The high school boys basketball season in Classes 1A through 3A is back in action this week as team’s look to flex their muscles or spring upsets. Before we head into this week’s action, we will do a rewind with some Play Props. Then there are some games to keep an eye on this week’s ledger.
Player Prop
Adin Kurak, Crested Butte. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound sophomore is setting the pace for the Titans. Kurak is averaging nearly 18 points a game, three rebounds and three steals a game. The Titans are just inside the Top 10 in the Class 3A rankings with a 4-2 record. In Crested Butte’s most recent game – a 78-19 trouncing of Sorroco on Dec. 16 – Kurak had 22 points and was 11-for-11 from the field. Kurak and the Titans will try and keep their momentum going when they visit Telluride at noon on Saturday. CB defeated Telluride in its first game of the season 60-40 on Dec. 1. In that game, Kurak scored a game-high 23 points.
GAMES TO WATCH
Class 3A
Thursday
Salida (6-2) at Peyton (5-3), 7 p.m.: This is a key match-up between two teams in the Top 12 in the Class 3A rankings. Salida is coming off a solid 54-40 win over Rye on Tuesday. Ryan Osness is scoring over 20 points per game for Salida and will be the key for his team to keep its momentum going against Peyton. Peyton is led by Michael Perry who is scoring nearly 22 points a game and Ayden Breese is at 14 ppg. Peyton has a chance to shake up the rankings this week as the Panthers host the Vanguard School, which is in the top three in the rankings, at 7 p.m., Monday.
Class 2A
Friday
Yuma (6-1) at Holyoke (6-2), 7 p.m.: This is a game that can fully benefit Holyoke. The Dragons are in the Top 10 in 2A, and Yuma is in the Top 5 in the 3A ranks. Thus, with some quick math, this is an upset that would boost Holyoke instantly in the RPI rankings. Holyoke, which crushed Haxtun 71-26 on Tuesday, is led offensively by Wyatt Sprague (17.4 ppg) and Cash Webb (12.7 ppg). Yuma counters with Brody Sheffield (19.7 ppg), Jonathan Thomson (15.7 ppg) and Cristian Duarte (14 ppg). The Outlaws’ Thomson and Duarte had 21 and 20 points, respectively, in a narrow 71-68 victory over Highland this past Saturday.
Class 1A
Thursday
Cheyenne Wells (5-2) at Stratton (4-1), 5:30 p.m.: This clash is as good as it gets – at least from a 1A rankings standpoint. Cheyenne Wells is ranked No. 1 and Stratton is No. 2. Cheyenne Wells is averaging 44 points a game and Stratton is scoring 54.6 ppg. To get the key victory, CW needs top efforts from Corey Hill (16.6 ppg) and Carson Noe (12.7 ppg). Stratton is powered by Cyler Notter (13 ppg) and Von Isenbart (11.4 ppg).