Boys’ basketball RPI rankings/Girls’ basketball RPI rankings

Boys’ basketball RPI rankings

By Stephen Jiron
SAN LUIS VALLEY — The holidays fast approach, most teams are already on break meaning that the rankings should stay stagnant until after New Year’s. CHSAA updates their RPI rankings daily the rankings are unofficial until the end of the season, for complete listings visit CHSAANow.com.

3A
8. Alamosa (4-2)
There were questions about how well Alamosa would be able to stand without the likes of last year’s seniors Angelo Ramirez, Ry Adams and Noah Romero. And admittedly things got off on the wrong foot in a season opener everyone would rather forget. Moose went south to Sanford (3-2) in an interclass meeting and laid an egg, falling on the road to 2A Sanford in a 46-41 game.
Since then Alamosa is looking a lot more able, knocking off their own higher class opponent in Montrose-4A/5A and two ranked opponents in Lamar-No. 14 and Delta-No. 9. The Moose’s will likely not be expecting a soft return to basketball from their holiday break on Jan. 4th.
Alamosa’s first game back is 3A basketball’s first ranked Kent Denver (5-0). The Kent Denver Sun Devils are not only undefeated but they boast two of the state’s top scorers in James Doyle and Coby Gold, both boys average better than 20 points per game. Alamosa hosts Kent Denver Friday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.

11. Centauri (7-1)
A 9-10 season in 2017-18 culminated in a state championship berth and a four-point defeat to Faith Christian last year. This year the Falcons started the season hot and ripped off seven straight wins.
The Falcon’s streak was interrupted this past weekend when Delta came to town, Delta taking the meeting by a score of 54-40.  While a loss to a ranked opponent will sting, Centauri has a chance to go to the holiday break on a high note. Centauri has faced Sanford once already this season in the Championship finale of the La Junta Holiday Shootout. The Falcons claimed victory by a score of 41-35.
Centauri will play Sanford for a second and final time on the season Friday Dec. 21 at Centauri High School. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

2A
8. Sanford (3-2)
Last year some late season theatrics boosted Sanford to the state tournament where they would take eighth place. This year Sanford got things going in the right direction with a solid win over Alamosa in their home opener.
Lately the three-win streak that started the season has turned into a two game skid in the opposite direction. Sanford will stay fighting above their weight over the next three games with three straight games in the 3A class. The tour through 3A begins with their meeting with Centauri this Friday.

24. Sargent (3-4)For the 2017-18 season the Sargent Farmers took third place at the district tournament with a win over Center. The ride ended at the regional level with a loss to Ellicot.
This year Sargent faced a tough start to the season at the Mountain Top Classic. Since then it’s been an up-and-down season with two losses and two wins. Sargent’s load will likely lighten when they return from the break with games against Center and Custer County on consecutive days. Center and Custer County combine for a record of 4-8.

1A
5. Sangre de Cristo
The Thunderbirds look to have picked up where they left off last season. In the 2017-18 season Sangre de Cristo took a loss to Creede in their second game of the season. They would carry that mark in the right column for the next eleven games before taking revenge on Creede Jan. 26 in a 1 point win. The Thunderbirds would end up going 14-1 before taking a second loss. At the state tournament Sangre fell to the eventual champions Peetz in the first round.
This year without a hurdle like last year’s Creede team to clear Sangre is off and running with a perfect record. And with all five starters returning from last year there is little reason to think that the Thunderbirds won’t be able to string together wins like they did last year. Sangre de Cristo’s next meeting will be after the break they’ll go to Rocky Ford on Jan. 4 at 5 p.m.

Girls’ basketball RPI rankings

By Stephen Jiron
SAN LUIS VALLEY— It’s the holiday season and with the seasonal cheer, comes the midway point in the prep basketball season. Many look forward to a frenzy of basketball playoff positioning in the coming months. CHSAA updates their RPI rankings daily, the rankings are unofficial until the end of the season, for complete listing visit CHSAANow.com.

