CHSAANow

Tag: Rocky Mountain Lutheran

  • Baseball rankings: Chatfield takes over as No. 1 in 5A

    Regis Jesuit Chatfield baseball
    Chatfield sits atop the 5A baseball rankings this week. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Chatfield was the big benefactor of two Regis Jesuit losses last week.

    The Chargers come into this week as the new No. 1 team in the Class 5A CHSAANow.com baseball poll. Monday they topped Arapahoe, and had a huge Thursday showdown with the then No. 1 Raiders.

    Regis Jesuit was coming off a loss to Fairview and was looking to bounce back, but a seven-run sixth inning for the Chargers was good enough to get the win. As a result, despite losing to Bear Creek on Saturday, Chatfield sits atop the 5A rankings.

    ThunderRidge made the most impressive jump of the week to land at No. 2. They were the No. 9 team in last week’s poll.

    Fort Collins has played well enough that it broke into the rankings this week at No. 9 respectively.

    The 4A rankings also saw a new No. 1 team emerge as D’Evelyn reclaims the top spot that Silver Creek had taken a week ago.

    There were two new teams in the 4A poll as Mountain View comes in at No. 5 and Pueblo Centennial rounds out the rankings at No. 10.

    The Eaton Reds remain undefeated on the year and also remain the No. 1 team in the 3A poll. The top four teams from a week ago held on to their spot this week.

    The Academy was the only new team to break into the 3A rankings, landing at No. 10.

    Paonia swept all four games they played last week to hold on to their No. 1 ranking in 2A.

    Front Range Christian, who remains undefeated on the year at 8-0, breaks into the 2A polls at No. 9. The Falcons were the only newcomer this week.

    Holly is still the No. 1 team in 1A, getting five of nine first-place votes.

    Fleming jumped two spots to land at No. 2 and Gilpin County is the only new team in the 1A poll, landing at No. 8.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.

    Complete rankings for all classes are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Baseball Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Chatfield (5) 8-2 109 3 2-1
    2 ThunderRidge 6-1 92 9 1-0
    3 Pine Creek (4) 7-1 88 5 2-1
    4 Regis Jesuit 6-3 64 1 1-2
    5 Grandview (3) 4-2 57 4 2-1
    6 Heritage 7-2 46 10 3-1
    7 Douglas County 6-2 43 8 1-1
    8 Cherry Creek 5-2 39 2 1-1
    9 Fort Collins 6-1 33 – 2-0
    10 Ralston Valley 5-3 17 6 1-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Cherokee Trail 14, Fairview 14, Dakota Ridge 13, Rangeview 10, Lakewood 7, Rock Canyon 6, Rocky Mountain 6, Legacy 2.
    Dropped out:
    Rock Canyon (7).

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 D’Evelyn (8) 5-1 100 2 1-0
    2 Silver Creek (3) 7-2 91 1 2-2
    3 Canon City 10-1 67 3 2-0
    4 Pueblo West 8-3 46 5 2-0
    5 Mountain View 6-0 44 – 4-0
    6 Wheat Ridge 5-2 42 6 1-0
    7 Pueblo East 7-3 38 4 1-2
    8 Valor Christian 6-3 34 7 1-1
    9 Lewis-Palmer 7-2 32 8 3-0
    10 Pueblo Centennial 8-1 28 – 4-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Longmont 18, Pueblo South 14, Denver North 12, Windsor 10, Northridge 9, Green Mountain 8, Palmer Ridge 8, Greeley Central 6, Montrose 1.
    Dropped out:
    Denver North (9), Longmont (10).

    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Eaton (10) 8-0 100 1 4-0
    2 Bayfield 6-3 75 2 2-1
    3 Lamar 8-1 71 3 2-0
    4 University 5-3 59 4 4-1
    5 Faith Christian 5-3 58 7 3-0
    6 Brush 6-1 50 8 3-0
    7 Gunnison 7-1 35 5 2-1
    8 La Junta 9-2 32 6 3-1
    9 Valley 5-3 19 10 2-1
    10 The Academy 7-0 15 – 3-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Sterling 12, Kent Denver 7, Sheridan 6, St. Mary’s 5, Liberty Common 4, Colorado Springs Christian 2, Salida 1.
    Dropped out:
    Kent Denver (9).

    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Paonia (7) 10-0 96 1 4-0
    2 Sedgwick County (3) 8-1 88 2 2-0
    3 County Line (McClave/Wiley) 7-0 73 4 3-0
    4 Hotchkiss (1) 10-0 72 3 2-0
    5 Resurrection Christian 3-4 56 5 2-4
    6 Rye 9-1 45 7 6-0
    7 Rocky Ford 5-2 40 6 1-2
    8 Swink 7-3 25 9 5-1
    9 Front Range Christian 8-0 20 – 5-0
    10 Haxtun 6-4 19 8 1-2
    Others receiving votes:
    Akron 15, Yuma 15, Limon 13, Peyton 6, Crowley County 4, Ignacio 4, Sanford 4, Sargent 4, Dayspring Christian 3, Evangelical Christian 3.
    Dropped out:
    Limon (10).

    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Holly (5) 5-1 79 1 3-0
    2 Fleming 6-3 66 4 3-0
    3 Granada (1) 3-2 62 2 2-0
    4 Eads (1) 5-2 58 3 2-0
    5 Cotopaxi (1) 7-1 53 6 2-0
    6 Rocky Mountain Lutheran 3-1 48 7 1-1
    7 Dove Creek 4-7 30 5 1-2
    8 Gilpin County 4-2 23 – 3-1
    9 Briggsdale (1) 3-2 16 8 0-2
    10 Nucla 3-7 13 10 2-2
    Others receiving votes:
    Manzanola 10, Peetz 9, Community Christian 8, Genoa-Hugo/Karval 6, Otis 6, Stratton/Liberty 4, Denver Jewish Day 1, Springfield 1.
    Dropped out:
    Community Christian (9).

  • Baseball rankings: Three new No. 1 teams take over

    Three new No. 1 teams were crowned this week in the CHSAANow.com baseball rankings.

    Silver Creek now stands atop the Class 4A poll, Paonia takes over as the top 2A team and Holly comes at No. 1 in the 1A rankings.

    With new teams breaking into every poll this week, the rankings have a much different look to them than they did when the last new set was released two weeks ago.

    Silver Creek made the most impressive jump out of any other team, regardless of classification. Two weeks ago, the Raptors held the No. 7 position in 4A and after rattling off three wins in Arizona, the voters saw enough to boost their position.

    Canon City, Pueblo East and Valor Christian also had solid outings since spring break and played their way in the rankings. Canon City lands at No. 3, Pueblo East comes in at No. 4 and Valor Christian takes over the No. 7 spot that Silver Creek held in the previous rankings.

    Regis Jesuit baseball team
    Regis Jesuit remains No. 1 in the 5A poll this week. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    Regis Jesuit remains the top team in 5A.

    Ralston Valley gained ground in this week’s poll, jumping from No. 9 to No. 6.

    Douglas County, ThunderRidge and Heritage join the 5A rankings at No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10 respectively.

