With 27 games on the Top 10 schedule and other games of note for Tuesday night boys’ basketball, the schedule is filled with highly important games.  So much so, it’s difficult to find a place to start but we’ll begin with a pair of number one teams facing strong challenges as Pueblo South visits Pueblo Central and Granada hosts Wiley.

The South-Central game is a rematch of a matchup earlier this year where the Colts scored an impressive 76-53 decision.  The teams are again ranked first and fifth in Class 4A and the scenario hasn’t changed much.  Because of the earlier win, South is the outright champion and likely secures the top overall playoff seed with another victory.  Central creates a tie for the championship if they avenge the earlier loss and also shakes up a bit the top five seeds in the state bracket.

The Granada-Wiley contest stars a very important closing stretch inside the rugged 1A High Plains.  Both the Bobcats and Panthers are unbeaten in conference play but so is 6th ranked McClave.  Both Granada and Wiley also battle McClave later in the week so the results will determine the top three places in the conference and the top three seeds for the district tournament.  Scenarios include an outright champion to having all three teams with a piece of the crown.

Equally important is the matchup between Evangelical Christian and Simla inside the Black Forest.  ECA is alone in first (4-0) and leads both Simla and Hanover by one game in the standings.  They’ve beaten Hanover already so a win over the Cubs tonight gives them the championship.  That results also drops Simla to third due to a loss to Hanover.  Simla though creates a three-way tie for the lead entering the final weekend.  RPI wise, Evangelical Christian opens the game ranked atop the 1A boys’ standings.

In Class 2A, #7 Holly captures the Santa Fe championship by beating Las Animas tonight.  It also secures the top seed for the district tournament.  #2 Denver Christian needs a win to stay one game up on Highland and Heritage Christian in the Mile High chase.  The Thunder battle Heritage Christian on Thursday.  Outside the rankings, the winner between Merino and Wiggins takes over third place in the Lower Platte behind Yuma and Wray.

Class 3A sees a championship battle between #5 Centauri and Alamosa in the IML. The Falcons won the first meeting and lead the Moose by one game in the conference standings so they earn the outright crown with a win tonight.  Alamosa creates a tie between the two if they grab the win.

In the Patriot, Resurrection Christian has clinched the title and Sterling will finish second but the race for third involves four teams.  University, Platte Valley, Eaton and Brush all have three losses.  Eaton has a date with Sterling and a loss knocks them out of contention for the spot.  University and Platte Valley also collide and that winner is third if Brush is also beaten by Strasburg.  If Brush wins that game and Eaton falls short, the Beetdiggers get third if University beats Platte Valley.  Platte Valley is third with a win in that scenario.

In Class 5A, Fossil Ridge plays their first game as the number one team in the state.  They moved up this week when ThunderRidge fell to Chaparral.  The Sabercats (9-0) are alone atop the Front Range league and stay there with a win.  #8 Horizon is one game back going into their game with Boulder and Legacy (7-2) can stay alone in third if they can handle Rocky Mountain.

Chaparral and ThunderRidge share the Continental league but of course the Wolverines have the tiebreaker with their head-to-head win over the Grizzlies last week.  Both teams play tonight and one more time this week.  Chaparral is the champion by winning their final two.

Outside the rankings, Palisade, Eagle Valley and Steamboat Springs share the 4A Western Slope lead.  Steamboat has the night off so they’ll keep a piece of first place but the Devils and Bulldogs must grab home wins to stay atop the standings.  Eagle Valley and Steamboat Springs collide on Thursday.  George Washington needs a win over Thomas Jefferson to remain unbeaten in league play and tied with Denver East atop the DPL.  The Patriots and Angels meet on Friday.  Vista Peak and Rangeview both need wins to remain tied atop the 5A East Metro.  Vista Peak has the more difficult test tonight as they meet third place Brighton as the Bulldogs also remain in contention for the league crown.

Below is the entire schedule for top 10 teams.  We’ll update scores throughout the night and then below the rankings, update some games that impact league championship races.  Final scores can be sent to Colorado Preps by text to 970.380.7737.

 

CLASS 1A

FINAL:  #1 Granada beat Wiley 56-44

FINAL:  #4 Evangelical Christian beat Simla 65-42

#8 Caprock Academy at Plateau Valley

 

CLASS 2A

FINAL:  #1 Yuma beat Sedgwick County 87-36

FINAL:  #2 Denver Christian beat Dawson 64-46

FINAL:  #3 Limon beat Kit Carson 71-41

FINAL:  #7 Holly beat Las Animas 59-45

#9 Thomas MacLaren vs Atlas Prep

 

CLASS 3A

FINAL:  #2 Aspen beat Roaring Fork 66-35

FINAL:  #4 Sterling beat Eaton 62-49

FINAL:  #5 Centauri beat Alamosa 58-53

FINAL:  #6 Resurrection Christian beat Estes Park 54-35

FINAL:  Platte Valley beat #9 University 54-53

 

CLASS 4A

FINAL:  #1 Pueblo South beat #5 Pueblo Central 69-53

 

CLASS 5A

FINAL:  #1 Fossil Ridge beat Fairview 74-47

FINAL:  #2 ThunderRidge beat Ponderosa 77-44

FINAL:  #3 Chaparral beat Heritage 76-54

FINAL:  #4 Denver East beat Lincoln (Forfeit)

FINAL:  #6 Douglas County beat #10 Regis 82-50

FINAL:  #8 Horizon beat Boulder 77-54

FINAL:  #9 Mountain Vista beat Legend 83-52

 

OTHER GAMES OF NOTE

2A:  FINAL:  Wiggins beat Merino 38-36

3A:  FINAL:  Brush beat Strasburg 59-52

4A:  Rifle at Eagle Valley (West Slope)

4A:  FINAL:  Palisade beat Summit 75-38

4A:  FINAL:  Thomas Jefferson beat George Washington 62-57

5A:  FINAL:  Vista Peak beat Brighton 68-61

5A:  FINAL:  Rangeview beat Gateway 71-30

5A:  FINAL:  Rocky Mountain beat Legacy 78-69