Highlands Ranch (5A) and Sand Creek (4A) are both ranked in their respective polls. (Mark Adams)
Pine Creek is the lone newcomer to this week’s CHSAANow.com girls basketball poll in 5A. The Eagles (11-0) are No. 10 this week.
Regis Jesuit remained atop the poll, and continued to be followed by Highlands Ranch. Fossil Ridge moved up one place to No. 3, Grandview is No. 4 and ThunderRidge rounds out the top 5.
The 4A poll added Glenwood Springs (No. 8), 3A added The Classical Academy (No. 10), 2A added Heritage Christian (No. 10) and 1A added Hi-Plains (No. 10).
THORNTON — A total of 24 teams participated in the two-day Mustang Swim Invitational held at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center. The top ten schools and their scores:
As the 2013-14 basketball season emerges from its annual winter break on Thursday, we take a look at where things stand:
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Boys
Fossil Ridge started the preseason ranked No. 6 in 5A, so it’s not as though the SaberCats weren’t on anyone’s radar. Still, at the break, Fossil Ridge (8-0) has perhaps the most impressive resume of any big-school basketball team.
Among the wins? Defending champion Eaglecrest, at the time ranked No. 3; Grandview, which has since won five in a row and is now ranked No. 8; then-No. 5 Highlands Ranch; and Thompson Valley, at the time 4A’s No. 2 team.
The start has been so impressive that the SaberCats got eight of 19 first-place votes in the most recent CHSAANow.com poll. They still sit No. 2, behind everyone’s presumptive favorite, Denver East, but are at this point a serious contender.
The SaberCats have three players averaging double figures, all seniors: Brandon Bodnar (13.4 points), Evan Smith (12.8) and Alex Semadeni (11.3). As a team, their 69.8 points per game rank sixth in 5A.
Surprise team: Mountain Vista.
The Golden Eagles are unbeaten (8-0) and opened at No. 8 in the preseason, but not many people are talking about them. Here’s the surprise: The No. 5 Golden Eagles lead the state in scoring (85.1 points) and assists (22.1), and also lead 5A in rebounding (36.1) and steals (15.4), and rank third in blocks (5.8) and free-throws made (129). This is a complete team which should also be counted as a serious contender in 5A.
Jake Pemberton (19.1 points, 7.1 assists) is a dynamic player who led Mountain Vista to the final four for the first time in school history a season ago.
Looking ahead: Denver East remains the favorite in 5A, and the early-season performance against a tough schedule has reinforced the talent the Angels have.
Already, East has been to two out-of-state tournaments and played national-caliber competition. They are 7-2, but both losses came in Florida just prior to the winter break. (The Angels are 3-0 in Colorado, with wins over Cherokee Trail, Cherry Creek and Eaglecrest.)
CU recruit Dominique Collier again looks like a player of the year candidate (21.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.3 steals per game) and his supporting cast is among the best with seniors Ronnie Harrell and Jevon Griffin and junior Brian Carey.
It’s early, but there seem to be clear-cut favorites in the other classes, as well. None of the No. 1 teams have changed since the preseason.
Valor Christian, in search of its first boys basketball championship in 4A, already owns six wins over 5A teams.
Holy Family, 7-0 in 3A, is outscoring its opponents by an average of 34 points per game this season.
The 5A girls field is extremely deep this year. Everyone knows about top-ranked Regis Jesuit and its impressive college-bound talent, but Highlands Ranch, ThunderRidge and others should make this a fun stretch run.
Consider that at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix just prior to the break Highlands Ranch, Castle View and Cherry Creek all won their divisions. Grandview and Rock Canyon played in the title games. That tournament draws top teams from around the country.
Defending champion Regis Jesuit remains the favorite. But the list of challengers seems to grow by the day. Among them are teams like Fossil Ridge and Lakewood — both off to surprising 8-0 starts — or Ralston Valley, which joined the most recent CHSAANow.com ranking at No. 10.
(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)
Surprise team: Lakewood.
The Tigers did get 18 votes in the preseason poll, but ultimately went unranked until Dec. 13. Now No. 6 with wins over Mountain Vista and Chaparral under its belt, Lakewood has a real opportunity to show it belongs in the top-5. It plays Ralston Valley on Jan. 4, and also has a looming date with Castle View.
Sophomore Mackenzie Forrest has been a star thus far, averaging 20.9 points, 5.4 steals and 3.3 assists per game. Along with senior Jessica Brooks’ 12.1 points per game, Forrest paces a Tigers attack which is averaging a state-best 75.1 points per game this season.
Lakewood also leads 5A in steals (25.0), is second in assists (15.9) and fourth in rebounding (37.6).
Looking ahead: Regis Jesuit has six seniors bound for Division I basketball: Diani Akigbogun (Texas), Justin Hall (Purdue), Kelsi Lidge (Drexel), Neffie Lockley (Howard), Jordan Molyneaux (Seton Hall) and Anna Ptasinski (Lafayette).