    Eaton may still be the top team in 3A, but it’s No. 2 Bayfield who suddenly getting attention from voters. The Wolverines completed a successful road trip to Colorado Springs where they held on to beat St. Mary’s before holding off Lamar and Manitou Springs in a double-header.

    Kent Denver was the lone addition to the 3A poll at No. 9.

    Paonia’s 8-0 start to the season was good enough for the Eagles to jump three spots and take over the No. 1 spot in 2A. They swept former No. 1 Resurrection Christian in a double-header on Saturday.

    The Cougars fell to No. 5 as a result.

    Rocky Ford (No. 6) and Limon (No. 10) joined the 2A rankings this week.

    Holly made the two-spot jump after a 2-1 start to their season to become the new No. 1 team in 1A.

    Granada, who was ranked No. 7 in the previous rankings, also made a significant jump this week as the Bobcats come in at No. 2.

    Rocky Mountain Lutheran and Briggsdale are the two new teams to the 1A rankings, coming in at No. 7 and No. 8 respectively.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.

    Complete rankings for all classes are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Baseball Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Regis Jesuit (12) 5-1 120 1 4-1
    2 Cherry Creek 4-1 95 2 1-1
    3 Chatfield 6-1 87 5 3-1
    4 Grandview 2-1 60 3 2-1
    5 Pine Creek 5-0 49 6 5-0
    6 Ralston Valley 4-2 42 9 3-2
    7 Rock Canyon 2-4 39 7 1-3
    8 Douglas County 5-1 32 – 3-1
    9 ThunderRidge 5-1 31 – 4-0
    10 Heritage 4-1 24 – 4-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Columbine 19, Rocky Mountain 19, Cherokee Trail 10, Smoky Hill 10, Fruita Monument 6, Mountain Vista 5, Lakewood 4, Fort Collins 3, Hinkley 2, Arapahoe 1, Dakota Ridge 1, Legend 1.
    Dropped out:
    Rocky Mountain (4), Columbine (8), Mountain Vista (10).

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Silver Creek (5) 6-1 93 7 4-1
    2 D’Evelyn (5) 4-1 75 1 3-1
    3 Canon City 8-1 60 – 6-0
    4 Pueblo East 6-1 52 – 4-1
    5 Pueblo West 6-3 51 4 2-2
    6 Wheat Ridge (1) 4-2 50 3 3-2
    7 Valor Christian 5-2 45 – 4-1
    8 Lewis-Palmer 4-2 40 2 3-2
    9 Denver North 5-1 31 8 2-1
    10 Longmont 3-1 24 6 2-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Mountain View 19, Green Mountain 15, Palmer Ridge 10, Pueblo South 10, Montrose 9, Windsor 7, Thomas Jefferson 5, Northridge 3, The Classical Academy 3, Air Academy 2, Niwot 1.
    Dropped out:
    Green Mountain (5), Evergreen (9), Air Academy (10).

    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Eaton (7) 4-0 87 1 4-0
    2 Bayfield (2) 4-2 83 5 3-0
    3 Lamar (1) 6-1 72 3 3-1
    4 University 1-2 49 2 0-2
    5 Gunnison 5-0 46 6 2-0
    6 La Junta 6-1 44 7 4-1
    7 Faith Christian 2-3 38 8 2-3
    8 Brush 3-1 33 4 2-1
    9 Kent Denver 2-2 18 – 0-0
    10 Valley 3-2 16 9 1-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Colorado Springs Christian 12, St. Mary’s 11, Lutheran 7, Sterling 7, Dolores Huerta 6, Buena Vista 5, Monte Vista 5, Salida 5, The Academy 4, Coal Ridge 3, Trinidad 2, Jefferson Academy 1, Olathe 1, Sheridan 1.
    Dropped out:
    Buena Vista (10).

    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Paonia (7) 8-0 89 4 4-0
    2 Sedgwick County (1) 6-1 82 2 4-1
    3 Hotchkiss (1) 8-0 81 3 3-0
    4 County Line (McClave/Wiley) (2) 4-0 59 6 4-0
    5 Resurrection Christian 1-0 54 1 1-0
    6 Rocky Ford 4-0 47 – 4-0
    7 Rye 3-1 41 5 3-1
    8 Haxtun 5-2 40 7 3-2
    9 Swink 2-2 17 9 2-2
    10 Limon 5-2 16 – 2-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Crowley County 15, Akron 13, Sanford 13, Sargent 8, Yuma 8, Ignacio 6, Peyton 6, Kiowa/Simla 5, Burlington 4, Evangelical Christian 3, Holyoke 3.
    Dropped out:
    Burlington (8), Kiowa/Simla (10).

    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Holly (5) 2-1 74 3 2-1
    2 Granada (1) 1-2 66 7 1-2
    3 Eads 3-2 57 1 2-2
    4 Fleming 3-3 55 4 3-3
    5 Dove Creek (1) 3-5 50 2 2-2
    6 Cotopaxi 5-1 43 6 1-0
    7 Rocky Mountain Lutheran (1) 2-0 35 – 1-0
    8 Briggsdale (1) 3-0 27 – 3-0
    9 Community Christian 1-0 22 5 0-0
    10 Nucla 1-5 14 8 0-3
    Others receiving votes:
    Manzanola 9, Stratton/Liberty 9, Genoa-Hugo/Karval 8, Denver Jewish Day 7, Gilpin County 7, Sierra Grande 5, Peetz 4, Cheyenne Wells 2, Springfield 1.
    Dropped out:
    Manzanola (9), Peetz (10).

  • All-state boys basketball teams for 2015-16 season

    The 2015-16 all-state boys basketball players of the year. (Photos: CHSAANow.com contributors)
    The 2015-16 all-state boys basketball players of the year. (Photos: Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com; Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com; Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    The 2015-16 all-state boys basketball teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

    These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a week-long vote of coaches.

    A specific player of the year vote was held in each class, as was a vote for coach of the year.
    [divider]

    Class 5A

    Overland Doherty boys basketball De'Ron Davis
    Overland’s De’Ron Davis is the 5A boys basketball player of the year. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

    Player of the year: De’Ron Davis, Overland

    Coach of the year: John Olander, Eaglecrest

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    De’Ron Davis Overland PF/C Senior
    Sam Masten Rock Canyon PG/SG Sophomore
    Tyrei Randall Rangeview W Senior
    Jervae Robinson Overland PG/SG Senior
    Colbey Ross Eaglecrest PG/SG Junior
    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Braxton Bertolette Fossil Ridge Junior
    Austin Mueller ThunderRidge SF Senior
    Cameron Pearson Chatfield PG Senior
    David Thornton Cherokee Trail F Senior
    Clay Verk ThunderRidge PF Senior

    Honorable mention: Jake Belknapp, Junior, Mountain Vista; Elijah Blake, Junior, Rangeview; Dalven Brushier, Senior, Doherty; Jack Buckmelter, Senior, Denver East; Danny Garrick, Senior, Legend; Will Halfon, Senior, Cherry Creek; Daylen Kountz, Sophomore, George Washington; Jaizec Lottie, Junior, Cherokee Trail; Riley Matticks, Senior, Legend; Luke Neff, Senior, Arvada West; Kolton Peterson, Junior, Lakewood; Elijah Reed, Senior, Rangeview; Landon Taliaferro, Senior, Boulder; Dallas Walton, Senior, Arvada West.

