State tournament pairings for Class 3A boys’ basketball will be released later today but with RPI standings updated Sunday morning, we can get a very good look at the brackets ahead of the official release.
A new addition to the bracketing this year is that district champions must finish in the top 16 of RPI to earn a host site in the first two rounds. That factor impacts only one champion, DSST-Green Valley, as they sit 28th after winning the Confluence championship. The remaining champions all easily made it into the top 16 and will be at home for round one.
Here’s a look at our projected brackets. We true seed based on RPI but note that teams sitting in spots 25-32 could be moved for travel purposes. Teams may also be adjusted up or down in seeding to avoid league matchups in the opening round.
This bracket will NOT be reseeded following regionals as it will play out to the state championship game on March 10th in Denver.
Seed Order
- Sterling
- Alamosa
- Platte Valley
- Coal Ridge
- Vanguard
- Faith Christian
- Bayfield
- DSST-Stapleton
- Strasburg
- Resurrection Christian
- Kent Denver
- Lutheran
- Roaring Fork
- Manual
- Grand Valley
- Delta
- Arrupe Jesuit
- Colorado Springs Christian
- Pagosa Springs
- Colorado Academy
- La Junta
- Jefferson
- Academy
- Pinnacle
- Montezuma Cortez
- Brush
- Centauri
- DSST-Green Valley
- St Mary’s
- Frontier Academy
- Cedaredge
- Ridgeview Academy
And our projected bracket which is completely UNOFFICIAL
| REGION ONE | REGION EIGHT |
| #1 Sterling vs #32 Ridgeview Academy | #8 DSST-Stapleton vs #25 Montezuma Cortez |
| #16 Delta vs #17 Arrupe Jesuit | #9 Strasburg vs #24 Pinnacle |
| REGION FOUR | REGION FIVE |
| #4 Coal Ridge vs #29 St Mary’s | #5 Vanguard vs #28 DSST-Green Valley |
| #13 Roaring Fork vs #20 Colorado Academy | #12 Lutheran vs #21 La Junta |
| REGION THREE | REGION SIX |
| #3 Platte Valley vs #30 Frontier Academy | #6 Faith Christian vs #27 Centauri |
| #14 Manual vs #19 Pagosa Springs | #11 Kent Denver vs #22 Jefferson |
| REGION TWO | REGION SEVEN |
| #2 Alamosa vs #31 Cedaredge | #7 Bayfield vs #26 Brush |
| #15 Grand Valley vs #18 Colorado Springs Christian | #10 Resurrection Christian vs #23 Academy |
State Quarterfinals — March 8th
Region #1 Champion vs Region #8 Champion
Region #4 Champion vs Region #5 Champion
Region #3 Champion vs Region #6 Champion
Region #2 Champion vs Region #6 Champion
NOTES: If this is the bracket, look for Frontier Academy to be moved away from the Platte Valley matchup in the first round since both are in the Patriot league. Could also see Montezuma Cortez being swapped with St Mary’s possibly. Better travel for the Panthers involve Bayfield or Alamosa but they sit in the same league as those two opponents. Ridgeview Academy is 44th in RPI but makes the bracket as the second official qualifier from the Confluence league. The top two teams in each district are automatically in the tournament.
