With week three upon the boys’ basketball season, conference schedules pick up speed so Colorado Preps is taking a moment to focus on the most important matchups in each league over the next six days. We provide a quick rundown of each conference with a short list of the top games across Classes 1A, 2A and 3A.
A deeper breakdown of the top games will be provided throughout the week with our daily reports on each class.
CLASS 1A
5280: Belleview Christian (2-0) and Flatirons Academy (1-0) top the early standings with Mile High Academy (0-0) expected to be a factor. The Mustangs played Front Range Baptist on Saturday and likely picked up their first win but results are not known. The league championship could actually be decided on Thursday when Mile High Academy goes to Belleview Christian. those clubs are expected to finish 1-2.
BLACK FOREST: Simla is off to a quick 3-0 start with Kiowa and Elbert both 1-0. Evangelical Christian ha yet to start play but is the defending league champion. The key game this week is on Wednesday when Kiowa goes to Elbert.
HIGH PLAINS: This is a great league with an overall record of 20-4. Only one league game has been played with Cheraw topping Kit Carson last Friday. The schedule picks up great speed this week. Granada is involved in two of the more attractive games as the Bobcats go to Eads on Tuesday and then visit Kit Carson on Friday. Cheyenne Wells and Cheraw also collide on Friday night.
NORTH CENTRAL: Fleming, Prairie and Briggsdale all enter the week with 1-0 league marks. No games among those three are on the schedule.
SOUTH CENTRAL: Sierra Grande (2-0) and Sangre De Cristo (1-0) were expected to finish 1-2 and both have gotten off to strong starts. They play on February 26th in Sangre De Cristo and that game likely decides the title. Antonito is the only other league game that has a non-conference win.
YWKC: Probably three teams in this race with Idalia, Arickaree/Woodlin and Hi Plains battling for the title. Hi Plains picked up their first win overall in beating Kit Carson on Satrday. Idalia and Arickaree/Woodlin are a combined 5-2 in non-conference play. They meet in Idalia on Saturday.
ARK VALLEY: Kim/Branson (2-2) is the only league team sitting at 500 or above overall. The Mustangs do not have a league game this week but has two non-conference games where wins in both could solidify their post-season chances. The Mustangs battle Springfield on February 26th in a game that could decide the top two league spots.
NON-LEAGUE: Several games on tap this week that won’t impact league standings but will play a role in helping determine the 24-team state playoff bracket.
- Simla at Kit Carson (Tuesday)
- Merino at Fleming (Tuesday
- Wiggins at Briggsdale (Thursday)
- Cotopaxi at Kim/Branson (Friday)
- Evangelical Christian at Flatirons Academy (Saturday)
- Kit Carson at Fleming (Saturday)
- Hi Plains at McClave (Saturday)
- Kim/Branson at Primero (Saturday)
CLASS 2A
BLACK FOREST: Peyton collected a big win over Calhan last week and sits tied with Colorado Springs School (1-0) for the very early lead. Despite the loss, Calhan is still probably a factor for a top two finish and play Peyton again but that matchup is a non-league encounter. The Bulldogs face CSSS on Wednesday.
SANTA FE: Fowler is favored and the Grizzlies are 2-0 and tied with Holly and Swallows Charter for the early lead. Hoehne and Crowley County (1-1) are next in line with Rye and Rocky Ford (0-1) still hoping for a top three finish. Up this week are games between Rye at Swallows Charter on Tuesday and Holly at home vs Rocky Ford on Thursday.
SOUTHERN PEAKS: Sanford, Crested Butte and Trinidad are all 1-0 with wins last week. Two of those leaders meet on Saturday when Trinidad makes a long trek to Crested Butte.
LOWER PLATTE: It was a wild week over the past six days but in the end, Yuma and Wray (2-0) share first place with Wiggins (1-0). Merino (1-1) and Holyoke (1-1) remain a game back while Sedgwick County (0-2) lost their first two league outings. They trailed Yuma by 15 in the second half but fell by just two in the end. One of the leaders will fall off the pace on Tuesday night when Wray is home to Wiggins. Wray also gets challenged by Sedgwick County on Thursday. Also that night is an attractive game between Merino-Yuma. That’s the first of two tough games for the Rams as they also tangle with Haxtun on Friday. Then Wiggins visits Holyoke on Saturday.
