While some girls basketball programs are playing for their season over the next three days of district tournament action in Class 3A, 2A and 1A, other teams are fighting for a district championship and the right to host a regional next weekend.
Look no further than 2A’s District 2, where the four teams playing in Thursday’s semifinals just happen to also be the four teams currently at the top of the 2A CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index. No. 1 Merino draws Sedgwick County, while Wiggins and Akron go head-to-head in the other semifinal. In District 8, three of the four teams in the semis are in the top nine of the seeding index.
In the 3A Tri-Peaks League, after Wednesday evening’s district quarterfinals, three of the four teams playing in Friday’s semis happen to be in the top eight of the seeding index. Colorado Springs Christian will play The Vanguard School, and St. Mary’s faces Ellicott.
The only 3A district which has its championship already set is the Patriot League. Defending state champion Platte Valley faces Strasburg on Saturday for the right to host a regional next weekend.
That said, not every team is so fortunate. In all three classifications, teams are doing whatever it takes to ensure a spot in the field of 32. For some, that means every game from here on out has extra meaning, as it can make the difference between moving up, or staying home.
Here is a quick look back at those programs in Class 3A, 2A and 1A trying to earn a path into next weekend’s regional tournament:
Class 3A
Peyton, the only remaining undefeated team in the 3A classification, is one victory away from locking up the top overall seed in the field of 32. The Panthers dominated Thomas MacLaren in Tuesday night’s Black Forest/Santa Fe semifinals to advance to Saturday’s district championship against Fountain Valley. Rocky Ford, which fell to the Danes in the semis, is still in good shape at 27th overall in the seeding index.
The other district title game already set pits Platte Valley against Strasburg in the Patriot. Brush and Highland will play in the third-place game, while Liberty Common and Estes Park in the consolation championship. Estes Park is currently 33rd, while Timnath, sitting at No. 30, is in the seventh-place game against Frontier Academy.
Intermountain League champion Centauri is trying to hold off Colorado Springs Christian for the second overall seed in the classification. The Falcons face Montezuma-Cortez in Thursday’s semis, with Ignacio and Crested Butte playing in the other semi.
Yuma is the top seed in the Metro/Confluence/Lower Platte district. Yuma, No. 5 overall in 3A, plays Prospect Ridge Academy on Friday; St. Mary’s Academy and Faith Christian are in the other semifinal. Faith Christian, at No. 28 overall, and PRA, at No. 34, are close to the edge but would still have the third-place game ahead should both teams lost Friday.
In the Western Slope League district tournament, Grand Valley, North Fork, Olathe and Gunnison are on solid ground. Cedaredge, which fell to Gunnison 39-30 in the quarterfinals, is currently 31st and attempting to hold onto its position.
Lyons (29th overall) and Dawson School (32nd) won quarterfinal games Wednesday night to advance to the Mile High/Foothills League semifinals. There is a third-place game Saturday as well.
In the Frontier, league champion Bennett is the only team currently in the top 32. Jefferson, which faces Platte County in a semifinal, has a very outside chance at No. 36 but would most likely need to win out to keep its season alive.
Class 2A
The afore-mentioned District 2 semis are just part of a solid weekend of basketball. But even the teams that didn’t reach the final four in the tournament are still in the mix for regional berths. Wray, which won 11 games in the regular season, fell 42-38 to Sedgwick County but is still currently 11th in the seeding index. Haxtun is No. 23, and Caliche is 31st but will need some help to hold onto its spot.
In District 8, semifinalists Burlington, Simla and Limon are Nos. 6, 7 and 9 in the seeding index. Byers, the other teams in the semis, is 24th. Elbert, which was the fifth seed in the district, is sitting at No. 27. Evangelical Christian is in a good spot at No. 21.
Crowley County and Holly reached the semifinals of District 6, but are still in a precarious position. Holly is 29th in the seeding index and Holly 32nd, but with a third-place game in the district tourney, both teams have at least two more games to help its case.
In District 1, the four semifinalists – Sanford, Del Norte, Monte Vista and Center – play Friday. Sargent, which fell to Center on Tuesday, is currently 30th.
Two teams on the outside looking in reside in District 7, with semifinalists Addenbrooke Academy 33rd in the index and Golden View Classical Academy 36th. There is no third-place game, making Thursday’s semis that much more crucial to both teams.
Loveland Classical is in a similar boat in District 4. The Lions will need to defeat a strong Heritage Christian team on Friday to keep its hopes alive.
West Grand is the only of the four semifinalists in District 5 that is close to the edge, but the Mustangs are at still sitting okay at No. 28 overall as of Wednesday night.
Mancos is the lone team in District 3 with a chance at the regionals, meaning either Ridgway, Dolores or Telluride need to win the tournament to qualify.
Class 1A
Perhaps the most competitive field lies in District 2, where the semifinals take place Thursday. All seven teams are currently on the right side of the index seedings, though Wiley – which lost to Granada by four points Tuesday night – is currently 28th. McClave, Kit Carson and Granada – each of which are in the district semis – are seeded in the top five.
District 5 is another tough bracket. Sixth-seeded Arickaree toppled No. 3 Hi-Plains in the quarterfinals and will play Idalia on Friday. Lone Star, sitting 34th overall, fell to the Wolves in the quarters.
A Briggsdale-Fleming title matchup could be in store in District 4. The Falcons, third in the seeding index, defeated the Wildcats late last month. Prairie, in the 29th overall spot, plays Fleming on Friday.
In District 1, Thursday night’s play-in game could help decide the fates of other teams on the bubble. North Park (No. 30 overall) faces Caprock Academy (No. 35) for the right to play district top seed Dove Creek on Friday. A North Park victory could help the Wildcats all but wrap up a spot in the regionals, while Caprock would likely need to win at least two games to have a shot at moving into the top 32.
Another team on the bubble is South Baca (Campo/Vilas/Pritchett), which is 31st in the seeding index after downing Walsh in the district quarterfinals. The Patriots lost to district No. 1 Springfield on Wednesday night. The Longhorns will face La Veta in Friday’s title game.
In District 8, top overall seed Flatirons Academy faces Belleview Christian in Saturday’s district title game. Rocky Mountain Lutheran, currently 27th in the index, faces No. 32 Front Range Baptist in the consolation game Saturday.
The squad directly behind Front Range Baptist in in the seeding index at No. 33 is Hanover, which defeated Cripple Creek-Victor in Tuesday’s District 6 quarters. The Hornets, who have 11 victories on the season, take on Genoa-Hugo/Karval in Friday’s semis. Even with a loss, Hanover would still have the consolation title game Saturday to potentially increase its chances.
In District 6, No. 37 Centennial and No. 40 Creede, who play higher seeds in Thursday’s semis, would likely need to win the district title to reach regionals.
