CHSAANow

Category: Boys Basketball

  • Dakota Ridge boys hoops prepared to maneuver through upcoming season

    Dakota Ridge’s boys basketball team hopes to be in the mix for a Class 5A Jeffco League title this year after finishing tied for third last season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    LITTLETON — Dakota Ridge’s boys basketball team won’t be making any excuses this season.

    “I’ve decided as a program that we were never going to complain about rules, masks, games or the season,” Dakota Ridge boys basketball coach Sean Kovar said after practice Jan. 20. “As long as we get a chance to come together as brothers to be a family. We are just super excited to be here with balls bouncing and shoes squeaking.”

    While every high school basketball team across the state will be dealing with COVID-19 pandemic rules and regulations, the Eagles took a big hit before players took the court for official practices this week. Taeshaud Jackson Jr. — Class 5A Jeffco League first-team all-conference selection last season as a junior — won’t be on the court for Dakota Ridge.

    Dakota Ridge boys basketball coach Sean Kovar works with players during the first week of practice. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Jackson decided to leave Dakota Ridge and Colorado to enrolled in a California prep school. He averaged a double-double last season with 15.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.

    “I was obviously disappointed for our program because I knew what an awesome kid and player he was, but we totally supported him in his decision,” Kovar said of Jackson. “Anyone who comes through our program we want the best for them. He was in a situation where he could better his situation and we completely supported that. We are excited to see where he ends up playing at the next level.”

    Jackson had been catching the eyes of Division I programs.

    Dakota Ridge would have had a formidable one-two inside punch with the 6-foot-6 Jackson and 6-foot-8 senior Gino Corridori.

    “It was for sure disappointing, but Taeshaud is my brother and I want the best for him,” Corridori said. “Obviously I would have liked him to stay, but it was his decision at the end of the day.”

    A positive for the Eagles is having Corridori back at 100 percent. Corridori averaged 14.3 points and 7.8 rebounds last season, but in only 10 games. A broken wrist kept Corridori on the bench for the first half of the season.

    “It’s huge,” Kovar said of having Corridori back. “He is a leader and is one of our rocks. We play through him a lot. Over the last four years he is one of the most improved players we’ve ever seen come through our program. He can do it all.”

    Dakota Ridge senior Gino Corridori has already signed to continue his basketball career at Western Colorado University after graduation. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Western Colorado University saw the talent too. Corridori has already signed to play basketball at the Division II program in Gunnison. Before heading off to the next level, Corridori sees the Eagles as a 10-win team during the shorted 14-game regular season.

    “It feels great because I know I can contribute right way this year,” Corridori said. “It was hard to watch last year.”

    Dakota Ridge played its best basketball last year in the playoffs. As the No. 41 seed in the state tournament, the Eagles upset No. 24 Doherty in the opening round. Dakota Ridge nearly clipped rival and No. 9 Columbine in the second round. The Rebels were able to rally late to escape with a narrow 59-54 victory.

    “We always talk about playing our best basketball at the end during the state tournament,” Kovar said. “I felt like we were there last year and had a really good chance to beat a really good team. It just didn’t go our way.”

    Kovar is counting on his other three seniors — Hunter Hickman, Joel Dominic and Jonathan Junker — on leading Dakota Ridge into the Eagles’ season that begins Jan. 27 with a road game at Legend.

    “You definitely have to come out with a different mindset,” said Hickman, who was a 5A Jeffco League honorable mention selection last season. “You can’t just go out and get a handful of preseason games under your belt. We have to come out hitting it hard.”

    Dakota Ridge senior Hunter Hickman, left, returns as a Class 5A Jeffco League honorable mention selection last year. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • No. 2 De Beque boys basketball relying on experience and maturity in 2021

    De Beque Sangre de Cristo boys basketball
    (Dustin Price/DustinPricePhotography.com)

    Two years ago was the best feeling that Wes Ryan and the De Beque Dragons could have ever hoped for. They were standing on the floor of Massari Arena, hoisting the Class 1A boys basketball state championship.

