Colorado Preps continues to expand our daily previews to include several games outside the Top 10 rankings. Below is our look at the top matchups and most important games on the boys’ basketball Thursday schedule.
Final scores can be sent to Colorado Preps by text at 970.380.7737 or by email to [email protected].
Photo provided by Edge Photography & Resurrection Christian HS
CLASS 1A
FINAL: Denver Jewish Day beat Rocky Mountain Lutheran 52-50
FINAL: Granada beat Springfield 44-28
FINAL: Genoa Hugo beat Wiley 63-50
NOTES: No top 10 games can be found in Class 1A tonight but three games outside the rankings should draw some attention. Maybe the most important is inside the Mile High where Denver Jewish Day and Rocky Mountain Lutheran could both factor into the league championship chase. Denver Jewish Day already has a tight 42-38 overtime loss to Belleview Christian on their record so they must get a win to stay in the title picture. Rocky Mountain Lutheran (3-1) started with three straight wins before a 60-53 loss at 2A Gilpin County on Monday night. Jaxon Borchardt (14.3) is the top score for RML while Jonathan Kochavi (19.3) and Gavin Foonberg (14.7) headline the DJD offense. The two other games on the list are non-league but could play a role in helping teams earn a berth to the state tournament. Genoa Hugo opened the season in the top 10 but dropped out this week due to their loss at Limon (74-40). Wyatt Miller (10) and Konnor Rowden/Stum (8) combined for 18 points in the loss. Keenan Hinton, with 19, was the leading scorer in the opening win over Byers. Wiley is winless but has played well against good Colorado competition in losses to Holly and Kit Carson by a combined 20 points. They did not perform well in a Tuesday loss to Syracuse KS (62-22). The Panthers are very young. Freshman Evan Larrick (9.5) is their leading scorer with sophomores holding down four of the next five spots. Due to COVID, Springfield has not been able to play this season but they finally make their debut at Granada tonight. It will be a tough test as the Bobcats are 2-0 with wins over Bethune and Hi Plains. Dominic Coleman (21.0) and Jon Hainer (16.0) will be the focus of the Springfield defense. The Longhorns were 6-13 last year but will be led by four seniors this year in Darian Schaller (12.2), Luke Hutches (8.1), Hayden Lasley (7.8) and Dakota Mort (7.0).
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #3 Fowler beat Crowley County 67-32
FINAL: #8 Denver Christian beat Twin Peaks Charter 70-15
FINAL: Peyton beat Calhan 47-23
FINAL: Center beat Sierra Grande 43-9
FINAL: Meeker beat Grand Valley 61-44
NOTES: Over the past two years, Fowler has won 25 of 26 Santa Fe conference games and the Grizzlies are favored to land the title again this year. That run begins with a short road trip to Crowley County to face a Chargers team that has yet to taste success. They’ve fallen to 3A Florence and 1A Kim/Branson. Fowler responded from an overtime loss at Colorado Springs Christian by beating La Junta 58-42 last Saturday. Seniors Val Leone (14), Gabe Proctor (13) and Braxton Bates (12) combined for 39 points and freshman Scott Mobbley added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Denver Christian is already 2-0 in the Mile High including a nice 63-46 road win at Clear Creek two nights ago. They’re heavily favored to make it three straight today. Henry Vandenberg led DC with 21 points and Ben Buhler added 15 against Clear Creek. Peyton and Calhan are expected to finish 1-2 in the Black Forest league chase and tonight’s game is the first of two regular season clashes. But since it’s the regular season battle, it’s very important to the state playoff chase as league champions earn automatic bids into the bracket. Peyton has played just once; falling to Manitou Springs 51-26. The Panthers shot just 27 percent from the field in that one and no player scored more than seven points. Calhan has wins over Ellicott (60-51) and Elbert (73-62) with Hunter Gotschall (17.0), Brandon Eglinton (16.0) and Logan Glaser (13.0) pacing the offense. Sierra Grande (1A) and Center are two teams hoping to push for a league championship and get into the state tournament bracket. So the game is important to both for RPI points and better positioning in the other polls. Center scored a nice 57-32 win at Hoehne last Saturday as they balanced their record at 1-1. Sierra Grande nipped Custer County 44-42 in their only game to date. Isiah Chavez dropped in 18 points and Lennie Valdez 10.
