Final week of the regular season is upon us and while many leagues have already crowned a champion, there are several conference winners to be decided in over the last six days of the campaign. Colorado Preps breaks down the remaining scenarios and we’ll update the races throughout the week.
CLASS 1A
5280: Belleview Christian has clinched the league championship and Denver Jewish Day has secured second.
BLACK FOREST: Evangelical Christian (4-0) sits alone by one game over both Simla and Hanover. The Eagles have beaten Hanover and will host Simla this Tuesday. A win there will give the championship to ECA. If Simla wins, it creates a three-way tie for the top spot provided Hanover also beats fourth-place Pikes Peak Christian on Saturday. If Simla wins on Tuesday and PPC tops Hanover, then the Cubs are the league champions.
FISHERS PEAK: Primer is the league champion.
HIGH PLAINS: Quite a bit to figure out in the final week as Granada, McClave and Wiley all remain unbeaten in conference play. Their head-to-head matchups begin on Tuesday as Wiley heads to Granada. McClave and Wily meet on Thursday and then Granada goes to McClave on Friday. Several scenarios possible including the current three-way tie.
NORTH CENTRAL: Briggsdale (3-0) is alone in first and clinches the title by beating Prairie on the road this Friday. If that happens, then Fleming ends up second.
SOUTHERN PEAKS: Sierra Grande wrapped up the title by beating Centennial on Saturday. Creede hosts Mountain Valley on Saturday and the Miners secure second by getting a win there.
YWKC: Idalia is the league champion. Otis and Lone Star finished 3-2 but the Bulldogs are the runner-up team based on the head-to-head win over the Longhorns.
ARK VALLEY: Springfield and Kim/Branson are both 2-0 in the conference and they share the top spot. They play on Friday in Springfield to decide first and second.
CLASS 2A
BLACK FOREST: Peyton and Thomas MacLaren are both 3-0 and share the lead. They meet on Thursday in Colorado Springs and the winner clinches the league title. If Thomas MacLaren wins, then Peyton must beat Calhan on Saturday to finish second.
SANTA FE: Holly is in first with a one game edge in the loss column on Fowler but they lost to the Grizzlies head-to-head. That means the Wildcats must win at Las Animas on Tuesday to clinch the championship. A loss opens the door for Fowler who could then gain the title and top district seed by beating Swallows Charter; also on Tuesday. Crowley County is tied with Rye in third but the Chargers own the tiebreaker. The district tournament also begins later this week.
SOUTHERN PEAKS: Sanford (5-0) leads Crested Butte (5-1) and both Monte Vista and Del Norte (3-2) by two games. Sanford goes to Center for their next conference game on Friday and can clinch the championship by winning there. If they come up short, Sanford gets another chance at winning the crown on Saturday at home against Del Norte. Crested Butte has beaten both Monte Vista and Del Norte so the Titans will be second. Monte Vista has the tiebreaker over Del Norte.
LOWER PLATTE: Yuma (7-0) has clinched the championship. Wray (6-1) is second with Merino and Wiggins (4-2) tied for third. Merino goes to Wray on Tuesday and that result could finalize spots two through four. Wray gets second with a win but a three-team tie is the result if Merino gets the win. Wiggins also goes to Haxtun in another tough game on Thursday.
SAN JUAN: Mancos has clinched the overall league championship. Ouray and Dove Creek will likely end up tied for the top 1A spot as they split two league matchups and each have the same number of league losses. Ouray has one more game to Dolores on Tuesday and Dove Creek finishes at home against Nucla.
UNION PACIFIC: Limon beat Byers on Saturday to win the championship. The Bulldogs are the runner-up team. Genoa Hugo is the top 1A team as they beat Stratton in conference play.
WEST CENTRAL: Custer County is the league champion as they fought past Primero last week.
WESTERN SLOPE: Meeker (8-1) has a one game edge on Caprock Academy and Vail Mountain (both 8-2). The Cowboys have beaten both teams so they clinch the crown with one more win. They have two chances this week as they visit Plateau Valley on Thursday and then Hayden on Friday. Plateau Valley is tied for fourth with Vail Christian and Cedaredge and they also play Caprock Academy on Tuesday. As a result, the Cowboys have a chance to move up the standings in the final week.
