Championship weekend has finally arrived.
When the Class 3A, 2A and 1A boys basketball quarterfinals tip off Thursday morning, it will start a frenzied rush to the finish line. Semifinal action is slated for Friday evening, with title games coming Saturday.
McClave is the reigning state champion in 1A, and the Cardinals have the opportunity to repeat. Yuma, the defending 2A champion, is now in 3A and opens with top-seeded Faith Christian.
So how did we get here? The first two rounds of the state tournament took place last weekend, and while upsets weren’t a big factor in 2A and 1A, that wasn’t the case for the 3A classification. Eight of the top 16 seeds were eliminated in the first round, including two of the top-eight hosts teams in No. 5 Cedaredge and No. 7 Peyton.
SkyView Academy, the No. 21 overall seed, punched its quarterfinal ticket with a 60-58 upset of No. 12 Ellicott, and then 65-54 victory over No. 28 Strasburg. The Indians upset Cedaredge in the first round.
No. 23 The Pinnacle upended 10th-seeded The Vanguard School 53-45 and then No. 26 Ignacio 56-36 to also reach the Great 8. Ignacio toppled Peyton by three points in the opening round.
In 2A, No. 25 Holyoke came ever-so-close to making it into the quarterfinals. The Dragons upset No. 8 Heritage Christian 51-42 on Friday, and took No. 9 Evangelical Christian to the limit before coming up short 49-48.
In 1A, No. 20 Springfield pulled the only first-round upset by defeating No. 11 Fleming, but Stratton took care of business in the second round.
Going into Thursday’s games, here is a quick look at the quarterfinal matchups in all three classifications:
Class 3A Great 8
Hamilton Gym, University of Denver
Full bracket
No. 2 Salida (23-1) vs. No. 23 The Pinnacle (16-8), 10:15 a.m.
Salida’s only loss came back on Dec. 15 to 4A Pagosa Springs by just three points. The Spartans put up 75 points in a Friday victory over Montezuma-Cortez, then limited Brush to only 33 points in the second round. That’s been a calling-card for a team that allows less than 37 points a game. Seniors Tristan Jackson and Chase Diesslin shoulder the offensive load, with Jackson averaging a double-double.
The Pinnacle put away The Vanguard School, which finished second to Salida in the Tri-Peaks League, with a big fourth-quarter Friday. Senior guard Robert McClinton leads the state at just more than 30 points a game.
No. 4 Highland (21-3) vs. No. 21 SkyView Academy (16-8) 1:15 p.m.
Highland’s offense was clicking in the regional, as the Huskies scored 86 and 85 points against their two opponents. Sophomore Sawyer Morgan had 20 points and 15 rebounds in the opener, and Hyatt Tolle went for 26 points in a victory over Stargate School, which had upset Colorado Springs Christian. Tolle, Carson Steinke and Morgan each average just shy of 15 points a game for an offense that averages more than 78 points a game.
SkyView was just 3-16 a year ago, but excelled playing in the 3A/2A/1A Mile High League this winter. The Hawks rallied in the fourth quarter against Ellicott, forcing a second overtime before earning a victory Friday. Sophomore Isaac Dove led the way with 18 points and junior Kyle Cosart added 17 points and 15 rebounds. The Hawks trailed Strasburg by one point going into the fourth quarter before pouring in 24 points to seal the victory. Cosart and Matt Fann each had double-doubles.
No. 1 Faith Christian (22-1) vs. No. 9 Yuma (18-5), 5:30 p.m.
These two teams just met Feb. 25 in a district title game, with the Eagles posting a 71-60 victory. Faith Christian took out two Western Slope League teams in the first two rounds, handling both Grand Valley and Roaring Fork. The Eagles’ senior-led offense revolves around Carson Jasa, Keegan Paige and Master Diggins, who each average around at least 15 points a game.
