In our weekly story on the top boys’ basketball games on tap for the week, we listed 11 games for Class 3A but many eyes are focused on just one — the huge Metro battle between Manual and Faith Christian that will determine the outright leader. That game is set for Wednesday night and leads off our Class 3A report for the week.
Both clubs are 4-0 in Metro play and each has already taken out some top teams. Manual has rolled past Colorado Academy, Jefferson Academy and Kent Denver. Faith Christian has beaten Lutheran and Colorado Academy in their last two outings.
While both teams have been very successful in conference play, wins are coming in different fashions. Manual has been explosive on offense; reaching at least 90 points in three of the wins. In the fourth win, the Thunderbolts were “held” to just 79. Faith Christian, meantime, has relied on defense as the Eagles have not allowed more than 47 points in their league victories. They’re averaging 61 points per game offensively over the same stretch.
Those numbers indicate pace will be very important in Wednesday’s game. A game in the 40-50’s greatly benefits Faith Christian while scores in the 60’s or higher may lead to a Manual victory.
Individually, the Thunderbolts are getting great play from Jaedon Bowles (26.6) and Jaden Stoffell (16.6). Both have been hot of late. Bowles is averaging nearly 31 points in four league wins and has totaled at least 26 in each contest including 42 in last week’s win over Prospect Ridge. Stoffell has finished all four league games with at least 21 points and is averaging nearly 24 in conference. He had a season best 27 in the quality win over Kent Denver.
Juniors Caleb Ruter (17.8) and Isaiah Kroll (14.9) pace the Faith Christian offense and both pulled down over seven rebounds per game. Ruter tallied 24 points in a recent win over Colorado Academy and has totaled 70 in four league wins. Kroll has reached double figures in every but one this season and has scored 58 points in conference play. He’s pulled down 24 rebounds against league rivals including seven in three of four games. Ruter has 22 rebounds in Metro action.
Weather has caused an unusual schedule inside the Intermountain League this week. League leaders Bayfield and Alamosa met Tuesday in Bayfield and will have a rematch on Saturday in Alamosa. The Wolverines took round one 62-56 and now have a one-game lead on the Moose atop the standings.
Statistics from the game have not been posted to MaxPreps but according to a story in the Durango Herald, Alamosa trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter but cut the margin to two late in the game. Then the Moose were assessed a technical foul for having too many players on the court and that turned the tide back in Bayfield’s favor.
According to the Herald, Bayfield placed four in double figures led by Turner Kennedy with 18 and Hayden Farmer with 15.
Both clubs are in action Friday before the rematch on Saturday. Alamosa meets Centauri and Bayfield takes on Pagosa Springs. The Wolverines busy schedule also includes a Monday game with Centauri as part of another earlier postponement.
A share of first place in the Western Slope is on the line when Grand Valley meets Delta on Thursday. The Cardinals and Panthers are unbeaten in league play and tied with Gunnison atop the standings. Gunnison (4-0) has already posted a win this week; downing Aspen 55-42 on Tuesday night. The Cowboys have two more games this weekend in hosting Roaring Fork on Friday and visiting Cedaredge on Friday.
Delta and Grand Valley have been inconsistent overall of late. Delta is 2-2 in their last four and Grand Valley 3-2 in their last five. Losses for both teams in the stretch have been against 4A clubs as the Panthers have fallen short to Montrose and Palisade; the Cardinals have dropped games wot Rifle and Eagle Valley.
Of the two, Delta has the best conference win as they took out pre-season favorite Coal Ridge last week (62-55). Andrew Baier, who averages 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, led the way with 13 points and four rebounds. Jonathan Robinson provides 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds a night and collected 10 and four against the Titans.
For Grand Valley, it’s a very important week as they also host Coal Ridge on Friday. Wins in both make their showdown with Gunnison on February 8th the likely league championship game. The Cardinals get nearly 15 points per game from senior Wade Wiese and almost 10 from classmate Indra Griggs. Griggs also pulls down five rebounds per game.
Vanguard (7-0) took control of the Tri Peaks chase with a win at Lamar last Saturday. Seth Fuqua netted 25 points and Dominique Clifford added 24 to keep the Coursers perfect in league competition. During the win, Fuqua became the 11th player in Colorado history to reach 2,000 points in his career. Clifford also pulled 13 rebounds for his seventh double-double on the season.
This week, the Coursers host Florence on Friday and Platte Valley on Saturday. They enter the weekend with a one game edge on St Mary’s, Lamar and Colorado Springs Christian who share second place with one loss apiece.
St Mary’s and Colorado Springs Christian face off Saturday so either the Pirates or Lions will fall off the pace a bit. Both teams are playing a high level recently. The Lions edged Manitou Springs 70-68 last week behind 29 points from Kolby Walker. Brandon Pitt added 18 and Caleb Stockton 17 as the Lions connected on 51 percent of their shots and finished with six three-pointers.
St Mary’s meantime has won four straight since an opening league loss to Vanguard. Freshman Sam Howery leads the team in points (14.8) and assists (4.6). He’s been in double figures in every game but one this year and totaled season highs of 21 points and 10 assists in an early win over Olathe.
Eddy Ferrara (11.8), Luke Stockelman (11.1) and Gabe Calhoun (10.8) also average in double figures for the Pirates.
Due to postponements, standings at the top of the Patriot league did not change. Sterling (4-0) sits in first place with Strasburg and Resurrection Christian (3-1) both a game back in second place. Sterling was scheduled to face Strasburg and Resurrection Christian was to play Brush but both contests were wiped out by Mother Nature.
Sterling hosts Frontier Academy on Friday and a Tigers win gives head coach Mike Holloway his 300th career win. They also meet Kent Denver in a very attractive non-league game on Saturday.
Strasburg meets Valley on Thursday and Resurrection Christian is off until a January 30th date with Eaton.
The most important conference game played Tuesday night saw University outscored Frontier Academy 75-74. The result pushed University into a fourth-place tie with the Wolverines, Eaton and Platte Valley. All four clubs have two league losses and will continue to battle for a top four seed in the fast-approaching district tournament. Freshman Tayt Chacon led the winners with 24 points, Logan Menlove added 21 and Andre Chacon chipped in 18.
Platte Valley kept pace by crushing Liberty Common 74-33 as Bryson Becker recorded 21 points and 16 rebounds.
DSST-Byers rolled Strive Prep 97-51 on Tuesday to remain in sole possession of the Confluence league. They scored 32 first-quarter points on their way to a fifth league win without a loss. Despite sitting alone in first, DSST-Byers is only 36th in RPI points.
It’s still too crowded at the top to predict a Frontier league winner. Academy, Middle Park, DSST-Stapleton and KIPP Collegiate all remain unbeaten but the sorting out process begins later this week. Academy hosts KIPP Collegiate on Thursday and DSST-Stapleton on Saturday. The Wildcats may be the underdog in both as they have six wins overall compared to nine apiece from the three other conference leaders.
