The high school boys basketball season in Classes 3A-1A continues to keep charging forward. There are several outstanding performers on the court, and we recognize once again this week’s Player Prop, as well as provide a snapshot of some games to watch in the state.
Player Prop
Brody Sheffield, Yuma: The sophomore point guard is averaging a team-high 21.1 ppg as well as 3.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. Sheffield has guided the Outlaws to a 12-1 record. And he has improved his points per game from 7.4 ppg as a freshman to over 21 ppg now. He has scored 28 points in a game twice this season. He had 17 points in the Outlaws’ 58-49 decision over Peyton Jan. 27. If Yuma wants to continue its winning ways Sheffield should remain a focal point.
Games to watch
Class 3A
No. 2 Yuma (12-1) at No. 4 Strasburg (15-1), 4 p.m. Saturday: Yes. The word is out on Sheffield. However, he doesn’t work alone for Yuma. Jonathan Thomson, who is 6-foot-3, and weighs 175 pounds, is pouring in 13.9 ppg and grabbing 9.6 rpg. Crisitian Duarte rounds out the potent triplets at 12.5 ppg. The senior Duarte scored a season-high 23 points in an 87-20 win over Haxtun, Jan. 16. Yuma has a matchup with Wiggins (6-7) at 7 p.m., Thursday. A win sets up the battle with Strasburg. The Indians are paced by a standout trio of its own in Tyce Bollers (18.9 ppg); Austin Velasco (14.3 ppg) and Landen Martin (10.1 ppg). The Indians are riding a 10-game winning streak, and both teams are ranked in the top 5 in the latest Colorado Preps poll.
Class 2A
No. 5 Limon (11-3) at No. 9 Wray (7-7), 4 p.m. Friday: This is a big matchup for two 2A teams ranked in Colorado Preps Top 10. Limon is on a roll. The Badgers are coming of a huge 62-46 upset of Merino on Jan. 27, dropping the Rams to No. 4 in the latest Colorado Preps poll. Now, the Badgers, a perennial power in all boys’ sports, will try and derail Wray. Wray has a .500 record, but that is deceiving. The Eagles suffered close back-to-back losses to Yuma (58-53) and Berthoud (70-69) last week. Rafael Trejo (17.6 ppg) and AB Ruiz (11.4 ppg) are the Eagles’ top scorers. Trejo, a 6-foot-3, 160-pound senior, had 21 and 28 points in the two losses last week. Ruiz chipped in 16 and 10 points, respectively against Yuma and Berthoud. A win by Limon will solidify its spot in the rankings, while Wray could shake things up with an upset.
Class 1A
No. 2 Belleview Christian (13-1) at Flatirons Academy (8-5), 7:30 p.m. Thursday: Belleview Christian has won seven games in a row, including a 77-35 trouncing of Lone Star on Jan. 26 in its last game. The Bruins’ lone loss came to Denver Christian, No. 6 in the latest 2A poll on Dec. 23. BC’s top scorers are Garrett Owen (22 ppg, 2.3 assists per game) and Brandon Ewing (20.1 ppg, 6.6 rebounds per game). Owen, a 6-foot-3, sophomore had 20 points in the victory over Lone Star and poured in a season-high 33 points in a 68-64 win over Sanford on Dec. 22. Ewing, a 6-foot-1 junior, scored 25 points in the victory over Lone Star. Flatirons’ most recent loss was 57-53 defeat to Denver Jewish Academy, ranked No. 5 in the most recent 2A poll on Jan. 25. Leading the way for Flatirons is 6-foot-3, 165-pound sophomore Pistol Chavez. Chavez is averaging 20.9 ppg and is coming off a 27-point effort in Flatirons’ 62-51 win over Golden View Classical Academy on Jan. 27.
