This week’s Friday Five Feature comes with an asterisk as due to a lackluster schedule in Class 4A we have just three games listed. But otherwise, we select what we call the five most important games in each division. Weather could also take out a few of these games and we’ll update if postponements come in.
CLASS 1A
Sangre De Cristo at Cotopaxi
Briggsdale at Prairie
Eads at McClave
Edison at Elbert
Cheraw at Kim/Branson
Notes: Matchups inside the Southern Peaks set for this weekend could decide the top three spots in the conference race and district tournament. Sangre De Cristo, Cotopaxi and La Veta are among the favorites to push for the title. The T-Birds and Pirates battle tonight and then Cotopaxi and La Veta get together on Saturday. Sangre and Cotopaxi each have one loss against a quality 2A opponent with the T-Birds falling to Del Norte and the Pirates to Rye. It’s a similar situation in the North Central where Prairie can push for the league title as they meet Briggsdale tonight and Fleming tomorrow. The Mustangs are tied with Briggsdale atop the league standings with Fleming one game off the pace. Eads and McClave are battling Cheraw for second place behind Kit Carson in the Mile High. McClave has already beaten Cheraw so they get very close to nailing down the spot with another win tonight. Eads (0-1) has lost to Kit Carson in league play. Elbert and Edison have a first place battle in the Black Forest. The Bulldogs are 1-0 in league play and the Eagles 2-0. They share the top spot with Pikes Peak Christian. Cheraw vs Kim/Branson is likely the best non-league pairing of the day. Both have six wins so both could choose a win to RPI numbers for regional tournament seeding should they qualify.
CLASS 2A
Highland at Heritage Christian
DeBeque at Meeker
Paonia at Plateau Valley
Swink at Rocky Ford
Del Norte at Sargent
Notes: Highland and Heritage Christian are both unbeaten in the Mile-High conference and tied with Dawson in first place. The teams are also a combined 17-2 on the season. Meeker (3-0) stands alone atop the Western Slope but the Cowgirls are being chased by a large group of seven teams with just one conference loss. 1A DeBeque is one of those clubs (2-1) and the visiting Dragons need a win to stay in the league title chase. Paonia and Plateau Valley each have one league loss as well so that outcome will help sort out the top four spots. Swink looks to remain unbeaten in the Santa Fe as they face Rocky Ford for a second time. The Meloneers are in the second place mix along with Rye, Hoehne and Holly but they lost to the Lions 53-21 in the first meeting. It’s a non-conference game but the matchup between Del Norte — Sargent will give an indication if the Farmers can challenge the heavily favored Tigers in the Southern Peaks chase. Sargent had won three straight before Tuesday’s loss to 3A Bayfield (43-39).
CLASS 3A
Delta at Coal Ridge
Grand Valley at Moffat County
Centauri at Bayfield
Bennett at Academy
Lotus School at Strive Prep
Notes: We’ve mentioned throughout the season that the Western Slope chase could be among the best league races statewide. Up to six teams could challenge for the league title and four of them square off this evening. Delta, Coal Ridge and Moffat County are all 2-0 in conference play while Grand Valley joins the fray with their first league game of the season at Craig. Bayfield has quietly won three straight games including a conference win over Montezuma Cortez. An upset of Centauri puts the Wolverines in the mix for the Intermountain championship race. The Falcons are 1-1 following a Monday loss to Pagosa Springs. Academy is the overwhelming favorite to land the Frontier crown but Bennett could one of their top challengers. The Tigers were 2-0 in league play before a loss to Lake County (50-38) at home last Saturday. Academy is 9-1 on the season. While neither is expected to make much of a run in the post-season, both Lotus and Strive Prep are 7-2 on the season and 1-0 inside the Confluence. The winner continues to battle DSST-College View (2-0) and Eagle Ridge Academy (1-0) for that conference championship.
CLASS 4A
Holy Family at Windsor
Thompson Valley at Northridge
Palmer Ridge at Sand Creek
Notes: There are 16 games on the Friday schedule but we could only get to three quality matchups as most of the games feature teams below 500 against one another. By the far the most important game is between Holy Family and Windsor as they’re a combined 11-0 in Tri Valley league play. The winner gets the first half lead. Both have won their league games by right at 20 per games as the Tigers have five conference wins by a total of 102 points and Windsor their six by a combined 122. Thompson Valley (4-0) is tied with Greeley Central atop the Northern standings. Northridge is one game back (3-1) and tied with Longmont in third place. Palmer Ridge lost their Pikes Peak opener to top ranked Air Academy but has won their last four to stay one game back of the Kadets. They need a win on the road against a solid Sand Creek team to stay within range of the league leaders. The Scorpions are 2-2 in league play but 9-4 overall.
CLASS 5A
Mountain Range at Legacy
Grand Junction at Fruita Monument
Vista Peak at Brighton
Prairie View at Rangeview
Arapahoe at Cherokee Trail
Notes: Mountain Range and Legacy haven’t garnered much statewide attention but both clubs are unbeaten in Front Range play and are tied with Fossil Ridge atop the standings. One will fall of the pace tonight. Mountain Range (12-3) has five more wins overall. Only one conference game has been played thus far in the Southwestern League and Fruita Monument has that win. They go for a 2-0 start against Grand Junction in the first of two meetings with their local rival. Vista Peak, Brighton, Prairie View and Rangeview all open the night without a league loss so the two winners will share the East Metro lead. Arapahoe and Cherokee Trail are battling with Mullen (3-2) for third place in the rugged Centennial.
