It’s a relatively quiet restart to the boys’ basketball campaign but the first week back includes some highly anticipated matchups. Teams can return to the court on Thursday and while there is a sprinkling of games that day and Friday; most of the top games are reserved for Saturday.
Saturday: #2 Resurrection Christian (6-0) at #1 Lutheran (4-1)
Polls at this time of year are a mixed bag of reality but the 3A rankings seem to be in good shape as it appears that Lutheran and Resurrection Christian are the two best teams in the division. Each has been dominant against teams in-state. Resurrection Christian has won each of their first six games by at least 38 points and that includes three wins over 4A opponents and another over top 10 St Mary’s (96-59). Lutheran suffered their lone loss to Faith Lutheran from Nevada but has moved past three Colorado foes by a combined 77 points.
Resurrection Christian relies on an aggressive defense and fast paced offense for their success. Reece Johnson (18.5) and Isaac Jessup (17.2) are the top two scorers and they’ve combined for 32 three pointers already. Josh Romero and Jude Howell both average right at 10 points a game and both have played heavy minutes since they arrived on the Cougars campus.
Size is what carries Lutheran as near seven-footer Baye Fall is an impossible matchup for every 3A rival. The freshman from Senegal averaged 27.8 points per game in December including a career best 34 in the loss in Nevada. His numbers could be even better if not for his 38 percent foul shooting. Fall also leads the Lions on the glass with nearly 12 per game.
More size come from 6-7 Madamou Sow who brings 8 points and 6 rebounds to the table each night. The roster also features two others at 6-5 or taller.
Point guard Tommy Apodoca directs the attack and leads the Lions with 9 assists per game. He’s also second in scoring at 11.8.
Saturday’s clash is a non-league game but the winner should get a nice leg up in post-season seeding as both clubs should be in contention for the top overall seed.
Saturday: #1 Rangeview (8-0) at #7 Columbine (6-0)
Since most of the top teams in Class 5A collide in December, it’s difficult to get a battle of unbeatens in January but that’s the case on Saturday. It’s an interesting matchup as the depth of the Raiders will be tested by the individual play of Rebels senior Luke O’Brien. Rangeview, the defending state champions, have 10 players averaging at least 3.5 points per game while O’Brien leads Columbine with 28.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
The CU-commit has also been hot of late. He exploded for 38 points in the December finale against Poudre and 13 of his 16 three-pointers have been made over the last three games. The Speller brothers pace Range with Christopher getting 13 points a game and Christian 12. They’re also 1-2 on the glass.
Saturday: #9 Centauri (8-0) at Sanford (3-2)
As good a rivalry as fans will find in Colorado as the two San Luis Valley schools are separated by just four miles.
The Falcons have plenty of momentum from December as they won two tournament titles and closed with road wins at Cedaredge and Delta on back-to-back nights. They opened the season by winning their own tournament and then took three straight the following week to capture the La Junta Holiday Shootout crown. On the way to that championship, the Falcons blew past Sanford 64-37.
Stats from that game are not available but Centauri plays many kids each night and their offense is very balanced. Leaders include Baron Holman, Trey Crowther, Noah Sowards and Alec Holman.
Sanford’s record is misleading as they’ve faced four 3A schools and another from New Mexico. They will also employ many different lineup combinations but their group does not seem as athletic compared to years past.
Saturday: #7 Kim/Branson (5-1) at Cotopaxi (4-1)
Kim/Branson’s lone loss came against Raton NM in the finals of the Trinidad State tournament but in-state they’re 5-0 with single digit wins over Sierra Grande (50-48) and Primero (55-48). Cotopaxi came up short to 2nd ranked Evangelical Christian (56-24) but has wins over Cripple Creek, South Park, Fountain Valley and Centennial. Combined those four teams sit at just 5-15 overall.
