It’s the final week of the regular season in boys’ basketball so all the remaining conference champions will be crowned over the next few days.  As we’ve done most of the year, Colorado Preps look at each conference race in Classes 1A-2A-3A and breaks down the most important games.  We also list the teams from each conference that stand a good chance of entering the playoffs in their division.

The breakdown is based on games listed in MaxPreps but as we’ve seen over the past week or so, that schedule can change greatly due to COVID and weather.  More games from earlier postponements could also be added so the scenarios listed in the story could easily change.

Photo by John Contreras.

 

CLASS 1A

5280:  Belleview Christian (8-0) has finished their regular season schedule and clinched the league championship.  There’s a good chance the Bruins are also the top overall playoff seed.  Mile High Academy and Flatirons Academy share second with one loss apiece and they break that tie on Thursday.  Denver Jewish Day has an early win over Rocky Mountain Lutheran which should land them fourth.

  • THURSDAY: Mile High Academy at Flatirons Academy

ARK VALLEY:  Kim/Branson (3-0) has clinched the crown as they have a one game edge and a win over second place Wiley.  The Mustangs have just one more league game remaining and that comes against Walsh and since they have the tiebreaker over Wiley, they’re the league champions regardless.

  • SATURDAY: Kim/Branson at Granada (non-league)

BLACK FOREST:  Evangelical Christian (3-0) leads Elbert (5-1) and Simla (4-1) by one game but there’s still plenty to decide.  The first-place Eagles have dates with both second-place clubs here in the final week.  Elbert has the tiebreaker over Simla based on their 44-40 win against the Cubs last week.

  • TUESDAY: Elbert at Evangelical Christian
  • SATURDAY: Evangelical Christian at Simla

HIGH PLAINS:  Cheraw (4-0) has not clinched as they’ve yet to play Granada.  The Bobcats are alone in second (3-1) and they challenge the Wolverines this week.  The winner will end up with the title and the loser will settle for second.

  • FRIDAY: Cheraw at Granada

NORTH CENTRAL:  Briggsdale and Prairie are 3-0 in league play and were slated to break that tie on Saturday but the game was postponed.  It’s been rescheduled for this Saturday and that outcome will determine the top two spots.  Briggsdale was 11th in our last combined rankings so they will be in the bracket win or lose against Prairie.  The Mustangs though are not in the top 30 and must win the title to earn a playoff berth.

  • SATURDAY: Prairie at Briggsdale

SOUTHERN PEAKS:  Sangre De Cristo (5-0) is the again the league champion as they finished the conference slate unbeaten.  They close at home against 2A Rocky Ford on Saturday.  Creede has a league game with Centennial on Tuesday but the Miners (3-1) have clinched second since they have a win over Sierra Grande (3-2).  Sangre is 13th in the latest combined rankings and may be the only league team that gets in.  Sierra Grande is next highest at #28 and needs a win over highly ranked Primero later this week.  It’s one of four games on their schedule.

  • FRIDAY: Primero at Sierra Grande

YWKC:  Hi Plains (4-0) beat Idalia on Saturday and that win gives them the league championship and a playoff berth.  That was their only route to the playoffs as the Patriots were not in the top 30 of combined rankings going into the contest.  They close with Arickaree/Woodlin on Friday and Cheyenne Wells on Saturday.  This league also likely a one-bid league.

  • SATURDAY: Cheyenne Wells at Hi Plains

 

CLASS 2A

BLACK FOREST:  League play has concluded with Peyton (4-0) nabbing the title and Thomas MacLaren using a win over CSS on Saturday to claim second.  Peyton was also scheduled to battle Yuma in a very important game for seeding the playoff bracket but that contest was postponed when Yuma went into quarantine.  The Panthers should get a first round playoff bye and the Highlanders also seem a good best to land a postseason bid.

LOWER PLATTE:  Still trying to find out how they may determine the league champion as Yuma has postponed the rest of their regular season.  So the Indians will end the regular season with an unbeaten league mark but won’t get the chance to challenge Wray this Friday as highly anticipated.  That game was the last in conference play for the Eagles so they will also close the year without a conference loss.  Wray shoulSwitch to block editord have clinched the top overall playoff seed with their road win at Limon on Saturday.  Playoff wise, Merino may get a top five seed in Class 1A and Haxtun should also land a berth.  Caliche is on the bubble as they entered the weekend 24th in our combined rankings.  Wray and Yuma (if eligible) should receive byes to the Sweet Sixteen in Class 2A with Sedgwick County also in the chase for a top eight seed.  Wiggins and Holyoke should also get their spots in the bracket.

