Quite a few sneaky good games on the boys’ basketball schedule for Saturday.  Class 2A has at least four games that will impact league championships or play a role in postseason bracketing; Class 5A represents an important day in the Continental and some top 4A clubs could get challenged by non-league rivals.

Holyoke nearly upset #1 Yuma last night as they fell on a last second shot 41-39.  Now the Dragons get another crack at a league leader as Merino enters the game tied with Yuma atop the Lower Platte standings.  Limon and Burlington battle for a share of the Union Pacific lead as they enter the game tied with Byers as league unbeatens.  Byers will watch with great interest but they welcome in 2nd ranked Denver Christian today.  Those two are in the same district tournament so it could be a preview of a semifinal or finals matchup.

Out west, Vail Christian has a very short drive to Vail Mountain for an important game within the 2A Western Slope.  Vail Christian is tied with Meeker and Cedaredge in first place with Vail Mountain a game back and tied with Caprock Academy for second in a very crowded race.

In the Continental, ThunderRidge needs to be long-time rival Regis to maintain sole possession of first place.  Regis is 2-2 in league play and a win keeps them in the title chase.  Rock Canyon and Douglas County are two other top 10 clubs with two league losses so they need a win while hoping for a Regis upset as well.

In Class 4A, Eagle Valley upset Palisade last night to stay within a game of the Bulldogs in the Western Slope race.  Now the Devils try to hand Montrose their first regular season loss in two years.  The Indians are 18-0.  Palisade meantime, looks to rebound against Steamboat Springs as that winner takes over the top spot in the WSL.

Mead is coming off an impressive win over Holy Family that kept them tied with Windsor in the Northern race.  Falcon could be a tough opponent for the Mavericks less than 24 hours after the key league victory.

In 4A league play, Pueblo County and Pueblo Central clash for a second time.  County needs a win to create a two-way tie for second behind top ranked Pueblo South.

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 at 970.380.7737.

 

CLASS 1A

FINAL:  #1 Granada beat Walsh 79-25

FINAL:  #2 Sierra Grande beat Cotopaxi 64-32

FINAL:  #4 Evangelical Christian beat Cripple Creek 78-34

FINAL:  #9 Denver Waldorf beat Adams City 64-57

 

CLASS 2A

FINAL:  #2 Denver Christian beat Byers 55-40

FINAL:  #3 Limon beat Burlington 55-52 (OT)

FINAL:  #4 Mancos beat Telluride 79-53

FINAL:  #5 Wray beat Caliche 65-41

FINAL:  #9 Fowler beat Swink 48-29

FINAL:  Merino beat #10 Holyoke 54-50

 

CLASS 3A

FINAL:  #5 Centauri beat Buena Vista 41-29

FINAL:  #6 Resurrection Christian beat Strasburg 58-44

FINAL:  #9 Faith Christian beat Machebeuf 75-49

 

CLASS 4A

FINAL:  #3 Montrose beat Eagle Valley 59-47

FINAL:  #4 Mead beat Falcon 88-64

FINAL:  #5 Pueblo Central beat Pueblo County 79-47

#7 Windsor at Greeley West

FINAL:  Sand Creek beat #8 Holy Family 38-33

FINAL:  #10 Frederick beat Northridge 88-44

 

CLASS 5A

FINAL:  #1 ThunderRidge beat #10 Regis 72-58

FINAL:  #5 Rock Canyon beat Castle View 66-54

FINAL:  #6 Douglas County beat Heritage 85-40

 

OTHER GAMES OF NOTE

1A:  FINAL:  Peyton beat Simla 57-54

1A:  FINAL:  Cheyenne Wells beat Stratton 54-49

1A:  Springfield at Cheraw (non-league)

2A:  Vail Christian at Vail Mountain (Western Slope)

3A:  FINAL:  Middle Park beat Bennett 57-44

3A:  Academy at DSST-Montview (Frontier)

3A:  FINAL:  Moffat County beat Gunnison 51-41

4A:  FINAL:  Steamboat Springs beat Palisade 66-59

4A:  FINAL:  Thompson Valley beat Riverdale Ridge 52-51

5A:  FINAL:  Vista Ridge beat Air Academy 45-44 (Air Academy started game on a 26-0 run)