The Raiders won last season’s championship. They are ranked No. 6 in the most recent national rankings put out by MaxPreps. They’ve beat in-state opponents by an average of 40 points thus far, going 4-0.
Broomfield is the favorite in 4A. (Pam Wagner)
So, yes, Regis is the team to beat.
Things look pretty clear-cut so far in 4A, too. Broomfield (6-0) has handled everything in its path thus far, and has a average margin of victory of 31.7 points per game.
The Eagles own wins over Sand Creek, at the time ranked No. 6 in 4A, as well as 5A teams Legacy, Ralston Valley and Fairview. They’ve also topped rival Holy Family, which occupies 3A’s top spot.
Regis Jesuit moved up one place to No. 4 this week. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
Grandview, Monarch and Cherry Creek all joined this week’s CHSAANow.com boys basketball rankings in 5A.
Combined, the three teams went 9-0 last week. Grandview, which went 4-0 at the Mission Prep Christmas Classic in California last week, joined at No. 8. Monarch is No. 9 and Cherry Creek is No. 10.
There was nearly a massive shakeup of the 5A poll this week. Fossil Ridge — which already owns impressive wins over Eaglecrest, Grandview, ThunderRidge, Highlands Ranch and Thompson Valley — received eight first-place votes, and was close to overtaking No. 1 Denver East for the top spot. But the Angels got 11 first-place votes in staying atop the ranking.
So Fossil Ridge remained at No. 2 spot. Overland stayed at No. 3, while No. 4 Regis Jesuit and No. 5 Mountain Vista switched places.
Eaglecrest is sixth and Arapahoe moved up to ninth this week.
The biggest mover in the 4A ranking was Air Academy, which went from No. 10 last week to No. 6 this week. Valor Christian stayed atop that poll, and continued to be followed by No. 2 Thompson Valley and No. 3 Thomas Jefferson. No. 4 Pueblo East and No. 5 Sand Creek each moved up one spot.
3A’s Holy Family, 2A’s Sanford and 1A’s Caliche all remained atop their respective rankings this week. That means the No. 1 teams in each classification have not changed since the preseason.
These polls will serve as the rankings over the winter break, and through the first part of January. The next poll will not come out until Jan. 13.
Pine Creek 20, Denver East 11, Rampart 11, Grand Junction 5, Arapahoe 4, Monarch 4, Mountain Vista 4, Horizon 3, Legend 3, Dakota Ridge 1, Poudre 1.
Dropped out
Monarch (10).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Broomfield (13)
6-0
148
1
1-0
2
Pueblo South
7-1
126
2
3-0
3
Mesa Ridge (2)
7-0
118
5
4-0
4
Valor Christian
7-2
92
3
2-2
5
Elizabeth
7-1
73
6
2-1
6
Pueblo West
6-1
68
4
2-1
7
Palmer Ridge
6-1
57
8
2-0
8
D’Evelyn
4-3
34
7
0-0
9
Sand Creek
3-2
33
9
0-0
10
Silver Creek
5-2
23
10
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Glenwood Springs 21, Pueblo East 10, Palisade 8, Pueblo County 5, Thompson Valley 3, Air Academy 2, Mullen 2, Eagle Valley 1, Longmont 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Holy Family (8)
7-1
116
1
1-1
2
Pagosa Springs (4)
6-0
102
2
2-0
3
Lamar
6-0
77
5
2-0
4
Centauri
6-0
73
3
1-0
5
Bishop Machebeuf
5-1
61
6
1-0
6
Sterling
6-1
50
–
3–1
7
Eaton
5-1
35
4
1-1
8
Peak to Peak
5-1
25
–
2-0
9
Strasburg
6-0
24
10
2-0
10
Coal Ridge
5-1
14
9
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Trinidad 11, Kent Denver 9, The Classical Academy 8, Frontier Academy 8, Valley 7, Brush 6, Olathe 6, The Academy 6, Aurora West 5, Middle Park 4, St. Mary’s 4, The Pinnacle 3, Florence 2, Manitou Springs 2, Jefferson Academy 1, Sheridan 1.
Dropped out
Estes Park (7), St. Mary’s (8).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Yuma (9)
4-0
108
1
1-0
2
Peyton (2)
6-0
94
3
2-0
3
Lutheran
4-0
80
4
2-0
4
Akron
4-1
67
2
2-1
5
Liberty Common
7-0
58
6
0-0
6
Simla
5-0
40
7
1-0
7
Hoehne
3-1
32
9
0-0
8
Paonia
4-2
31
8
2-0
9
Meeker
3-1
26
–
0-0
10
Sangre de Cristo
3-3
18
5
0-3
Others receiving votes:
Heritage Christian 14, Kiowa 12, Crowley County 7, The Vanguard 7, Del Norte 5, Wray 2, Highland 1, Hotchkiss 1, Limon 1, Springfield 1.