Yuma defeated Bayfield and Lake County to reach the Great 8. Forest Rutledge and Jake Haruf lead the team in scoring. Like Faith Christian, Yuma is senior-heavy with plenty of state experience. The program won three of the previous four 2A titles.
No. 3 Centauri (20-3) vs. No. 6 Windsor Charter Academy (20-3), 8:30 p.m.
Centauri was the 3A runner-up to Aspen a year ago, but has yet to win a state championship. Two of the team’s losses came to 4A league squads in Alamosa and Pagosa Springs, and the other was to Salida. Junior Chaz Holman scored 24 points in a 53-35 victory over Prospect Ridge in the second round. Like Salida, the Falcons are a monster on the defensive end, allowing less than 39 points a game.
Windsor Charter has won 20 games, and is coming off a 64-48 victory over Manual. Junior Brody Unruh scored 19 points in that game and senior Ball Landon added 17. Sophomore Ball Kellen leads the team in scoring at nearly 15 points a game.
Final 4: 5:30 p.m./8:30 p.m. on Friday at University of Denver
Championship: 6 p.m. on Saturday at University of Denver
Class 2A Great 8
Budweiser Events Center, Loveland
Full bracket
No. 3 Limon (21-3) vs. No. 6 Golden View Classical Academy (18-5), 10:15 a.m.
Limon has only one loss to a 2A program this winter, which came to Simla in the district title game Feb. 25. Limon had to defeat league rival Burlington for a third time to reach the Great 8. After edging the Cougars by two points the first two times, Limon rolled to a 65-47 victory Saturday. The Badgers were in the semis last winter and in the 2021 title game. They also made the 2A finale in 2012-13, but haven’t won a state crown since 1964.
After a 10-11 campaign last winter, Golden View Classical is looking to keep it going. The Sentinels haven’t lost since Jan. 21, surviving Akron 61-60 in the first round behind a combined 47 points from Jakob Gonzales and MZ Wahlers. The team then defeated Mancos 49-38 to advance. Gonzales averages 21.3 points a game.
No. 1 Crowley County (24-0) vs. No. 9 Evangelical Christian (20-3) 1:15 p.m.
Crowley County is the only undefeated team in the classification. The Chargers last made it to the title game in 2018, falling to Yuma. Save for two nail-biters against Holly, the team’s 62-56 victory over Denver Christian in the second round was the team’s closes this season. Sophomore Gunner Hughes’ 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists keyed the victory.
Evangelical Christian’s three losses have come to Simla (twice) and Limon. Jared Guest and Brock Jones combined to score 29 points in the team’s narrow 49-48 victory over Holyoke in the second round. Guest leads the team in scoring at 15.5 points a game.
No. 2 Simla (21-3) vs. No. 7 Sanford (16-8), 5:30 p.m.
Simla has lost only once since December, and that came to Limon on Jan. 24. After two losses to the Badgers, the Cubs gained a measure of revenge in the district championship with a 50-48 victory. Simla downed Las Animas and Custer County over the weekend. The team shot just 33 percent against Custer, but Caston Cox and Brent Bowker combined for 25 of the team’s 47 points. Cox leads the team with 17 points a game.
Sanford endured a five-game losing streak early in the season, though that included game against 4A Pagosa Springs and Alamosa and 3A Centauri. The team’s only loss since Jan. 14 came against Del Norte. Sanford made the title game last winter before falling to Yuma. The Mustangs won three titles in a row from 2014-16. McCray Larsen leads Sanford at 15.5 points and 10 rebounds a game.
No. 4 Wray (18-6) vs. No. 5 Plateau Valley (19-3), 8:30 p.m.
Wray is the only team outside of Yuma to win a 2A crown in the past five seasons. The Eagles defeated Limon in overtime in 2021 to claim the crown. Wray lost four of its first seven games this season, but is 15-2 since Jan. 10. The only losses in that span came to Yuma and Limon. Wray had to get past Lower Platte League rival Wiggins in the second round to move on, taking a 61-59 victory after withstanding a furious second-half rally that saw the Tigers outscore the Eagles 41-20. Junior Rafael Trejo led Wray with 20 points and Joey Uyemura added 18.
