Nine games on the week one schedule that include a pair of ranked teams going to head-to-head. The highest combined ranking of any game is found on Saturday as #1 Limon heads to #2 Yuma in a very big game seed wise across the division. Yuma won state titles in 2018-19 and both clubs were in the semifinals last season when the remaining two days of the season were cancelled.
Highland was another semifinalist in Class 2A but the Huskies compete in the 3A bracket this year. Somewhat surprisingly, they were not included in the pre-season top 15 but the Huskies have a chance to make some noise in week one as they meet #9 Eaton on Wednesday and #5 Resurrection Christian on Friday. Resurrection Christian also tangles with #3 Sterling on Saturday in the first of two meetings this year. This one is non-league and won’t impact the Patriot standings.
University is in the same boat with Highland as they just missed out on a top 10 preseason ranking in Class 3A. The Bulldogs have a brutal opening week slate as they face #2 Faith Christian on Tuesday and #1 Lutheran on Friday. The Lions could also get tested at home against Holy Family on Wednesday.
Out west, we have some rivalry games including #8 Centauri (3A) at Alamosa and #10 Coal Ridge (3A) against Glenwood Springs on Friday. Centauri and Alamosa meet in the first of two IML clashes while Coal Ridge also battles another 4A school in Steamboat Springs earlier on Wednesday. Also out west is a key game between #5 Sanford and #8 Ignacio. The Indians also head to Mancos on Friday in another important game that will help seed the 2A postseason.
Several other top 10 pairings can be found on the schedule including Peyton vs Manitou Springs, Longmont vs Evergreen, Eaglecrest vs Smoky Hill and Valor Christian-Mountain Vista.
Below is our top 20 games for the week. We’ll preview more in-depth each day of the week as we give you primers for each day of basketball throughout the season.
TUESDAY
#7 Peyton (2A) at #4 Manitou Springs (3A)
#2 Faith Christian vs University
WEDNESDAY
#1 Lutheran (3A) vs Holy Family
#9 Eaton (3A) vs Highland
#3 Longmont at #6 Evergreen (4A)
#7 Eaglecrest vs #10 Smoky Hill (5A)
THURSDAY
#2 Faith Christian at #7 St Mary’s (3A)
FRIDAY
#1 Limon (2A) vs #7 Genoa Hugo (1A)
#5 Sanford (2A) at Mancos
#1 Lutheran (3A) at University
#5 Resurrection Christian (3A) at Highland
#8 Centauri at Alamosa
#10 Coal Ridge (3A) vs Glenwood Springs
#2 Lewis Palmer (2A) at Centaurus
#1 Cherry Creek (5A) vs Mullen
#6 Valor Christian vs #8 Mountain Vista (5A)
SATURDAY
#1 Limon at #2 Yuma (2A)
#5 Sanford vs #8 Ignacio (2A)
#3 Sterling at #5 Resurrection Christian (3A)
#8 Harrison (4A) vs Pueblo East