The Pirates are led by senior Chance Guliford with 17 points and 13 rebounds per game. Those numbers double the output of any other teammate but for Cotopaxi to get a win in this one, they will need solid play from the likes of Jonah Bertolino and Peter Belt. Both are juniors and each average just over seven points per game.
Kim/Branson is very deep for a 1A school as they often rotate in five players at a time. Joe Buhrle is the leading scorer (11.5) and third leading rebounder (5.3). Travis Hamilton leads the Mustangs with over six rebounds and is second in scoring (9.8). Other contributors include Kinton Shannon (9.5 points) and Finn Warner (5.8 rebounds).
Friday: #10 Mountain Vista (5-2) at #6 Eaglecrest (5-1)
A second top 10 matchup in 5A is found on Friday between two teams seeking a high-quality win to boost RPI numbers. Despite the 5-2 mark, Mountain Vista is very close to being unbeaten as December losses were suffered to Boulder (62-60) and Thomas Jefferson (80-79) by a combined three points. They responded with impressive wins over Cherokee Trail and Legend to close the month.
Eaglecrest is also getting accustomed to tight games as their last two wins were by a combined six points and that includes an overtime decision against Fairview. The Raptors feature three double-digit scorers in Zion Ruckard (17.8), Skylar Wilson (14.3) and Ty Robinson (12.6). Adrian Price is the top rebounder (7.1).
Reece Keely (20.9) has scored at least 20 points in five of seven games for the Golden Eagles. He finished December with three straight of at least 22. Ben Bowen (15.4) provides support and went for a season best 26 in the win over Legend.
Friday-Saturday: Pagosa Springs Tournament
Three teams make the long drive over Wolf Creek Pass to compete against the host Pirates in a two-day event. Pagosa Springs entertains Eaton on Friday and then meets Colorado Springs Christian on Saturday. Roaring Fork (1-7) is the fourth team in the bracket and will face CSCS on Friday and Eaton on Saturday.
Pagosa Springs (4-2) enters the tournament riding a three-game winning streak as they beat Palisade, Montrose and Roaring Fork right before Christmas. Mason Snarr leads the Pirates with 13 points and nearly nine rebounds a game. Mitch Lewis (10.8) and Ryan Lewis (8.7) also provide points offensively and they’ve combined for 13 rebounds a game.
Eaton’s lone December blemish came to 4A Fort Morgan but the Reds then reeled off four consecutive wins. Included in that run was a wild 90-80 double-overtime victory over #2 Highland from Class 2A. Five players score in double figures; including Scott Grable (15.2), Bryce Leafgren (12.9), Gage Butler (12.6), Ryan Ure (11.6) and Nic Inda (11.0). Ure also pulls down 12 rebounds a game while Leafgren (17), Grable (14) and Butler (11) have combined for 42 treys.
Colorado Springs Christian (3-2) is probably where they expected to be at this point of the season. Losses were suffered against top five opponents Lutheran (3A) and Fowler (2A) but they’ve also cruised past Calhan, Pinnacle and Rocky Ford. Caleb Stockton (19.8) is the first option on offense while Josh Erickson (12.0 pts / 11.6 rebs) also makes several big plays each night.
Roaring Fork’s (1-7) schedule has been extremely difficult as they faced Lutheran, DSST-Byers, Vanguard, Resurrection Christian over a seven day stretch. All are ranked in the top seven of Class 3A. Other losses are against 4A opponents Montrose and Palisade along with 3A Pagosa Springs. Their lone win came against Olathe (45-37)
Others of Note
Several other games should draw interest in the first week of action for the new decade. All games listed are set for Saturday:
- 5A: #2 Smoky Hill (7-1) at Valor Christian (3-4)
- 5A: Rock Canyon (6-3) at #4 Grandview (5-3)
- 4A: Holy Family (3-2) at Frederick (5-1)
- 4A: Windsor (3-2) at Skyline (5-1)
- 4A: Fort Morgan (4-2) at #10 Erie (5-2)