    It was a moment that the team will never forget, and one that it badly wants to experience again.

    As the 2021 season kicked off on Monday, the CHSAANow.com No. 2 Dragons feel they have the pieces and the mental wherewithal to battle through the season and emerge with yet another state championship win.

    “The ultimate goal is always going to be that state championship,” Ryan said.

    That was certainly the goal a year ago. After claiming the program’s first boys basketball title since 1998, the Dragons entered the 2020 state tournament as the No. 4 seed. A three-point loss to Briggsdale ended any dreams of a repeat, though the tournament would eventually be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    But the loss still stung. With as much offseason work that could be done, the Dragons now enter the 2021 refreshed and a bit more focused on the task at hand.

    “The whole team has been a lot more mature on and off the court,” Ryan said. “There were a few problems that we had last year that we’re not really noticing this year.”

    What they will notice is Ryan’s production that he hopes to carry over from last year. As a junior, he averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game which was a big reason why his team again advanced to the 1A state tournament.

    “Wes brings so much,” De Beque coach Jake Higuera said. “He brings leadership. He brings all of the knowledge of being one of our main guys as a sophomore. He has such a strong work ethic. And as good as he’s been in the past, he’s looking pretty solid this year.”

    Jaden Jordan is also back for his senior season after averaging nearly 13 points and over seven rebounds per game. He also led the Dragons in assists with nearly five per game.

    Junior Logan Winfield scored just under 10 points per game and should increase his role this season. At 6-foot-5, Dante Dejulio should provide a strong presence in the post to round out a solid group of players hoping to fulfill their championship ambitions.

    “The guys that are coming back, it’s a good core of guys,” said. “They understand this year that it was tough transitioning to the role that everyone had (after they had won a title). Not really knowing what to expect. I think our boys have an idea of what to expect this season.”

    What they should expect is a tough gauntlet of competition in the 1A field. Mile High Academy enters the season as the No. 1-ranked team and Briggsdale, the team toppled the Dragons in the 1A tournament, is sitting at No. 5.

    It’s going to be a challenge ahead for any team looking to be the final one standing when the season is over. But many De Beque players know the feeling of claiming a championship and are heading into the 2021 hoping to experience that feeling once again.

  • Season B sports set to begin their seasons with first practices

    Basketball generic boys girls
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)bas

    Monday brings the start of practice for Season B sports across the state.

    Those kicking off their seasons include traditional winter sports boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, skiing, girls swimming and diving, boys and girls wrestling, as well as traditional fall sport competitive spirit.

    This marks the first-ever sanctioned season for girls wrestling. And ice hockey will feature two classifications for the first time.

    Each sport can begin competition a week from Monday, on Jan. 25.

    Due to the on-going COVID pandemic, each sport has modifications that have been put into place surrounding the structure of the season. Complete COVID information can be found on this page.

    Further sport-specific information can be found in their bulletins.

    Championship season in Season B will start with skiing, the week of March 8. It will conclude with the state spirit championships March 25-27.

    A complete list of dates is available on our calendar.

  • Cherry Creek, Mead, Lutheran, Limon and Mile High Academy head preseason boys basketball rankings

    Limon Peyton boys basketball
    (David Johnson/davidjohnsonphotography.org)

    The preseason boys basketball rankings are out. Leading the way are Cherry Creek (5A), Mead (4A), Lutheran (3A), Limon (2A), and Mile High Academy (1A).

