Four head-to-head matchups on our top games list in boys’ basketball will determine league championships tonight. And a few other clubs have a chance to win league championships this evening. We preview the most important contests.
Photo is provided by Dan Mohrmann.
Denver Waldorf vs Mile High Academy: Flatirons Academy and Mile High Academy have spent much of the season in the top 10 and gaining the most attention from the 1A 5280 conference, but it’s Denver Waldorf that stands alone in first (7-0). Mile High Academy (6-1) is one game back so the winner lands the league championship. A loss drops Mile High Academy into a likely three-way tie for second with Flatirons Academy and Denver Jewish Day. Waldorf cannot finish lower than second. Dylan Quinn (16.1) and Aly Sakho (15.5) pace Waldorf in scoring while Will McHenry (9.8) and Silas Cheshire (6.9) provide support. Sakho (11.0) and McHenry (8.1) also combine for 19 rebounds a game. Mile High Academy stayed in contention for the title by slamming Shining Mountain (75-49) earlier this week. Blake Essex finished with 29 points and 18 rebounds; Dylan McCottry scored 16 and Andrew Frain 12 in the win.
Vanguard at Manitou Springs: Pushed back a day because of weather, this final week matchup will determine the 3A Tri Peaks championship. Both teams are 11-0 in the conference play so the winner is the champion and top district seed. Vanguard is #4 in RPI and will get a boost in those standings with this game and a Saturday date with DSST-Byers. Manitou Springs is #11 in RPI and may climb into the top 10 if they get a win tonight. The Mustangs have won three straight since a tough loss to Manual. They’re led offensively by Joah Armour (15.1), Isaiah Thomas (11.1) and Joey Allen (10.6). Player of the Year candidate Dominique Clifford leads Vanguard with 27.4 points and 14.0 rebounds a game. He also averages nearly six assists and four steals per game.
DSST-Byers at Ridgeview Academy: Dominate throughout the 3A Confluence league schedule, DSST-Byers can officially secure the league championship by beating the Rams. If that happens, then DSST-Green Valley secures second place as they have a win over Ridgeview Academy. Green Valley and Ridgeview share second with identical marks of 6-1. DSST-Byers has outscored seven opponents 526-174 including a 61-49 win over Green Valley. They’re coming off a huge 70-65 win over highly ranked Northfield (4A) last Saturday. Kyrie Thomas had 28 points, seven assists and two steals while Elijah Hatch added nine points and 12 rebounds. Rex Foster (12), Benjamin Mercado (11) and Julian Buerk (10) all reached double figures. Ridgeview Academy has won eight straight games since a 58-45 loss to Arrupe Jesuit. They feature two players averaging 15 points per game.
Greeley Central at Longmont: The teams are separated by nine games in the 4A Northern conference chase but we list the matchup as the Trojans must win to clinch the league crown. Longmont (12-1) leads Silver Creek (10-2) by one game in the standings and they split two contests with the Raptors. Silver Creek meets Thompson Valley on Wednesday and then goes to Greeley Central on Friday. They can earn a share of the championship with two wins if Greeley Central stuns Longmont tonight. It’s not likely as Longmont won the first matchup 61-36 behind a combined 25 points from Eddie Kurjak (13) and Dallas Dye (12).
Englewood at Conifer / Weld Central at Fort Lupton: The 4A Colorado 8 semifinals are set for tonight as the four remaining teams are battling for the league’s guaranteed berth into the state tournament. Conifer won the regular season crown and went through the league schedule without a loss but must win two more games to secure the automatic bid. They topped Englewood 60-45 in the regular season meeting. Fort Lupton moved past Weld Central 60-48 in their conference battle. Winners play for the tournament title on Friday with the higher seed hosting the finals.
Cherry Creek at Grandview: Cherry Creek was not the trendy pick in the pre-season to win the rugged 5A Centennial but the Bruins grab the top trophy by beating Grandview a second time. Creek (11-1) leads the Wolves (10-2) in the league standings despite dropping the first matchup in overtime (52-46). Creek is otherwise unbeaten against league teams while the Wolves have split with Eaglecrest and Smoky Hill. The Bruins also have a game at Smoky Hill on Friday and that game becomes important for second and third if they fall tonight. A win though makes that game meaningless to the title picture. Grandview is in good shape with a win as they’re also favored to beat Mullen on Friday. They’re the champions with two wins if the Creek also falls at Smoky Hill in two day. In the first meeting, Grandview lost a six point fourth quarter lead but recovered to outscore the Bruins 10-4 in overtime. Lian Ramiro (21) and Caleb McGill (18) combined for all but 13 points for Grandview. Julian Hammond (19) and Myles Purchase (13) paced Creek.
Ralston Valley at Dakota Ridge / Columbine at Arvada West / Valor Christian at Chatfield: Valor Christian (6-1), Ralston Valley and Columbine (both 5-1) share the Jeffco lead and all three need road wins to keep a share of first. Valor Christian closes their conference schedule with their trip to Chatfield while the Mustangs and Rebels both have another league game before the end of the regular season. Dakota Ridge and Arvada West will both be tough outs as they’re tied for fourth with identical 4-2 league marks. Should the Eagles and Wildcats both spring upsets, then Valor Christian clinches the title with a win over Chatfield.
