Official playoff brackets for all seven classifications will be released by CHSAA this Sunday. But ahead of that release and before the start of games in week six, Colorado Preps takes a look at the playoff picture in Classes 2A, 1A, 8man and 6man and breaks down the teams that are likely already in the bracket and others that continue to push for the remaining spots. PHOTO BY SHELLY POLZIN
Please note that all teams in every list are placed in alphabetical order. As we get more information from all four polling sources that will be used to determine playoff qualifiers, then we can consider where teams may be placed in the bracket.
CLASS 2A
In our mind, the eight playoff teams have been decided and the only mystery is seeding. Our picks for the eight qualifiers are:
- Delta
- Eaton
- Lamar
- Moffat County
- Pagosa Springs
- Platte Valley
- Resurrection Christian
- Sterling
Sterling, Resurrection Chrsitian and Pagosa Springs are the last three unbeatens and should have the highest three seeds. And their scenario should not change as all should finish the season unbeaten. Sterling closes with Alameda, Resurrection Chrsitian meets Severance and Pagosa Springs, right now, does not have a game on the schedule.
The main question now is which other team gets the chance to play at home as the #4 seed. Moffat County (3-1) has a case. They’ve won three straight and will finish atop their division but they also dropped an early game to a 1A opponent (Meeker) by 22 points. If the Bulldogs are not the selection, then it’s probably the winner of Friday’s game between Eaton and Platte Valley. PV is #4 in RPI and Eaton is #7.
Now while we think the Eaton-Platte Valley loser is still a playoff team, that team would fall to 4-2 and maybe open the playoff discussion to a couple of more teams.
- University
- Valley
Valley is #9 in RPI and University is #10. The Vikings have a tough game with Brush on tap and must win to have any chance. And even that might not be enough. University lost a key game with D’Evelyn last week and is seeking an opponent in week six as Arvada cannot play due to COVID. Severance could also be on our list but the Silver Knights must upset Resurrection Christian to gain any consideration. They’re #14 in RPI.
CLASS 1A
The division missed out on two important games last week as the Limon-Wray and Florence-CS Christian games were cancelled due to COVID issues with the Badgers and Lions. Those outcomes would have helped decide which teams qualify and the seed order for all involved. With those games not being played, we feel there are seven teams that have already clinched a spot in the pairings.
- Centauri
- Florence
- Hotchkiss
- Limon
- Meeker
- Strasburg
- Wray
Five teams are included on our bubble list.
- Colorado Springs Christian
- Highland
- Holyoke
- Monte Vista
- Peyton
Colorado Springs Christian is the highest ranked team in the RPI (#7) so they might have the edge at this point but they face a key game with Peyton. The Panthers are #10 in RPI and match the Lions record with just one loss on the season. Highland is #9 in RPI but an early overtime loss to Holyoke may stand in their way. Holyoke dipped to #13 in RPI by earning a forfeit over Pinnacle on Saturday but that number may go in the other direction this week as the Dragons are slated to meet Limon. That game right now remains on the schedule as the Badgers should come out of quarantine later in the week. Monte Vista is the longest shot of the five bubble teams. The Pirates are #14 in RPI but are 4-1 and have a big date with Centauri on Friday. An upset there could change the post-season fortunes for both teams.
EIGHT MAN
Four clubs are unbeaten in the division and all four should have already reserved their spot in the playoff bracket. We’ve added two one-loss teams to our list of locks for the pairings.
- Dove Creek
- Fowler
- Merino
- Rangely
- Sanford
- Sedgwick County
Five teams will battle through the final week to nab one of the remaining two playoff berths.
- Crowley County
- Holly
- Mancos
- Simla
- Swink
Mancos is a strong candidate. The Bluejays are coming off a loss to Dove Creek and had a big game with Sanford on tap for this week. That game will not be played as Sanford is in quarantine. Had the Bluejays won that game, they would be a lock for the playoffs but a loss could have eliminated them from the pairings. Now their status is up in the air a bit in our mind. They’re #12 in RPI going into the final week.
Holly is #9 in RPI and has a huge game with Fowler on tap this week. The Wildcats haven’t been played since a loss to top ranked Sedgwick County last Monday so they will have almost a two week break in between key games. Another loss likely eliminates the Wildcats from the post-season but a win over unbeaten Fowler should be enough to get them in.
Crowley County played very well in their 10-point loss to Fowler last week and that close battle tells us the Chargers should be a strong candidate for the playoffs. They sit #16 in RPI and meet Wiley in the final week. They need a win there and probably some losses by other teams on the bubble to sneak in.
Simla and Swink are numbers five and six in the RPI this week. If both teams play this week, then Simla should have the playoff advantage since they won the head-to-head matchup. Both could be tested in their final game as Simla hosts Dolores Huerta and Swink meets Calhan. Calhan is 3-2 but could have playoff hopes as well as they sit #7 in RPI. Pikes Peak Christian, which has lost two straight, remains #8 in RPI and could be a contender as well.
SIX MAN
The division lost a key game to the playoff structure last week as Briggsdale was unable to play Fleming. And this week, another highly anticipated game is off as Stratton/Liberty cannot play against Cheyenne Wells. That game was very important to the bracket as the winner could have landed the top overall seed in a tight battle with Fleming. Even though they won’t play, both teams are on our list of playoff teams.
- Cheyenne Wells
- Eads
- Fleming
- Granada
- Prairie
- Stratton/Liberty
Six teams we believe are in contention for the last two berths in the bracket.
- Briggsdale
- Cheraw
- Genoa Hugo
- Hi Plains
- Kit Carson
- Mountain Valley
- North Park
Of the six teams, Mountain Valley has the highest ranking in RPI (#6) and that number keeps the Indians in contention despite a lack of respect in other polling metrics. Mountain Valley is 3-0 and has a game scheduled with a good Sierra Grande club. The Indians must play the game to become playoff eligible and probably need a victory to get strong consideration.
Hi Plains and Kit Carson play this week so only the winner will stay in contention. Both also have to play the game to become playoff eligible as each just has three games thus far. Kit Carson is #8 in RPI and Hi Plains is #16. Genoa Hugo and Cheraw are ranked #9 and #10 in RPI so they are strong candidates as well. Cheraw’s lone loss is to Granada (67-60) and closes with Kim/Branson. Genoa Hugo has losses to Stratton/Liberty and Cheyenne Wells and that strong schedule keeps them in the chase. The Pirates are at Miami Yoder on Friday.
Briggsdale is #11 in RPI and North Park #12 as they get set to collide on Saturday. Again only the winner stays in the playoff discussion. Briggsdale was hurt a bit in RPI by not playing Fleming but can recover some of the gap by beating North Park. The Wildcats have losses to Fleming and Prairie on their record.