SAN JUAN: Mancos has won three league games and is joined atop the standings by Dove Creek (2-0) and Dolores (1-0). Ignacio will also play a role but the Bobcats have yet to play a conference game. That changes on Tuesday when they host Dolores. Dolores also entertains Dove Creek on Saturday. Mancos has just one conference game this week as they play at Telluride on Friday.
UNION PACIFIC: Limon is already 3-0 with wins over Burlington, Genoa Hugo and Stratton/Liberty. Deer Trail (1-0) is the only other team with a conference win while Byers has yet to start their league schedule. The Bulldogs though host Limon on Friday.
WEST SLOPE NORTH: West Grand, Soroco (both 2-0) and Vail Christian (1-0) have the early lead. Meeker (3-0) is unbeaten overall but doesn’t start conference play until this week. Vail Mountain (1-0) also gets the league race started as well with two tough games this week; at home against Vail Christian on Tuesday and West Grand on Friday. Soroco also has two tests this week as they visit West Grand on Tuesday and then host Meeker two days later.
WEST SLOPE SOUTH: DeBeque (4-0) leads Caprock Academy and Olathe (both 2-1) by one game and Cedaredge (2-2) by two. The Dragons posted wins over Cedaredge and Caprock Academy last week but meet them a second time starting this week. They host Caprock Academy on Saturday after winning the first game 65-51. Caprock also hosts Olathe on Friday.
NON LEAGUE: Three non-league games of interest on the schedule in Class 2A this week.
- Sangre De Cristo at Sanford (Tuesday)
- Meeker at Aspen (Thursday)
- Peyton at Fowler (Friday)
CLASS 3A
METRO: Lutheran (1-0) scored the big win over Faith Christian and they begin the third week of the season in first with Colorado Academy, Manual and Kent Denver (all 2-0). Peak to Peak also has a share of the top spot at 1-0. Faith Christian and Machebeuf are a game back at 1-1 with the Eagles picking up that head-to-head win over the weekend. Manual is very busy this week as the Thunderbolts have three road games against conference contenders; they meet Faith Christian Tuesday, Colorado Academy Thursday and Machebeuf on Saturday. Kent Denver and Colorado Academy also get together on Tuesday night.
PATRIOT: Sterling and Resurrection Christian are 2-0 in league play with Brush at 1-0. Resurrection Christian has a win over Sterling but that was considered a non-conference game and doesn’t affect the league standings. All three leaders should get a challenge this week. It starts on Wednesday as Strasburg goes to Resurrection Christian where the Indians start the night one game off the pace at 1-1. Brush is home to Platte Valley that same night. The Broncos see their first conference game but are 2-0 overall. On Friday, Platte Valley also entertains Sterling.
TRI PEAKS: Still crowded at the top with Salida, Banning Lewis (both 3-0), Buena Vista, St Mary’s & Manitou Springs (all 2-0) remain unbeaten in league play. Colorado Springs Christian is in sixth but only a game back at 2-1. Four games this week will start the sorting out process and Banning Lewis is involved in two of them. They go to St Mary’s on Tuesday and then host Buena Vista on Thursday. Salida is home to Manitou Springs on Tuesday and St Mary’s renews their rivalry with CSCS on Saturday.
WESTERN SLOPE: Very early here as Aspen and Basalt have the only conference victories overall with both gaining a victory over defending champion Gunnison last week. Coal Ridge (2-1 overall) and Moffat County (3-0) should also be involved in the title chase. The biggest game on tap in week three waits until Saturday when Coal Ridge visits Aspen.
CONFLUENCE: Green Valley (2-0), Conservatory (2-0) and College View (1-0) share the conference lead and the three DSST schools are the only league members with winning records overall as well. One unbeaten will drop out of first on Monday when Green Valley heads to Conservatory. Then on Friday, Green Valley looks to take out defending champion DSST-Byers.
FRONTIER: Four teams are perfect in league activity. Pinnacle and DSST-Montview are 3-0, Arrupe Jesuit is 2-0 and Middle Park 1-0. Middle Park has the most difficult week as the Panthers host Montview on Tuesday before visiting Pinnacle on Saturday.
INTERMOUNTAIN: Centauri (1-0) has a conference win over Alamosa but that’s enough to leave the Falcons alone in first. They head to Pagosa Springs on Saturday. The Pirates, Alamosa and Bayfield all have one league loss. Bayfield visits Alamosa on Friday.
NON-LEAGUE: As we already approach the midway point of the regular season, games like the three below can enhance or hurt a teams playoff chances.
- Moffat County at Montrose (Wednesday)
- Platte Valley at Faith Christian (Saturday)
