Big day of basketball across Colorado with 55 regional championship games on tap.  The field in Classes 1A-2A-3A will be trimmed to eight for state quarterfinals next Thursday with the 4A and 5A boys cutting their bracket down to the Final Four.  Colorado Preps of course will have finals posted throughout the day but here we will follow results and break down which teams qualify and how they may be seeded in the respective state tournament.  Since the 3A, 4A and 5A tournaments are played from start to finish in the bracket, much of our attention today will be on 1A and 2A as those qualifiers will be reseeded on Sunday ahead of quarterfinals next Thursday.

The posts will be in order by timeline with the most recent at the top.  Please check back throughout the day as we work though all the data.  Final scores can be sent to Colorado Preps by text at 970.380.7737 or by email to [email protected].

 

7:50pm:  What a comeback for Evangelical Christian.  Down 15 at the half, the Eagles rallied through the second for a 48-43 win over Genoa Hugo.  The wild win pushes the Eagles into the 1A boys state tournament where we have them projected as the number two seed in the bracket.  You can see our 1A projections for both boys and girls here.

7:08pm:  Eagle Ridge Academy is in the 3A Boys Great 8 for the first time in school history.  With them through we can now set up the state quarterfinals next Thursday.  It’s a chalked up bracket as the top eight seeds are still alive.  Game times will be announced on Sunday.

  • #1 St Mary’s vs #8 Eagle Ridge Academy
  • #4 Colorado Academy vs #5 Centauri
  • #2 Sterling vs #7 Manual
  • #3 Aspen vs #6 Resurrection Christian

7:04pm:  Granada is the seventh qualifier in the 1A boys tournament.  They beat Springfield and we expect the Bobcats to be a one or two seed based on the result between Evangelical Christian and Genoa Hugo.

6:24pm:  Aspen is through to the 3A boys great 8 as they rallied past Englewood in the second half.  Skiers are 25-0 on the season and will face #6 Resurrection Christian in a highly anticipated quarterfinal next Thursday.

5:50pm:  Fleming is the last state qualifier in Class 1A girls as they hold off Idalia 38-35 in a great regional final.  The Wildcats could be staring at the number four seed due to a loss to Flatirons Academy in the regular season.  They are one spot above the Bison in RPI but the committee likely makes that move because of the head-to-head loss.

5:36pm:  We posted our thoughts on both the 2A boys and girls state basketball bracket.  Official pairings are due out on Sunday but we make our projections  here.  

5:35pm:  McClave survives a strong push from South Baca as the Cardinals earn a berth in the 1A girls state tournament.  The Cards are likely the number two seed based on RPI from the end of the regular season.

4:55pm:  Limon trailed by four at halftime but then pushed by Meeker 46-41 so the Badgers are back at the state tournament.  They finished second a year ago.  The Badgers are the last qualifiers in 2A boys as they join Yuma, Wray, Denver Christian, Lotus, Peyton, Sanford and Crowley County in the bracket.  We’ll have a few thoughts on the potential pairings later today.

4:47pm:  Lotus School has earned their first ever state tournament bid with a 36-28 win over Vail Mountain today.  The Meteors upset the fourth seeded Gore Rangers in one of the best mascot matchups in state history.

4:42pm:  Denver Christian the sixth qualifier into the 2A boys tournament as they scored a late six point win over Thomas MacLaren.  Waiting for the last two scores in the division to start thinking about state tournament pairings.

4:19pm:  Haxtun outscored Simla 13-3 to close the game and get the win over the Cubs.  The Bulldogs are the state football champions and will now get a chance to win the basketball crown starting on Thursday in Greeley.

4:00pm:  Sierra Grande is unbeaten and headed to the state tournament thanks to their win over Kim/Branson.  Panthers will likely be the two seed if Granada advances as expected.

3:55pm:  Great win for Dove Creek as they upset defending state champion Belleview Christian 47-45 today.  By our notes, this is the first state tournament appearance since 1971.

3:48pm:  Sanford is no stranger to the 2A boys state tournament and the Indians are back for another visit this year after beating Holyoke.  They were seeded third in regionals and could stay there for the state tournament.  Brackets are out on Sunday.

3:30pm:  Limon beats Wray and Wiggins tops Soroco to finish up the 2A girls state qualifiers.  The Badgers and Tigers join Sanford, Holyoke, Rye, Cedaredge, Dayspring Christian and Peyton in the bracket.  We’ll have some thoughts on the quarterfinal pairings later today.  But the bracket should be simple.

3:20pm:  Peyton with the upset in 2A Boys as they stun #5 Mancos 57-28 on the road today.  The Panthers head to the Great 8 in Loveland on Thursday and will join the Lady Panthers there who beat Sedgwick County earlier today.  Peyton’s boys likely the 7th or 8th seed at this point of the day.  Still some games to be played of course.