Plateau Valley was 13-10 a year ago, but the Cowboys put it together this winter. The team hasn’t lost since Jan. 28. Plateau Valley had to get past a nemesis in league rival Vail Christian to reach the Great 8. The Cowboys defeated the Saints 50-42, the team’s second victory over Vail Christian in nine days. The team is among the classification’s youngest with only one senior.
Final 4: 5:30 p.m./8:30 p.m. on Friday at Budweiser Events Center
Championship: 8:30 p.m. on Saturday at Budweiser Events Center
Class 1A Great 8
Bank of Colorado Arena, University of Northern Colorado
Full bracket
No. 3 McClave (18-5) vs. No. 6 Granada (15-8), 10:15 a.m.
There hasn’t been a repeat champion in 1A since Caliche won four in a row from 2009-12, but McClave is hoping to change that. The Cardinals’ most recent loss came to this same Granada squad Feb. 23. But McClave also defeated Granada back on Jan. 27. Senior Aiden Martinez scored 24 points and had 15 rebounds to spark a 73-54 victory over Dove Creek in the second round. Aydin Gomez added 12 points and 11 assists.
Granada lost five in a row early in the season, but after back-to-back losses to McClave and Cheyenne Wells to start February, the Bobcats have reeled off 10 consecutive victories. John Hainer nearly averages a double-double at 17.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.
No. 2 Denver Jewish Day (19-3) vs. No. 7 Genoa-Hugo/Karval (17-6) 1:15 p.m.
Denver Jewish Day gained a big boost of confidence when it topped No. 1 Belleview Christian in the district championship. Now the Tigers are hoping that leads to more success at state. Senior Ilan Schinagel’s 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting paced an 84-point outburst Friday against Hi-Plains, and the Tigers limited Eads to only 25 points in the second round. Senior Gavin Foonberg leads the team at 18.3 points a game.
Genoa-Hugo/Karval’s three-game losing streak late in the regular season hasn’t hurt the team. The Pirates have won four in a row since then, including a 68-54 victory over Flatirons Academy in the second round Saturday. Junior Trey Smith exploded for 39 points, going 15-of-18 from the free-throw line. Smith averages just shy of 20 points a game.
No. 4 Stratton (17-7) vs. No. 5 Otis (20-4), 5:30 p.m.
Stratton overcame a three-game skid midway through February, those losses came to 2A powers in Limon, Simla and Burlington. The Eagles defeated Otis 71-58 in the district title game Feb. 25, with four players scoring in double figures. Stratton routed Prairie and Springfield in the first two rounds. Junior Cyler Notter leads the team with 15 points a game.
Otis dropped three of its first five games, but the Bulldogs’ only loss since Jan. 5 (also to Stratton) came to the Eagles in the district championship. In fact, three of the team’s four losses have come to Stratton. Jack Willeke led the team with 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 64-56 victory over Cheraw in the second round.
No. 1 Belleview Christian (22-1) vs. No. 9 Cheyenne Wells (16-8), 8:30 p.m.
Belleview Christian won it all back in 2021, and is looking for another title as the team to beat. The team’s only loss came to Denver Jewish Day in the district title game. The Bruins used a big fourth quarter to defeat Wiley 55-46 in the second round, with Brandon Ewing pacing the team with 14 points. Senior Nathaniel Owen is having a dominant senior season, averaging 21.5 points and 9.5 rebounds a game, along with more than five blocks a contest.
Cheyenne Wells dropped five of its first six games this season, but has some big victories since that time. The Tigers held off Centennial 36-33 on Friday before taking down No. 8 Sierra Grande on Saturday thanks to a fourth-quarter flourish. Ty Scheler leads the team in scoring.
Final 4: 5:30 p.m./8:30 p.m. on Friday at University of Northern Colorado
Championship: 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Budweiser Events Center