The final week of January brings quite a few important conference games in each class. We’ve gone through the schedule and come up with the top games for the week ahead.
Photo is provided by Lance Wendt.
CLASS 1A
Denver Jewish Day at Denver Waldorf (MON): Both teams are unbeaten in the 5280 and tied with Flatirons Academy for the top spot.
Mile High Academy at Longmont Christian (MON): Probably the best non-league game of the week as both teams seek more consistency heading into the final month.
Cheraw at Cheyenne Wells (FRI): The Wolverines are 1-0 in the High Plains league and tied with Kit Carson in first. Cheyenne Wells is coming off a loss to KC last week and must win to stay in the championship discussion.
Wiley at Kim/Branson (FRI): The Panthers lost a tough one to Walsh last week so they need a win here to remain in the Ark Valley race. Kim/Branson is unbeaten in the conference and tied with Walsh in first.
Fleming at Briggsdale (SAT): Briggsdale has a two game edge on Fleming and Prairie in the North Central and a win here basically wraps up the league crown.
Vail Christian at DeBeque (SAT): This one should be for all the marbles in the Western Slope. Both teams are 4-0 in league play and have a two game edge on all other clubs.
CLASS 2A
Crested Butte at Center (TUES): The outcome could determine second place behind Sanford in the Southern Peaks race.
Dawson at Heritage Christian (TUES): This serves as an elimination game inside the Mile High. Both teams have one loss and trail Highland and Denver Christian by one game in the league standings.
Fowler at Hoehne (FRI): Fowler is unbeaten and sits alone in first in the Santa Fe. Hoehne was tied with the Grizzlies last week but two losses dropped them to fourth. They must win to stay within range of the Grizzlies.
Crowley County at Holly (FRI): The teams are tied for second behind Fowler in the Santa Fe. It’s the second meeting between the two with Holly gaining a two point road win in Ordway less than two weeks ago.
Sedgwick County at Merino (FRI): Sedgwick County starts the game tied with Yuma as league unbeatens in the Lower Platte. Merino lost to Caliche in their league opener and must win to stay within one game of the leaders
Heritage Christian at Denver Christian (FRI): If Heritage Christian beats Dawson on Tuesday, then the Eagles enter this contest just one game of the Mile High lead. Denver Christian is tied with Highland atop the standings.
Sedgwick County at Yuma (SAT): This game will determine the outright lead in the Lower Platte provided the Cougars get by Merino earlier in the week. Both the Cougars and Indians go into the week at 3-0 in the conference.
Byers at Burlington (SAT): Both teams are unbeaten in the Union Pacific and tied with Limon in first place. The winner likely becomes the top challenger to the Badgers.
CLASS 3A
DSST-Green Valley at DSST-Byers (MON): Both are tied with William Smith for the Confluence league lead but most experts feel the outcome here will determine the top two league spots.
Grand Valley at Coal Ridge (TUES): The Western Slope is a crazy race right now as six teams share the top spot with one league apiece. The Cardinals and Titans are two of those clubs.
Manual at Faith Christian (WED): Lutheran has the Metro lead but the T-Bolts and Eagles are two of the four teams tied for second with one loss apiece. Faith Christian has already lost to Lutheran so a loss eliminates them from the title chase. Manual will play the Lions later in the year.
William Smith at DSST-Green Valley (THURS): The second of two important games for DSST-Green Valley inside the Confluence. Wins in both give them complete control of the title chase.
Delta at Grand Valley (THURS): Another matchup featuring two of the six teams that entered the week in first place atop the Western Slope. Grand Valley will be coming off a tough trip to Coal Ridge two nights earlier.
Centauri at Alamosa (FRI): Both teams are 4-0 inside the Intermountain so the winner takes the first half lead into February.
Machebeuf at Manual (FRI): The two teams enter the week tied with Faith Christian and Jefferson Academy in second place and one game back of Lutheran. The scenario could change based on Manual’s result with Faith Christian on Wednesday. This is the only game of the week for Machebeuf.
University at Liberty Common (FRI): Liberty Common has just three wins overall but two are in the Patriot so they’re tied with Sterling and Eaton in second place behind Resurrection Christian. University has close losses to Rez and Eaton so they sit in fourth.
Manitou Springs at Lamar (SAT): Manitou Springs is 6-0 in the Tri Peaks and tied with Vanguard atop the standings. Lamar fell to third (5-1) with Saturday’s loss to Vanguard so they need a win to remain in the title discussion.
CLASS 4A
Englewood at Weld Central (TUES): An early sort-out game inside the Colorado 8 as the Pirates and Rebels are both unbeaten in league play (2-0). They’re tied with Fort Lupton and Conifer in first.
Windsor at Mead (TUES): Mead (9-0) has a two game edge on the Wizards and Erie in the Tri Valley. Windsor has a loss to the Mavericks and the second leaves them out of title contention most likely.
D’Evelyn at Golden (WED): Golden is tied with Wheat Ridge for the Jeffco lead with D’Evelyn sitting one game back and sharing third with Green Mountain.
Englewood at Conifer (THURS): Another important game early in the Colorad0 8 chase as both enter the week without a league loss.
Green Mountain at Wheat Ridge (FRI): It’s the same scenario as the Golden-D’Evelyn matchup from Wednesday as the Farmers have a piece of first place and the Rams one back in third.
Centaurus at Silver Creek (FRI): Longmont is unbeaten in the Northern and leads Silver Creek by one game. Centaurus is another game back in third.
Summit at Steamboat Springs (FRI): Both teams have a league loss to Glenwood Springs so they share second place one game behind the Demons. The winner will be alone in second.
CLASS 5A
Boulder at Mountain Range (TUES): Boulder (4-0) sits tied with Fairview atop the Front Range but the Mustangs are one game back and in a third place tie with Fossil Ridge.
Highlands Ranch at Legend (TUES): It’s crowded atop the Continental with Legend (2-0) alone in first with a one game edge on six other teams. Highlands Ranch is one of those six.
Valor Christian at Ralston Valley (WED): Valor Christian posted a win over Columbine so a win over the Mustangs this week should lead them to the Jeffco championship. Ralston Valley is also 1-0 in early conference play.
Smoky Hill at Cherry Creek (WED): The first of two huge games in the Centennial. The Buffs and Bruins are both 5-1 and tied with Grandview in first.
Rangeview at Vista Peak (THURS): Both teams are 3-0 in the East Metro and share the top spot with Gateway. The Olympians though have just three wins overall so the outcome of this one should determine the top two positions.
Smoky Hill at Grandview (FRI): Important game number two for the Buffs in the Centennial. They opened the week tied with Cherry Creek and Grandview so wins in both games give them sole possession of the league lead going into February.
George Washington at Northfield (FRI): Both teams are 3-0 and tied with Denver East atop the City league.