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. They are a factor in the postseason. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

    Coaches looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Cherry Creek (7) 0-0 221
    2 ThunderRidge 0-0 187
    3 Rangeview (4) 0-0 183
    4 Denver East (1) 0-0 172
    5 Regis Jesuit (1) 0-0 170
    6 Valor Christian (4) 0-0 169
    7 Eaglecrest 0-0 136
    8 Mountain Vista 0-0 119
    9 George Washington (1) 0-0 114
    10 Smoky Hill 0-0 105
    11 Chaparral 0-0 102
    12 Fairview 0-0 77
    13 Grandview 0-0 72
    14 Legend 0-0 69
    15 Overland 0-0 43
    Others receiving votes:
    Fossil Ridge 40, Douglas County 40, Ralston Valley 37, Vista PEAK 26, Horizon 25, Boulder 22, Doherty 20, Arapahoe 19, Rock Canyon 19, Columbine 18, Adams City 15, Chatfield 12, Rocky Mountain 6, Pine Creek 5, Mullen 4, Broomfield 4, Rampart 4, Silver Creek 3, Hinkley 3, Dakota Ridge 2, Cherokee Trail 2, Arvada West 2, Brighton 1, Far Northeast Warriors 1
    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Mead (10) 0-0 238
    2 Lewis-Palmer (4) 0-0 192
    3 Longmont 0-0 169
    4 Windsor (1) 0-0 115
    5 Golden 0-0 111
    6 Evergreen 0-0 109
    7 Montrose (1) 0-0 87
    8 Harrison 0-0 86
    9 Erie 0-0 82
    10 Pueblo Central 0-0 81
    11 Pueblo East 0-0 80
    12 Centaurus 0-0 77
    13 Cheyenne Mountain 0-0 70
    14 Holy Family 0-0 54
    15 Green Mountain 0-0 52
    Others receiving votes:
    Northfield 47, Lincoln 42, Widefield 37, Sand Creek 36, Thomas Jefferson 36, Glenwood Springs 35, Frederick 34, Pueblo Centennial 27, Canon City 24, D’Evelyn 20, The Classical Academy 20, Thompson Valley 19, Wheat Ridge 17, Pueblo South 16, Discovery Canyon 16, Steamboat Springs 14, Mesa Ridge 12, Berthoud 11, Aurora Central 10, Niwot 10, Coronado 9, Riverdale Ridge 9, Eagle Valley 9, Palmer Ridge 9, Palisade 7, Mountain View 7, Mitchell 5, Falcon 4, Roosevelt 4, Sierra 3, Denver North 2, Severance 2, Rifle 2, Durango 1
    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Lutheran (16) 0-0 321
    2 Faith Christian 0-0 231
    3 Sterling (1) 0-0 223
    4 Manitou Springs 0-0 205
    5 Resurrection Christian (5) 0-0 194
    6 Manual 0-0 182
    7 St. Mary’s 0-0 180
    8 Centauri 0-0 169
    9 Eaton 0-0 161
    10 Coal Ridge 0-0 115
    11 University 0-0 103
    12 Alamosa 0-0 94
    13 Gunnison 0-0 92
    14 DSST: Byers 0-0 76
    15 The Vanguard School (1) 0-0 60
    Others receiving votes:
    Colorado Academy 57, Kent Denver 51, Bishop Machebeuf 46, Highland 40, Strasburg 39, Englewood 38, DSST: Green Valley Ranch 35, Florence 33, Ellicott 26, Colorado Springs Christian 21, Salida 15, Valley 15, Jefferson Academy 14, Middle Park 12, Stargate School 12, KIPP Denver Collegiate 11, DSST: Montview 10, DSST: College View 10, Aspen 10, Moffat County 10, Frontier Academy 9, DSST: Conservatory Green 8, Woodland Park 8, Estes Park 8, James Irwin 5, Grand Valley 4, Roaring Fork 4, Lamar 3, Bruce Randolph 3, Pagosa Springs 2, Banning Lewis 2, The Academy 1, Jefferson 1, Peak to Peak 1
    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Limon (14) 0-0 252
    2 Yuma (3) 0-0 230
    3 Fowler 0-0 180
    4 Wray 0-0 171
    5 Sanford 0-0 165
    6 Denver Christian 0-0 153
    7 Peyton 0-0 149
    8 Ignacio 0-0 128
    9 Holly 0-0 120
    10 Sedgwick County 0-0 116
    11 Mancos 0-0 114
    12 Crested Butte 0-0 48
    13 Meeker 0-0 32
    14 Holyoke 0-0 29
    15 Vail Mountain 0-0 26
    Others receiving votes:
    Dayspring Christian Academy 23, Heritage Christian 22, Monte Vista 19, Vail Christian 11, Dawson School 10, Wiggins 8, Burlington 6, Crowley County 4, Thomas MacLaren 4, Rangely 3, Rye 3, Cedaredge 2, Hotchkiss 2, Plateau Valley 2, Dolores 2, Olathe 1, South Park 1, Dolores Huerta Prep 1, Sargent 1
    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS
    1 Mile High Academy (7) 0-0 228
    2 De Beque (6) 0-0 226
    3 Merino 0-0 157
    4 Kit Carson (2) 0-0 123
    5 Briggsdale 0-0 113
    6 Primero 0-0 102
    7 Genoa-Hugo 0-0 95
    8 Belleview Christian (1) 0-0 89
    9 Sangre de Cristo 0-0 87
    10 Haxtun 0-0 77
    11 Walsh 0-0 69
    12 Evangelical Christian 0-0 68
    13 Granada 0-0 61
    14 Kim/Branson 0-0 59
    15 Ouray (1) 0-0 55
    Others receiving votes:
    Cheraw 46, Denver Jewish Day 42, Cheyenne Wells 41, Simla 41, Eads 34, Edison 32, Fleming 28, Stratton/Liberty 28, Flatirons Academy 23, Denver Waldorf 19, Pikes Peak Christian 17, Springfield 14, Prairie 11, Longmont Christian 11, Sierra Grande 10, Manzanola 8, Front Range Baptist 7, Dove Creek 6, Cotopaxi 6, Wiley 3, Caprock Academy 3, McClave 1

