3A-A boys' basketball preview: CSS ready for another title run

The Colorado Springs School had a near-perfect season in 2008-09, going 25-2 and capturing the Class 2A state championship. The Kodiaks are back and might be even better this season.

Coach Dave Cortez has a team good enough to compete with some bigger schools, and CSS will be one of the best teams in the city, regardless of enrollment.

Leading the way is the reigning top player in 2A basketball, DeLovell Earls, along with seniors Andre Brown and Chris Dailey.

“We played a tougher summer schedule to prepare us for the season, and we were able to compete with and beat some 4A and 5A teams,” Cortez said. “We know we are favored to repeat and the kids have taken it upon themselves to train even harder for this season.”

The main reason the Kodiaks are primed for another state title is Earls, a senior forward who can do it all — score, rebound, defend and lead from the front.

“DeLovell is one of the top two players in the state, overall, in my opinion,” Cortez said.

Earls and his teammates know they have a giant bull’s-eye on their backs, and are preparing as such.

“The practices are way more intense than they were last season,” Earls said. “Our seniors are stepping up and the hard work and discipline has helped us a lot.”

If anybody can challenge CSS in the 2A Black Forest, it’s Calhan. However the Bulldogs will need to replace a lot of graduated talent, including Logan Deputy.

In 3A, the Tri-Peaks League is wide open. Peyton lost a heartbreaker in the state championship last season, and then lost 85 percent of its scoring to graduation.

Coach Brian Green will have to find a way to get some younger players and transfer players Aaron Smith and Ethan Abello to produce enough for the Panthers to be successful.

Manitou Springs, CSCS and St. Mary’s look to be the teams that will be battling the Panthers, as all three return a strong core of players.

TEAM CAPSULES

3A Tri-Peaks
The Classical Academy Titans: Tri-Peaks West
Coach: Brandon Monson, first year
Last year’s record: 6-17
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Buzzy Obenauf, senior; Andrew McIntyre, senior; Aaron Coughlin, senior, Brice Queener, junior
Key losses: N/A
Key newcomers: Jordan Cyphers, senior; Lucas Plant, senior; Weston Holmes, junior; Zach Gee, sophomore; Sean Durck, sophomore; Beau Karcher, junior
Team strengths: Athletic, pressure defense
Team weaknesses: Shooting with consistency

Colorado Springs Christian Lions: West
Coach: J. Mason Young, fifth year
Last year’s record: 13-11
Returning starters: 3
Key players: Nate Engesser, sophomore guard; Taylor Young, junior forward; Brian Mellema, senior forward
Key losses: Chris Collura (graduated)
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: More experienced than last year
Team weaknesses: Limited starting experience and size

Ellicott Thunderhawks: East
Coach: Jay McClung, fourth year
Last year’s record: 1-18
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Ryan Miller, senior forward; Tye Bunker, senior center; Roger Edwards, senior guard; Matt Million, junior point guard; CJ Henderson, junior forward
Key losses: Jordan Clark (graduated), Cody Johnson (graduated), Greg Witting (graduated)
Key newcomers: Allen Fox, senior point guard; Christian Talamantes, senior center
Team strengths: Athletic and likes to run the floor
Team weaknesses: Shooting consistency, high turnover-to-assist ratio

Florence Huskies: West: No report

James Irwin Jaguars: East
Coach: Joe Strange, first year
Last year’s record: 5-14
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Chris Bowen, senior guard; Erik Mock, senior guard; Garret Young, senior forward; Jacob Brenner, junior forward
Key losses: James Morley (graduated)
Key newcomers: Justin Massey (returning from injury), Daniel Cameron (freshman)
Team strengths: Depth at guard position, size of sophomores
Team weaknesses: Young in the frontcourt

Manitou Springs Mustangs: West
Coach: Ken Vecchio, 25th year
Last year’s record: 9-11
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Kyle Maring, senior forward; Ronnie Bohnert, senior guard; Cole McQueeney, senior forward; Jake Bockhorst, junior guard; Mitch Sutton, senior forward
Key losses: Malcomb Vrecenar (graduated)
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Size and ability to shoot the ball
Team weaknesses: Limit turnovers and get to the free throw line more

Peyton Panthers: West
Coach: Brian Green, fourth season
Last year’s record: 23-3 (3A state runner-up)
Returning starters: 1
Key players: Bryant Thomas, senior point guard; Nelson VanTassel, junior power forward; Mitchell Watkins, junior guard
Key losses: Brett Green (graduated, 2008 3A player of the year), Chris and Justin Spurling (both graduated), Chandler Bartlett (graduated)
Key newcomers: Aaron Smith (transfer from Falcon), Ethan Abello (freshman from Oklahoma)
Team strengths: Good leadership from the seniors, and strong junior and sophomore classes
Team weaknesses: Experience, replacing 85 percent of all stats from last season

