Four conference championships are still on the line as the boys’ basketball regular season comes to a close today.  Winners of the 2A Southern Peaks, 2A San Juan, 4A Western Slope and 5A City league have yet to be finalized.
In Class 2A, Sanford and Del Norte square off to determine the league champion and top district seed.  Sanford is playing at home and favored since they topped the Tigers on the road in non-league action last month.
The key game in the San Juan race involves Ouray on the road to Mancos.  Ignacio has closed league play at 9-2 and Mancos (8-2) needs a win to keep a piece of first place.  Ouray (1A) is in third and take over second place by beating Mancos today.  The Bluejays would then drop to third.  If Mancos wins, a tiebreaker will be needed to determine the top two seeds for the District 3 tournament.  Mancos beat Ignacio 59-48 in the first meeting while Ignacio scored a 59-54 win in the rematch earlier this week.
Up in Class 4A, Glenwood Springs used overtime and a last second shot to knock off Palisade 68-65 last night as they finished the Western Slope chase at 11-1.  Steamboat Springs (10-1) has one more game left and if they win at home against Summit, the Demons and Sailors will share the title.  Steamboat Springs moved past Summit 53-40 in Frisco earlier this year.
The 5A City League chase comes down to the final matchup between Denver East and George Washington.  East is unbeaten in league play with a one game edge on Lincoln and George Washington.  They’ve already beaten Lincoln and a win today gives East the championship.  The three clubs share the top spot if the Patriots spring the upset.
District tournaments are already underway in Class 3A and there are several elimination games on the Saturday schedule.  Only the winners of the games listed below continue their season.

  • Prospect Ridge at Machebeuf (Metro)
  • Skyview Academy at Jefferson Academy (Metro)
  • Stargate at Peak to Peak (Metro)
  • Atlas Prep at Salida (Tri Peaks
  • Buena Vista at James Irwin (Tri Peaks)
  • Florence at Manitou Springs (Tri Peaks)
  • Trinidad at La Junta (Tri Peaks)
  • Aspen at Basalt (Western Slope)
  • Cedaredge at Moffat County (Western Slope)

The Frontier bracket had pigtail games earlier this week and the quarterfinals are set for this afternoon.  Winners advance to the semifinals next week while the losers continue work through the consolation side.

  • Arrupe Jesuit at Middle Park
  • Bruce Randolph at Academy
  • Jefferson at KIPP Collegiate
  • Sheridan at DSST-Stapleton

Classes 2A and 1A also see some elimination games in a few district tournaments today.  Again, only winners from these games keep their seasons alive.

  • Platte Canyon at Denver Academy (2A District 4)
  • Rye at Swink (2A District 6)
  • Antonito at Manzanola (1A District 6)
  • La Veta at Mountain Valley (1A District 6)