  • Estes Park boys basketball sees a turnaround season in its future

    (Photo courtesy of Kristen Hill)

    Unlucky is definitely a word that can be associated with the Estes Park boys basketball season in 2020. What could have been a promising season got derailed with injuries across the board.

    But moving forward, the team has a promising outlook. Last year’s team didn’t have a single senior depart the squad and it even featured one of the top scorers in Class 3A in Ethan Hill.

    But it was the way that the 2019-20 season played out that might be the biggest key in the Bobcats turning around their 8-15 record from a year ago.

    “I had some inexperienced players that received varsity experience that wouldn’t have otherwise,” coach Jason Reetz said. “Our depth will be a lot better this year because of that.”

    Thirteen players recorded varsity minutes for the Bobcats last year, but only six of them played in more than 11 games. Junior Kian Gerig averaged 10.4 points per game but didn’t play after Dec. 20. In his final game of the year, he scored 13 points to help Estes Park beat Heritage Christian 59-57.

    From that point on, Hill became the focal point of the Bobcats’ offense. He finished the year averaging 19.3 points per game and didn’t score fewer than 10 points in any game after the Heritage Christian win.

    “When everybody went down and out last year, I could see it Ethan’s eyes, the weight of the world was on his shoulders,” Reetz said. “He wanted to do more and more.”

    Moving forward, Reetz hopes that some of the other players will grow into their roles and provide more support for Hill so that the team can be effective through several players instead of just him.

    Reetz will look to someone like JD McCown to help carry the load. Of the players who played in more than 11 games, McCown ended the year as the No. 2 scorer on the team at 8.8 points per game.

    “One man can’t get it done by himself,” Reetz said. “Ethan’s role is going to be pushing the rest of the guys to do their job and be where they need to be.”

    The Patriot League has always had its fair share of talented basketball teams and players. Estes Park is hoping it can insert itself into that conversation. The combination of more players with varsity experience and the leading scorer in the league is going to make Estes Park a team that won’t be easy to deal with.