St. Mary’s Pirates: East
Coach: Tom Harder, first year
Last year’s record: 14-11
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Brent Harder, senior guard (22 ppg, 7 rpg, 2008 conference player of the year); Nick Padrnos, junior guard; Cody Smetzer, senior post; Anthony Pagano, junior guard
Key losses: Burton Crosby, Kevin Hanes
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Will be a physical and hustle-oriented team
Team weaknesses: Depth

3A Pioneer
Discovery Canyon Thunder
Coach: John Paul Geniesse, fourth year
Last year’s record: 13-7
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Kyle Pillpovich, junior guard; Stone Hood, sophomore forward; Kyle Nachbar, junior guard; Chandler White, junior guard
Key losses: N/A
Key newcomers: McKay Lyman, junior guard; John Parker, freshman forward; Tyler Johnston, junior guard
Team strengths: Good team depth on the perimeter, athletic
Team weaknesses: Lack of chemistry and a post presence

2A Black Forest
Calhan Bulldogs
Coach: Rick Carothers, 19th season
Last year’s record: 19-5
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Clint Hammond, senior forward; Jordan McClelland, senior guard; Josh Woolsey, senior point guard; Ethan Mease, senior center
Key losses: Logan Deputy (graduated, 2007 2A player of the year), James Sawyer (graduated), Daniel Lawson (graduated)
Key newcomers: Aaron Ricketts, junior (returning from injury)
Team strengths: Defense and rebounding
Team weaknesses: Consistent scoring

Colorado Springs School Kodiaks
Coach: Dave Cortez, fifth year
Last year’s record: 25-2, 2A state champions
Returning starters: 3
Key players: DeLovell Earls, senior guard (2008 2A player of the year); Andre Brown, senior guard (14 ppg, 2008 all-state); Chris Dailey, senior guard (17 ppg)
Key losses: Ethan Gilbert (graduation), Santino Martinez (graduation)
Key newcomers: Kyle White, freshman
Team strengths: Experience, after only losing two starters from state title team
Team weaknesses: Depth, the Kodiaks will only go seven or eight deep

Evangelical Christian Academy Eagles
Coach: Don Bost, fifth season
Last year’s record: 11-11
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Trevor McFarland, senior forward (16.8ppg, 8.5 rpg); Andrew Edwards, senior center; Zach Plating, junior guard; Robbie Hart, senior guard; Cam Dillavon, sophomore guard
Key losses: N/A
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Strong rebounding and strength, along with good depth
Team weaknesses: Team defense, outside shooting

Hanover Hornets: no report

Kiowa Indians: no report

Miami-Yoder Buffaloes: no report

Pikes Peak Christian
Coach: Gary Geiger, 12th year
Last year’s record: 12-11
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Trey Smith, senior point guard; Caleb Smith, junior center; Segun Lipede, junior guard
Key losses: Nick Mitchell (graduated), Drew Geiger (graduated), Caleb Ramsey (graduated)
Key newcomers: Branson Hartshorn (transfer from Faith Baptist in Longmont)
Team strengths: Speed and athleticism
Team weaknesses: Lack of experience

The Vanguard School Coursers
Coach: Bob Wingett, first year
Last year’s record: 2-19
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Caleb Bender, senior forward; Phil Snyder, senior guard; Greg Bolotin, junior guard; Joe Patterson, junior forward
Key losses: N/A (first year for seniors at the school)
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Two four-year starters, play with energy
Team weaknesses: Lack of depth

2A District 6
Cripple Creek-Victor Pioneers: no report

Fountain Valley Danes
Coach: Austin Harvey, second season
Last year’s record: 6-13
Returning starters: 2
Key players: George Dillon, senior guard; Davis Tutt, junior forward
Key losses: Lee Lin, Kamal Haji-Ahmed
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Strong defensively, can control the tempo of the game
Team weaknesses: Backcourt consistency, lack of strong post presence

1A Black Forest
Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind Bulldogs
Coach: Joe Manson, 12th year
Last year’s record: 14-6
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Dominic Lopez, junior guard; Bryant Smith, junior forward; AJ Moody, sophomore forward; Ryan Peterson, senior forward
Key losses: Nicholas Elstad (graduated)
Key newcomers: Devon Bugni (transfer from Oregon School for the Deaf)
Team strengths: Strong post play
Team weaknesses: Lack of experience

Elbert Bulldogs
Coach: Mac McGuire, 10th year
Last year’s record: 12-10
Returning starters: 3
Key players: Kyle Brown, senior forward; Taylor Younger, junior center; Dawson Weber, senior guard
Key losses: Ryan Figueroa (graduated)
Key newcomers: Travis Hutchens (transfer from Ponderosa)
Team strengths: Size, speed and experience, as well as a strong freshman class
Team weaknesses: Finding a player for the go-to role

Hilltop Baptist Centurions: no report