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Pueblo West Valor Christian boys basketball
    Pueblo West’s David Simental is the 4A boys basketball player of the year. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    Player of the year: David Simental, Pueblo West

    Coach of the year: Bobby Tyler, Pueblo West

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Justinian Jessup Longmont W Senior
    Hunter Maldonado Vista Ridge F Junior
    Michael Ranson Pueblo Central PG/SG Senior
    Jalen Sanders Valor Christian P Junior
    David Simental Pueblo West PG Junior
    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Cameron Horning Glenwood Springs G Senior
    CJ Jennings Sierra PG Junior
    Maleek Johnson Pueblo South SG Senior
    D’Shawn Schwartz Sand Creek Junior
    Jonathan Scott Lewis-Palmer G Senior

    Honorable mention: Noah Baldwin, Senior, Windsor; Joey Bauderer, Senior, Skyview; Chudier Bile, Senior, Denver South; Ryan Blodgett, Senior, Golden; Quincy Bryant, Senior, Mitchell; Luis Carreon, Senior, Rifle; Orion Clay, Senior, Durango; Alex Hawkins, Senior, Vista PEAK Prep; Jake Hornick, Senior, Thompson Valley; Charlie Hovasse, Senior, Lewis-Palmer; Kayle Knuckles, Junior, Valor Christian; Walker Korell, Senior, Mead; Trey McBride, Sophomore, Fort Morgan; Andy Nelson, Senior, Holy Family; Michael Scheid, Senior, Windsor; Braden Shirley, Senior, Pueblo West; Nieyeme Smyer-williams, Sophomore, Pueblo West; Patrick Vasquez, Senior, Fort Lupton.

    [divider]

    Class 3A

    SkyView Academy Colorado Academy boys basketball
    Colorado Academy’s Justin Bassey is the 3A boys basketball player of the year. (Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com)

    Player of the year: Justin Bassey, Colorado Academy

    Coach of the year: Mark Engesser, Colorado Springs Christian

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Justin Bassey Colorado Academy G Senior
    Justin Engesser Colorado Springs Christian Junior
    Gabe Hegarty Faith Christian Senior
    Samuel Howard Colorado Springs Christian Senior
    Maximo Medina Denver Science & Tech Stapleton SG/PG Senior
    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Ryan Brubacher Alamosa SF Junior
    Marco Garcia Alamosa PF Senior
    Christian Hyatt Colorado Academy G Senior
    Ellis Jones DSST: Green Valley Ranch G Senior
    Jesus Martinez The Pinnacle P Senior
    John Parker Grand Valley PG/SG Senior

    Honorable mention: Briar Erskine, Senior, Pagosa Springs; Karl Giesselman, Senior, Bennett; Brad Lutz, Senior, Middle Park; Conner Martin, Junior, Strasburg; Josh Mohammed, Senior, James Irwin; Ben Pratt, Senior, Frontier Academy; Lucas Rodholm, Junior, Manitou Springs; Josh VanVleet, Senior, Liberty Common; Jimmy Velten, Senior, St. Mary’s; Robert Williams, Junior, Sheridan; Will Willis, Junior, Lutheran; Peter Wilson, Senior, Colorado Springs Christian.

    [divider]

    Class 2A

    Sanford Holyoke boys basketball
    Sanford’s Miles Caldon is the 2A boys basketball player of the year. (Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com)

    Player of the year: Miles Caldon, Sanford

    Coach of the year: Rhett Larsen, Sanford

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Miles Caldon Sanford SG Senior
    Chance Canty Sanford PF Senior
    Tanner Ervin Resurrection Christian G Junior
    Jesus Loya Holyoke G Senior
    Tyler Woodhams Sedgwick County Senior
    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Luke Fick Resurrection Christian G Senior
    Jason George Simla F Senior
    Connor Hale Rye SG/PG Senior
    Wyatt Hayes Ignacio PG Senior
    Morgan Murray Ellicott PG/G Senior

    Honorable mention: Devonte Chartier-Holmes, Senior, Burlington; Bradley Clabey, Sophomore, Crowley County; Nathaniel Cook, Senior, Evangelical Christian; Eric Logan, Senior, Soroco; Cole McKinley, Senior, Sedgwick County; Ivan Mendoza, Senior, West Grand; Jonathan Montanez, Senior, Rocky Ford; Griffen Peterson, Senior, Sanford; Dagan Rienks, Junior, Paonia; Cole Rouse, Junior, Highland; Matt Thieman, Senior, Simla; Taylor Walters, Senior, Paonia; Wyatt Workman, Senior, Haxtun.

    [divider]

    Class 1A

    Fleming Shining Mountain boys basketball
    Fleming’s Jaxon King is the 1A boys basketball player of the year. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    Player of the year: Jaxon King, Fleming

    Coach of the year: Thomas Hessler, Fleming

    First Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Gray Hill Shining Mountain F/F Senior
    Jaxon King Fleming G Junior
    Blake Meredith Fleming F Senior
    Caleb Preston Ouray Senior
    Yaniel Vidal Holly Junior
    Second Team
    Name School Pos. Year
    Sigi Avalos Holly Junior
    Jordan Cothran Rocky Mountain Lutheran Senior
    Christian Dellamaestra Wiley Junior
    Kendall Pelton Cheyenne Wells Junior
    Joey Stahley Fleming G Senior
    Alex Vandenbark Fleming F Junior

    Honorable mention: Chase Boulter, Senior, Gilpin County; Durham Clark, Senior, Edison; Cody Dalton, Senior, Hanover; Caden Eastin, Senior, Wiley; Jordan Ernst, Senior, Dove Creek; Eric Frank, Senior, Edison; Ravi Inmon, Junior, Ouray; Brad Johnson, Junior, Kit Carson; Antun Maricevic, Senior, Longmont Christian; Braulio Martinez, Senior, Hanover; Eli Sievert, Senior, Rocky Mountain Lutheran; Brett Wilson, Senior, South Baca.

  • 1A boys basketball Great 8 roundup: Shining Mountain grinds out win vs. Kit Carson

    LOVELAND — Style points are of no consequence come tournament time.

    In a grind-it-out type game between Shining Mountain and Kit Carson, the No. 4 Lions defeated the No. 5 Wildcats 45-34 in the Class 1A boys basketball Great 8 at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.

    For Shining Mountain (22-2), a school in Boulder, critical defensive stops and a late run in the final quarter allowed the Lions to keep Kit Carson (18-6) at bay.

    Leading 15-11 after the first quarter, 21-18 at halftime and 32-29 after the third, Shining Mountain gave up 20 points, including four three-pointers, to junior guard Brad Johnson, but only 14 points to the entire rest of the team.

