Only a handful of teams around the state kicked off the January portion of their girls basketball slate immediately after the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve. Most programs are still engaged in nonleague and interclassification play as the schedule gets jumping again, and this week we’ll look at some of those top upcoming games.

Class 3A

Wiggins at Byers
This pair of 6-1 teams butt heads on Tuesday night in what surely is to be a tough tilt for each. Wiggins, which is No. 3 in CHSAA’s Class 3A Selection & Seeding Index, has seen incredible production from senior Kennedy Kerr (16.9 points per game), but she is the only player on the team averaging more than six points. Defense will come in handy against Byers (No. 7 in 2A Index), which has five players averaging between seven and nine points per outing.

Berthoud at Resurrection Christian
These two teams, which meet Wednesday, have combined for a 15-0 record so far. Win or lose, the 4A Spartans (9-0, 4A No. 2 Index) will get a test from the Cougars (6-0, 3A No. 4 Index) in the proximity rivalry. A group of five seniors lead RCS in scoring through the first portion of the season.

Montrose at Centauri
The Falcons are tops in the 3A Index at 8-0, and they’ll have a tough weekend playing Delta and Montrose (8-1, 5A No. 12 Index), the latter on Saturday. Depth has been instrumental in CHS’ start, as seven players average between five and 10 points per game.

Class 2A

Wiggins at Merino
The Tigers travel to Merino (6-0, 2A No. 2 Index) on Friday. The Rams do not offer stats but nonetheless are riding a 33-game win streak with their deep roster of players.

Simla at Byers
This Friday matchup is the second in a stretch of three tough games for the Bulldogs, as Byers also plays Denver Christian next Tuesday night. Simla is No. 3 in the Index with five games played, and sophomore Carlee Cox (14.4 points per game) will look to keep her hot start to the season going.

Hoehne at McClave
McClave’s status as 1A No. 1 gets challenged this weekend with games against Eads and Hoehne (6-1, 2A Index No. 6). The Farmers are another group with good experience, having four seniors (Kaylah Crosson, Alessa Cantoria, Ellegra Gutierrez, Phoenix San Roman) contributing 68% of their team’s scoring.

Class 1A

Deer Trail at Caliche
Neither of these teams has played a lot of games, but the matchup on Thursday is appealing as the squads rank Nos. 9 and 10 in the 1A Index as it stands. Deer Trail’s Alena Sanchez-Neal is posting double-double figures including a 17.3 scoring average, while Caliche has posted 51 points per game in a 4-0 start with a roster that includes just three seniors.

Evangel Christian at Eads
Equally intriguing to Deer Trail-Caliche is this Saturday afternoon battle of Eagles. ECA (5-1, 1A No. 5 Index) has three double-digit scorers led by junior Reagan Schultz. Eads (5-2, 1A No. 6 Index) has been buoyed by five non-seniors who have posted between five and 11 points per game.

DeBeque at Plateau Valley
DeBeque is already nine games deep into its schedule, and this battle on Friday against PVHS represents another tough one against a team in a higher classification. The Dragons (6-3, 1A No. 12 Index) are only six-deep on the roster, but Avery Vines and Avery Rigsby have both been warriors combining for 2/3 of the team’s scoring.