It has all the makings a Hollywood horror movie writer could possibly want.
A trio of Webbs in a town called Erie.
Sounds creepy only to those who have to face the Class 3A Tigers this season. Erie peaked at the right time last season and earned a trip to Moby Arena and the elite eight, where it nearly stunned Peyton in the quarterfinals.
“We waited all season long to put things together last season,” Erie coach Jim Gerk said. “The goals are loftier this year, and there are expectations. Last year was good, but it wasn’t good enough for these guys.”
Webb twins Chase and Chad, and older brother Charles, will see a lot of court time for Gerk, and it was Chase who left an indelible mark on the 3A field in the game against Peyton.
Against the much bigger Panthers’ frontcourt, the 6-foot Chase Webb routinely beat the Panthers to the boards and outhustled them up and down the court.
“He played like that all season long,” said Gerk, who is also looking for big things from Cooper Cramblett. “He feeds off those bigger guys and proving to them that they can’t stop him. He’s just so much quicker.”
The Tigers will have their work cut out for them in the Patriot League.
Yuma, Eaton, Platte Valley and Valley give the league a top five that is as good as any league in the state.
Thanks to Deron Rindels’ buzzer-beater last year in the championship game, Faith Christian will have a target on its back and is the favorite to defend its title. The frontcourt combo of Riley Grabau and Joel Hegarty is as good as any in the state.
Other title contenders include Aspen (Matthew Holmes), Salida (Ron Fore) and Kent Denver (Matt Brittan).
The most exciting player in the classification may be Colorado Springs Christian sophomore Nate Engesser.
3A BOYS HOOPS
3A top 10
1. Faith Christian
2. Aspen
3. Yuma
4. Salida
5. Eaton
6. Erie
7. Kent Denver
8. Buena Vista
9. Jefferson Acad.
10. C.S. Christian
3A players to watch
Name School Ht. Yr.
Nate Engesser C.S. Christian 6-3 So.
Ron Fore Salida 6-7 Sr.
Riley Grabau Faith Christian 6-1 Jr.
Joel Hegarty Faith Christian 6-3 Sr.
Matthew Holmes Aspen 6-2 Sr.
Taylor Shaffer Pagosa Springs 6-3 Sr.
Cade Sweeney Cedaredge 6-5 Sr.
Bryant Thomas Peyton 6-1 Sr.
Chase Webb Erie 6-0 Jr.
Jaden Winger Yuma 5-10 Jr.