3:16pm:  Top seed St Mary’s is back in the Great 8 of the 3A boys state tournament as they handled University 92-66 today.  The Pirates were runners-up a year ago to Lutheran but return much of their talent from that club.  They will face the winner of Eagle Ridge Academy and Highland in the state quarterfinals next Thursday.  State event is at DU.

3:01pm:  Vanguard and Colorado Springs Christian post wins in the 3A girls division and those scores finalize the state quarterfinals at DU next Thursday.  They are listed in bracket order below and game times should be announced on Sunday.

  • #1 Platte Valley vs #8 Lamar
  • #4 Grand Valley vs #12 St Mary’s
  • #2 University vs #10 Delta
  • #3 Vanguard vs #11 Colorado Springs Christian

2:37pm:  Crowley County’s win over Cedaredge pushes them into the 2A boys state tournament for the first time since 2018.  That year the Chargers made the finals before falling to Yuma.  They were the sixth seed in the district tournament but could be the eighth seed and get a rematch with Yuma based on predicted results.  If Thomas MacLaren upsets Denver Christian, the Chargers would then bump to seventh and up to sixth if Holyoke also upsets Sanford.

2:34pm:  Top ranked Briggsdale cruised to a 1A state tournament berth by beating Stratton today.  The Falcons will be the one seed in the bracket when it’s released on Sunday.

2:32pm:  Lamar continues their late season surge with a ninth straight win.  The Savages edged Eaton 47-43 and will next challenge defending state champion Platte in the 3A girls quarterfinals on Thursday.

2:31pm:  2A boys number one seed Yuma has no trouble with Vail Christian and they advance to another Great 8.  They will be the top seed in the tournament and they’re the second LPAA member in the bracket as they join Wray.  Teams have combined for the last three titles that have been played.

2:25pm:  Another great win over St Mary’s.  Won in overtime against Skyview Academy on Friday and rallied for a win over #4 Lutheran today.  The reward is a 3A girls quarterfinal with #4 Grand Valley next Thursday.

2:24pm:  Sangre De Cristo is in the 1A girls bracket after their win over Springfield.  As we mentioned below, the T-Birds are sixth in RPI right now but have a win over the team directly ahead of them.  That should push them to the fifth seed – based on results right now.

2:21pm:  #5 Centauri and #7 Manual are through to the 3A Boys Great 8 with wins today.  Manual will face #2 Sterling in the quarterfinals while Centauri likely gets Colorado Academy as the Mustangs lead Pagosa Springs late.

2:18pm:  Dove Creek joins the list of 1A girls qualifiers with their win over Rocky Mountain Lutheran.  Dove Creek was fifth in RPI at the end of the regular season but will probably slide to the sixth seed for the state tournament since they lost to Sangre De Cristo in regular season play.  Sangre will also advance and they’re 6th in RPI.

2:16pm:  Two top seeds in the 2A girls regional bracket are through to the state tournament as #1 Sanford and #2 Holyoke post wins today.  The two were basically tied in RPI with the Indians gaining the upper hand based on overall winning percentage.  Probably stay that way for the state tournament as the Indians have 24 wins and the Dragons 23.  Each has just one loss.

2:14pm:  Delta girls are in the 3A Girls Great 8 as they have little trouble in beating Jefferson Academy 58-29.  They’re the second WSL team in the bracket joining Grand Valley.  Delta likely to face #2 University in the quarterfinals.

2:13pm:  Sterling hit 19 three-pointers in a 92-50 win over Eaton in the 3A Boys Great 8 as they advance to face either Manual or Faith Christian next Thursday.

1:31pm:  Defending state champion Wray is the first qualifier into the 2A boys state tournament.  They edged Heritage Christian in Fort Collins today and will be back to defend their crown.  They were the 10th seed in regionals due to format that allows district champions to be seeded 1-8 but that will change for the state tournament.  Could be the number five seed with a large battle against Denver Christian in the quarterfinals……Both those clubs could also be on the same side as Yuma.

1:25pm:  Peyton is the fourth qualifier to the 2A girls state tournament as they edged Sedgwick County today.  Panthers were 8th in RPI and seven teams ahead of them are still alive in the tournament.  That would make them the 8th seed if those other seven win.  Good strong push in February for the Panthers; a young team that battled injuries early but have come on late.

1:20pm:  Rye is the third qualifier to the 2A girls state tournament thanks to their win over Yuma.  The Thunderbolts are unbeaten overall but could garner only the fourth or fifth seed in the bracket based on RPI and teams remaining alive in the bracket.

1:14pm:  Merino survives Briggsdale 63-58 in overtime to reach the 1A boys state tournament.  The Rams were 14th in RPI going into the day and that would make them the 8th seed most likely and then bump McClave up to #7.  Seen both teams and both have enough talent to win the whole thing.  Going to be a wild 1A tournament in Greeley next week.

