Only a few conference championships left to decide on the final day of the girls’ basketball season. Championship games are set in the 1A Black Forest, the 2A Southern Peaks and Western Slope and the Denver Prep League. All champions will be crowned based on head-to-head matchups.
In Class 1A, Simla is home to Evangelical Christian and that survivor grabs the Black Forest title. The Cubs are 10-3 on the season and ECA 8-5 but the Eagles have a win over third place Elbert while the Cubs came up short. Both teams appear playoff bound and will play in the opening round. In our new composite rankings released before games on Friday, the Cubs were 10th in points and Evangelical Christian 19th.
Sanford took out Center rather easily on Friday but the top ranked Indians need another win over Del Norte today to capture the 2A Southern Peaks championship outright. Sanford currently sits third in seeding points and will get a first round bye. Del Norte is 16th in our latest polling and if they stay there, the Tigers would get to host an opening round contest.
Cedaredge and Soroco both won division titles and now they meet in Oak Creek to decide the overall 2A Western Slope championship. The Rams ran through the North division without a loss while the Bruins had just one stumble to Paonia in the South. The Bruins are in the mix for the top overall seed as they battle both Holyoke and Sanford for that spot. Soroco is 11th and probably can’t get into the top eight for a first round bye.
George Washington and Denver South are a combined 23-2 on the season and neither has lost a conference game. So their regular season finale will crown a champion in the Denver Prep League. George Washington is sixth in our latest composite rankings and in great shape to earn a bye into the 4A Sweet Sixteen. South will compete on the 5A level and they enter the game ranked 13th in our latest rankings. That would let them stay at home for round one.
Mullen and Arapahoe collide for the runner-up spot in the Centennial. Both have two losses to league champion and top ranked Grandview and Mullen won the first meeting easily (78-38). Mullen is fourth in 4A seeding points and Arapahoe 10th in Class 5A.
A couple of other Saturday matchups have playoff and conference race implications. In Class 2A, Briggsdale hosts Shining Mountain. The Falcons shooting for a perfect regular season and a win may be enough to keep them ahead of Kit Carson for the top overall playoff seed. Kit Carson is also unbeaten and coming off a conference title clinching win over McClave on Friday.
St Mary’s and Manitou Springs continue their great rivalry tonight. That outcome will help decide second behind top ranked Vanguard in the 3A Tri Peaks. Manitou gets to celebrate the finish alone if they grab the victory. A St Mary’s win leaves those two tied with Lamar in second. Both teams will play next Tuesday in the 3A opening round; the Pirates are 10th and will be at home while Manitou Springs is 19th and will likely travel.
Below is the entire Top 10 schedule on tap for Saturday with other notable games listed. Colorado Preps will update with scores as they come in. Results can be reported by text at 970.380.7737.
Colorado Preps will also post another set of composite rankings on Sunday and then use them to set up projected brackets. Official rankings and brackets are set for release by CHSAA on Monday. First round games are Tuesday with round two on Thursday. The Great 8 will be conducted on Saturday. All classes will play on the same three days.
Photo provided by Vibrant Valley Photography.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #1 Briggsdale beat #10 Shining Mountain 66-36
FINAL: #4 Flatirons Academy beat North Park 75-24
FINAL: Eads beat #5 South Park 39-37
FINAL: #7 Kim/Branson beat Granada 30-13
FINAL: #8 McClave beat Cheraw 43-42 (OT)
FINAL: #9 Simla beat Evangelical Christian 37-23
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #1 Sanford beat Del Norte 50-27
FINAL: #2 Cedaredge beat Soroco 59-27
#8 Wray vs Arickaree/Woodlin (Cancelled)
FINAL: #9 Limon beat Fowler 58-36
FINAL: #10 Ignacio beat Telluride 76-39
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #2 Centauri beat Bayfield 75-24
FINAL: #4 Platte Valley beat Yuma 52-30
FINAL: #9 Academy beat Bruce Randolph 54-23
FINAL: St Mary’s beat Manitou Springs 62-49
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #2 Holy Family beat Severance 68-35
FINAL: #3 Mullen beat #7 Arapahoe (5A) 62-48
FINAL: #5 George Washington beat Denver South 52-44
FINAL: Mead beat #9 Northridge 76-64
FINAL: #10 Grand Junction Central beat Durango 33-32
FINAL: Glenwood Springs beat Battle Mountain 49-41
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #1 Grandview beat Overland 77-11
FINAL: #3 Regis beat Westminster 43-27
FINAL: #4 Highlands Ranch beat Pueblo West 77-38
FINAL: #8 Rangeview beat Vista Peak 80-64
