Just more than two months ago, Season B officially started and this weekend will see champions crowned in all five classifications of boys basketball. Three titles will be earned on Saturday, with classes 2A, 3A, and 5A taking the court at the Broadmoor World Arena. Classes 1A and 4A get their time in the spotlight the following day. Each championship contest is previewed below.

 

CLASS 1A

#1 BELLEVIEW CHRISTIAN BRUINS (15-0)

  • Coach:  Timothy Owen
  • 5280 champions

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Bye
  • Sweet 16: Beat #16 Eads 76-48
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #8 Denver Jewish Day 63-27
  • Semifinals: Beat #4 Granada 58-46

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (2-0)

  • 2000:  Beat Crow Valley 60-54
  • 1999:  Beat Merino 53-48

 

#3 DE BEQUE DRAGONS (16-1)

  • Coach:  Jake Higuera
  • Won 2A/1A West Slope

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Bye
  • Sweet 16: Beat #19 Longmont Christian 69-54
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #11 Haxtun 54-46
  • Semifinals: Beat #2 Merino 47-43

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (2-0)

  • 2019:  Beat Sangre De Cristo 55-42
  • 1998:  Beat Ridgway 59-53

Belleview Christian began the season ranked eighth in the CHSAANow.com coaches poll, but the Bruins ascended to the #1 spot by the midpoint of the regular season. They would maintain that position for the remainder of the campaign. The Bruins, champions of the 5280 League, have outscored their opponents 1108-572.

Much of the attention falls upon 6’10” sophomore Assane Diop, who ranks in the top 25 of Class 1A in scoring with 15.7 points a night, is second in the class with 7.1 assists, and leads all of Colorado with 18.9 rebounds and 6.9 blocks a contest. With opponents devoting so much focus to Diop, that frees up senior Logan Owen (18.3 points, 7.7 rebounds), Nathaniel Owen (15.4 points, 6.1 rebounds), and John Cronk (11.3 points) to all score double figures each night. The Owen brothers combine for close to eight steals a night.

As a team, the Bruins have hit on 101 of 318 three-point attempts, with Logan Owen draining a team-high 34. Nathaniel Owen is right on his heels with 31. The elder Owen is the top free throw shooter on the squad, entering the championship game at 81%, with Diop next at 79%. Collectively, the Bruins shoot 66% from the line.

During the season, Belleview Christian only had one game decided by single digits, a 42-38 win over Denver Jewish Day in overtime back in week one. Logan Owen was the lone Bruin in double figures, tossing in a game-high 19 points. Their 58-46 win over Granada in the semifinals was their closest game since that early white-knuckler. Belleview Christian outscored the Bobcats 34-15 in the second half to secure the comeback victory on Thursday. Diop recorded his 14th double-double in 15 games this season. Five of those have been triple-doubles, and three of those were quadruple-doubles.

De Beque is technically the defending champion, as the Dragons were the last team to take home the top trophy back in 2019. They were bumped out in the opening round by Briggsdale last year, in a game that required overtime.

The Dragons began the 2021 season ranked second and they spent the entire campaign in the top two. Even their lone loss to Caprock Academy (57-55) back on Feb. 13th wasn’t enough to drop them out of the top two. Entering Sunday’s final, the Dragons have outscored the opposition 1049-743.

Senior Wes Ryan, the 2019 Class 1A Player of the Year, powers the Dragons with a classification best 27.2 points a game. That is second in all of Colorado. He very easily could have added a second straight POY honor last season, and will be in the mix once again. Six of his 11 career games with 30 or more points have come this season. During the postseason, he’s averaging 31.7, and just missed matching the program single game record of 40, with 39 points against Longmont Christian in the Sweet 16.

Fellow senior Jaden Jordan nearly averages a double-double a night, scoring 14.7 points and grabbing 9.8 rebounds. His 5.5 assists a game not only lead the team, but have him ranked fifth in Class 1A. He has a team-leading seven double-doubles on the season. Juniors Dillon Hurst (7.6 points) and Logan Wingfield (7.5 points, 9.3 rebounds) are former role players who have started to blossom this year.

