AURORA | There won’t be much boys basketball going on for Aurora teams on the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
Most of the city’s playoff qualifiers will be watching instead, as six teams received top 16 seeds — and the first-round byes that go with them — when the Colorado High School Activities Association released the 48-team postseason bracket on Sunday.
Continental League champion Regis Jesuit received a No. 1 seed for the fifth straight season, Centennial League champion Cherokee Trail and runner-up Eaglecrest were given No. 2s, the East Metro Athletic Conference’s top two teams — Aurora Central and runner-up Rangeview — got No. 3s and Grandview, a No. 4, meaning they won’t enter the playoff fray until the second round on March 2.
Only sixth-seeded Overland and 12th-seeded Smoky Hill will be in action in the first round on Feb. 27. The young Trailblazers (14-9) will take their home floor against No. 11 Rampart (11-12), with the winner moving on to play at No. 3 ThunderRidge (17-6) in the second round. Meanwhile, the Buffaloes (5-18) head to No. 5 Ralston Valley (15-8) with the winner’s prize a date at No. 4 Monarch (18-5).
The semifinal spot out of the Glenn Wilson Regional looks like it is Aurora’s for the taking, as three city teams — No. 1 Regis Jesuit (19-4), No. 2 Eaglecrest (18-5) and No. 3 Rangeview (19-4) — are among the top four seeds in the 12-team group.
Riding a seven-game winning streak, coach Ken Shaw and Regis Jesuit await the winner of the first-round matchup of No. 9 George Washington (13-10) and No. 8 Boulder (14-9). Junior star Josh Perkins and the Raiders were upset in the second round on their home floor last season, but are intent to make up for it this season.
Eaglecrest welcomes either No. 10 Arvada West (13-10) or No. 7 Montbello (12-11) and Rangeview has No. 6 Highlands Ranch (16-7) or No. 11 Mullen (5-18) in store. Coach John Olander’s Eaglecrest squad and coach Shawn Palmer and Rangeview could meet in the Sweet 16 with victories.
In the John Casey Region, two Aurora teams also made the top three, as Cherokee Trail (16-7) is the No. 2 and Aurora Central (17-6) the No. 3 behind top-seeded Mountain Vista (20-2).
The Cougars won nine consecutive games to clinch the Centennial League championship, which they clinched with an overtime victory at Arapahoe in their finale. The reward for coach Morgan Gregory’s squad is a first-round bye and second-round contest against either No. 10 Poudre (10-13) or No. 7 Lakewood (13-10).
The No. 3 seed matches the best of Ian Calvert’s coaching stint at Aurora Central and the last time the Trojans held that spot — 2009-10 — they advanced to 5A’s Final Four. Aurora Central awaits the winner of No. 11 Littleton (9-14) and No. 6 Cherry Creek (12-11).
Coach Gary Childress’ Grandview team (16-7) slipped into a No. 4 seed after a very tough closing stretch, but the Wolves find themselves in a good spot in the Ray Ball Region, where Chatfield (22-1) is the top seed. Grandview plays host to No. 12 Rocky Mountain (6-17) or No. 5 Legend (17-6) in the second round.
The Chauncey Billups Region is the only one without an Aurora team and looks to be a paved road to the final four for top-seeded Denver East (21-2). The No. 2 seed in the region is Fossil Ridge (19-4), while Columbine (18-5) is the No. 3 and Fountain-Fort Carson (15-7) is the No. 4.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
2013 CLASS 5A BOYS STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFF BRACKETS
GLENN WILSON REGION
Top four seeds: NO. 1 REGIS JESUIT (19-4), NO. 2 EAGLECREST (18-5), NO. 3 RANGEVIEW (19-4), No. 4 Grand Junction (17-5)
FIRST ROUND (FEB. 27)
No. 9 George Washington (13-10) at No. 8 Boulder (14-9)
No. 12 Rock Canyon (6-17) at No. 5 Fort Collins (14-9)
No. 10 Arvada West (13-10) at No. 7 Montbello (12-11)
No. 11 Mullen (5-18) at No. 6 Highlands Ranch (16-7)
SECOND ROUND (MARCH 2)
George Washington/Boulder winner at NO. 1 REGIS JESUIT (19-4)
Rock Canyon/Fort Collins winner at No. 4 Grand Junction (17-5)
Arvada West/Montbello winner at NO. 2 EAGLECREST (18-5)
Mullen/Highlands Ranch winner at NO. 3 RANGEVIEW (19-4)
JOHN CASEY REGION
Top four seeds: No. 1 Mountain Vista (20-2), NO. 2 CHEROKEE TRAIL (16-7), NO. 3 AURORA CENTRAL (17-6), No. 4 Monarch (18-5)
FIRST ROUND (FEB. 27)
No. 9 Abraham Lincoln (14-9) at No. 8 Pine Creek (11-12)
NO. 12 SMOKY HILL (5-18) at No. 5 Ralston Valley (15-8)
No. 10 Poudre (10-13) at No. 7 Lakewood (13-10)
No. 11 Littleton (9-14) at No. 6 Cherry Creek (12-11)
SECOND ROUND (MARCH 2)
Abraham Lincoln/Pine Creek at No. 1 Mountain Vista (20-2)
SMOKY HILL/Ralston Valley winner at No. 4 Monarch (18-5)
Poudre/Lakewood winner at NO. 2 CHEROKEE TRAIL (16-7)
Littleton/Cherry Creek winner at NO. 3 AURORA CENTRAL (17-6)
RAY BALL REGION
Top four seeds: No. 1 Chatfield (22-1), No. 2 Fairview (20-3), No. 3 ThunderRidge (17-6), No. 4 GRANDVIEW (16-7)
FIRST ROUND (FEB. 27)
No. 9 Doherty (13-10) at No. 8 Loveland (14-9)
No. 12 Rocky Mountain (6-17) at No. 5 Legend (17-6)
No. 10 Thornton (14-9) at No. 7 Liberty (15-8)
No. 11 Rampart (11-12) at NO. 6 OVERLAND (14-9)
SECOND ROUND (MARCH 2)
Doherty/Loveland winner at No. 1 Chatfield (22-1)
Rocky Mountain/Legend winner at NO. 4 GRANDVIEW (16-7)
Thornton/Liberty winner at No. 2 Fairview (20-3)
OVERLAND/Rampart winner at No. 3 ThunderRidge (17-6)
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS REGION
Top four seeds: 1. Denver East (21-2), No. 2 Fossil Ridge (19-4), No. 3 Columbine (18-5), No. 4 Fountain-Fort Carson (15-7)
FIRST ROUND (FEB. 27)
No. 9 Horizon (11-12) at No. 8 Dakota Ridge (11-12)
No. 12 Greeley West (10-13) at No. 5 Heritage (12-11)
No. 10 Brighton (10-13) at No. 7 Chaparral (12-11)
No. 11 Castle View (7-16) at No. 6 Arapahoe (16-7)
SECOND ROUND (MARCH 2)
Horizon/Dakota Ridge winner at No. 1 Denver East (21-2)
Greeley West/Heritage winner at No. 4 Fountain-Fort Carson (15-7)
Brighton/Chaparral winner at No. 2 Fossil Ridge (19-4)
Castle View/Arapahoe winner at No. 3 Columbine (18-5)
