Three league champions have already been crowned in 3A boys’ basketball but four others remain up for grabs. And since district tournaments open next week in the Frontier, Patriot, Metro and Tri Peaks, most of the top games are set for early in the week. We look at each conference and preview the most important battles.
INTERMOUNTAIN
Alamosa clinched the championship by beating Centauri a second time on Saturday. That win also pushed the Moose to a perfect 10-0 conference mark. Despite the loss, Centauri has locked up second place as the lead all other league teams by at least four games. Montezuma Cortez (4-6) has locked up third. They lead Pagosa Springs (3-6) by one game but they’ve beaten the Pirates twice. Pagosa Springs also has a game remaining with Bayfield this week.
METRO
Most of the top positions have been decided. Lutheran (09-0) is the champion and Faith Christian (8-1) is second. Manual (7-2) has also locked up third place. Machebeuf currently sits four but they must beat Jefferson Academy on Tuesday to stay there. A loss leaves those two teams with four league losses and then JA would gain the upper hand based on the head-to-head win. Kent Denver can also join the fourth place discussion but they must beat Faith Christian on Tuesday to be involved. They begin the week with four league losses as well. Another fun game for this week has Lutheran against Manual on Tuesday but it won’t impact the league standings or district pairings.
PATRIOT
Not much left to decide here as each team has just one conference game remaining on the schedule. Resurrection Christian (9-0) is the champion with Sterling (8-1) second and Eaton (7-2) third. Despite a tough loss to Sterling last Friday, University (6-3) will stay in fourth place. Platte Valley will take home fifth if they beat Brush on Tuesday. The Broncos (4-5) share the spot with Strasburg and Valley but have beaten both.
TRI PEAKS
Schedule makers in this league got it right this year as Manitou Springs and Vanguard meet in the final week. The two clubs are a combined 22-0 in conference play and their game on Tuesday will determine the championship. The loser will end up second. St Mary’s (9-2) is the third place club regardless of how they end up against James Irwin on Tuesday. Lamar can end up fourth and also receive a bye into the quarterfinals if they beat La Junta on Tuesday. A La Junta win leaves both teams tied but also brings Colorado Springs Christian and Salida into the discussion as well. Lamar is 7-4 in conference action and the remaining three teams start the week with five losses.
WESTERN SLOPE
Gunnison (7-1) and Coal Ridge (6-1) share the conference lead with Gunnison winning the head-to-head matchup between the two. That means the Cowboys win the title if they get by both Hotchkiss (Tuesday) and Delta (Thursday) this week. Coal Ridge has two road games remaining at Roaring Fork and Moffat County on the same two nights. The Titans can only win the championship with two wins and help from either Hotchkiss or Delta. Gunnison and Coal Ridge both clinch a top two league finish with one more win. Grand Valley (5-3) is control of third place. They start the week tied with Moffat County, Delta and Roaring Fork. The Cardinals get the spot if they beat Roaring Fork on Thursday since they’ve already toppled Moffat County and Delta.
CONFLUENCE
DSST-Byers (7-0) leads DSST-Green Valley (6-1) and Ridgeview Academy (6-1) by one game. The Falcons have a win over Green Valley and will tangle with Ridgeview Academy on Wednesday. A win there gives the title to DSST-Byers but a loss leaves all three teams tied for the top spot provided also beats Strive Prep on Wednesday. If Strive Prep springs the major upset, then the winner of DSST-Byers and Ridgeview Academy is the champion.
FRONTIER
DSST-Montview has finished the regular season and they ran the table in conference play (11-0) to win the crown by two games over Middle Park (7-2). Middle Park leads Bennett (6-3) by one game but lost the Tigers head-to-head. That means the Panthers must beat both Platte Canyon (Monday) and Sheridan (Tuesday) to clinch second. A loss in either gives Bennett a chance to move up with wins over Lake County and Jefferson on the same two nights.