    (Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)
    Shining Mountain’s Gavin Edwards. (Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)

    Meanwhile, the Lions had a bit more balanced effort offensively as seniors Gray Hill (13 points), Gavin Edwards (13) and Luke Feigal (7) all contributed. Sophomore forward Nathan Fairmont chipped in six.

    “I thought we did a decent job of playing poised,” Shining Mountain coach Sean Lynch said. “There were definitely a few points where we got a little out of control, but we talk all the time about how other teams are going to make runs. It’s all about how we respond to those runs.”

    Shining Mountain’s largest lead up until the final two minutes of the game was only eight, but they had a slight advantage in momentum throughout, playing with plenty of energy in front of a large and raucous crowd.

    “We’re really appreciative of that,” Edwards said of the Lions’ fan section. “Our fans really come out and support us at a lot of our games.”

    Shining Mountain will be appearing in their first Final 4 in boys basketball since losing to McClave in the state championship game in 2013.

    The Lions will be facing No. 1 Holly in the semifinals.

    (1) Holly 67 (8) Cheraw 43

    The Wildcats are now 21-2 and the defending 1A champions. They have plenty of athletic and really skilled guards, ones who can control the pace and dominate at both ends.

    Holly will be a tough out for anyone, but Shining Mountain is playing well and will take their crack at 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

    (3) Ouray 71  (6) Rocky Mountain Lutheran 54

    The Trojans improved to 21-2 by jumping on Rocky Mountain 36-28 at half. Eli Sievert had 24 points in the loss for Rocky Mountain Lutheran.

    Ouray, a team in their second straight state tournament, advances to face Fleming at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

    (2) Fleming 32  (7) Norwood 24

    The Wildcats improved to 22-2 by grinding one out in the quarterfinals against Norwood. Fleming lost to Holly by one in the state finals last season, so they have an experienced and seasoned group.

    Fleming will have an interesting matchup against high-scoring Ouray in the Final 4.

  • Baseball preview: Paul Tillotson hopes to get Lewis-Palmer elusive state title

    Lewis-Palmer Ponderosa baseball
    Lewis-Palmer senior Paul Tillotson wants to help the Rangers win a state baseball championship before he heads to Nebraska. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    MONUMENT — It’s now or never for Lewis-Palmer senior Paul Tillotson.

    The senior has been a staple to the Rangers’ baseball program for three seasons and entering his fourth and final year, he’s hoping that his experience and leadership can help him get his hands on that state championship trophy, even if the makeup of the team doesn’t have the same feel.

    “It’s a little bit different,” Tillotson said. “We lost some guys from last year, we got a new coach but we’re looking on the up-and-up right now.”

    Having Tillotson on the roster gives the team instant credibility. They came in as the No. 2 team in the Class 4A CHSAANow.com preseason baseball rankings. That’s the kind of reputation a team has when they have a University of Nebraska commit on its roster.

    That’s right. Like several other Colorado athletes, Tillotson is bound for Lincoln. That is assuming that the lure of Major League Baseball doesn’t rear its head in June.

    Lewis-Palmer Ponderosa baseball
    Paul Tillotson. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    But for now, Tillotson’s only focus is on helping the Rangers become a better baseball team and continuing the string of success it has seen in recent seasons.

    First-year coach Brett Lester is fortunate enough to join a squad that rosters one of the best players in the state.

    “It’s a luxury that not many coaches get the chance to enjoy,” Lester said. “He’s going to be competitive every time out and he’s going to do well on the mound, even at the plate in the games that he’s not pitching, he’s going to have a huge output.”

    In 2015, Tillotson was such a devastating weapon for the Rangers. From the offensive side, he batted .446 with six home runs and 32 RBIs. In 95 plate appearances, he struck out only six times.

    On the mound, he went 8-1 with a 1.62 ERA. He struck out 145 hitters and walked only 22.

    So which skill set are the Huskers hoping to utilize?

    “I’m definitely going as a pitcher, but they wanted to know if I still want to hit,” Tillotson said. “They hinting on the subject that I’m going to hit more (than they thought I would).”

    And he’s up for it.

    He remains in constant communication with the Huskers and they continue to track each other’s progress.

    And while it’s easy to track numbers on a boxscore, the one thing that Tillotson is working harder at this year is helping out the younger players. He and teammate Billy Cook are doing everything they can to develop young players and ensure that Lewis-Palmer will be a winning program well beyond this year.

    “As returning veterans it’s kind of on us to help those young guys out,” Tillotson said. “Just the little things that go into winning games through the season. It’s our job to help kids out when we see things they need help on.”

    And in the process, they’ll be helping themselves out as well. At the end of last season Tillotson and the Rangers were on hand as the state championship trophy was handed to Green Mountain. That feeling, regardless of the changes the team has gone through, made him hungry and determined to bring a state championship back to Lewis-Palmer.

    The Rangers have never won a baseball crown.

    “I definitely have the hunger,” he said. “I want to push myself and my team to prove that we deserve that No. 2 ranking. I’m always going to be pushing my team to make sure that we’re doing the best that we can.”

    [divider]

    Baseball preview

    5A

    • Defending champion: Rock Canyon
    • Season begins: March 10
    • Playoffs begin: May 11
    • Championship: May 28
    • Returning all-state players: Maverick Handley, Mullen, C/INF, senior (second team).

    4A

    • Defending champion: Green Mountain
    • Season begins: March 10
    • Playoffs begin: May 11
    • Championship: May 28
    • Returning all-state players: Cameron Brown, D’Evelyn, OF/P, senior (first team); Paul Tillotson, Lewis-Palmer, P/OF/3B, senior (first team).

    3A

    • Defending champion: Eaton
    • Season begins: March 10
    • Playoffs begin: May 11
    • Championship: May 28
    • Returning all-state players: Matt Burkart, Eaton, SS/P, senior (first team); Kelton McCoy, Bayfield, C/P/INF, senior (second team); Will McKissick, Kent Denver, OF/P, senior (second team); Zane Phelps, Bayfield, 3B/C/P, senior (second team), AJ Stephens, Faith Christian, 1B/P/OF, senior (second team).

    2A

    • Defending champion: Rye
    • Season begins: March 10
    • Playoffs begin: May 9
    • Championship: May 28
    • Returning all-state players: Bailey Benz, Rye, C, junior (second team); Jett County, Burlington, P/INF junior (second team); Chance Dunker, Sedgwick County, P, senior (second team); Caden Eastin, County Line (Wiley/McClave), CF/P, senior (second team); Evan Finley, Peyton, P/INF/C, senior (second team); Cesar Gonzalez, Hotchkiss, P/SS, senior (second team); Trevor Smith, Paonia, 3B/C/P, junior (second team); Joe Stephen, Limon, SS/P, senior (first team); Taylor Thoman, Peyton, P/UTIL, senior (second team); Jake Tomcheck, Resurrection Christian, P/OF/1B, senior (second team); Tyler Woodhams, Sedgwick County, P, senior (first team).

