It’s a good Saturday schedule across boys’ basketball and we breakdown the top games in each class.
Mile High Academy vs Flatirons Academy: Flatirons lost a share of the 5280 lead with their 67-53 loss to Denver Waldorf Thursday night. It dropped them into a second-place tie with Mile High Academy and Denver Jewish Day. All three teams are now battling for the second spot behind Denver Waldorf in the fast approaching District 8 tournament. Both clubs enter the game ranked in the 1A Top 10.
South Baca at Kim/Branson: This could be important to the Ark Valley chase as South Baca (1-1) sits one game back of both Kim/Branson and Walsh. It’s a good rivalry as well. Another key feature involves Shadow Varnado as he’s coming off a 67-point explosion in an overtime loss to Felt OK last night. It’s the third best single game total in Colorado history. Kim/Branson has great depth and their full court pressure has a tendency to wear opponents down. A Kim/Branson win sets up a major showdown with Walsh a week from today.
Crested Butte at Sanford: The Titans are one of the biggest surprises statewide. After winning just 10 combined games the past two years, they’re out of the gate at 12-2 and sit unbeaten in the 2A Southern Peaks. Now they must take out tradition-rich Sanford to win the league championship. The Indians are 12-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference. They also topped Crested Butte 50-28 in an earlier non-league affair.
Wray at Sedgwick County: There’s a high probability the winner of this one will end up second to Yuma in the 2A/1A Lower Platte race. Both teams are 3-1 in league play so the winner move into sole possession of second place. Each has dropped a conference game to Yuma so catching the Indians might be difficult but the winner has a good chance at landing opposite the Indians in the district bracket.
Limon at Burlington: Both clubs are unbeaten in the 2A/1A Union Pacific so the winner will take over the top spot and be in the driver’s seat to the conference championship. Burlington (7-8) is below five hundred overall but they’ve won five of their last six including a 72-46 win over Idalia on Friday. Limon (12-2) blasted Stratton/Liberty 76-35 on Friday for their 7th consecutive win.
Denver Christian at Byers: It’s a non-conference game but a possible district tournament preview as both teams compete in District 4. Both teams also had a key game on Friday postponed as the Bulldogs were set to host Yuma and the Thunder had an important league test with Dayspring Christian. Byers last played last Saturday and suffered a 68-64 overtime loss to Burlington. They’ve split their last six overall. Denver Christian opened 1-2 but has captured 11 straight victories.
Dolores Huerta at DSST-Byers: Another good non-league battle against quality teams from 2A and 3A. Dolores Huerta (10-2) needs a good opponent to boost their RPI as they enter the game 20th in Class 2A. DSST-Byers is the likely Confluence league champion in Class 3A but they could use an RPI boost as well. They’re 12th and need to stay in the top 16 to get a chance to host the first two rounds of the state tournament; if they win their district bracket.
Lutheran at Jefferson Academy: This one lost a bit of importance as Jefferson Academy fell to Faith Christian earlier in the week. The Jaguars are now two games of the Lions but still competing for third place in the Metro. Lutheran scored an impressive win at Sterling 60-52 two nights ago and a win today moves them to within one game of clinching the league crown.