12:56pm:  Defending 1A girls champion Flatirons Academy is back to the final eight as they outscore North Park 66-47.  Thinking the Bison will land at number three in the bracket if Briggsdale and McClave win regional crowns as well.

12:47pm:  McClave the second qualifier in 1A boys as they edge Wiley 47-42.  Cards will be in the lower half of the bracket and possibly a very dangerous #8 seed if favorites win across the board.  This is their first state tournament visit since 2014.

12:31pm:  Cedaredge is a 2A state qualifier – they survive a late push from Hoehne but gets the 35-29 win.  Bruins are likely a 5-6 seed in the state quarterfinals next week which could set up a showdown with unbeaten Rye on Thursday.  Still a lot of basketball to play.  Bruins in the quarters for a second straight year after losing to Limon at home a year ago.

12:30pm:  Grand Valley is a 3A state qualifier as they beat Colorado Academy 57-28.  Cardinals are the fourth seed and likely will meet Lutheran in the quarterfinals on Thursday but the Lions must get by St Mary’s later today.  Cardinals in the Great 8 for the first time since 2008 when they lost to Wray in the 2A state finals.

12:24pm:  Dayspring Christian is a 2A girls regional champion as the Eagles beat Sargent 37-27.  Based on RPI numbers, the Eagles best seed for the state quarterfinals is probably six but more likely a 7 or 8 based on results through the rest of the day.  Regardless, they’re in the state tournament for the first time since 1990.

12:17pm:  Defending state champion Platte Valley is the first team to reach the 3A girls great 8 as they downed Kent Denver.  The Broncos are unbeaten on the season and will face the winner of Lamar-Eaton in the state quarterfinals next Thursday.  A quick reminder that the 3A bracket is played out from start to finish and teams will not be reseeded.

11:45am:  Couple of 1A Boys regional finals underway and both should be tremendous as Briggsdale meets Merino and McClave battles Wiley.  Let’s look at the top 10 in RPI based on numbers from the end of the regular season.

  1. Evangelical Christian
  2. Granada
  3. Briggsdale
  4. Belleview Christian
  5. Sierra Grande
  6. Caprock Academy (Qualified on Thursday)
  7. Denver Jewish Day (eliminated Thursday)
  8. Haxtun
  9. McClave
  10. Wiley

11:29am:  Lone Star holds off Merino to win their first ever trip to the state tournament.  They opened the day 9th in RPI and that projects them as the #7 seed ahead of Cheyenne Wells in our mind – if both Briggsdale and McClave win regional tournaments.  The Falcons and Cardinals are 1-2 in RPI and the committee would likely move Cheyenne Wells away from McClave in the first round since they’re in the same conference and district.

11:19am:  Cheyenne Wells scores the regional win over Sierra Grande and with it qualifies for the state tournament for the first time since 1978.  They reached the finals that year before falling to Campo 60-58.  Right now, with plenty of basketball to play today, we have the Tigers projected as a #8 seed in the state tournament bracket.

11:00am:  Couple of 2A girls games between Cedaredge-Hoehne and Dayspring Christian-Sargent tip off now – let’s look at the top 10 clubs in 2A RPI that was compiled following district tournament action last Sunday.  All ten remain alive for the state tournament bids – both games that tip here at 10 feature teams in the top 10 – of course only two advance.

  1. Sanford
  2. Holyoke
  3. Limon
  4. Soroco
  5. Rye
  6. Cedaredge
  7. Sedgwick County
  8. Sargent
  9. Hoehene
  10. Dayspring Christian

10:40am:  Lone Star and Cheyenne Wells both have double digit leads at halftime in their regional finals.  If they win and favorites in other areas also pick up wins, they would battle for the seventh and eight seeds in the state tournament.  Likely opponents would be Briggsdale and McClave. Cheyenne Wells is ahead of Lone Star in RPI but would likely swap those teams to avoid a district pairing of #2 McClave and Cheyenne Wells in round one.  They’re from the same league.  Plenty of basketball still remains.

10:20am:  Two girls basketball games are underway so let’s focus on the 1A RPI as teams will go back to the end of the regular season to determine the seed order.  Head to head can also come into play.  As we start the day here’s the top 10 in RPI and all 10 remain alive for a state tournament bid.  Couple of head to head results to remember, Flatirons Academy beat Fleming and Sangre De Cristo handed Dove Creek their only loss.

  1. Briggsdale
  2. McClave
  3. Fleming
  4. Flatirons Academy
  5. Dove Creek
  6. Sangre De Cristo
  7. Merino
  8. Cheyenne Wells
  9. Lone Star
  10. Kim/Branson