MILE HIGH: Denver Christian (9-0) is also in first with Highland (9-1) and Heritage Christian (9-1) tied for second. Denver Christian has a win over Highland and will host Heritage Christian on Thursday. That game will finalize the top three spots in the conference. DC is the champ with a win and then Highland is second and HC third. All three teams share the lead if Heritage Christian scores the upset. Those scenarios in place based on Denver Christian and Heritage Christian both win their other games this week.
CLASS 3A
INTERMOUNTAIN: With Montezuma Cortez beating Alamosa on Saturday, Centauri enters the final week alone in first (6-1). They lead Alamosa (5-2) by one game with Pagosa Springs (5-3) in third. Pagosa Springs has lost twice to Alamosa so they cannot move higher than third. The top two spots will be determined on Tuesday as Alamosa visits Centauri. An Alamosa win leaves the two teams tied. Centauri wins the outright championship with a win.
METRO: Colorado Academy (7-0) has clinched the league championship as they have a two game edge and a win over second place Faith Christian (8-2) with just two conference games to play. The Mustangs close by hosting Peak to Peak on Wednesday. Faith Christian has completed their regular season schedule so they’re locked into second. Four teams have three league losses and share third place; Lutheran, Prospect Ridge, Manual and Kent Denver. We are still checking into potential scenarios because due to cancellations, all the teams involved have not played a full league schedule.
PATRIOT: With the district tournament set to open later this week, each club has just one conference game remaining and many of the positions have been locked up. Resurrection Christian is the champion with Sterling second. Brush, University, Platte Valley and Eaton all share third with identical 6-3 records. Two games on tap here in the final week will help sort out that spot and both take place on Tuesday. Eaton goes to Sterling and Platte Valley entertains University. Brush has a final game with Strasburg that night as well.
TRI PEAKS: St Mary’s (11-0) is the conference champion. Salida (9-2) is now alone in second as CS Christian (8-3) was upset by Banning Lewis last week. Salida has a game with Buena Vista on Wednesday and must win that to remain in second as they lost the head-to-head matchup with CS Christian. If Salida is upset, then CSCS can regain second by beating Buena Vista the night before (Monday). The district tournament also gets started in this league later in the week.
WESTERN SLOPE: Aspen (6-0) wrapped up the league championship with their win over Moffat County last week. They lead the Bulldogs and Delta with just two conference games remaining. The Skiers have beaten both so they have the tiebreaker over each. The Skiers close at home against Roaring Fork on Tuesday and then at Coal Ridge on Thursday. Delta has the win over Moffat County so the Panthers claim the second spot by beating North Fork on the road Thursday.
CONFLUENCE: DSST-Green Valley (7-0) has wrapped up the league championship. They close the year at home against Strive Prep and win or lose they are the champions since they have a win over second place DSST-Conservatory Green. Conservatory Green must beat Aurora West on Thursday to remain alone in second. That result also leaves Lotus School in third. Lotus drops into Class 2A for the postseason.
FRONTIER: Middle Park’s win over DSST-Montview on Saturday earned the Panthers the championship. DSST-Montview also fell into a second place tie with Academy and Pinnacle (all 8-2). Academy has concluded their season while Pinnacle goes to Arrupe Jesuit for their finale and then DSST-Montview closes at Bennett. Both games are on Monday night as the district tournament gets started later in the week.
CLASS 4A
CS METRO NORTH: Falcon (7-0) clinches the title by winning one more conference game. They play three times in the final week; against Elizabeth on Tuesday, Mitchell on Thursday and Sierra on Friday. They won first meetings with all three in conference play. On Monday, Classical Academy goes to Elizabeth and that will decide second. TCA opens the game with a one game edge and a win over the Cardinals on their resume.