    “The whole Patriot League thinks all we have is Ethan,” Reetz said. “It’s everything else that’s going to have to fly under the radar.”

    The offseason work has been creative this year as it has for all teams, but the Bobcats are anxious to get on the floor when it counts for real and emerge as a legitimate threat in all of 3A.

  • CHSAA office holding webinars about upcoming Season B sports

    The CHSAA staff will hold a series of webinars this week for school administrators and coaches to provide specifics on Season B sports, which are set to begin practice on Jan. 18.

    Sports set to play this winter include: boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, skiing, competitive spirit, girls swimming, and boys and girls wrestling. This will mark the initial sanctioned season for girls wrestling.

    Dates for each sport can be found on the 2020-21 calendar. Note that some postseason dates still remain to be announced.

    Over the course of the next three days, the various sports will have an informational session for athletic directors and coaches.

    Information for how to log in or watch these sessions will be shared to schools via email.

  • Coaches can sign up now to vote in basketball and ice hockey rankings

    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    With the start of practice in Season B just two weeks away, CHSAANow is seeking voters for its weekly polls in basketball and ice hockey.

    These polls are only open to head coaches in those sports.

    The voting panel votes once per week during the regular seasons, on Sunday through Monday. We have an online voting system, or voters may also turn in a ballot over email.

    We have sent out an email to coaches with a form to sign up. If head coaches did not receive that info, those interested in signing up should email rcasey@chsaa.org the following information:

    • Sport
    • Your name
    • Your school
    • The classification you play in

    This season, these polls are a factor in the postseason seeding in basketball and ice hockey.

  • Longmont graduate Justinian Jessup selected in the NBA Draft

    (Boise State Athletics)

    Justinian Jessup, a 2016 graduate of Longmont High School, was selected in the NBA Draft on Wednesday night.

    Jessup, who went on to star at Boise State and played this summer in the Australian National Basketball League, was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the second round with the No. 51 overall pick.

    Jessup is the 25th former Colorado high school basketball player to be selected in the NBA Draft, and the first since Legend alum Derrick White was taken in 2017. Jessup is the first Longmont alum to be drafted.

    At Longmont, Jessup was a two-time first-team all-state selection, including the Class 4A player of the year in 2015. He averaged 14.6 points per game during his career, including 18.3 as a senior. His 309 career steals rank seventh all-time.

    Upon graduating, Jessup moved on to Boise State, where he ultimately set school and conference records for three-pointers made in a career with 325. He also set a school record with 98 three-pointers in 2019-20.

    Jessup is the only player in Boise State history to collect 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists, 150 steals and 50 blocked shots.

    Longmont Mountain View boys basketball
    (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

  • Jefferson Academy basketball bringing Full Court Peace to Colorado

    Jefferson Academy Kent Denver boys basketball
    (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Mark Sharpley has no problem pulling double-duty as the boys and girls basketball coach at Jefferson Academy.

    He’s a man that enjoys teaching the game to as many kids as he can and after hearing about an outreach program in Connecticut, he’s only adding to his plate. Sharpley first heard of Full Court Peace in June and jumped at the chance to help the organization expand and open a chapter in Colorado.

    Full Court Peace is about bringing the game of basketball to those who may not have the resources to play within an organized structure. It emphasizes ball drives, shoe drives and court repair to help enrich a basketball experience for areas in need.

    (Photo courtesy of Mark Sharpley)

    “They’re doing great things in communities and with kids,” Sharpley said. “I looked them up and sent them an email to tell them I thought it was cool and they contacted me and said they’d love to do different chapters in different states.”

    Once the suggestion was out there, Sharpley started gathering information as to what would be needed to bring the organization to Colorado. One of the first acts was to get his players involved. He reached out to them to tell them about the programs he’s hoping to get going and got immediate responses from several players.