Dropped out
Kiowa (10).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Caliche (4)
5-0
49
1
1-0
2
Norwood (1)
5-0
44
3
2-0
3
Idalia
5-0
38
4
1-0
4
Eads
5-1
36
2
2-1
5
Kit Carson
4-2
30
6
2-1
6
Prairie
6-0
25
7
2-0
7
McClave
4-1
17
10
1-1
8
Cheraw
5-0
10
9
2-0
9
Dove Creek
6-0
8
5
2-0
10
Liberty/Stratton
3-3
7
8
1-1
Others receiving votes:
Hi-Plains 4, Holly 3, Walsh 3, Belleview Christian 1.
THORNTON — Fairview won girls swimming’s annual Coaches Invite at VMAC on Saturday. The Knights’ 271 total team points bested second-place Cherry Creek (238) and third-place Regis Jesuit (217).
Thomas Jefferson remained in the No. 3 spot in the 4A poll. (Pam Wagner)
Unbeatens Arapahoe and Grand Junction have joined this week’s CHSAANow.com boys basketball rankings in 5A.
The Warriors (3-0) are No. 9, while Grand Junction (5-0) is No. 10. Highlands Ranch, last week’s No. 5, and Chaparral, last week’s No. 10, both dropped out this week.
Elsewhere, Denver East maintained its grip on the top spot, and Fossil Ridge continued its climb up the poll. The SaberCats are No. 2 this week, moving up two spots from No. 4. Fossil Ridge went 3-0 last week, including a 66-48 win over Highlands Ranch.
Overland fell one spot to No. 3, and is followed by No. 4 Mountain Vista and No. 5 Regis Jesuit. Mountain Vista moved up from eighth; Regis up from No 6.
Eaglecrest is sixth in this week’s 5A poll, Legend is seventh and Rangeview fell five spots to eighth.
In addition to Denver East, the other four No. 1 teams remained the same this week: Valor Christian (4A), Holy Family (3A), Sanford (2A) and Caliche (1A).
The 4A poll added Air Academy at No. 10 this week. That ranking also saw Thompson Valley jump from fifth to second following wins over three 5A teams. Thomas Jefferson is third.
Falcon 35, Greeley Central 11, Lewis-Palmer 8, Mountain View 7, Frederick 6, Mesa Ridge 2, Palmer Ridge 2, Glenwood Springs 1, Ponderosa 1, Pueblo South 1.
Dropped out
Denver South (8).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Holy Family (8)
5-0
98
1
2-0
2
Colorado Academy (1)
4-0
81
3
2-0
3
Brush (1)
2-0
77
2
1-0
4
Jefferson Academy
4-0
69
9
4-0
5
Bishop Machebeuf
4-0
67
6
3-0
6
Faith Christian
4-3
36
4
3-1
7
Moffat County
3-1
29
7
3-1
8
The Pinnacle
3-1
22
–
1-0
9
Kent Denver
3-1
20
10
2-0
10
Colorado Springs Christian
1-2
19
5
1-2
Others receiving votes:
Denver Science & Tech 10, St. Mary’s 6, Valley 6, Aspen 4, Monte Vista 4, Cedaredge 2, Sterling 1.
Dropped out
Aspen (8).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sanford (12)
4-0
155
1
4-0
2
Yuma (3)
3-0
125
2
2-0
3
Akron
2-0
110
4
1-0
4
Lutheran
2-1
106
3
1-0
5
Ignacio (1)
5-0
101
5
2-0
6
Resurrection Christian
4-2
75
6
3-0
7
Limon
3-1
39
9
2-0
8
Simla
3-1
31
10
2-0
9
Rye
4-1
30
–
1-1
10
Denver Christian
1-3
24
7
1-1
Others receiving votes:
Swink 23, Peyton 22, Haxtun 13, Alexander Dawson 11, Sedgwick County 6, Crowley County 3, Front Range Christian 3, Custer County 1, Paonia 1, Rangely 1, Sierra Grande 1.
Lakewood is No. 7 in this week’s 5A poll. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)
Lakewood, coming off a 4-0 week, has jumped into the 5A CHSAANow.com girls basketball ranking.
The Tigers (6-0) are No. 7 this week, and are joined by fellow newcomer Cherry Creek (3-1), which is No. 9 this week.
Regis Jesuit remained as the unanimous No. 1 pick in 5A. In fact, the Nos. 1-4 teams stayed the same this week. The Raiders continued to be followed by No. 2 Highlands Ranch, No. 3 ThunderRidge and No. 4 Grandview.
Fossil Ridge jumped up from ninth to fifth, and Rock Canyon from eighth to sixth. Castle View is eighth, and Monarch is tenth.
Broomfield (4A), Holy Family (3A), Yuma (2A) and Caliche (1A) all remained atop their respective rankings this week.