    1A

    • Defending champion: Dove Creek
    • Season begins: March 10
    • Playoffs begin: April 25
    • Championship: May 19
    • Returning all-state players: Jordan Ernst, Dove Creek, P/SS/2B, senior (first team); Tyler Fields, Cornerstone Christian Academy, C/INF/P, senior (second team); Spencer Gatlin, Dove Creek, 1B/DH, senior (second team); Ricardo Juarez, Holly, P/INF, junior (first team); Ryan Keoller, Granada, P, junior (second team); Derek Kibel, Dove Creek, CF, sophomore (second team); Paul Kidder, Community Christian, P, junior (first team); Jaxon King, Felming, SS/P, junior (first team); Kyle Schultz, Dove Cree, P/SS/2B, senior (first team); Eli Sievert, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, P/INF, senior (second team); Marc Solis, Eads, P/3B/SS, senior (second team).

  • Boys basketball rankings: Overland jumps up to No. 2 in 5A

    Overland boys basketball team
    Overland boys basketball is No. 2 in this week’s 5A rankings. (Matt Minton/JacksActionShots.com)

    Overland is back in the game.

    The Trailblazers now sit at the No. 2 spot in the Class 5A CHSAANow.com boys basketball rankings.

    Why the sudden jump?

    A 22-point win over Eaglecrest probably had something to do with it. The defending state champions made sure the rest of the class didn’t forget that they are still quite good at basketball.

    The 5A rankings also saw a familiar face return as Denver East comes back in at No. 10.

    Lewis-Palmer held on to the top spot in the 4A rankings, and a 10-point win over Vista Ridge helped their cause.

    After weeks of receiving votes, Sierra finally made their way into the 4A poll, landing at No. 9.

    The Denver School of Science and Tech – Stapleton also hangs on to their No. 1 ranking. They remain at the top of the 3A poll, holding off a Faith Christian team that is actually the lone blemish on the Knights’ 16-1 record.

    Colorado Academy has played its way back into the 3A rankings, coming in at No. 10.

    Ellicot and Haxtun join the 2A poll this week, coming in at No. 8 and No. 10 respectively. Sanford remains the top team in 2A, taking nine of 10 first-place votes.

    Defending 1A champion Holly continues to gain momentum as they tighten their grip on the No. 1 spot.

    Sierra Grande made a three-spot move this week, landing at No. 6.

    Rocky Mountain Lutheran is the lone newcomer to the 1A rankings, coming in at No. 10.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

    Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Rangeview (14) 18-0 146 1 2-0
    2 Overland 15-3 126 5 2-0
    3 Regis Jesuit 16-2 121 3 1-0
    4 Eaglecrest 18-1 103 2 1-1
    5 Rock Canyon (1) 17-2 101 4 1-0
    6 Chatfield 17-2 67 6 2-0
    7 ThunderRidge 16-3 60 7 2-0
    8 Doherty 16-2 47 8 1-0
    9 Cherokee Trail 14-5 24 10 3-0
    10 Denver East 12-7 10 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    George Washington 9, Legend 6, FNE Warriors 4, Boulder 3, Fossil Ridge 1.
    Dropped out
    Legend (9).

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Lewis-Palmer (10) 18-1 161 1 2-0
    2 Valor Christian (2) 17-1 141 2 2-0
    3 Pueblo South (2) 17-1 135 4 2-0
    4 Longmont (3) 17-1 130 3 2-0
    5 Pueblo West 16-3 92 5 1-1
    6 Golden 14-5 66 6 2-0
    7 Windsor 15-4 63 7 2-0
    8 Denver South 13-5 50 8 1-0
    9 Sierra 14-4 29 – 1-0
    10 Vista Ridge 14-5 27 9 1-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Rifle 24, Durango 7, Vista Peak 4, Holy Family 3, Mead 3.
    Dropped out
    Rifle (10).

    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 DSST-Stapleton (7) 16-1 125 1 1-0
    2 Faith Christian (4) 12-4 112 2 1-0
    3 Colorado Springs Christian (1) 11-4 84 3 2-0
    4 DSST-Green Valley Ranch (1) 12-0 73 4 1-0
    5 Eaton 14-2 72 5 2-0
    6 Lutheran 12-3 67 6 2-0
    7 Sterling 12-3 63 8 1-0
    8 Manitou Springs 14-1 47 7 1-0
    9 Alamosa (1) 12-4 41 9 3-0
    10 Colorado Academy 10-6 27 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Bennett 21, Grand Valley 14, Pagosa Springs 10, Basalt 6, Bayfield 4, Manual 3, Coal Ridge 2, Peak to Peak 2, Ridgeview Academy 1, St. Mary’s 1, The Pinnacle 1.
    Dropped out
    Grand Valley (10).

    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Sanford (9) 13-0 98 1 0-0
    2 Resurrection Christian 15-0 90 2 1-0
    3 Sedgwick County (1) 15-0 82 3 2-0
    4 Paonia 15-1 60 4 3-0
    5 Holyoke 11-3 57 8 1-0
    6 Rye 13-2 48 6 1-0
    7 Ignacio 13-2 41 5 3-0
    8 Ellicott 10-3 22 – 1-0
    9 Highland 13-3 19 9 2-0
    10 Haxtun 11-4 16 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Crowley County 9, Center 8.
    Dropped out
    Crowley County (7), Center (10).

    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Holly (5) 15-2 77 1 3-0
    2 Fleming (3) 13-2 73 2 2-0
    3 Wiley 12-3 63 3 1-1
    4 South Baca 13-2 47 4 2-0
    5 Kit Carson 13-3 45 6 2-0
    6 Sierra Grande 13-2 35 9 2-0
    7 Ouray 11-2 33 5 1-1
    8 Longmont Christian 9-5 27 8 2-1
    9 Shining Mountain 14-2 25 7 3-0
    10 Rocky Mountain Lutheran 11-3 6 – 1-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Walsh 3, Front Range Baptist 3, Cheyenne Wells 2, Peetz 1, Faith Baptist 1.
    Dropped out
    Faith Baptist (10).

  • Boys basketball rankings: DSST-Stapleton new No. 1 in 3A

    The Denver School of Science and Tech (Stapleton) is the new top team of the Class 3A CHSAANow.com boys basketball rankings.

    The Knights, who sit at 13-1 overall on the season, have rising in the ranks all year and have been knocking at the door of the top spot. A St. Mary’s win over previous No. 1, Colorado Springs Christian, is all they need to finally begin their reign at the top of the 3A poll.

    As a result of the loss to St. Mary’s, the Lions dropped one spot to No. 2. A similar situation happened last year when CSCS was toppled by St. Mary’s and fell out of the top spot, but then went undefeated en route to winning the 3A state title.

    Grand Valley is the lone newcomer to the poll this week. The Cardinals come in at No. 10 after falling out of the rankings a few weeks ago.

    Regis Jesuit Legend boys basketball
    Legend is No. 10 in this week’s boys basketball rankings. (Matt Minton/JacksActionShots.com)

    The 5A poll looks very similar to what it did last week. Rangeview escaped a scare from Aurora Central and was able to hang on to the top spot. The only change from a week ago is that the Legend Titans rejoin the rankings, landing at No. 10.

