JeffCo League Preview: Predicted Order of Finish

<p>There won’t be many easy nights in the JeffCo League this season. A year ago, Arvada West and Dakota Ridge both finished 12-2 in the league, with Ridge winning both head-to-head meetings. Look for those two teams to be near the top of the league again, but challengers will be hot on their heels in what will be gritty 14-game schedule. Today: Predicted order of finish. Tomorrow: All-League Teams.</p><p><strong>1. Arvada West. Last season: 19-6 overall, 12-2 in league.</strong><br /> It’s hard to pick against a team that has a Division I point guard, one of the best in the state at the position, and a versatile 7-footer. The Wildcats have both in Luke Neff, the hard-nosed guard bound for the University of Denver, and Dallas Walton, the big man who is looking to have a big impact after missing much of the last two seasons with major knee injuries. Walton is working his way back into shape and growing his confidence. Throw in a do-it-all forward in Will Wittman, and Jeff Parriott’s Arvada West team could be a tough out not only in the JeffCo, but in the state tournament.</p> <p><strong>2. Dakota Ridge. Last season: 22-3 overall, 12-2 in league</strong><br /> The Eagles lose their top scorer in Mason Grothuesmann (11.5 points per game), but coach Curi Yutzy has a well-developed program with new players always ready to step into contributing roles. He also has one of the league’s top players in 6-foot-4 junior forward Devante Jones, who averaged 10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season. Tyler McFarland (10.0 points per game last season) is another player who can cause damage when he gets hot.</p> <p><strong>3. Chatfield. Last season: 12-12 overall, 10-4 in league</strong><br /> The Chargers have plenty coming back. Last season’s top scorer, Colin Downs (14 points per game), is gone, but Chatfield returns almost everyone else. Junior Joe Miks was dynamite as a sophomore. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 13.3 points per game and blew up for 35 in the penultimate game of the season, a victory over Pomona. Cameron Pearson provides solid leadership as a senior in the backcourt who can score and distribute. Chatfield should also benefit greatly from the return of guard Riley Welch, who averaged 8.3 points per game as a sophomore at Chatfield before playing last season at Bergen Catholic in New Jersey.</p> <p><strong>4. Lakewood. Last season: 10-15 overall, 6-8 in league</strong><br /> The Tigers have one of the very best scorers in the state in Kolton Peterson, a 6-foot-2 junior guard who averaged 23 points per game as a sophomore a season ago. Lakewood had a young team last season, but that could pay dividends with every major contributor returning this year. Fellow juniors Jacob Storey, Dallas Bailey, Brandt Christy and Manny Garcia add valuable depth.</p> <p><strong>5. Ralston Valley. Last season: 6-17 overall, 4-10 in league</strong><br /> The Mustangs put plenty on the 6-foot-11 shoulders of Antonio Capley, who has looked much improved as he heads into his senior season, and that could be scary for opponents considering Capley already averaged 13.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game a season ago. Six-foot-2 Jerrod Parker had strong moments as a sophomore, and 6-foot-5 two-sport standout Standley Schindler helps add frontcourt depth.</p> <p><strong>6. Columbine. 15-10 overall, 9-5 in league</strong><br /> After a special season that ended with a narrow loss in the second round of the Class 5A tournament, Columbine is tasked with replacing the large majority of its scoring. The five seniors the team graduated were its top five scorers. A pair of promising 6-foot-5 forwards in J.T. Gentry (senior) and Jaylen Harden (sophomore) are among those who will now have a chance to step up.</p> <p><strong>7. Pomona. Last season: 8-15 overall, 3-11 in league</strong><br /> The Panthers have a good deal of returning talent from a team that took its bumps in JeffCo last season. Senior Elijah Leyva will be depended upon for leadership after he averaged 7.8 points per contest as a junior. Pomona has one of the state&#39;s top sophomores in 6-foot-1 guard Ryan Marquez.</p> <p><strong>8. Bear Creek. Last season: 3-20 overall, 0-14 overall</strong><br /> Look for seniors Max Bailey and Jordy Aranda to take charge for a Bears team aiming to bounce back after a winless JeffCo campaign last season.</p>