MILE HIGH:  The game we’ve been waiting for is finally here this week as co-leaders Denver Christian and Highland collide on Saturday.  Both teams will be busy before getting to Saturday.  Denver Christian has three league games before Saturday against Front Range Christian, Longmont Christian and Union Colony Prep.  Higland faces Union Colony Prep and Clear Creek.  Denver Christian is in position to earn a top eight seed in Class 2A while Highland could get there in Class 3A.  They entered last weekend ranked 11th in our combined polls.

  • SATURDAY: Highland at Denver Christian

SAN JUAN:  Ignacio is unbeaten in conference play with Mancos a game back in the second.  They’re separated by the result in the first meeting as Ignacio scored a 68-50 decision to take the lead.  Round two is set for Tuesday.  Should the Bobcats win again, they’re the league champions.  Should Mancos grab the victory, the two teams likely will share the top spot.  Ignacio also meets Dove Creek on Thursday and the Bulldogs are third in the race.  Mancos has two more games after Tuesday but will be favored against Nucla and Ridgway.  Mancos and Ignacio were both in the top 10 of our combined rankings before games on Friday so the winner may end up with a first-round bye.  Dove Creek was 22nd in Class 1A last week and sits squarely on the postseason bubble.

  • TUESDAY: Mancos at Ignacio

SANTA FE:  Game number three between Fowler and Holly will determine the order of the top two spots.  They play in Fowler on Thursday.  Holly has won the first two non-conference meetings so they have to be considered the favorite.  Fowler also closes at Limon on Saturday so they have a very difficult weekend in store.  Holly can focus completely on Fowler as it’s their only game of the week.  Holly and Fowler are also likely the only two playoff teams from the conference.

  • THURSDAY: Holly at Fowler

SOUTHERN PEAKS:  Sanford is alone in first by one game over Del Norte and the two leaders meet on Saturday in Del Norte.  Sanford also has a home date with Center on Friday.  If the Indians win that one, the game with Del Norte will determine spots one and two.  Sanford was 5th in combined rankings before Saturday’s loss to 3A Centauri.  Crested Butte, Center and Del Norte are also in position to enter the playoffs.

  • SATURDAY: Sanford at Del Norte

UNION PACIFIC:  Limon is the league champion.  The Badgers enter the final week off the loss to Wray but most likely will get the second overall playoff seed provided they win out.  They meet Deer Trail, Holyoke and Fowler this week.  Burlington is currently second by one game over Genoa Hugo but since those two teams collide on Friday, those two spots are not finalized.  Neither though can fall farther than third.  Byers was 24th in combined rankings but suffered a loss to Burlington over the weekend.  Genoa Hugo was 15th in 1A rankings and is safely in the bracket.

  • FRIDAY: Genoa Hugo at Burlington
  • SATURDAY: Fowler at Limon (non-league)

WEST SLOPE NORTH:  There’s a three-way tie for the conference lead as Vail Mountain, Meeker and Vail Christian enter the final week with one league loss apiece.  Meeker has beaten Vail Christian but lost to Vail Mountain.  Vail Christian and Vail Mountain meet this week so there are many scenarios.  Each team also has other games with results opening up even more possibilities but if they all win the other games; Mountain is the league champion by beating Vail Christian.  If Vail Christian wins that game, then Meeker slides into the divisional crown.  The survivor will meet either DeBeque or Caprock Academy for the overall league championship on Saturday

  • THURSDAY: Vail Mountain at Vail Christian
  • SATURDAY: League Championship Game

WEST SLOPE SOUTH:   The race comes down to the game between Cedaredge and Caprock Academy.  Cedaredge is in third place and cannot climb any higher but Caprock Academy needs a win to keep pace with DeBeque atop the standings.  The Dragons and Eagles split two conference matchups and share the top spot with one loss apiece.  Both teams have struggled with Cedaredge so a Caprock win is not a given.  They edged Cedaredge 42-38 in their first meeting.  DeBeque got a free throw from Wes Ryan with no time left on Saturday; leading the Dragons past Cedaredge by just one point.