    The same consistency applies to this week’s 4A rankings. Since grasping the No. 1 spot, Pueblo South held on to the position, going 2-0 last week.

    Windsor was the only team to play their way into the 4A poll as they debut at No. 9.

    Undefeated Sanford still sits atop the 2A poll, taking eight of the 10 first-place votes this week. Crowley County joins the 2A top 10 at No. 7.

    Fleming remains the team to beat in 1A after winning both of their games last week. Shining Mountain joins the 1A rankings, landing at No. 10.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

    Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Rangeview (15) 14-0 159 1 2-0
    2 Eaglecrest (1) 14-0 141 2 2-0
    3 Overland 12-2 123 3 2-0
    4 Regis Jesuit 12-2 112 4 2-0
    5 ThunderRidge 14-2 92 5 2-0
    6 Denver East 10-4 75 6 1-0
    7 Rock Canyon 14-2 56 7 2-0
    8 Chatfield 13-2 50 8 2-0
    9 Doherty 13-2 45 9 1-0
    10 Legend 11-4 15 – 1-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Greeley West 7, Cherokee Trail 4, Aurora Central 1.
    Dropped out
    Cherokee Trail (10).

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Pueblo South (17) 13-0 194 1 2-0
    2 Lewis-Palmer (1) 14-1 165 2 3-0
    3 Longmont (2) 13-1 161 3 2-0
    4 Valor Christian 12-1 146 4 2-0
    5 Pueblo West 13-2 110 6 1-0
    6 Golden 10-4 95 5 2-1
    7 Denver South 11-4 64 7 2-0
    8 Rifle 12-1 36 10 2-0
    9 Windsor 11-4 33 – 4-0
    10 Vista Ridge 11-4 25 9 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Holy Family 24, Conifer 14, Evergreen 7, Mead 6, Sierra 6, Skyview 4, Air Academy 3, Pueblo Central 2, Sand Creek 2, Thompson Valley 2, Thomas Jefferson 1.
    Dropped out
    Holy Family (8).

    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 DSST-Stapleton (6) 13-1 113 2 2-0
    2 Colorado Springs Christian (1) 8-4 107 1 2-1
    3 Lutheran (2) 9-2 101 3 1-0
    4 Faith Christian (3) 9-4 95 6 2-0
    5 DSST-Green Valley Ranch (3) 11-0 83 5 3-0
    6 Eaton 11-2 71 4 1-1
    7 Sterling 9-3 59 7 1-1
    8 Alamosa 9-4 52 9 2-0
    9 Manitou Springs 11-1 34 10 3-0
    10 Grand Valley 9-2 28 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Colorado Academy 23, Pagosa Springs 13, Bennett 11, St. Mary’s 8, Liberty Common 5, The Pinnacle 5, Bayfield 4, Manual 3, The Vanguard 3, Peak to Peak 2, Strasburg 2, Basalt 1, Kent Denver 1, SkyView Academy 1.
    Dropped out
    Colorado Academy (8).

    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Sanford (8) 12-0 96 1 3-0
    2 Resurrection Christian (1) 13-0 85 2 2-0
    3 Sedgwick County (1) 11-0 79 3 2-0
    4 Ignacio 9-1 64 4 1-1
    5 Paonia 11-1 51 5 2-0
    6 Rye 10-2 39 8 2-0
    7 Crowley County 11-1 27 – 2-0
    8 Center 9-2 25 6 2-1
    9 Holyoke 8-3 19 7 1-1
    10 Dayspring Christian 9-2 17 9 2-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Ellicott 13, Highland 11, Haxtun 6, Meeker 6, Simla 6, Akron 4, Evangelical Christian 1, Ridgway 1.
    Dropped out
    Simla (10).

    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Fleming (4) 9-2 81 1 2-0
    2 Holly (3) 11-2 76 3 2-0
    3 Wiley 10-2 65 5 2-0
    4 Ouray 9-1 57 4 0-1
    5 Kit Carson (1) 9-3 49 2 0-2
    6 South Baca 10-2 48 6 3-0
    7 Sierra Grande (1) 9-2 39 8 2-0
    8 Longmont Christian 6-4 25 7 0-2
    9 Rocky Mountain Lutheran 9-2 18 9 2-0
    10 Shining Mountain 8-2 10 – 3-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Front Range Baptist 7, Arickaree/Woodlin 6, Otis 5, Cheyenne Wells 3, Manzanola 3, Norwood 2, Faith Baptist 1.
    Dropped out
    Arickaree/Woodlin (10).

  • Boys basketball rankings: Pueblo South takes over top spot in 4A

    Pueblo South Pueblo Central boys basketball
    Pueblo South is the new No. 1 team in 4A boys basketball. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    The Pueblo South Colts are putting together a nice season. They carry their momentum into this week as they take over the No. 1 spot in the Class 4A CHSAANow.com boys basketball rankings.

    Their week was highlighted with a 79-51 win over Pueblo Central on Tuesday. The Colts looked absolutely dominant and are legitimate 4A title contenders.

    Former No. 1 Longmont fell to No. 3 after losing to the FNE Warriors on Saturday.

    The 4A poll saw two newcomers this week as Holy Family and Rifle come in at No. 8 and No. 10 respectively.

    There were very few changes in the 5A poll. Rangeview proved to be the real deal after taking a hold of the No.1 ranking last week. They topped Regis Jesuit 60-52 to prove that they are indeed worthy of the state’s top spot.

    The Raiders fell one spot to No. 4 as a result of the loss.

    Rock Canyon climbed one spot to No. 7, trading spaces with Chatfield, who gave Denver East all the Angels could handle Monday.

    There were no new teams added to the 5A rankings.

    Colorado Springs Christian School hangs on to the top overall spot in the 3A rankings as they prepare for a big Tri-Peaks League showdown with St. Mary’s on Friday. The Pirates handed the Lions their only loss last season and the Lions will be out to even the score.

    Faith Christian jumped three spots to No. 6 this week and the 3A poll saw one newcomer as the Manitou Springs Mustangs come in at No. 10.

    Sanford is still the No. 1 team in 2A this week after cruising to a 63-35 win over Centauri. The top five seeds from last week all maintained their position.

    The bottom five spots saw some shuffling, but overall the 10 ranked teams from last week remained in this week’s poll.

    Fleming takes over the top spot in the 1A after defending champion Holly and Wiley handed South Baca its first two losses of the year.

    Kit Carson jumps from No. 4 to No. 2 and Holly jumped from No. 6 to No. 3.

    No new teams played their way into the 1A rankings this week.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

    Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Rangeview (14) 12-0 149 1 3-0
    2 Eaglecrest (1) 12-0 132 2 2-0
    3 Overland 10-2 113 4 2-0
    4 Regis Jesuit 10-2 104 3 2-1
    5 ThunderRidge 12-2 85 5 2-0
    6 Denver East 9-4 74 6 2-0
    7 Rock Canyon 12-2 48 8 1-0
    8 Chatfield 11-2 40 7 2-1
    9 Doherty 12-2 38 9 3-0
    10 Cherokee Trail 9-3 26 10 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Legend 8, FNE Warriors 4, Greeley West 3, Boulder 1.
    Dropped out
    None.

