Colorado small-school boys basketball players putting up big numbers

With just about two months left in the 2016-17 boys basketball season, some impressive numbers jump out from around the state.

The state's three top scorers are each averaging more than 28 points per game, and they all have something in common: Their teams reside in the smaller classifications.

Class 2A Noah Siarra of Clear Creek (Evergreen) (31.9 points per game) and 3A's Tanner Ervin of Resurrection Christian (Loveland) and Robert Williams of Sheridan (Denver) (28.5 ppg) have been tough to stop in the first half of the season. Williams averaged more than 22 points a game as a junior, but it's Ervin who continues to steal the show.

The senior has performed at that level for an undefeated Cougars squad playing up a class for the first time. Ervin came into this season with 1,280 points through his first three seasons. In his first 11 games of this season, he's already added 314 points to that total. That included a career-high 43-point showing Jan. 10 in a 104-72 victory over Valley.

Ervin is among a handful of mid-season Player of the Year candidates in 3A. With league play underway, here is a look at other POY possibilities from 3A, 2A and 1A through the first half of the season. (Note: Only players who had played in a majority of their teams' games and had their statistics entered into MaxPreps.com were considered up until this point):

Class 3A
• Ryan Brubacher, Sr., Alamosa
Brubacher has been a driving force in the Mean Moose's current nine-game winning streak. The senior is averaging 20.4 points per game, and two of his most impressive outings were in victories over top-10 opponents in Faith Christian (Arvada) and Kent Denver (Cherry Hills Village). He's also averaging just more than five rebounds a game to along with nearly three steals.
• Justin Engesser, Sr., Colorado Springs Christian
With Sam Howard having graduated, Engesser has taken on an even bigger role for the two-time defending 3A state champions. Engesser is averaging 22.5 points per game and 9.4 rebounds, but is also dishing out an impressive 6.6 assists. He had the elusive triple-double back on Dec. 16 in a victory over The Vanguard School (Colorado Springs) with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. His 3.3 blocks a game are good for third in 3A.
• Tanner Ervin, Sr., Resurrection Christian
Ervin has scored at least 14 points in each of his team's 11 games this season, and has topped the 30-point mark on five occasions. He's scored at least 20 points in six consecutive games, and two of those games included six 3-pointers. He's made strides in other areas of his game as well, notching three games of at least six assists and five games with at least three steals.
• Michael Glen, Sr., Basalt
Glen started the season with a stellar run of seven double-doubles in a row. For the season the 6-foot-7 post is averaging 23.4 points, 11 rebounds and 3.1 blocks as the Longhorns have won eight in a row. Glen has also shot 59 percent from the field on the year and 81 percent from the free-throw line.
• Robert Williams, Sr., Sheridan
Williams has been on a tear since mid-December. The senior is averaging more than 35 points a game over his past five outings. He went for 41 points in the last game of December, and followed that up with games of 32, 37 and 38 points to start 2017. He's shot above 50 percent from the floor over his past six games, and is also averaging 6.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 4.9 steals.

Class 2A
• Levi Basler, Sr., Akron
Basler's all-around play has helped the Rams start 8-0 on the season. The post is averaging 16.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists and three steals. Save for a rough shooting night in a victory over Otis on Dec. 16, his points per game average would be even higher. He's had at least six assists in five games and four times has come away with four steals.
• Carlos Parra, Jr., Del Norte
Parra's 21.0 points per game are currently good for sixth-best in 2A, with the forward scoring at least 20 points in six games. While most of his attempts have been from beyond the perimeter, his free-throw shooting (26-of-29) has excelled.
• Dagan Rienks, Sr., Paonia
Rienks has averaged a double-double, at least through Paonia's first seven games this season, at 24.0 points and 10.6 rebounds. The 6-6 senior had perhaps his best all-around game in the team's only loss in early December against Coal Ridge (New Castle), going for 32 points and 17 rebounds.
• Cole Rouse, Sr., Highland (Ault)
The Huskies got off to a 9-0 start, with Rouse a big factor in that success. The senior has averaged 16.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and four steals a game. The only game Rouse didn't score in double figures came on Jan. 10, but he still finished with eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals.
• Noah Siarra, Jr., Clear Creek
While the Golddiggers may be sitting at 5-4 on the season, Siarra has made scoring look easy at times. The shooting guard leads the state with an average of 31.9 points per game and has scored 40 points on two occasions. Against West Grand (Kremmling) on Dec. 16, Siarra scored 39 points on 15-of-20 shooting.

Class 1A
• Jaxon Crawford, Sr., Kit Carson
The 6-3 Crawford has been a consistent force for Kit Carson all season, averaging 17 points and 8.5 rebounds. He's put together five double-doubles in eight games and has been able to find open teammates and come up with a number of steals as well.
• Christian Dellamaestra, Sr., Wiley
Dellamaestra and Wiley endured a challenging December schedule that saw the Panthers play the state's current top three teams. While Wiley came away with three losses, Dellamaestra was a force. The senior went for 26 points and 20 rebounds in a loss to Flagler, and had 25 points and 19 rebounds in a loss to top-ranked Holly. Through December he averaged 20.5 points and 13.5 rebounds.
• Arthur Rodriguez, Jr., Sierra Grande (Blanca)
Rodriguez is another player getting in done in multiple areas on the floor. The 6-2 junior has averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Panthers, shooting 86 percent from the free-throw line as well.
• Noah Stein, Sr., Front Range Baptist (Fort Collins)
The Falcons jumped into the 1A rankings at No. 6 after an 8-0 start, with Stein's ability to score and crash the boards a big reason. The guard is averaging 17.1 points 9.9 rebounds and 3.7 steals for the Falcons.
• Yaniel Vidal, Sr., Holly
Vidal closed the first month of the season with a strong December that included a 51-point performance on 17-of-27 shooting in a victory over Elkhart (Kan.). The senior averaged 24.0 points and 8.4 rebounds in December with three double-doubles to his credit for Holly, which is currently ranked No. 1 in 1A.