It’s a good schedule of games in girls’ basketball tonight and the decision on which games to list as most important was not easy. The exception came in Class 1A where only four games made the Friday Five list.
CLASS 1A
Wray at Haxtun
Elbert at Pikes Peak Christian
Sangre De Cristo at La Veta
Otis at Briggsdale
NOTES: One of four big games inside the Lower Platte league is set for tonight in Haxtun as the Bulldogs host Wray. Both teams are ranked fourth in their respective class. Haxtun is tied with Yuma atop the standings with Wray one game back. The visiting Eagles have already lost a league contest with Yuma so a second loss likely knocks them out of the championship picture. Haxtun and Yuma collide in the regular season finale. Neither Elbert or Pikes Peak Christian is in the top 25 of RPI but their game tonight will impact the Black Forest chase. The clubs share first place with Edison. Sangre De Cristo looks for another major win inside the Southern Peaks race. The T-Birds rolled Cotopaxi last week and visit La Veta tonight. The Redskins have a loss to Cotopaxi so Sangre is heavily favored. Briggsdale has a huge game with Fleming on Saturday so they must avoid looking past Otis. The Falcons enter the game unbeaten at 13-0 and their battle with Fleming tomorrow likely determines the North Central crown.
CLASS 2A
Soroco at Rangely
Plateau Valley at Meeker
Holyoke at Yuma
Holly at Crowley County
Sargent at Center
NOTES: The winner between Soroco-Rangely keeps at least a share of second place in the Western Slope. Both the Rams (4-1) and Panthers (2-1) have a league loss and sit tied with Hotchkiss (4-1) one game back of first place Meeker.  Meeker could get tested by a Plateau Valley team that is only 2-2 in league play but 9-3 overall. We mentioned the Wray-Haxtun game in Class 1A and equally important is the 2A clash between Holyoke and Yuma. The Dragons have league losses to Wray and Haxtun so they a need a win to remain in the chase for a top two finish. Yuma will be alone in first with a win if Wray takes out Haxtun. Crowley County and Holly battle for the second time in two weeks. Holly beat the Chargers 34-26 on January 12th. The Wildcats are 5-2 in league play and Crowley County 5-3 so the winner stays in good shape for at least a third-place finish in the Santa Fe East. The winner between Sargent and Center should end up in the top three of the Southern Peaks. Sargent beat the Vikings 57-30 earlier this year.
CLASS 3A
Coal Ridge at Grand Valley
Alamosa at Centauri
Prospect Ridge at Faith Christian
Platte Valley at Estes Park
University at Liberty Common
NOTES: Coal Ridge is third in the Western Slope and one game back of Delta and Moffat County. Grand Valley shared the spot before a loss to Delta on Thursday (72-48). Coal Ridge also has a loss to Delta in their last game but by just three points (52-49). Centauri and Alamosa both have a league loss to Pagosa Springs so they share second place behind the Pirates. It’s the first of two meetings between the local rivals this year as they battle again on February 9th. The Metro race is a mess as Lutheran’s win over Skyview Academy this week created a five-way tie for conference lead. Faith Christian and Prospect Ridge are two of those clubs so one will fall off the pace. Eaton (5-0) has the Patriot lead by one game over Platte Valley, Resurrection Christian and Liberty Common. Two of the second-place squads face strong opponents tonight as the Broncos face Estes Park and the Eagles battle University. Both opponents have two league losses but stay in contention for a top three finish with wins.
CLASS 4A
D’Evelyn at Evergreen
Battle Mountain at Glenwood Springs
Longmont at Greeley Central
Air Academy at Palmer Ridge
Thomas Jefferson at Denver South
NOTES: D’Evelyn and Evergreen continue their long-standing rivalry with a very important game. The Jags and Cougars are both 5-0 in league play so the winner lands the Jeffco lead. The two teams have won a combined 26 games this year. It’s the same setup for Battle Mountain and Glenwood Springs on the Western Slope. The Demons are 4-0 in league play and the Huskies 3-0 so the winner gets the outright lead. Greeley Central needs a win over Longmont to maintain sole possession of the Northern conference lead. The Tigers are 6-0 in league play and 14-1 overall. They lead Longmont and Thompson Valley by one game and are coming off a solid win over Thompson Valley (44-33) earlier this week. Longmont’s league loss came against Thompson Valley on January 8th (55-46). Air Academy (7-0) and Palmer Ridge (5-1) are one-two in the Pikes Peak conference. Air Academy easily won the first meeting (60-20).  Thomas Jefferson (3-0) share the City league lead with Denver East. Denver South is one of three teams one game back as they share third place with Far Northeast and George Washington.
CLASS 5A
Mountain Range at Broomfield
Chaparral at Highlands Ranch
Ponderosa at Mountain Vista
Valor Christian at Lakewood
Arvada West at Dakota Ridge
NOTES: The winner between Mountain Range — Broomfield keeps at least a piece of second place in the Front Range. The two currently share the position with Legacy and Horizon. First place belongs to Fossil Ridge (5-0) and the Sabercats should stay there as they face Loveland (1-5) this evening. Chaparral, ThunderRidge, Ponderosa and Mountain Vista all have one Continental league loss and all four clubs sit one game back of co-leaders Highlands Ranch and Regis. Chaparral has the most difficult test but an upset brings many teams back into the championship picture. A Highlands Ranch win leaves third place to the Ponderosa-Mountain Vista winner and ThunderRidge as the Grizzlies are heavily favored against Castle View. Valor Christian (14-2) is heavily favored against Lakewood (5-10) but the game is on our list because the winner takes over the Jeffco lead. Both teams are 2-0 early on. The Arvada West-Dakota Ridge winner stays one game back. They’re both 1-1 in league play and sit tied with Ralston Valley and Chatfield in third place.