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Pueblo South (14) 11-0 158 2 2-0
    2 Lewis-Palmer (1) 11-1 128 3 3-0
    3 Longmont (1) 11-1 127 1 2-1
    4 Valor Christian 10-1 109 4 2-0
    5 Golden 8-3 97 5 2-0
    6 Pueblo West 12-2 87 6 1-0
    7 Denver South 9-4 50 7 2-1
    8 Holy Family 8-3 23 – 2-0
    9 Vista Ridge 9-4 16 10 1-1
    10 Rifle 10-1 15 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Windsor 13, Conifer 10, Evergreen 9, Mead 9, Sand Creek 8, Wheat Ridge 8, Thomas Jefferson 5, Skyview 3, Thompson Valley 3, Pueblo Central 1, Vista Peak 1.
    Dropped out
    Mead (8), Evergreen (9).

    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Colorado Springs Christian (7) 6-3 99 1 2-1
    2 DSST-Stapleton (2) 11-1 93 3 2-1
    3 Lutheran (1) 8-2 81 4 1-0
    4 Eaton (2) 10-1 80 5 3-0
    5 DSST-Green Valley Ranch (1) 8-0 71 6 2-0
    6 Faith Christian 7-4 59 9 3-0
    7 Sterling 8-2 55 7 3-0
    8 Colorado Academy 7-5 54 2 0-1
    9 Alamosa 7-4 48 8 2-0
    10 Manitou Springs 8-1 19 – 1-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Pagosa Springs 15, Grand Valley 8, Buena Vista 5, Bayfield 4, Basalt 3, Bennett 3, Manual 3, Peak to Peak 3, Strasburg 3, Arrupe Jesuit 2, James Irwin 2, Liberty Common 2, Coal Ridge 1, Kent Denver 1, SkyView Academy 1.
    Dropped out
    Liberty Common (10).

    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Sanford (8) 9-0 95 1 1-0
    2 Resurrection Christian (1) 11-0 89 2 3-0
    3 Sedgwick County (1) 9-0 77 3 1-0
    4 Ignacio 8-0 68 4 2-0
    5 Paonia 9-1 53 5 2-0
    6 Center 7-1 38 8 1-0
    7 Holyoke 7-2 37 7 2-0
    8 Rye 8-2 35 6 3-0
    9 Dayspring Christian 7-1 20 10 0-0
    10 Simla 7-2 11 9 1-2
    Others receiving votes:
    Haxtun 9, Crowley County 7, Meeker 5, Akron 4, Highland 2.
    Dropped out
    None.

    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Fleming (3) 7-2 77 2 2-0
    2 Kit Carson (2) 9-1 67 4 2-0
    3 Holly 9-2 64 6 3-0
    4 Ouray (1) 9-0 58 5 2-0
    5 Wiley 8-2 48 8 2-0
    6 South Baca (1) 7-2 46 1 0-2
    7 Longmont Christian (1) 6-2 45 3 0-2
    8 Sierra Grande (1) 7-2 32 7 1-1
    9 Rocky Mountain Lutheran 7-2 18 10 1-0
    10 Arickaree/Woodlin 7-3 12 9 2-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Shining Mountain 9, Peetz 8, Front Range Baptist 6, Cheyenne Wells 2, Community Christian 1, Mile High Academy 1, Otis 1.
    Dropped out
    None.

  • Boys basketball rankings: Rangeview takes over as No. 1 in 5A poll

    Rangeview Cherry Creek boys basketball
    Rangeview is the new No. 1 team in the 5A boys basketball rankings. (Matt Minton/JacksActionShots.com)

    There is a new king of the Class 5A CHSAANow.com boys basketball rankings. The undefeated Rangeview Raiders assumed the top spot after beating No. 5 ThunderRidge and No. 10 Cherokee Trail in the first full week of competition since the winter break.

    To get to the top spot, they also got some help from Regis Jesuit, who got coach Ken Shaw’s 700th win by upsetting Overland. The Trailblazers would drop their second game of the season later in the week as they fell to Eaglecrest, who climbs to No. 2.

    Regis Jesuit climbed to No. 3 thanks to the win over the Trailblazers, but an upset loss to Fossil Ridge Saturday night likely kept them from a higher ranking this week.

    Though many teams changed spots from the previous set of rankings that was released Dec. 21, there were no new teams added to the 5A poll this week.

    In 4A, Longmont remains the top team, getting 15 of 21 first-place votes. The other six went to a streaking Pueblo South team that has proven to be a legitimate contender in the class.

    The Colts take over the No. 2 spot after Golden dispatched Valor Christian on Friday night.

    The loss also saw Lewis-Palmer rise to No. 3. The Rangers looked impressive in their route of Sand Creek on Wednesday. They then had to battle for a tight road win against Vista Ridge on Friday. Despite losing the game, the Wolves jumped into this week’s poll at No. 10.

    Evergreen also broke into the 4A rankings, coming in at No. 9.

    Defending 3A champion CSCS remains at No. 1 in class, despite two losses at the City of Champions Tournament at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

    The Denver School of Science and Tech is becoming a major presence in the 3A poll as both the Stapleton and Green Valley Ranch campuses made significant jumps this week.

    Stapleton lands at No. 3 this week while Green Valley Ranch comes in at No. 6.

    The Eaton Reds also made an impressive leap, landing at No. 5, up four spots from the previous rankings.

    Liberty Common is the lone newcomer in 3A, landing at No. 10.

    With 8 of 10 first-place votes, Sanford remains the top team in the 2A rankings.

    Paonia made the biggest jump in the 2A poll, going from No. 8 to No. 5. The only new team for 2A this week is Dayspring Christian who rounds out the poll at No. 10.

    The 1A poll was the only other set of rankings to see a new team emerge at the top. Thanks to a buzzer-beater loss to Sedgwick County on Saturday, Fleming fell out of the top spot and South Baca is the new top team in the class.

    Rocky Mountain Lutheran is the lone team to break into the 1A poll as the Eagles come in at No. 10 this week.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

    Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Rangeview (12) 9-0 170 3 2-0
    2 Eaglecrest (4) 10-0 161 4 3-0
    3 Regis Jesuit (3) 8-1 148 5 3-1
    4 Overland 8-2 144 1 0-2
    5 ThunderRidge 10-2 85 2 3-2
    6 Denver East 7-4 77 8 2-1
    7 Chatfield 9-1 70 7 3-0
    8 Rock Canyon 11-2 60 9 2-0
    9 Doherty 9-2 49 10 3-1
    10 Cherokee Trail 7-3 23 6 1-2
    Others receiving votes:
    Fossil Ridge 13, Greeley West 11, Legend 10, Rampart 8, Boulder 5, George Washington 4, Grandview 4, Aurora Central 3, FNE Warriors 3, Broomfield 1, Cherry Creek 1, Mountain Vista 1.
    Dropped out
    None.

