Seven district champions have been crowned and RPI numbers posted just before midnight Saturday so fans can now start to get a look at the 3A boys’ state tournament bracket.  This story is for projection purposes only with the official bracket announced later today by CHSAA.
District champions must finish in the Top 16 to earn the right to play at home in the first two rounds.  All seven meet that criteria including DSST-Montview who checks in at #16.  Those seven are joined by the highest rated non-district champion for the top eight seeds.  That team is Faith Christian who sits at #3, one spot ahead of Lutheran.
Now there could be discussion on moving Lutheran ahead of Faith Christian into the top eight since the Lions won the head-to-head meeting.  But the CHSAA bulletin indicates the highest non-district champion in the RPI claims that spot as head-to-head does not come into play until placing teams in the bracket, so we stick with Faith Christian in the top eight.
Where to place the Eagles is also an issue.  They’re six spots higher than Manual in the RPI and also beat the Thunderbolts head-to-head.  Because of those two factors, we believe Faith Christian will remain ahead of Manual despite the Thunderbolts winning the district title.
If that’s the case, then the top eight could stack up in this order.

  1. Resurrection Christian
  2. Vanguard
  3. Faith Christian
  4. Centauri
  5. DSST-Byers
  6. Manual
  7. Gunnison
  8. DSST-Montview

Using the latest posting of RPI standings Saturday, we can then seed the remaining teams 9-32.  There is change at #32 as Riverdale Ridge will get in ahead of Grand Valley.  The Cardinals are #32 in RPI with Riverdale Ridge #34 but the Ravens are the number two finisher in the Confluence district and get in as an automatic qualifier.

  1. Lutheran
  2. Sterling
  3. Alamosa
  4. Manitou Springs
  5. Eaton
  6. St Mary’s
  7. University
  8. Coal Ridge
  9. DSST-Green Valley
  10. Machebeuf
  11. Englewood
  12. Middle Park
  13. Jefferson Academy
  14. Lamar
  15. Kent Denver
  16. Pagosa Springs
  17. Colorado Academy
  18. Aspen
  19. Fort Lupton
  20. Ridgeview Academy
  21. Salida
  22. Colorado Springs Christian
  23. Strasburg
  24. Riverdale Ridge

Now we take those seeds and place teams in the bracket.  We list the games in bracket order as the tournament is not reseeded before the Great Eight.
REGION ONE

#1 Resurrection Christian
#32 Riverdale Ridge
#16 Coal Ridge
#17 DSST-Green Valley

REGION EIGHT

#8 DSST-Montview
#25 Colorado Academy
#9 Lutheran
#24 Pagosa Springs

REGION FOUR

#4 Centauri
#29 Salida
#13 Eaton
#20 Middle Park

REGION FIVE

#5 DSST-Byers
#28 Ridgeview Academy
#12 Manitou Springs
#21 Jefferson Academy

REGION TWO

#2 Vanguard
#31 Strasburg
#15 University
#18 Machebeuf

REGION SEVEN

#7 Gunnison
#26 Aspen
#10 Sterling
#23 Kent Denver

REGION THREE

#3 Faith Christian
#30 Colorado Springs Christian
#14 St Mary’s
#19 Englewood

REGION SIX

#6 Manual
#27 Fort Lupton
#11 Alamosa
#22 Lamar

 
There are a couple of conflicts with conference matchups in the first round so Ridgeview Academy and Aspen would be moved to avoid playing DSST-Byers and Gunnison in the opening round.  Travel does not seem to be an issue with this bracket as teams slotted 25-32 could be moved around to avoid that issue.
Other criteria for placing teams in the bracket include head-to-head, previous district matchups and common opponents but again the bracket lays out nicely in this fashion as well.  Normally that would affect the top eight placement but there are not many head-to-head matchups of the top clubs.  As mentioned, Manual topped Faith Christian and Vanguard also has a win over DSST-Byers.
Again this bracket is based on our projections and not official in any manner.  The official release likely comes later this morning or early this afternoon.