CS METRO SOUTH: Mesa Ridge (7-1) and Palmer (6-1) share the top spot and their meeting on Tuesday in Palmer will determine the top two spots. All other conference teams have at least four losses. Palmer won the first meeting over Mesa Ridge 71-62.
JEFFCO: D’Evelyn (11-2) forced a first place tie with Green Mountain (10-2) by beating the Rams last week. Since they split two conference meetings, the Jaguars and Rams will share the top spot if both win out. D’Evelyn goes to Standley Lake on Wednesday and then returns home against Littleton on Friday. Green Mountain has three games on the schedule; at Standley Lake on Monday, home to Alamosa on Wednesday and at Wheat Ridge on Thursday.
LONGS PEAK: The league is involved in the cross over tournament with the Northern conference. Frederick is the regular season and will get the automatic bid to the playoffs.
NORTHERN: The league is involved in the cross over tournament with the Longs Peak conference. Defending state champion Mead is the league champion and will receive the automatic bid to the postseason.
PIKES PEAK: Lewis Palmer (10-0) has clinched the crown. Doherty, Air Academy and Pine Creek (7-3) share second. Teams get involved in a league tournament this week.
SOUTH CENTRAL: As expected, the rematch between Pueblo South (8-0) and Pueblo Central (7-1) will decide the championship. They get together at Central on Tuesday. Pueblo South captured game one 76-53.
SOUTHWESTERN: Montrose (6-0) secured the league championship by beating Grand Junction (5-2) last Friday. The Indians are busy in the final week with a non-conference game against Steamboat Springs on Monday followed by the final two league games with GJ Central (Thursday) and Durango (Saturday).
WESTERN SLOPE: A very crowed race entering the final week as Steamboat Springs (9-2), Eagle Valley (8-2) and Palisade (8-2) all have two league losses. Eagle Valley and Steamboat Springs meet in a very important game on Thursday. Palisade has two league games with Summit on Tuesday and Glenwood Springs on Thursday.
COLORADO: Eagle Ridge Academy (6-1) has clinched the league title with Skyview and Englewood (both 5-2) in second. Skyview landed second place bases on a head-to-head win. Teams are involved in a conference tournament starting on Tuesday.
CLASS 5A
CENTENNIAL: Eaglecrest is in good shape as the Raptors (10-1) have a two-game edge on Smoky Hill and Overland (8-3). Eaglecrest still needs one win to clinch the league title outright and they have two chances; home to Mullen on Wednesday and at Cherry Creek on Friday. Smoky Hill visits Overland on Wednesday to determine second. The Buffaloes won the first meeting 72-63.
EAST METRO: Rangeview (5-0) and Vista Peak (6-0) share the lead with Brighton (5-1) in third. Rangeview is the favorite as they beat Vista Peak 73-50 in non-league play last month. The Raiders meet the Bison again on Saturday but Vista Peak must first focus on Brighton on Tuesday.
FRONT RANGE: Fossil Ridge used a last second shot to stun Horizon last week and the win pushes the Sabercats (9-0) into first place. Horizon is now second at 8-1 with Legacy (7-2) in third. Fossil Ridge has beaten both clubs so a win over Fairview on Tuesday or Boulder Thursday gives them the championship.
JEFFCO: Ralston Valley (5-0) has a one game edge on Chatfield, Dakota Ridge and Columbine (all 4-1). Ralston Valley scored a major win over Chatfield last week but still needs a win over Columbine on Wednesday to secure the crown. Columbine has a second important game with Dakota Ridge on Friday.
CONTINENTAL: ThunderRidge (7-1) and Chaparral (6-1) are in first with the Wolverines owning the tiebreaker based on their head-to-head win over the Grizzlies last week. The two leaders each have a game with Ponderosa in the final week. Maybe the most important game is between Mountain Vista and Rock Canyon on Friday. Mountain Vista shares third place with Douglas County and the Huskies are challenged by Regis on Tuesday.
DENVER PREP: The Friday showdown between Denver East and George Washington (both 7-0) will determine the championship. George Washington also meets third place Thomas Jefferson (5-2) on Tuesday but that game won’t factor into the title picture.