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #6 Resurrection Christian beat #7 Eaton 82-68
FINAL: #8 Sterling beat University 74-57
NOTES: Two highly critical games in the Patriot are set for tonight as there’s a good chance the four teams all end up in the top five of the conference standings at seasons end. Of the four, University may be in the most difficult position as they’re coming off a road loss at Brush two night ago. Another loss tonight leaves them at 0-2 in conference action and playing catchup the rest of the way. The loss was difficult as the Bulldogs let go an early 10-point lead in the 59-57 decision. Sterling has different momentum thanks to their 62-44 Patriot opening win over Strasburg. They limited the Indians to just 36 percent shooting including 4-18 from beyond the arc. Eaton and Resurrection Christian both tasted a loss in non-league play but each scored a dominating win in league openers. The Reds rolled past Valley 82-43 as a 45-19 run over the second and third quarters gave them control. Scott Grable and Walker Martin both hit three treys and combined for 49 points in the win. Rez rolled Frontier Academy 64-35 with the first (9-0) and third quarters (18-2) providing most of the final margin. Cade Bothwell (12) and Will Schrotenboer (11) were the top two scorers. There is also a common opponent between the two as both have faced Highland. The Reds beat the Huskies 79-65 while the Cougars came up short 66-52.
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #9 Montrose beat #9 Coal Ridge (3A) 50-44
FINAL: Palisade beat Eagle Valley 51-47
NOTES: Montrose and Coal Ridge could be one of the better games on the Western Slope this year as both clubs feature experience that has high expectations. Coal Ridge is the third straight 3A opponent for the Indians as they’ve posted victories over Montezuma Cortez (64-43) and Delta (60-42). Statistics for this year are not listed but the Indians will be led this year by the trio of Luke Hutto, Trey Reese and Jordan Jennings. They combined for 30 points a game a year ago and helped the Indians win this matchup 54-44 last season. Coal Ridge has narrow wins over Glenwood Springs (44-40) and Roaring Fork (58-50) and balance is their key with six players averaging between six and nine points a game. Eddie Salazar (8.5) and Moises Contreras (8.5) top that chart. Eagle Valley and Palisade is listed as a game to watch because both teams are 2-0 and the Western Slope race is wide open. Glenwood Springs is the defending league champion and went 12-0 last year but the Demons lost their top seven scorers to graduation. So the Devils and Bulldogs could easily be in the title chase this year. Eagle Valley has outscored Grand Valley and Battle Mountain by a combined 67 points so they have confidence going in. Palisade has wins over Grand Junction Central (47-29) and Grand Junction (44-41) behind 24 points from Dante Maestas and 20 from Kenny Seriani.
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #1 Cherry Creek beat #7 Smoky Hill 79-70
FINAL: #4 Regis beat Castle View 93-46
FINAL: #6 Mountain Vista beat Douglas County 69-51
FINAL: #8 Chaparral beat Highlands Ranch 55-37
FINAL: #10 Eaglecrest beat Grandview 56-44
FINAL: Overland beat Mullen 77-61
NOTES: The top four clubs in the early Centennial standings collide tonight as that league continues to work through a rugged league slate. Cherry Creek (3-0) and Overland (2-0) sit tied for first with Mullen (2-1) and Smoky Hill (1-1) both one game back. The race tightened a bit earlier this week when Mullen pulled a mild upset of Smoky Hill (67-66) despite 18 points apiece from Ricky Mitchell and Jordan Whitaker. Overland has league wins against Cherokee Trail and Arapahoe so this is their first date with an upper division club. Jameel Wright (22.0) and Marzoug Abdur-Razaaq (15.7) have had good starts offensively with Victor Harp also chipping in eight points and seven rebounds a game. Cherry Creek has outscored three league rivals by 59 points thus far. That includes a dominating 67-38 win over Grandview on Tuesday. The Continental chase should also be a good one this year. Regis, Chaparral, Heritage and Rock Canyon all sit at 1-0 with Highlands Ranch, Mountain Vista and ThunderRidge yet to play league game. That changes for the Falcons and Golden Eagles tonight. Highlands Ranch is struggling a bit as they’ve combined for just 96 points in two losses while Mountain Vista could get tested by a solid Douglas County club. The Huskies lost to Rock Canyon (76-65) in their conference opener despite 26 points from Jaeton Hackley.
