Easy to find the top game on the boys’ basketball schedule on Saturday as it includes a number one versus number two battle. That contest is found in Class 2A between Limon and Wray.
It depends on the poll you look at it when considering which team is ranked ahead of the other. Before games last night, Limon held down the top spot in the coach’s poll but the Eagles were put at number one in the three other seeding criteria; RPI, Packard and MaxPreps. As a result, they would likely be the top overall playoff seed if the brackets were released before tipoff. But of course, that decision may be determined by the outcome of tonight’s battle.
Both teams were easy winners last night as Limon moved past Simla and Wray downed Holyoke. Both are league champions and they’re a combined 21-0 on the season.
Going into the final eight days of the season, we’re still trying to figure out division winners on the Western Slope. When the season was shortened, the 1A/2A conference was split into the North and South divisions with winners scheduled to face off a week from today for the overall crown. There are important games in both brackets today to help sort out the final standings.
In the North, Vail Christian is unbeaten at 4-0 but plays Meeker today. The Cowboys are tied for second with Vail Mountain with both teams one game off the pace. Meeker has a loss to Vail Mountain so another today should take them out of the title picture. A win though likely creates a three-way tie heading into the final week. Vail Christian and Vail Mountain meet next Thursday.
Down south, DeBeque and Caprock Academy share the top spot and have split two regular season meetings. Both clubs though have a date left with third place Cedaredge including today as the Dragons take on the Bruins. The first ended in a tough 55-46 win for DeBeque.
Another important game in Class 1A is found in the North Central between Briggsdale and Prairie. It’s the conference finale for both and will decide the crown since each are 3-0 in league action.
The annual rivalry matchup between Centauri and Sanford is set for tonight as well. Since they’re in different classifications, it’s a non-conference game but that won’t take away from the intensity. The Falcons, ranked fifth in 3A, will enter off a one-point loss to Alamosa last night where they missed a chance to clinch the IML title. Sanford appears to be the front runner again in the 2A Southern Peaks. A win by either boosts their chances to earning a first-round playoff bye.
In 3A, there’s an interesting pairing of Colorado Academy and Englewood. CA is battling for the top spot in the Metro and sits 7th in our combined rankings this week. Englewood though is quietly pushing for a top eight berth and a first-round bye as well. They were ranked 12th in our combined rankings published on Friday. The Pirates are 8-1 and battling Aurora Central for the Colorado league crown. They face the Trojans on Monday so it’s a critical three day stretch for them.
In 4A, Montrose is favored to beat Grand Junction Central and should they do, the Indians clinch the Southwestern league championship. They’re 6-0 in league play and three up in the loss column over all other conference teams.
Below is the full schedule of top 10 games and other important contests today. Colorado Preps will be traveling to a doubleheader this afternoon so updates will come later in the evening.
Photo provided by OT Sportschek.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #2 DeBeque beat Cedaredge 59-58
#3 Cheraw at South Baca
#10 Briggsdale vs Prairie
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #2 Wray beat #1 Limon 72-66
#5 Yuma at Wiggins (PPD)
FINAL: #7 Mancos beat Dolores 48-24
FINAL: #8 Holly beat Crowley County 57-38
FINAL: #9 Meeker beat Vail Christian 50-47
FINAL: #10 Ignacio beat Ridgway 77-59
Monte Vista at Crested Butte
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #1 St Mary’s beat Florence 88-31
FINAL: #3 Manitou Springs beat Ellicott 62-31
FINAL: #5 Centauri beat #6 Sanford (2A) 46-38
FINAL: Englewood beat #7 Colorado Academy 55-43
FINAL: #8 Faith Christian beat Peak to Peak 66-20
FINAL: Pinnacle beat Arrupe Jesuit 57-47
FINAL: DSST-College View beat DSST-Conservatory Green 56-54
CLASS 4A
FINAL: Pine Creek beat #5 Lewis Palmer 62-56
FINAL: #6 Montrose beat Grand Junction Central 45-18
FINAL: #9 Steamboat Springs beat Glenwood Springs 53-47
FINAL: Grand Junction beat Durango 50-46
FINAL: Pueblo South beat Pueblo East 60-51
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #7 George Washington beat Denver North 87-58
FINAL: #9 Denver East beat Regis Groff 84-43
FINAL: Ralston Valley beat Doherty 73-62