    Perhaps the biggest selling point in getting involved was the organization’s desire to get a full basketball experience together. It doesn’t focus solely on improving one particular part of the game for those in need, but rather enriching the basketball experience as a whole.

    “The basketball drive does a great job of getting basketballs to young people who don’t have them or have access to them,” Sharpley said. “Same with the sneaker drive. So many kids have pairs of shoes that if they get them cleaned up we can send those out. Those are going to be big.”

    Sharpley isn’t stopping with just his basketball teams. Even though he’s still early in the process, he’s doing what he can to bring other schools into the fold so that the program can have a state-wide reach.

    “This will be kids from different communities working together,” he said. “They’ll be learning more about each other through the sport. That’s kind of the plan.”

    There are already plans for a basketball and sneaker drive in place for Jefferson Academy. The basketball drive aims to put basketballs in the hands of kids in the Denver Metro area. The sneaker drive is going to send supplies to the Wind River Native American Reservation and get shoes to boys and girls at the school there.

    But overall this is just the beginning. Sharpley’s ultimate goal is for the organization to get a strong foothold in Colorado and provide enough equipment and resources to further enrich the game at the youth level.

    (Graphics courtesy of Mark Sharpley)

  • Family bond led Wes Lewis to Pagosa Springs boys basketball job

    Centauri Pagosa Springs girls basketball
    (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    Wes Lewis had a tough decision to make at the conclusion of the 2019-20 girls basketball season. He had been the head coach of the Pirates for the last 13 years and even led them to the program’s first Class 3A state title in 2015.

    But all good things must come to an end.

    This last season, he said goodbye to his daughter Taylor who completed her senior season. The Pirates went 20-4 and won a tough Intermountain League title. With his son Colt getting ready to enter the high school and Taylor now gone, Lewis decided to call it quits from the girls side.

    “I was just going to be a dad and follow (Colt) around,” Lewis said. “Sometimes the boys and girls play in different places so I wanted to make sure I was there for him.”

    Then an opportunity presented itself. Boys coach Randy Sorenson stepped aside and all of a sudden an opportunity to be there for his son while staying involved with Pagosa Springs basketball was there.

    But Lewis wasn’t content with just jumping right into it. He started poking around to see what the interest level in the job was from outside parties. He reached out to friends of his who he thought would have interested, but found out that the job was potentially there for the taking.

    “I had talked to my friends and none of them applied for it,” he said. “So I thought I would apply for it myself.”

    An added benefit in getting the boys job was his familiarity with the younger kids in the program. Lewis had coached Colt’s team all through youth basketball and now a lot of those players are set to be freshmen or sophomores at Pagosa Springs.

    He also has some returning seniors that he knows he’ll be able to lean on. His nephew Mitch Lewis is the team’s top returning scorer from last year at 11 points per game. Lewis quickly pointed out that Kyler Hammer and Aidan O’Donnell will be crucial to the team’s success in 2020-21.

    Having the experience of coaching his daughter, Lewis knows the challenge of having a child in his program. But it’s a challenge he’s very much looking forward to.

    “I think it’ll be special and it will be neat,” he said. “I’m also harder on my kid than I am on anyone else and he knows that going in. He witnessed it with my daughter the last four years.”

    Lewis is anxious to get his team going and has started putting together open gym workouts. The COVID-19 pandemic has put some restrictions on what he’s able to do with his players, but he’s taking the entire situation in stride.

    If anything, he’s remembering just how much passion he has for coaching basketball, a passion that he wasn’t sure he’d get to keep following last year.

    “I’ve never lost the passion,” Lewis said. “It was extremely hard for me to resign from the girls team. There was a lot of speculation that I would be because it was my daughter’s senior year. When it came down to it, it was much harder to walk away than I thought it would be.”

    But circumstances didn’t keep him out for long. After a brief coaching retirement period, he’s right back in the game.