GIRLS BASKETBALL: Schedule/Results 1-16-13

A key battle inside the 3A Metro League draws most of the headlines tonight as Holy Family battles Lutheran.  The Tigers are coming off a key win over Machebeuf and looks for another quality win against one of their top league rivals.  Lutheran reached the state finals in Class 2A a year ago and has already posted a win over 3A favorite Denver Science so it should be a great contest.

Below is a breakdown of the top games in each division tonight.  Final scores can be reported to Colorado Preps by text at 970.380.7737 or by email to kevin@coloradopreps.com.  All scores will be posted inside this story throughout the night.

CLASS 5A

FINAL:  #1 Arapahoe beat Eaglecrest 54-22

FINAL:  #5 Grandview beat Cherokee Trail 49-29

#8 Ralston Valley at Standley Lake

FINAL:  #10 Cherry Creek beat Mullen 46-41

FINAL:  George Washington beat Thornton 50-28

Week two of the Centennial chase begins tonight with three games involving top ten squads.  Grandview and Arapahoe (both 2-0) share the lead and the two could stay tied for the top spot until they collide for the first time a week from Friday (25^th).  Arapahoe survived Cherry Creek by just two points last week but then had an easier time with Smoky Hill (50-33) to remain number one in the rankings.  Grandview took out Eaglecrest and Mullen with ease last week (combined 99 points) but is coming off a non-league loss to Regis (59-53) in their last outing.  Because of the loss to Arapahoe, Cherry Creek is one game back to the two co-leaders but will face Grandview twice and have a rematch with Arapahoe before the conference season closes so they have plenty of time to make up the ground.  They however cannot afford a stumble against a lower division opponent such as Mullen tonight.  Ralston Valley (5-0) stands alone in the Jeffco lead with a one game lead on Lakewood.  The Mustangs feature a balanced attack led by lone double figure scorer Amanda Lefholz (10.3).

CLASS 4A

#9 Canon City vs Wasson

Canon City scored a conference opening win at Pueblo Central Tuesday night but steps away from the South Central fray for a date with Wasson.  The game will serve as a tuneup for Friday’s showdown with top ranked Pueblo South.    Nicole Decker led four players in double figures with 16 against Pueblo Central.  Wasson has lost three straight but has won two games this year after not playing a varsity schedule last season.

CLASS 3A

FINAL:  #1 St Mary’s beat Pueblo Centennial 57-25

FINAL:  #2 Lutheran (2A) beat #4 Holy Family 41-27

FINAL:  Kent Denver beat #5 Machebeuf 40-39

#6 Colorado Academy at Jefferson Academy

James Irwin at Lamar

Easily the feature attraction on the Wednesday schedule, the battle between Holy Family and Lutheran will help determine the eventual Metro league champion.  The game is extremely important for both teams but maybe more so for Holy Family.  The Tigers have already beaten Machebeuf so a win over Lutheran tonight would give them wins over their top two league rivals and control of the conference chase very early on.  Holy Family is playing at a slower pace this year averaging 45 points a game.  Junior Lindsay Chavez leads the team with 11 points and nearly four steals a game.  Classmate Claudia Pena patrols the inside with 7.5 points and nine rebounds a night.  Lutheran has already beaten 3A #2 Denver Science and is coming off a high quality 57-40 win over Evangelical Christian last week so they won’t be intimidated by the tradition rich Tigers.  Senior Jennifer Vigil (12.4) paces the Lions on offense but she gets plenty of help from Whitner Dettmering (10.3) and Kassidy Kyle (10.1).  Averaging 63 points a game, the Lions will seek a quicker pace.  Lutheran also faces Machebeuf on Friday so it’s an extremely critical week for the 2A power.  Machebeuf looks to rebound from the conference loss to Holy Family against an improved Kent Denver squad that has won six of eight games this year.  Tonight’s contest will be the conference opener for the Sun Devils.  It’s also the conference opener for Colorado Academy and Jefferson Academy; two young teams hoping to push for a top two finish.  The Tri Peaks East battles between St Mary’s-Pueblo Centennial and James Irwin-Lamar are makeup dates from postponements last week.  Ahead of a huge battle with unbeaten and defending league champion Trinidad on Thursday, St Mary’s hopes to stay healthy and pick up an expected double digit win tonight.  Lamar needs a win to stay within range of the conference leaders after suffering a stunning road loss to Ellicott earlier in the conference slate.

CLASS 1A

FINAL:  #9 Jim Elliot beat Aurora West Prep 72-51

Jim Elliott is unbeaten on the season and has outscored their first eight opponents by 163 points.  Tonight’s contest could enhance that margin of victory.  The Warriors are coming off their best win of the season in a 45-32 home win over Vail Christian last Saturday.  The night before Vail Christian had upset then 7^th ranked Gilpin County.  Senior Ana Trost dropped in 18 points for the Warriors that night and she’s second on the team in scoring overall (11.3) trailing only freshman standout Keri Hogan (14.4).