The Dragons ride an 11-game winning streak into the finals, with five of them coming by single digits. De Beque owns a 59-58 win over 2A Cedaredge, along with close wins over 2A Plateau Valley (64-57), 2A Meeker (85-78 OT), Haxtun (54-46) and Merino (47-43). The last two were in the postseason.

The winner of the 12:30pm Sunday contest will add a third championship to their trophy case.

 

CLASS 2A

#1 WRAY EAGLES (15-0)

  • Coach:  Karson Kuntz
  • Lower Platte champions

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Bye
  • Sweet 16: Beat #16 Monte Vista 86-57
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #8 Sedgwick County 74-44
  • Semifinals: Beat #4 Yuma 64-59

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (0-0)

  • First ever appearance in a state basketball fina

 

#2 LIMON BADGERS (16-1)

  • Coach:  Dirk Pedersen
  • Union Pacific champions

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Bye
  • Sweet 16: Beat #15 Lake County 68-41
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #10 Ignacio 71-39
  • Semifinals: Beat #3 Peyton 60-38

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (4-3)

  • 2013:  Lost to Denver Christian 53-49
  • 2012:  Lost to Denver Christian 53-50
  • 1982:  Lost to Rye 65-40
  • 1964:  Beat Roaring Fork 78-62
  • 1962:  Beat Eads 63-46
  • 1961:  Beat Wiley 74-62
  • 1959:  Beat Fowler 79-66

Under third-year head coach Karson Kuntz, the Wray Eagles have enjoyed a resurgence and will play in the state championship game for the first time in program history. Kuntz took over an Eagle squad that won three games in 2017-18. In his first year, Wray went 13-10 and lost 55-53 in overtime to Limon in the regional finals. Last season, the Eagles were 19-6 and had earned the program’s first tournament victory since 1949 before having the season shutdown by COVID.

Last year’s success caught the eye of coaches around the state and the Eagles opened this season ranked 4th in the coaches poll. They quickly jumped to #2 and remained there until handing Limon its only loss of the year in the week five, 72-66. The Eagles ride a 24-game winning streak into the rematch with Limon. In their 15 games so far this year, they have outscored the opposition 1175-680.

Senior guard Junior Arambula, who finished second in Class 2A at 126 pounds as a freshman, is sixth in the classification in scoring at 19.3 points. He’s also fourth in assists at 6.8. Bryant Schoenthal controls the paint for Wray, pumping in 16.8 points and grabbing 9.5 rebounds a game. Sam Uyemura is a threat on the perimeter, averaging 13 points a night. He had hit a three-pointer in 22 straight games heading into the Great 8.

Wray had a streak of 14 straight games with at least 70 points this season snapped in Thursday’s semifinal win over Yuma. The Eagles defeated their in-county rivals 64-59. That was only their second contest decided by fewer than 23 points this season.

Limon was a heavy favorite to win the crown when the season started, as the Badgers received 14 first place votes in the coaches poll. They stayed there until Wray’s six-point win three weeks ago. The Badgers are in a championship game for the eighth time in program history, but are looking for their first title since 1964. Many of the players on the roster were key contributors during football, where Limon won its third consecutive 1A championship.

The Badgers have won six straight games since the loss to Wray, only one by single digits. Overall, Limon only had three games finish with a single digit spread. They outscored their opponents 1148-641 entering Saturday’s final.

Seniors Camden Smithburg (16.2 points) and Alex Carr (14.1 points) combine for 30 points a night for the Badgers. Kory Tacha adds better than eight points and a team-leading 3.1 assists. Three other players are over 2.5 assists, including Smithburg and Trey Hines.

The 2A boys’ title game will be played at 12:30pm on Saturday, at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs.

