Our last Friday Five of January is filled with important games across the state as we try to select the most important five games in each classification. We had to trim our original list in every division except for Class 4A where we could only find four games that could impact league championship races.
CLASS 1A
Arickaree/Woodlin at Idalia
Prairie at Peetz
Otis at Briggsdale
Kit Carson at Stratton/Liberty
Granada at Walsh
NOTES: Prairie and Peetz battle for the lead in the North Central conference. The defending state champion Bulldogs have a one game edge thanks to a narrow 62-59 win earlier in the season. Another win gives them a two game and control of the league race. Briggsdale will watch the outcome with interest as they sit third (3-2). They need a Prairie win to stay in the title chase going into their contest with Otis. The Bulldogs could see a return of Cullen Glosson this weekend. Due to an injury suffered near the end of football, the senior has not seen the court this year but averaged 21 points a game a year ago.  Kit Carson and Stratton/Liberty is a non-league game but the clubs are among the hottest teams in the division. Both are 5-1 since Christmas. Tonight’s contest between Arickaree/Woodlin and Idalia is a non-league game as they meet again on February 12th inside the YWKC. Arickaree/Woodlin has won their last two; Idalia has dropped their last two. Granada needs a win at Walsh to end a recent four-game slide. Walsh has won three of four and both clubs want a win to build momentum for the final regular season stretch.
CLASS 2A
Hoehne at Fowler
Rye at John Mall
Merino at Sedgwick County
Longmont Christian at Dayspring Christian
Plateau Valley at Meeker
NOTES: The race for second place behind Fowler in the Santa Fe West is a tight one between four clubs. Hoehne scored a big win over Swallows Charter on Thursday night and have second place at 5-3. Swallows Charter, John Mall and Rye are all 4-4 and one game back. Some separation could occur as Hoehne meets Fowler and Rye goes to John Mall this evening. Merino (1A) is battling the likes of Yuma and Haxtun for the Lower Platte lead. Sedgwick County could use some wins to improve their chances at a #2 district seed. Dayspring Christian entered the rankings for the first time this week and the Eagles need a win over Longmont Christian (1A) to stay within one game of Mile-High league leaders Highland and Denver Christian. Dayspring is tied with Gilpin County in third. Plateau Valley faces a difficult road trip to Meeker needing a win to stay one game back of Western Slope co-leaders Vail Christian and De Beque. The leaders collide on Saturday.
CLASS 3A
Roaring Fork at Gunnison
Coal Ridge at Grand Valley
Frontier Academy at Sterling
Pagosa Springs at Bayfield
Alamosa at Centauri
NOTES: Coming off a tough loss to Delta, Grand Valley looks for a quick rebound against Coal Ridge. A win at home won’t be easy. The Titans have two league losses but they’ve spent much of the season in the Class 3A top five. Gunnison needs a win over Roaring Fork to keep pace with Delta as both the Cowboys and Panthers go to the weekend unbeaten in conference and tied for first. Intermountain league leading Bayfield has a tough weekend as they host local rival Pagosa Springs tonight and then have a trip to Alamosa on Saturday. The matchup with the Moose is the second of the week as they won a 62-56 meeting on Tuesday. Bayfield opens the weekend with a one game edge on Alamosa and by two over Pagosa Springs, Montezuma Cortez and Centauri. If Bayfield gets the win, then Alamosa must win at Centauri to stay within range of the top spot. Sterling is alone atop the Patriot and a win over Frontier Academy will be the 300th career win for Coach Mike Holloway. The Tigers lead Strasburg and Resurrection Christian by one game. Frontier Academy is part of a four-team tie for fourth.
CLASS 4A
Greeley Central at Longmont
Battle Mountain at Glenwood Springs
Pueblo Central at Pueblo East
Grand Junction Central at Montrose
NOTES: A Longmont win over Greeley Central gives the second ranked Trojans a perfect 7-0 through the first half of the Northern league schedule. The Trojans have a one game lead on Centaurus and Greeley Central is third two games back. An upset by the Tigers draws the three top teams closer. Glenwood Springs (4-0) stands alone atop the West Slope standings.  Battle Mountain (2-1) is one of three teams tied for second one game off the pace. Steamboat Springs and Palisade both have one league loss apiece as well. Pueblo West (4-0) seems to be the class of the South Central this week but Pueblo Central and Pueblo East are battling for second. Both teams are 2-1. Grand Junction Central has just four wins overall but a win over Montrose puts them in second place behind Fruita Monument in the Southwestern chase. The Warriors and Indians are both 1-1 in league play.
CLASS 5A
Highlands Ranch at Chaparral
Castle View at ThunderRidge
Mullen at Regis
Pomona at Columbine
Poudre at Boulder
NOTES: The Continental chase heats up this evening with two important games between Highlands Ranch-Chaparral and Castle View-ThunderRidge. Chaparral (4-0) shares the top spot with Legend (3-0) and Regis (4-0) while ThunderRidge (2-1) is one game back and tied in fourth with Mountain Vista. Highlands Ranch is coming off a loss to Legend and Castle View, which spent time in the Top 10 a couple weeks ago, still seeks a first conference win. Regis takes a break from conference but has a great matchup with long-standing rival Mullen. It’s early in the Jeffco chase as Columbine, Bear Creek, Arvada West and Ralston Valley are all unbeaten. Pomona is tied with Lakewood (1-1) one game off the pace. A possible top four finish in the Front Range is still very likely for the winner between Poudre-Boulder. Boulder (4-1) shares third place with Broomfield as both trail co-leaders Greeley West and Fairview by one game. Poudre (4-2) is in fifth with Fossil Ridge but has 13 wins overall.
