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March Madness is in full swing – at least in the prep ranks.
While the Class 5A and 4A state boys basketball tournaments tipped off last week with the first two rounds, all five of the state's classifications will be rolling in state postseason play this week.
The 5A and 4A ranks will be whittled down to the final four by the time this weekend has come and gone, but for the state's three smaller classifications, it's all about setting the quarterfinals for the three-day state tournament next week. In 3A, the field of 32 has been set, with the top eight seeds hosting a two-day tournament starting Friday featuring four teams. The team still standing at the end of the day Saturday will advance to next week's Great 8 at the University of Denver.
In 2A and 1A, eight regional tournaments in each classification will determine the state quarterfinals. The 2A state tournament will take place at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, and the 1A tournament is at Butler Hancock Gymnasium on the University of Northern Colorado campus. The 1A championship games will be held at the BEC in Loveland.
Upsets aren't uncommon in opening rounds. Two years ago, in its final season in 1A, Holly was undefeated going into regionals. But the Wildcats were upended in their regional opener by South Baca, ending the team's season. The Patriots went on to reach the state title game before falling to Peetz, which had defeated top-seeded Creede in the semifinals.
That same year, three teams seeded in the 20s pulled off some big upsets on the first day of the 3A tournament, with 20th-seeded Colorado Academy (Denver) reaching the quarterfinals. In 2017, 13th-seeded Faith Christian (Arvada) defeated No. 4 Resurrection Christian (Loveland) in the Great 8 and made it to the state title game. The year before that, No. 21 Manual (Denver) was the Cinderella team, going all the way to the Final 4. In 2014, No. 16 Manitou Springs stunned top-seeded Jefferson Academy (Broomfield) in the Sweet 16.
Starting Friday, teams will have their opportunity to see if 2020 is another year for some upset specials. Here is a quick look at the 3A, 2A and 1A classifications going into play this weekend:
Class 3A // Brackets
Top Seeds: 1.
Resurrection Christian (Loveland), 2.
The Vanguard School (Colorado Springs), 3.
Faith Christian (Arvada), 4.
Manual (Denver)Overview: There are some familiar names in the upper half of the 3A bracket. Resurrection Christian (22-0) is undefeated and coming off a Patriot League regular-season and district title. The Cougars haven't made a title game since falling short to Sanford in 2A in 2015 and 2016, but the team is on a roll entering state. … Last year's state champion, Manual (15-7), is seeded fourth after winning the Metro League district tournament. Faith Christian (18-4) is the No. 3 seed. … Last season's runner-up, The Vanguard School (20-2), is seeded second. The Coursers finished second to
Manitou Springs in the Tri-Peaks League but thumped the Mustangs in the district title game.
Dominique Clifford is averaging 26 points a game. …
Lutheran (Parker) (19-3) is a scary No. 9 seed, and the Lions could be on a collision course for a rematch with Resurrection Christian in the quarterfinals, should both teams win out this weekend. … The same could be said about
Sterling (18-4), which had two losses come to Resurrection Christian and another to Lutheran. The Tigers could match up with The Vanguard in the quarterfinals. …
DSST: Byers (Denver) (20-2) lost to The Vanguard by only two points Feb. 21, and the No. 6 Falcons have won 12 of their last 13 games. …. No. 5
Centauri (La Jara) (19-2) dropped its first two meetings with No. 11
Alamosa (16-5) in the regular-season, but edged out the Mean Moose by one point in overtime to win the district crown.
Class 2A // Brackets
Top Seeds: 1.
Limon, 2.
Highland (Ault), 3.
Sanford, 4.
MancosOverview: Limon (20-2) took over the top spot after
Yuma (18-3) fell to
Holyoke in the district tournament. The Indians fell to the No. 9 seed, but the two-time defending champions will be a tough out in Region 8. … Limon's two losses came by a
Johnathan Mobbley, Fowler
File photo by Ray Chen
combined six points, and the Badgers have won 15 consecutive games. … Highland (21-1) is the No. 2 seed and was the runner-up a year ago. The Huskies' only loss came to 3A Eaton by one point, and the Huskies average 87 points a game. Four players average at least 12 points a game, led by
Tate Bessire (24.1 points). … Sanford (18-4) dropped a combined three games to 3A's Centauri and Alamosa. The Indians are attempting to get back to the 2A title game for the first time since winning three in a row from 2014-16. … Mancos (18-3) could have to go toe-to-toe against San Juan Basin rival
Ignacio (16-4) in Region 4 for a trip to state. The Blue Jays were 2-1 against the Bobcats this winter. …
Fowler (20-2) is the No. 5 seed, and the Grizzlies have won 17 consecutive game since a loss to Limon on Dec. 20. Junior
Val Leone (17.8 points, 7.2 rebounds) and senior
Johnathan Mobbley (16 points, 10.9 rebounds) are a potent 1-2 scoring punch. … Holyoke (8-13) is an underdog as the No. 23 seed, but the Dragons pulled off a big upset against Yuma before falling just short against
Wray in the district title game.
Class 1A // Brackets
Overview: Defending state champion
De Beque (19-2) recovered down the stretch after dropped back-to-back games by a combined three points. The Dragons won their final four games, but had to hold off
Ouray by one point to win their district
Blake Essex, Mile High Academy
File photo by Cynthia Betancourt
tournament. The team only needs to get past
Primero (Weston) in Region 1 though to get back to state. … In the region's other site,
Sangre de Cristo (Mosca) (20-2) hosts Ouray. Senior
Cole Christensen is averaging 23 points and 5.9 assists a game. …
Mile High Academy (Denver) (19-3) is the top seed in the first bracket of Region 2. Junior
Blake Essex averages 20.8 points, 14 rebounds and more than four blocks a game. …
Kit Carson (20-1), which had its only loss come in the season opener to 2A's Limon, has won 20 games in a row and is looking strong as perhaps the team to beat. … One of the teams the Wildcats have struggled a bit with,
Cheraw, is in a tough Region 3 field that includes
Walsh. Cheraw (15-7) dropped a pair of games to Kit Carson by only three points each, including the district title game. … Walsh (19-2) dropped only one game in Colorado, and that came to Kit Carson by five points in December. The Eagles have won 15 consecutive games. …
Kim/Branson (17-4) is the No. 2 seed in Region 3, Bracket 3. The Mustangs' only two in-state losses came to Walsh, including a two-point setback in the district title game last weekend. …
Evangelical Christian (Colorado Springs) (18-3) is the top seed in that bracket. Senior
Jason Holt averages more than 20 points a game.
