It was easy to find the headliner on the Saturday’s boys basketball schedule as #1 Limon heads to #2 Yuma in a very important Class 2A contest. The two teams were scheduled to meet in a highly anticipated state semifinal last year when the entire tournament event was cancelled.
Both teams have stepped on the court once this season, but with differing results. Limon moved past Genoa Hugo 74-40 on Friday night while the Indians were knocked off at 3A Brush 55-51 on Thursday night.
The Badgers jumped on Genoa Hugo quickly; outscoring the Pirates 20-9 in the first quarter and then 25-8 over the second. The defense also limited the Pirates to just 30 percent shooting from the field. Yuma’s game with Brush was tight the entire night as the Indians trailed by just one after three but couldn’t get to the finish line.
Several top players to watch in this one. Yuma will ask a lot of junior guard Clay Robinson after he finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and nearly three steals as a sophomore. He also directed the offense as a freshman in leading the Indians to the first of two state titles. Limon returns three double figure scorers in Camden Smithburg (16.8), Kory Tacha (14.4) and Alex Carr (10.9). They also have plenty of support and depth including Brady Rockwell (5.7), Trey Hines (4.0), John Jaklich (3.1) and Eli Weisensee (2.0).
Another important game in Class 2A pits #5 Sanford entertains #8 Ignacio. Both programs are used to winning a lot of games and ending up in the state tournament at years end. The Indians though must turn around quickly as they made a long trip to Mancos last night and came up short 62-55 to the Bluejays. Another loss today would likely leave the Indians behind both clubs in the state tournament bracket come March.
Ignacio makes their 2021 debut in this one. They finished 18-5 last season but return four of their top five scorers in Bryce Finn (12.0), Brady McCaw (11.8), Triston Thompson (9.2) and Gabe Tucson (6.5).
Like Sanford, #3 Fowler hopes for a quick turnaround on Saturday following a Friday loss. The Grizzlies fell to Class 3A Colorado Springs Christian (73-67) in overtime. The Grizzlies rallied from 12 down in the fourth quarter to force the extra session but didn’t have enough in the end to grab the road win. Gabe Proctor (21) and Val Leone (19) combined for 40 points in the loss. Proctor also knocked in five of seven three-point attempts.
Today the Grizzlies face local rival La Junta. The teams don’t often meet unless they’re paired in the annual La Junta Holiday shootout. The Tigers are 0-1 following a 46-40 setback at Pueblo County two nights ago.
#3 Sterling and #5 Resurrection Christian battle in Class 3A today. All they’ve done is meet the last four years to determine the Patriot league district tournament championship. Resurrection Christian won last year and also 2017 with the Tigers grabbing back-to-back crowns in 2018 and 2019. Today’s game is a non-league battle as they collide again on February 26th.
The Tigers will be playing their season opener tonight ahead of three tough battles with Strasburg, University and Manual next week. They reached the Final Four last season (21-4) but lost three of their top four scorers. There is plenty left to build on with the return of Jackson Keil (12.4), Tucker Myers (5.4) and sophomores Ben Browning (3.1) and Ryder McConnell (3.0).
Resurrection Christian lost to Highland (66-52) last night in the program debut for first year coach Ryan Yoder. They allowed 26 first half points and trailed by 24 after three quarters. They open Patriot activity next week against Frontier Academy and Eaton.
In Class 4A, #7 Montrose finally gets on the court today as they meet former Southwestern league rival Montezuma Cortez. The Panthers (1-0) beat Dolores 64-46 on Wednesday but today marks a major step up in competition. Montrose collected 20 wins last year including a wild 48-46 overtime decision over Evergreen in the playoffs. Luke Hutto is their top returnee after leading the Indians with 14.6 points and 7.3 rebounds as a sophomore. Classmate Trey Reese ended up with nearly nine points and six rebounds a game last year as well.
Another ranked club stepping on the hardwood for the first time today is #3 Merino (1A). The Rams go to Burlington. The Rams earned a state tournament bid for a second straight time last year but fell to Walsh (46-44) in the quarterfinals. The top two scorers on the team were seniors but the Rams still return Kody Clouse, Derrick Alber, Andrew Frank and Zach Batt from that club. All played important minutes and provided points at key times last year. Photo by Melanie Kindvall.
Burlington opened with a tough 48-45 loss to Idalia on Friday night.
Below is the Saturday Top 10 schedule in all classifications. Final scores can be sent to Colorado Preps by text at 970.380.7737.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #2 DeBeque vs Nucla 71-60
FINAL: #3 Merino beat Burlington 63-32
FINAL: #4 Kit Carson beat Wiley 42-34
FINAL: #5 Briggsdale beat Idalia 66-47
FINAL: #6 Primero beat Antonito 70-44
FINAL: #8 Belleview Christian beat Loveland Classical 86-33
#9 Sangre De Cristo vs Dove Creek (PPD)
FINAL: #10 Haxtun beat Fleming 66-45
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #1 Limon beat #2 Yuma 54-47
FINAL: #3 Fowler beat La Junta 58-42
FINAL: #4 Wray beat Caliche 83-34
FINAL: #5 Sanford beat #8 Ignacio 53-48
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #5 Resurrection Christian beat #3 Sterling 54-48
FINAL: #7 St Mary’s beat Englewood 77-49
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #7 Montrose beat Montezuma Cortez 64-43
FINAL: Pueblo East beat #8 Harrison 39-38
CLASS 5A
FINAL: Chaparral beat #4 Denver East 59-48