3A
3. Centauri (7-1)
Last year the Falcons entered the post season with one loss coming at the hands of Pagosa Springs a month prior. Entering the district tournament the Falcons would relent once again to Pagosa’s Pirates. The loss did little to deter Centauri as they entered the State bracket seeded No. 5 and breezed through Round 1 and 2 at the local level. Centauri’s season ended at the Great 8 level at Denver University where they lost to Colorado Springs Christian 52-37.
This year the Falcons are off to a relatively hot start winning their opening four games and are currently on a three game winning streak. Centauri boasts two girls who average near or above double point totals per game in Melissa Wilson and Brenna McDaniel. Junior Mia Garcia is third on the team in scoring but currently leads the team with 2 double-doubles.
Centauri will stay home this Friday when they host 2A’s Sanford (4-1) starting at 6 p.m. After the break the Falcons will begin their league schedule with games against Monte Vista (2-4) and Pagosa Springs (4-1) on Jan. 11th and 12th respectively.

18. Alamosa (4-3)
The Mean Moose have been battling to stay above .500 in the early going. It’s a mixed bag for the Moose looking forward. Thankfully Alamosa will be entering a softer portion of their schedule, the Moose will face four teams with losing records in their next five games, one of which resides in 2A.
Unfortunately, after Alamosa hosts Ignacio on Jan. 5 they will go on a seven game road trip where they’ll meet Intermountain League favorites Pagosa Springs (4-1) and Centauri (7-1) in concurrent weeks.
It’ll be all hands on deck for the Moose whose leading scorer Lilly Lavier is currently ranked fourth in the state with six steals per game. Alamosa has also gotten a strong contribution from second year standout Emily Lavier who is second on the team in scoring with a team leading thirteen baskets from downtown.
Alamosa will come back from the Christmas break with a non-league game against Ignacio (2-3) Sat. Jan. 5 starting at 3 p.m.

2A
1. Del Norte (7-0)
Last year the Tigers finished their stellar season on a low note, falling to Holyoke 54-43 at their home regional tournament.
This year Del Norte has already avenged one of their losses from last year dispatching Centauri (7-1) 54-47 en route to claiming the title at this year’s La Junta Holiday Shootout. The Tigers, with their leading scorer Kendra Parra and leading rebounder Lacie Jones each ranked in the state statwise, have proven themselves dangerous thus far.
Looking at Del Norte’s schedule however the Tiger’s biggest hurdle this season may not even be any of the teams they’ll face moving forward but rather staying focused as they enter the post season. With wins already logged against the more dangerous teams on their schedule, Del Norte more will likely need to keep thoughts of an undefeated season from distracting them.
Despite being number one in the RPI rankings the CHSAA polls seem unconvinced, as Wray currently holds the top spot in their top ten rankings with four more first place votes than Del Norte.
Crested Butte (0-5) will provide Del Norte an opportunity to get back in the groove after the holidays on Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

11. Sanford (4-1)
Sanford started their season on a hot streak with four straight wins. Their first loss remains their only loss and the fact that it came to No. 1 Del Norte should also soothe the burn.
Offensively Sanford relies on Freshman Cheyenne Caldon who in her first year leads the team with 8.6 points per game. The lead in rebounds goes to junior Mackenzie Peterson with 27. Sanford, with a 1-0 record in 3A’s Intermountain League, will look to continue to test themselves against 3A talent.
Friday Sanford will cross the highway to meet neighbor and 3A class Centauri. Then when Sanford returns from break they will play 3A opponents on back-to-back nights in Ellicott and Pagosa Springs.

1A
8. Sangre de Cristo (5-1)
The T-Birds closed the regular season with only two losses last season. Both losses came back to haunt Sangre in the post season. Antonito defeated Sangre de Cristo a second time to claim the district title. Kim-Branson’s second victory over the Thunderbirds came at the regional level and ended Sangre de Cristo’s season prematurely.
This year the T-Birds have less to worry about from Antonito. Sangre de Cristo experienced their first loss of the season this last weekend falling to 2A juggernaut Del Norte. But with all five of last year’s starters the Thunderbirds are poised for another strong run.