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Longmont (15) 9-0 195 1 3-0
    2 Pueblo South (6) 9-0 185 3 1-0
    3 Lewis-Palmer 8-1 156 4 3-0
    4 Valor Christian 8-1 144 2 1-1
    5 Golden 6-3 112 6 3-0
    6 Pueblo West 11-2 103 5 4-1
    7 Denver South 7-3 77 9 1-0
    8 Mead 7-3 31 10 2-0
    9 Evergreen 8-2 28 – 2-1
    10 Vista Ridge 8-3 27 – 2-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Conifer 20, Pueblo Central 17, Sand Creek 15, Windsor 8, Holy Family 7, Rifle 7, Wheat Ridge 6, Durango 4, Sierra 4, D’Evelyn 3, Ponderosa 3, Vista Peak 3.
    Dropped out
    Sand Creek (7), Pueblo Central (8).

    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Colorado Springs Christian (7) 4-2 123 1 1-2
    2 Colorado Academy (3) 7-4 104 2 2-0
    3 DSST-Stapleton (3) 9-0 103 5 3-0
    4 Lutheran 7-2 91 4 1-0
    5 Eaton (1) 7-1 62 9 2-0
    6 DSST-Green Valley Ranch 6-0 54 10 2-0
    7 Sterling 5-2 51 3 1-1
    8 Alamosa 5-4 47 6 0-2
    9 Faith Christian 4-4 42 7 1-0
    10 Liberty Common 5-0 16 – 1-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Grand Valley 13, The Pinnacle 13, Manitou Springs 12, Pagosa Springs 12, Bennett 10, Bayfield 4, Manual 4, Strasburg 4, Peak to Peak 2, James Irwin 1, SkyView Academy 1, St. Mary’s 1.
    Dropped out
    The Pinnacle (8).

    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Sanford (8) 8-0 93 1 2-0
    2 Resurrection Christian (1) 8-0 88 2 1-0
    3 Sedgwick County (1) 8-0 75 4 2-0
    4 Ignacio 6-0 69 3 1-0
    5 Paonia 7-1 50 8 1-0
    6 Rye 5-2 42 6 1-0
    7 Holyoke 5-2 39 7 2-1
    8 Center 6-1 37 10 2-0
    9 Simla 6-0 24 9 2-0
    10 Dayspring Christian 7-1 11 – 1-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Meeker 10, Crowley County 7, Caliche 3, Evangelical Christian 1, Rocky Ford 1.
    Dropped out
    Meeker (5).

    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 South Baca (3) 7-0 70 2 1-0
    2 Fleming (2) 5-2 66 1 1-1
    3 Longmont Christian (2) 6-0 52 4 1-0
    4 Kit Carson 7-1 51 5 2-0
    5 Ouray 7-0 49 6 2-0
    6 Holly 6-2 47 3 1-0
    7 Sierra Grande (1) 6-1 28 8 1-0
    8 Wiley 6-2 18 10 2-0
    9 Arickaree/Woodlin 5-2 15 7 1-1
    10 Rocky Mountain Lutheran 6-2 12 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Peetz 8, Shining Mountain 7, Cotopaxi 5, Front Range Baptist 5, Community Christian 3, Norwood 2, Mile High Academy 1, Faith Baptist 1.
    Dropped out
    Front Range Baptist (9).

  • Football roundup: Pomona upsets rival Ralston Valley

    Pomona’s defense had an outstanding night, limiting Ralston Valley to just two field goals in a 13-6 win on Friday night.

    The Panthers, ranked No. 8 in Class 5A, pulled the upset of the No. 5 Mustangs. The win continued a streak of equality in the rivalry: Since 2009, Pomona and Ralston Valley have traded wins every other year.

    On Friday, Pomona grabbed a 7-0 lead after the first quarter on a punt return for a score. Ralston Valley got a field goal near the end of halftime, but Pomona answered with a touchdown early in the third quarter.

    Ralston Valley did cut it to a one-score game with another field goal, but couldn’t get any closer.

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    3A: (1) Pueblo East 36, (9) The Classical Academy 21

    The Classical Academy led 7-0 early, but then Pueblo East took over. The Eagles scored 19 unanswered points to take a 19-7 lead at halftime, thanks to five Titan turnovers.

    That lead only grew as the second half opened. It was 26-7, then 33-7, before TCA finally broke the string of points in the fourth quarter.

    Pueblo East, the defending 3A champions, is now 7-1 with the lone loss coming to 4A No. 2 Longmont in Zero Week.

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    2A: (6) Sterling 41, (7) Brush 13

    Sterling jumped out to a 13-0 lead after the first quarter, but Brush rallied to tie it at 13 at halftime.

    Austin Burkholder’s rushing score late in the third quarter gave Sterling the lead back and the Tigers never looked back. Freshman Isaac Harris made it 27-13 a short while later, Burkholder added another score — his fourth — and Sterling cruised.

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    8-man: (1) Sedgwick County 44, (5) Dayspring Christian 18

    Sedgwick County jumped out to a 30-3 lead at halftime, and kept the pressure on in an important win for the playoff picture.

    The loss avenged a 53-21 defeat last season.

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    2A: (10) Bennett 40, Strasburg 39

    Bennett stopped a two-point conversion in the final minutes to hold off the upset bid.

    “Big play from Jesse Rodriquez, our corner, (who) intercepted their two-point conversion try,” coach Rick Jacoby told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show.

    Bennett recovered the ensuing onside kick and then ran out the clock.

    Bennett had led with three minutes to play, but Strasburg responded with its own touchdown with under two minutes left prior to the two-point attempt.

    “We were behind most of the game,” Jacoby said. “We didn’t take the lead until about the seven minute mark of the fourth. We were down, I think, 19 at one point in the third quarter. We ended up being able to dig ourselves out of the hole.”

    With the win, Bennett clinched the Frontier League championship.

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    Notables

    • West Grand beat Rocky Mountain Lutheran 80-28 on Friday, giving coach Chris Brown his 305th career win. He can tie the state record for victories at Vail Christian next week.
    • 2A No. 4 La Junta beat Lamar 35-0 in Colorado’s second-oldest rivalry, a matchup known as the Whistle Game.
    • 5A No. 5 Palisade had 689 total yards in a 62-18 win over Grand Junction Central.
    • In 8-man, No. 4 Sargent beat No. 6 Dove Creek 30-18. “It was a tough battle,” Sargent coach Trevan Pepper told the Scoreboard Show. “We were a little bit asleep getting off the bus on that first drive, they went down and scored, and then we kind of stepped it up on defense the rest of the first half.”
    • 1A No. 6 Crowley County won a tough game against Limon, 21-14. The Chargers won the South Central League as a result. “We had a big, long drive in the third quarter and were able to put it in on a little option play,” coach Brandon Roe told the Scoreboard Show. “We just played really great team defense after that.”
    • Thompson Valley upset 4A No. 7 Greeley West 8-0.
    • Merino knocked off No. 10 Haxtun in 8-man, 26-21.

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