To put it bluntly, this is a big night for girls’ basketball as at least eight games will decide league championships or change postseason bracketing. Much of the important play can be found in Class 1A where four games will affect how the top 12 spots in the bracket will end up.
Heading up the list is the San Juan championship game where Dove Creek battles 2A Ignacio for the championship. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in league play with Ignacio a game back following an upset loss to Mancos earlier this week. Despite the one game gap, the winner will end up with the crown. Both are also in the running for a top eight seed and a first-round bye in their respective playoff bracket as each is 11th in seeding points released by CHSAA on Wednesday.
McClave comes off a ten-day quarantine break and will play three games in three days to finish the season including a league championship battle with Kit Carson on Friday. Tonight’s game won’t be easy either as they return against South Baca. The Patriots are 5th in seeding points and McClave is 6th so the winner hopes to climb into the top four.
Elbert is 8th and Shining Mountain 10th in seeding points so their matchup carries plenty of postseason weight. The top eight seeds earn a first round bye so the winner stays in line for that benefit.
Sitting 7th in points, Kim/Branson is also in that discussion as the Mustangs would like a bye into the Sweet 16. They meet Eads and the game is also very important for the Eagles. They’ve slid to 25th in points and only 24 teams get into the bracket. The Eagles likely need to reach at least 23rd points as the West Central winner also gets into the bracket and neither La Veta or Manzanola are in the top 24. Those clubs play on Friday to determine which club gets in automatically as a league champion.
The 4A West Slope race could end up in chaos as the top four teams continue to battle head-on. Staring the night, Rifle and Glenwood Springs are tied at 8-2 with Battle Mountain and Palisade one game back at 7-3. Rifle plays Palisade tonight and Battle Mountain meets Glenwood Springs on Saturday. If Palisade and Battle Mountain both win; the four teams will end up at 8-3 and tied for the top spot. Playoff positioning is also tight as the four teams currently hold down spots 28-31 in Class 4A. And the top 32 teams earn a place in the bracket.
A second interesting matchup out west is found in Class 3A between Moffat County and Basalt. The winner ends up second behind Delta in the league race and the winner probably stands a better chance of hosting a first-round playoff game. In seeding points released yesterday, the Bulldogs are 14th and the Longhorns 15th. Teams 9-16 in the final point totals will be at home in round one.
Back to Class 4A, Falcon and Canon City is a top 10 clash to determine the overall championship in the CS Metro. The Falcons rolled through the North division without a loss and the Tigers did the same in the South. Falcon is third in seeding points and has clinched a first round bye. Canon City is 9th and they hope a win over the Falcons could get them past Classical Academy and Grand Junction Central and into the top eight.
The Colorado championship goes to the winner between Weld Central and Thornton. The Rebels and Bluejays are 1-2 in the standings and are separated by just one game. Weld Central is 14th and Thornton 18th in recent seeding points so both could be at home in round one of the 4A playoffs.
In the big school rankings, top ranked Grandview looks to secure another Centennial championship by beating Arapahoe. The Warriors are tied with Mullen in second place but are two games back. Grandview has already swept Mullen and has a previous win over Arapahoe as well.
Below is the entire top 10 schedule and other games of note. Colorado Preps will update results and league scenarios throughout the night.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #4 Flatirons Academy beat Mile High Academy (Forfeit)
FINAL: #5 South Baca beat #8 McClave 44-35
FINAL: #6 Kim/Branson beat Eads 46-12
FINAL: #10 Shining Mountain beat #7 Elbert 37-31
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #4 Rye beat Peyton 50-30
FINAL: Dove Creek beat #10 Ignacio 51-48
NOTES: Dove Creek lands the San Juan championship and stays unbeaten on the season by handing Ignacio their second straight loss. The Bulldogs possibly move closer to a first-round bye as well as they were 11th in seeding points (1A) on Wednesday. Ignacio was also 11th in 2A and still should be at home for round one.
CLASS 3A
FINAL: Moffat County beat Basalt 45-32
NOTES: Moffat County uses the win to capture second place behind Delta in the Western Slope chase. The victory could also keep the Bulldogs at home in the first round of the playoffs next Tuesday.
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #3 Mullen beat Eaglecrest 59-37
FINAL: #4 Falcon beat #8 Canon City 52-33
FINAL: #6 Windsor beat Thompson Valley 88-42
FINAL: Coal Ridge beat #10 Grand Junction Central 49-48
FINAL: Palisade beat Rifle 53-41
FINAL: Weld Central beat Thornton 55-43
NOTES: Falcon grabs the overall CS Metro championship as they pick up the win over Canon City. Both teams were unbeaten in their respective division during the regular season. Windsor and Thompson Valley both placed second in their respective conference this year but the Wizards were by far the better this evening. Palisade continued the chaos in the Western Slope as their win over Rifle left Glenwood Springs alone in first. The Demons lead the race by one game over the Bears and Bulldogs but have a game with Battle Mountain on Saturday. Battle Mountain creates a four way tie for the championship if they upset the Demons. Weld Central clinched the Colorado title and their win over Thornton gave them a perfect record through the league schedule.
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #1 Grandview beat #7 Arapahoe 76-47
FINAL: #5 Ralston Valley beat Denver East 61-43
NOTES: Grandview wraps up the Centennial title by beating Arapahoe for a second time this season. The Warriors suffer their third league loss but can still earn a share of second place by beating Mullen in their regular season finale. The Mustangs moved a game ahead by beating Eaglecrest this evening.