 

CLASS 3A

#1 ST MARY’S PIRATES (16-0)

  • Coach:  Jim Masterson
  • Tri Peaks champions

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Bye
  • Sweet 16: Beat #16 Kent Denver 103-71
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #8 Englewood 82-54
  • Semifinals: Beat #4 Manitou Springs 73-68

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (0-0)

  • First ever appearance in CHSAA state final
  • Won titles in 1960’s and 1930’s in parochial league

 

#2 LUTHERAN LIONS (15-1)

  • Coach:  Bill Brandsma
  • Metro champions

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Bye
  • Sweet 16: Beat #15 Gunnison 65-49
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #7 Manual 73-65
  • Semifinals: Beat #3 Sterling 56-50

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (3-2)

  • 2018:  Lost to Bayfield 68-57
  • 2011:  Beat Lutheran-Parker 61-48 (sister school at the time)
  • 1986:  Beat Machebeuf 62-40
  • 1985:  Beat Glenwood Springs 67-54
  • 1983:  Lost to Denver Christian 55-45

 

After making a Sweet 16 appearance last year, St. Mary’s is poised to win its first CHSAA sanctioned state title in program history. The Pirates finished last year 19-5 after dropping their quarterfinal contest to Faith Christian. They opened this year seventh in the coaches poll and quickly made a statement that they planned on going much deeper in the postseason. St. Mary’s dropped triple digits on three of its first six opponents, and surpassed 90 in two of the other games. For the season, the Pirates hold a 1439-847 edge.

Thursday’s 73-68 win over Manitou Springs was only the second game decided by single digits for the Pirates. They had defeated the Mustangs 83-62 less than two weeks earlier.

St. Mary’s averages just under 90 points a game, and boasts six players in double figures in scoring. Leading the way is junior Sam Howery, who tallies 21.3 points, 10.6 assists, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.4 steals. He leads the team in all four categories. Luke Stockelman adds 19.8 points and 6.6 rebounds, and freshman Max Howery chips in 13.3 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.1 steals. Cyrus Hernandez (11.0 points), John Klein (10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds), and Andon Mindrup (10.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 4.2 steals) complete the main rotation for the Pirates.

Lutheran was the overwhelming preseason pick in the classification, pulling in 16 of the 23 first place votes in the coaches poll. The Lions dropped an early contest with 5A Regis (83-46), but responded by winning their final 12 games of the season. Their scoring edge on the season is 1130-770 heading into the finals on Saturday.

The Lions needed a hero in their semifinal game against Sterling on Thursday, as they trailed the Tigers 30-17 at the half. Tommy Apodaca donned the cape and hit a total of eight three-pointers in the contest, scoring a game-high 28 points as the Lions scored a 56-50 victory in overtime. It was their second OT victory, and fourth win by single digits. Sophomore Baye Fall (6’11”) averages more than 20 points and right around 10 boards for the Lions, while seniors Mamadou Sow (11.7 points), Sam Hoops (10.3 points), and Niklas Skirmants (9.1 points) all pour in close to 10 points or more a night.

The top two seeds in the bracket will hook up for the title at 5:30pm on Saturday at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs.

 

CLASS 4A

#3 MONTROSE INDIANS (18-0)

  • Coach:  Ryan Voehringer
  • Southwestern champions

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Beat #30 Palmer Ridge 63-39
  • Sweet 16: Beat #14 Green Mountain 54-52
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #6 Steamboat Springs 61-47
  • Semifinals: Beat #2 Longmont 48-33

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (0-1)

  • 1951:  Lost to Brighton 43-41

 

#5 MEAD MAVERICKS (14-3)

  • Coach:  Darin Reese
  • Tied for 5th in Northern

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Beat #28 Canon City 68-43
  • Sweet 16: Beat #12 Holy Family 71-45
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #4 Lewis Palmer 61-50
  • Semifinals: Beat #9 Pueblo South 73-53

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (1-0)

  • 1957:  Beat Wiggins 55-52

Defense has been the calling card for Montrose this season, as the Indians have allowed an average of less than 39 points a game. The most the Indians allowed in a game this season was 52 points, as they escaped their quarterfinal match-up with Green Mountain, 54-52. That was one of four close contests for them, and they came out on top in each. On the year, the Indians have outscored their opponents 1025-697.

