39 and Wray 55-53
STREAK: Won 7 straight and 14 of 16
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 4-3
- Wins: Kit Carson, Merino, Byers, Denver Christian
- Losses: Fowler, Denver Christian, Byers
TEAM NOTES: 22nd state appearance, first since 2013 — runner-up in 2012 and 2013 — fourth 20 win season in last 10 years — outscored opponents by 423 points on the season — 5-2 record in games decided by single digits
Full team stats not entered on MaxPreps.
#2 YUMA INDIANS (21-2)
COACH: Dave Sheffield
STATE TITLES: 2018, 1981, 1963, 1958
LEAGUE: Won Lower Platte title (8-0), won District 2 title
REGIONALS: Beat Lyons 67-37 and John Mall 65-44
STREAK: Won 10 straight and 11 of 13
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 3-0
- Wins: Byers, Merino, Haxtun
- Losses: None
TEAM NOTES: Consecutive 20+ win seasons after winning just 12 games combined in two years prior — sixth time winning 20 or more games in last 12 years — outscored opponents by 374 points on the season — 6-2 record in games decided by single digits — 3-0 in overtime
| NAME | PTS | REBS |
| Jakob Chrisman | 14.8 | 11.4 |
| Clay Robinson | 9.9 | 4.9 |
| Chase McCreath | 9.0 | 4.8 |
| Jonathan Rascon | 8.4 | 1.7 |
| Steven Wells | 7.0 | 3.3 |
| Alex Morales | 4.0 | 1.1 |
#7 DENVER CHRISTIAN THUNDER (17-6)
COACH: Ben Dirksen
STATE TITLES: 2013, 2012, 2006, 2005, 1983, 1982, 1980, 1978, 1970
LEAGUE: 2nd in Mile High League (10-2), 2nd in District 4
REGIONALS: Beat Plateau Valley 44-43 and Sanford 36-34
STREAK: Won 2 straight and 5 of 6
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 2-2
- Wins: Limon, Byers
- Losses: Highland, Limon
TEAM NOTES: First state appearance since winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 — started season 0-3 — outscored opponents by 199 points on the season — 6-4 record in games decided by single digits
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Eu Asefaw | 11.9 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 29 |
| Jeff Amidon | 11.4 | 5.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 7 |
| Henry VanDenBerg | 7.5 | 5.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 4 |
| Ethan Lieber | 6.7 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 18 |
| Josiah Romero | 6.6 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 9 |
| Luke Vander Horst | 5.6 | 6.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |
| Zach Johnson | 5.0 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 12 |
#3 FOWLER GRIZZLIES (20-4)
COACH: Mark Lowther
STATE TITLES: None
LEAGUE: 2nd in Santa Fe (12-1), 2nd in District 6
REGIONALS: Beat Clear Creek 66-49 and Vail Christian 59-41
STREAK: Won 2 straight and 15 of 16
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 1-2
- Wins: Limon
- Losses: Holly (twice)
TEAM NOTES: Second 20 win season in last three years — no more than 9 wins in a season in the decade prior — went 0-2 in last appearance (2017) — outscored opponents by 425 points on the season — 2-1 in games decided by single digits
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Val Leone | 14.2 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 31 |
| Jonathan Mobbley | 10.8 | 7.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2 |
| Quinton Flanscha | 7.7 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 13 |
| Drew Egan | 7.2 | 5.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 10 |
| Zane Denton | 6.9 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 14 |
| Gabriel Proctor | 6.4 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 15 |
#6 BYERS BULLDOGS (17-6)
COACH: Jeremy Kerns
STATE TITLES: None
LEAGUE: Won Union Pacific title (6-0), 3rd in District 4
REGIONALS: Beat Paonia 51-36 and Telluride 51-39
STREAK: Won 3 straight and 7 of 8
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 1-3
- Wins: Limon
- Losses: Yuma, Denver Christian, Limon
TEAM NOTES: Lost third place game to Meeker last year (51-44) — fourth straight year with at least 16 wins — started season 0-2, won next nine games — outscored opponents by 261 points on the season — 5-5 in games decided by single digits
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Hayden McCuen | 13.2 | 7.9 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2 |
| Brady Shelley | 12.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 30 |
| Zaine Mikita | 11.8 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 23 |
| Rhett Tristan Davis | 6.1 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.8 | 1 |
| Ty Miller | 4.5 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.9 | |
| Nate Becker | 3.2 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 5 |
