Conference play is the focus of our top games for Tuesday selections. Nine of the ten games are on our list involve a first or second place team in a conference trying to keep or improve their place in the standings. The lone exception is a top five (RPI) clash in Class 2A.
Belleview Christian at Flatirons Academy: Flatirons is tied with Shining Mountain for the 5280 lead. Belleview Christian lost a tight game to Shining Mountain last week so they need a win to stay within one game of the leaders. The Bison have beaten Front Range Baptist (52-21) and Beth Eden (69-15) so they’ve not been pushed in conference action. They’ve won three straight since a loss to 3A Liberty Common. Belleview had won nine-in-a-row before falling to Shining Mountain (36-24) last Wednesday.
Limon at Simla: Excellent top 10 matchup in Class 2A as both teams get a break from conference play to continue their long-standing rivalry. RPI will also be a factor as the Badgers enter the game second and the Cubs fifth overall. Limon followed up a big win over Holyoke on January 18th by downing Deer Trail and Akron by a combined 78 points last weekend. 10 players scored against Deer Trail led by Brooke Younger with 10. 13 Badgers hit the scoring column against Akron with Michiah Leeper (10) topping the list. Simla has dropped four straight since a loss to Yuma. Kaitlyn Rector averages a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds a night. Taylor Warnecke (12.3) and Halle Lutz (10.4) also provide plenty of offense.
Dawson at Heritage Christian: Both teams open the week unbeaten in the 2A Mile High and tied with Denver Christian atop the standings. Heritage Christian also meets Denver Chrsitian on Friday so they can almost wrap up the crown with a pair of victories this week. The Eagles have dominant this year as just one of their nine games has been decided by single digits (Estes Park). Emma Johnson scores 19.5 points with 14.3 rebounds a game to easily lead the Eagles in both categories. Dawson has won their last five following back-to-back losses to 3A Academy and 1A Shining Mountain. Kaitlyn Day (15.8) is the leading scorer and Maddy Timms (8.5) the top rebounder.
Platte Valley at Liberty Common: Two clubs are part of a five-way tie for second place in the 3A Patriot. All five teams trail University (4-0) by one game midway through the league slate. Both teams still have a game left with the first-place Bulldogs so the winner remains in excellent position to earn at least a piece of the title. Liberty Common suffered a conference loss to Estes Park (43-28) as leading scorer Tatum Flack (11.1) attempted just one shot. Platte Valley’s league loss came to Eaton (56-48) despite 22 points from Brooke Bunting and 14 from Cora Schissler.
Grand Valley at Coal Ridge: An elimination game in a crowded Western Slope chase. The Cardinals (1-1) and Coal Ridge (2-1) are part of a four-way logjam in second place with each club trailing Delta and Cedaredge by one game. Grand Valley has won five of six with the lone loss at home to Moffat County (44-34) last Friday. Coal Ridge lost a share of first place with the 64-42 loss at Delta on the same night.
Northridge at Centaurus: The two clubs are 4-2 in the Northern Conference and tied with Greeley Central and Longmont in second place. Winners of the two games will share second place. Centaurus may have the advantage based on comparison scores against first place Thompson Valley. The Grizzlies lost by 36 points and Centaurus by just eight. Both teams are led by talented youngers; sophomore Seneya Martinez paces Northridge with 11.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals while the Warriors are led offensively by freshman Laura Gensert (13.9).
Greeley Central at Longmont: The second half of two league matchups in the 4A Northern that will help determine second place just past the halfway mark of the conference schedule. The Wildcats had lost two straight to Centaurus and Thompson Valley respectively but snapped that skid by beating Greeley West (52-39) last Saturday. Longmont looks to rebound from a 69-39 loss at Northridge last Friday.
Conifer at Skyview: The Lobos and Wolverines are both perfect in league action and start the night tied with Alamosa atop the Colorado 8 race. Skyview also meets Alameda later in the week so they can gain control of the standings with two wins. The Wolverines are the defending league champions and have won 13 straight conference games dating back to a 53-49 loss to Conifer on January 19th, 2017. Included in the streak are wins over Weld Central (47-37) and Englewood (54-16) last week. Thalia Guardiola, with 16 points, led the way against the Rebels while Jennifer Jaramillo and Casandra Olivas each netted 11 vs Englewood. Conifer has won just four games overall but three have come over the past two weeks. They’re 3-1 in their last four with wins over Denver North, Pomona and Arvada.
Legacy at Fossil Ridge: Fossil Ridge is unbeaten through four Front Range games and has a piece of the top spot with Broomfield and Fairview. Legacy is alone in fourth place but the Lightning have just one league loss and remains in title contention. Fossil Ridge has nearly doubled up the competition in league play outscoring them 234-121. Legacy is plus 37 points in conference play with their lone loss to Mountain Range by just two points (33-31). That loss ended a four game winning streak.
Doherty at Liberty: Liberty sits alone atop the 5A CS Metro with a one game edge on Fountain Fort Carson and Doherty. They also meet Fountain Fort Carson on Thursday so two wins give the Lancers a nice two game cushion in the conference standings. Doherty opened league action with a one point loss to Pine Creek but has since won four straight. That includes double digit wins over league rivals Coronado, Fountain Fort Carson and Palmer. Taryn Lindsey (12.0) is the lone double figure scorer while Aujanae Latimer (9.1) is nearly double digits in rebounds. Liberty has been pushed in their last two league games; getting by Coronado 47-37 and Pine Creek 36-27. Lydia Marshal averages 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds and leads the Lancers in both categories.
There are also two non-conference games worth mentioning that do not impact league races but will change up RPI standings. The first is in Class 1A between Genoa Hugo and Wiley while the second is found in the bigger school ranks as 4A Green Mountain faces 5A ThunderRidge.