  • THURSDAY: Cedaredge at Caprock Academy

 

CLASS 3A

CONFLUENCE:  Almost too many possibilities to run through them all in the final week.  DSST-College View, DSST-Conservatory Green and DSST-Green Valley are all 5-1 with Lotus also checking in at 2-1.    Green Valley has the easiest closing stretch with league games against Ridgeview Academy and William Smith.  But they may also add a game with College View that was cancelled from last week.  Conservatory Green has two games with co-leaders; meeting Lotus on Monday and College View on Saturday.  Only the league champion will enter the playoff bracket.

  • MONDAY: Lotus School at DSST-Conservatory Green
  • THURSDAY: DSST-College View at Strive Prep
  • SATURDAY: DSST-College View at DSST-Conservatory Green

FRONTIER:  Pinnacle (8-1) and DSST-Montview (7-1) share first place with Arrupe Jesuit (7-2) a game back in third.  Pinnacle and Montview play on Tuesday and that game should crown the champion.  Both clubs have beaten Arrupe Jesuit so the loser likely doesn’t tumble farther than second.  In the combined standings, Pinnace should be safely in as they were 16th on Friday.  Bennett is 23rd and on the bubble.  Montview is not in the top 30 so they need a win over Pinnacle to get in as league champion.  They also host Bennett late in the week

  • TUESDAY: DSST-Montview at Pinnacle
  • SATURDAY: Bennett at DSST-Montview

INTERMOUNTAIN:  Despite the loss to Alamosa on Friday, Centauri (5-1) still controls their own league championship future.  They lead Alamosa (5-2) by one game so wins against Pagosa Springs and Bayfield give them the crown regardless of what else happens.  A stumble in either gives the Moose a chance to share the championship if they beat Montezuma Cortez on Saturday.  Centauri was 5th in combined rankings before the Alamosa loss while the Moose were 27th.  Bayfield (30th) is also on the bubble.

  • FRIDAY: Pagosa Springs at Centauri
  • SATURDAY: Bayfield at Centauri
  • SATURDAY: Montezuma Cortez at Alamosa

METRO:  Colorado Academy, Lutheran and Manual are all unbeaten entering the final week.  CA and Lutheran were scheduled to play last Thursday but that game was postponed due to weather.  It’s not been rescheduled yet but the Mustangs still have a game left with Faith Christian.  They have not played either Kent Denver or Manual.  Lutheran and Manual face off to start the week.  Playoff wise, Lutheran, Manual, Colorado Academy and Faith Christian are all safely in the bracket and each remains in contention for a top eight seed.  Kent Denver (15th) is also playoff bound with Machebeuf (26th) still working their way in.

  • MONDAY: Manual at Lutheran
  • TUESDAY: Colorado Academy at Faith Christian

PATRIOT:  Sterling beat Resurrection Christian on Friday and now has a two-game lead on the Cougars and Strasburg.  That means they wrap up the title by beating either Estes Park Tuesday or Frontier Academy on Thursday.  Their toughest test is at the end of week in a non-league date with Faith Christian.  Strasburg beat Resurrection Christian head-to-head so they have the second-place tiebreaker.  It means they are the runner-up by beating Liberty Common on Tuesday and Platte Valley on Thursday.

  • WEDNESDAY: Resurrection Christian at Manual
  • SATURDAY: Faith Christian at Sterling

TRI PEAKS:  The top two spots won’t be finalized until Saturday when unbeaten co-leaders St Mary’s and Manitou Springs get together.  That game was postponed from earlier in the season.  The teams are ranked 1st and 3rd by the coaches (last week) so the outcome also impacts the top of the playoff bracket.  Because of their quarantine, St Mary’s is very busy in the final wee as they meet Vanguard (Monday), La Junta (Wednesday) and Ellicott (Friday) before the battle with Manitou Springs.  The Mustangs have two games prior against CS Christian on Monday and Woodland Park on Wednesday.  Salida should be a third league team in the bracket while Buena Vista (21st) is considered on the bubble.

  • SATURDAY: Manitou Springs at St Mary’s

WEST SLOPE:  Coal Ridge, Aspen and Basalt have one league loss apiece so the three clubs are tied atop the standings. Coal Ridge has beaten the other two so they’re the league champs if they win against Roaring Fork on Saturday.  The Titans also have a big date with 4A unbeaten Steamboat Springs on Monday night.  Aspen has the edge on Basalt since they beat the Longhorns 55-48.  Coal Ridge and Aspen will be in the playoff bracket.  Gunnison, Moffat County and Baalt are also in contention.

  • MONDAY: Coal Ridge at Steamboat Springs (non-league)
  • SATURDAY: Roaring Fork at Coal Ridge