Frontier Academy, Platte Valley, Resurrection Christian, College, Valley, Weld Central, Windsor Constitution – Greeley Tribune

Frontier Academy Wolverines

Frontier Academy struggled a year ago, especially in Class 3A Patriot League play, finishing 4-16 overall, 1-9 in league.

The Wolverines graduated several seniors from this past year’s squad and will again have a large senior class this winter. But one of their top players should be junior center Jackson Steward, who averaged team-highs of 13.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game a year ago.

Frontier opened its season with a rough 75-31 loss to DSST: Conservatory Green on Thursday during the Bennett Tiger Tip-Off.

Platte Valley Broncos

Platte Valley will strive to be one of the upper-tier teams in 3A after going 13-10 and advancing to the first round of the 32-team state tournament a year ago.

The Broncos bring back their top 4 scorers from a season ago, including seniors Max Zenk and Zach Uyemura. Zenk averaged a team-high 21.4 points to go with 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and a team-high 1 block per game.

Uyemura was second on the team in scoring with 14.2 points per game, while also averaging team-highs of 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Platte Valley opens the season ranked ninth in CHSAANow.com’s 3A rankings.

Resurrection Christian Cougars

Resurrection Christian has been a state title contender with regularity over the past several years. That shouldn’t change this season, even as the Cougars rise up to 4A.

Resurrection Christian comes in as the top-ranked team in 4A, according to CHSAANow.com.

The Cougars are coming off a 19-6 campaign in which they went 10-0 in the tough 3A Patriot League. They capped their season by advancing to the quarterfinals of the state tournament.

Resurrection Christian had just one senior on this past year’s squad. Among the many returnees: freshman point guard Ty Yoder, who averaged team-highs of 14.5 points, 4.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game a season ago.

University Bulldogs

A season ago, University went 17-8. But this season, it will have to replace some notable firepower, in addition to playing in a higher classification.

The Bulldogs graduated three of their top 4 scorers from a year ago, including Tayt Chacon, who accounted for more than 1/3 of the team’s total offense. He averaged 23 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game.

Leading the way for University this season is senior Desmond Williams, who averaged 13.5 points, a team-high 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 steals and a team-high 1.4 blocks per game a year ago.

The Bulldogs have started this season 0-2.

ValleyVikings

Valley wasted no time surpassing this past season’s win total after going 0-20.

The Vikings are 1-1 after winning their second game of the season, 50-40, on the road against Estes Park on Thursday.

Valley had just one senior on this past year’s squad.

With added experience, the Vikings will look to continue making strides in 4A this season.

Weld Central Rebels

Weld Central started its season well enough a year ago, going 5-5 through its first five games. The Rebels struggled from there, dropping 12 of their last 13 games.

Weld Central graduated Abdul Alarape, who led the team in scoring (10.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.2 rpg).

But the Rebels bring back others, including senior Brenden Buzzell, who averaged 8.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and a team-high 1.0 blocks per game a year ago.

Weld Central won its season opener Tuesday, 63-51 over Strasburg.

Windsor Charter Firebirds

Windsor Charter appears primed to do some damage in its first season as a CHSAA-sanctioned squad, coming from the independent Front Range Christian Athletic Association.

The Firebirds went 14-4 a year ago, playing against plenty of CHSAA-sanctioned teams. They also won their league tournament.

This year, Windsor Charter joins the 3A Mile High-Foothills League. The Firebirds bring back many key players, including senior Tymen Henry, who averaged team-highs of 10.1 points, 3.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game, along with 5.0 rebounds per game a year ago.

Windsor Charter is already off to a 2-1 start to this season.

—Keep reading in the coming days for more boys and girls basketball preview capsules.

Bobby Fernandez covers high school sports for the Greeley Tribune. Reach him at (970) 392-4478, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @BobbyDFernandez.