Four players score near or above 10 points a contest for Montrose this season, led by Luke Hutto at 15.4. The junior also grabs more than seven boards a game. Classmates Fletcher Cheezum (10.1 points), Trey Reese (9.9 points), and Ashden Oberg (9.4 points) will make the Indians a threat again next year.

Mead gathered some bumps and bruises in the rugged Northern League, as the Mavericks suffered all three of their losses in conference play. Those losses came in consecutive fashion midway through the year. Since that stretch, the Mavericks have piled up eight wins in a row. Overall, they hold a 1078-836 scoring edge during their campaign.

A trio of underclassmen pace the Mavericks in scoring, led by juniors Elijah Knudsen (18.6 points) and James Shiers (11.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.2 blocks). Sophomore Nick Basson adds 10.8 points a contest. Marcus Santiago, one of two seniors on the roster, chips in better than eight points, mostly on three-pointers.

Both teams are looking to end long title droughts, as Mead last earned the crown in 1957, and Montrose has not hoisted the top trophy in 70 years. They hit the hardwood at 5:30pm on Sunday.

 

CLASS 5A

#4 THUNDERRIDGE GRIZZLIES (12-2)

  • Coach:  Joe Ortiz
  • Finished 2nd in Continental

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Beat #29 Rocky Mountain 81-56
  • Sweet 16: Beat #13 Douglas County 80-55
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #5 Chaparral 62-47
  • Semifinals: Beat #1 Cherry Creek 66-64 (OT)

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (2-4)

  • 2015:  Lost to Overland 55-42
  • 2008:  Lost to Denver East 62-59
  • 2005:  Lost to Heritage 54-46
  • 2004:  Lost to Denver East 64-56
  • 2003:  Beat Denver East 63-50
  • 2002:  Beat Wheat Ridge 55-43

 

#7 GEORGE WASHINGTON PATRIOTS (13-3)

  • Coach:  Reggie Hammons
  • Finished 2nd in Denver Prep

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

  • First Round: Beat #26 Heritage 60-54
  • Sweet 16: Beat #23 Mullen 69-55
  • Quarterfinals: Beat #2 Regis 54-52
  • Semifinals: Beat #3 Rangeview 68-58

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD (5-4)

  • 2018:  Lost to Grandview 57-52
  • 2017:  Lost to Eaglecrest 53-47
  • 2009:  Lost to Regis 67-63
  • 2001:  Lost to Mullen 40-39
  • 1994:  Beat Horizon 71-67
  • 1993:  Beat Rangeview 62-50
  • 1986:  Beat Cherry Creek 66-65
  • 1982:  Beat Arapahoe 63-49
  • 1961:  Beat Pueblo South 70-69

 

ThunderRidge has a long history of deep runs in the postseason and the Grizzlies are making their seventh title game appearance since 2002. They only have two championships in their previous six tries. They’ll be facing a familiar foe in George Washington, as the two met twice during the regular season. Each team won a close match-up.

The Patriots handed ThunderRidge its first loss of the season, 65-59 on Feb. 16th, but the Grizzlies returned the favor two weeks later. ThunderRidge won the rematch 71-68 on Mar. 1st. That loss snapped a five-game winning streak for George Washington. They haven’t lost since.

Eddie McPhee, Jarmell Johnson, and Kendale Johnson each had 16 points for GW in the win over ThunderRidge, while Joey Bilello (20) and Nolan Marold (16) combined for 36 in that contest for the Grizzlies. In round two, ThunderRidge put five players in double figures, while Jarmell Johnson had a game-high 18 points for the Patriots.

On the season, Jarmell Johnson averages 18 points to lead George Washington. Trey Edmonds adds 11.1 points and eight rebounds, and McPhee chips in ten points and two and a half steals a game.

Marold paces the Grizzlies with 13.2 points and 6.9 rebounds a contest. Jason Simental contributes 12.2 points and close to three assists. Bilello (11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds) and Jackson Brennan (11.5 points) give ThunderRidge four players in double figures.

Both teams have dropped their last four championship games, so one will see their skid ended on Saturday night. They meet at 8pm at the Broadmoor World Arena in the last of five championship games that day.