A couple of top 10 matchups across Classes 2A and 3A headline the Thursday boys’ basketball schedule. The first is a major conference battle between #1 Yuma (2A) and #10 Merino (1A) with the second a very important game to 3A seeding between #4 Aspen and #8 Highland.
Yuma and Merino are both unbeaten in the 2A/1A Lower Platte so the winner moves to sole possession of the conference lead. Both teams are coming off quality wins over #9 Holyoke last week. The Dragons also have an important game with Wiggins inside the league tonight. Wiggins is tied with Wray in third place and they also tangle with the Eagles coming up on Saturday.
Aspen and Highland got together for this game less than two weeks ago as both needed a contest to fill out their 19-game regular season slate. Regardless of outcome, it’s a boost for both clubs in RPI as they enter the game also ranked fourth and eighth in those standings. Aspen is favored to win the 3A Western Slope while Highland likely ends up second to #2 Denver Christian (2A) in the Mile High.
Elsewhere in Class 3A, top ranked St Mary’s can sew up the Tri Peaks championship by beating in-city rival Vanguard and #7 Faith Christian needs a win over Manual to remain second to Colorado Academy in the Metro.
Back in 2A, #10 Holly needs a home win over Rocky Ford to maintain the Santa Fe conference lead and the winner between Custer County-Cotopaxi takes home the top trophy in the West Central.
In Class 1A, Denver Waldorf and Flatirons Academy collide two days after each suffered a late conference. Both teams are now tied for third; one game back of co-leaders Denver Jewish Day and Belleview Christian.
Almost the same scenario for #2 Fossil Ridge and #8 Horizon in Class 5A. They played a great game on Tuesday night with the Sabercats scoring at the buzzer to take over the conference lead. Both teams want to avoid a letdown off that game as both are favored to get league wins tonight.
And in Class 4A, the ranked teams in action except for Pueblo Central open play inside the crossover tournament between the Northern and Longs Peak conferences.
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 Kim/Branson 59-32
#5 Haxtun vs Akron
FINAL: #7 Denver Jewish Day beat Deer Trail 70-14
FINAL: #8 Denver Waldorf beat Flatirons Academy 51-35
FINAL: #9 Caprock Academy beat Rangely 74-43
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #1 Yuma beat #10 Merino 75-42
FINAL: #4 Mancos beat Ridgway 56-26
FINAL: #6 Sanford beat Sargent 60-20
#7 Thomas MacLaren at Dolores Huerta
FINAL: Wiggins beat #9 Holyoke 82-71 (OT)
FINAL: #10 Holly beat Rocky Ford 47-45
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #1 St Mary’s beat Vanguard 86-46
FINAL: #2 Sterling beat Liberty Common 61-26
FINAL: #4 Aspen beat #8 Highland 77-38
FINAL: Manual beat #7 Faith Christian 78-65
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #3 Mead beat Niwot 75-18
FINAL: #5 Pueblo Central beat Pueblo Centennial 93-31
FINAL: Mountain View beat #7 Windsor 44-36
FINAL: #8 Frederick beat Greeley West 68-42
FINAL: #9 Centaurus beat Roosevelt 62-41
FINAL: #10 Longmont beat Fort Morgan 53-36
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #2 Fossil Ridge beat Rocky Mountain 90-77
FINAL: #4 Eaglecrest beat Grandview 62-26
FINAL: #8 Horizon beat Broomfield 58-52
FINAL: #10 Smoky Hill beat Cherry Creek 76-57
OTHER GAMES OF NOTE
2A: Cotopaxi at Custer County (West Central)
2A: FINAL: Fowler beat Hoehne 52-16
4A: FINAL: Eagle Ridge Academy beat Skyview 46-31
4A: Aurora Central at Fort Lupton (Colorado)
5A: FINAL: Vista Peak beat Prairie View 67-58
