Conference games more the exception than the rule as we head into the final few days of the boys’ basketball season. Many conference champions have already been crowned but there are a few races out there still undecided.
Let’s go through some of those matchups. In the smaller classifications, the main attraction is the battle between #7 Holly and Fowler. Both teams are unbeaten in the Santa Fe league so the winner will be crowned champion. Holly has to be considered the favorite as they already have two wins against the Grizzlies this year. But since both came in non-league play, they must post a third victory to earn the league championship. Both are also in the running for a first-round bye in the 2A state tournament and the winner will gain an advantage there.
Another key game in 2A is between Vail Mountain and Vail Christian. Both are tied with Meeker atop the West Slope north division and tonight’s outcome will determine the champion. Vail Mountain has beaten Meeker so the Gore Rangers are the champions with a win. Meeker is the champion with a win over Rangely tonight if Vail Christian also beats Vail Mountain. Vail Christian can only win the championship with a win and a Rangely upset of Meeker. The survivor meets DeBeque for the overall conference championship on Saturday.
The West Central title is on the line tonight between Custer County and Cotopaxi. The winner gets an automatic playoff bid and will bump a team in the top 24 from the bracket as neither is in the top 30 of seeding criteria in their respective class. A win gets Cotopaxi into the 1A bracket while Custer County qualifies for the 2A playoffs if they gain the victory.
Fort Lupton and Aurora Central face off for second place in the Colorado conference. Englewood has beaten both and already clinched the championship. The game is more important to Aurora Central as they sit 14th in 4A seeding points and a win could allow them to play at home in round one. Fort Lupton is only 40th in 3A points and won’t be in the playoffs as only 24 teams qualify in that division.
In Class 4A, Steamboat Springs is the Western Slope champion if they get by winless Battle Mountain. The Sailors won the first meeting 58-43 and are heavily favored to earn a second win. If an upset occurs, then Steamboat Springs would need to beat second place Palisade on Saturday to clinch the outright championship. They lead the Bulldogs by two games entering games tonight.
Below is the top 10 schedule for Thursday. We’ll update with scores and details on what results mean throughout the night.
Photo provided by Bradley Simon / Wildcat Pride Photo.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #3 Cheraw beat Crowley County 64-45
FINAL: #5 Merino beat Prairie 72-42
FINAL: #3 Peyton (2A) beat #9 Evangelical Christian 62-37
FINAL: Custer County beat Cotopaxi 49-30
NOTES: Cheraw picked up a quality win ahead of their showdown with Granada on Friday. That contest will decide the High Plains league champion. Peyton and ECA scheduled their game late this afternoon as both lost opponents due to quarantine. The Panthers picked up the quality win as they look to nail down a top four seed in the 2A bracket. Custer County also earned a spot in the 2A playoffs as they collected the West Central crown by beating Cotopaxi. Well outside the top 24 in points, the league title was the only pathway to the playoffs for the Bobcats.
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #4 Denver Christian beat Union Colony Prep 66-32
FINAL: #7 Holly beat Fowler 50-47
FINAL: #8 Mancos beat Nucla 71-26
FINAL: #9 Ignacio beat Dove Creek 64-44
FINAL: Vail Christian beat Vail Mountain 53-43
FINAL: Meeker beat Rangely 44-43
NOTES: Denver Christian kept tied with 3A Highland atop the Mile High conference. They meet on Saturday to determine first and second. Both teams are locks to make the playoffs with Denver Christian likely getting a first round bye. Highland will be at home in round one and still has a chance to reach the top eight in 3A to earn a bye into round two. Holly picked up a third win over Fowler this year and this one clinched the Santa Fe league championship for them. It should also be enough to put them through to the Sweet Sixteen. Ignacio clinched the San Juan title with their win over Dove Creek. By our count, Meeker is the West Slope North division champion. They entered the night tied with Vail Christian and Vail Mountain in first place. Vail Christian and Meeker were winners and share the top spot but the Cowboys won the head-to-head matchup; pushing them to the conference championship game with DeBeque on Saturday.
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #3 Sterling beat Frontier Academy 49-36
FINAL: #5 Manual beat Skyview Academy 99-29
FINAL: #7 Faith Christian beat Jefferson Academy 60-39
FINAL: #9 Englewood beat Arvada 80-30
FINAL: Fort Lupton beat Aurora Central 77-76
NOTES: Sterling had already clinched the Patriot title before tonight’s win over Frontier Academy. They close the regular season against Faith Christian on Saturday. Manual kept a share of the Metro lead by blowing past Skyview Academy. The ‘Bolts remain tied with Lutheran and Colorado Academy. Fort Lupton used their overtime win to place second behind Englewood in the Colorado chase but the decision probably won’t be enough to lift them into the condensed 24-team playoff bracket.
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #1 Windsor beat Thompson Valley 73-52
FINAL: #2 Longmont beat Frederick 38-36
FINAL: #3 Pueblo Central beat Pueblo West
FINAL: #5 Mead beat Severance 70-39
FINAL: #9 Steamboat Springs beat Battle Mountain 71-30
FINAL: Pueblo South beat Pueblo East 73-69
NOTES: With both getting victories tonight, Pueblo South and Pueblo East share the South Central championship. Steamboat Springs clinches the Western Slope title tonight which makes their game with second place Palisade on Saturday meaningless to the title chase.
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #1 Cherry Creek beat Cherokee Trail 95-58
NOTES: Cherry Creek continues their unbeaten season and clinches at least a tie for the Centennial championship. They lead Eaglecrest by one game and close the regular season against the Raptors on Saturday.
