Banning Lewis and Rampart’s boys basketball teams are two area squads who have scorched their competition en route to memorable starts. The prep basketball season will resume early January and several area schools aspire to play in the final game of the year in March and look to maintain momen tum. Here are a few highlights through the early portion. Banning Lewis Prep undefeated as Matthew Lebron shines The Stallions boast a 7-0 record for the first time in team history, which dates back to 2019-2020. Each of the Stallions’ victories came by at least 20 points and on Dec. 5, Banning Lewis earned its largest victory of the year in a 79-14 win against Grand Valley. In those seven matchups, the Stallions allow just 35.5 points per game and, outside of an 83-63 win against Windsor Charter Academy on Dec. 19, Banning Lewis has allowed 35 or fewer in four games. Meanwhile, the Stallions average 75.7 per night and have scored at least 70 in all but one contest. Senior Matthew Lebron leads that charge with 25.4 points per game, which is 12th in the state. He’s scored 21 or more in all seven contests and punished Buena Vista for a season-high 31 points Dec. 13 in a 70-25 win. During his career – two years at James Irwin and his final two at Banning Lewis – Lebron has scored double figures in 70 of his 75 games. Lebron has scored at least 10 points in 53 consecutive contests. Rampart emerges as highest ranked area 5A team after 6-1 start The Rams started the year 5-0 and won each game by double figures. That’s a stark contrast to last season when the Rams alternated wins and losses through their first seven matchups. Rampart currently ranks fourth in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s weekly polls. Rampart’s 6-1 mark is the team’s best seven-game start since 2013-14 when the Rams opened the year 8-1 and finished 18-7. Three players average 14 or more for the Rams as seniors Theodore Wilson (14.8), Isaiah Melecio (14.6) and Wyatt Kirch (14) score 43.4 of Rampart’s 61 points. Kirch averages a double-double and snags 10 rebounds per night along with 5.2 assists, both lead the Rams. Since their 4-19 season in 2022-23, the Rams have increased their win total every year. The Rams finished 9-14 two seasons ago, 14-10 last year – their first over .500 since 2020-21 – and with a win against Palmer (3-3) on Jan. 8, could be halfway to last season’s win total. Thomas MacLaren’s Lance Mathews top 5 in rebounding Colorado’s double-double leader continued his rebounding dominance from his junior campaign. Mathews, who has seven double-doubles, which is one more than his six as a junior, averages 15.9 rebounds per night, up from 14.9 last season when the Highlanders big man finished third in the state. In a 74-62 loss to St. Mary’s on Dec. 12, Mathews had one of the best performances of his career. Mathews had a career-high 25 rebounds, matched a personal best with 7 steals and poured in 13 points. Mathews’ 13.4 points per game leads the Highlanders scoring charge and is a near 2-point improvement from last season where he averaged 11.7. Honorable mention: Several one-loss teams enter the New Year Various local schools flaunt just one loss after their December contests and aim to keep that momentum after holiday break. Air Academy (6-1), Cheyenne Mountain (6-1), Peyton (5-1), St. Mary’s (4-1), Vanguard (4-1), The Classical Academy (3-1) each have sizzled to start the basketball season. For the Kadets, they’re already three games ahead of last year’s 3-20 pace and own a 47-45 win over 5A defending state champs Windsor. ...read more read less