Our list of top games for girls’ basketball includes many games that will help determine league championships but there are also many attractive non-conference battles on the slate.
CLASS 1A
Shining Mountain at Cornerstone Christian (Tuesday)
Merino at Fleming (Tuesday)
Arickaree/Woodlin at Briggsdale (Thursday)
Springfield at Wiley (Friday)
Sierra Grande at Sangre De Cristo (Saturday)
NOTES: Shining Mountain leads Cornerstone Christian and Belleview Christian by one game in the 5280 chase. A Lions win should give them the championship. Fleming-Merino is a non-league game but it could serve as a district semifinal later this month. Arickaree/Woodlin and Briggsdale could be future regional opponents so the outcome could affect those brackets. Springfield needs a win over Wiley to stay tied with South Baca atop the Ark Valley standings. Those two meet next week. Sierra Grande trails Sangre De Cristo by one game in the Southern Peaks chase. A win creates a three-way tie between the two and Cotopaxi for the top spot. A loss drops Sierra Grande to third since they lost to Cotopaxi last week.
CLASS 2A
Simla at Limon (Tuesday)
Ignacio at Del Norte (Tuesday)
Meeker at Soroco (Thursday)
Fowler at Hoehne (Thursday)
Simla at Rye (Friday)
Holly at Rocky Ford (Friday)
Sargent at Del Norte (Friday)
Swink at Sargent (Saturday)
NOTES: The battle between Meeker and Soroco should determine the Western Slope championship. Meeker has a one game lead on the Rams but Soroco won a non-conference game in Meeker in early December. Sanford will be in the mix as well but the Del Norte-Sargent outcome will affect the top three spots in the Southern Peaks. Del Norte is unbeaten overall including a win over the Farmers earlier this season. Holly and Rocky Ford share second place behind Swink in the Santa Fe Eastern division. Both have three losses. Fowler sits one game ahead of Hoehne in the race for second in the Santa Fe West. The remaining games on the schedule are non-league games but will impact RPI standings and post-season bracketing. Two of them involve Simla. The Cubs suffered a key league loss to Peyton last week and face two strong challenges this week and both are on the road. Del Norte and Ignacio are projected conference champions so that’s a good battle; especially for Ignacio to see how well they compare to the top ranked team in the division. Sargent and Swink is also a good matchup and good non-league test for both clubs as we get close to the playoffs.
CLASS 3A
Prospect Ridge at Skyview Academy (Monday)
Eagle Ridge at Strive Prep (Thursday)
Pagosa Springs at Alamosa (Friday)
Lutheran at Colorado Academy (Friday)
Roaring Fork at Moffat County (Friday)
NOTES: Pagosa Springs clinches the IML title if they beat Alamosa for a second time. The Pirates won the first meeting 45-30 and that result separates the two teams atop the conference standings. Eagle Ridge and Strive Prep are unbeaten in the Confluence league so that winner should end up with the regular season crown. Lutheran and Colorado Academy share the Metro lead with Skyview Academy so that winner is probably assured at least a top two league finish. Prospect Ridge is tied with Faith Christian in fourth and will be a tough out for Skyview on Monday. Moffat County leads Roaring Fork and Grand Valley by one game for second place in the Western Slope. A win should wrap up second place for the Bulldogs. Delta is unbeaten and alone in first.
CLASS 4A
Evergreen at D’Evelyn (Monday)
Berthoud at Holy Family (Tuesday)
Mesa Ridge at Classical Academy (Friday)
Denver East at Thomas Jefferson (Friday)
Pueblo South at Air Academy (Saturday)
Windsor at Holy Family (Saturday)
NOTES: Probably the best game on the schedule is a non-league game on Saturday between Pueblo South and Air Academy. Both have spent most of the season in the top five and this week Air Academy is first and Pueblo South 5th in RPI. The Tri Valley should finalize their top three spots this week. Windsor is unbeaten with Holy Family in second one game back. Berthoud has two league losses and sits in third. If Holy Family gets by Berthoud on Tuesday, their game with Windsor on Saturday will determine first and second. Mesa Ridge can lock up the CS Metro title officially by beating Classical Academy. They lead the second place Titans by three games already so even with a loss, the Grizzlies should end up with the title. Evergreen has a two-game cushion on D’Evelyn and Green Mountain in the Jeffco. The Cougars take a major step the title by beating the Jags for a second time. Denver East moves very close to the DPL title by beating second place Thomas Jefferson.
CLASS 5A
Broomfield at Legacy (Tuesday)
Fountain Fort Carson at Doherty (Tuesday)
Fruita Monument at Grand Junction (Tuesday)
Valor Christian at Dakota Ridge (Wednesday)
Grandview at Cherry Creek (Wednesday)
Fossil Ridge at Broomfield (Friday)
Mountain Vista at Regis (Friday)
NOTES: The most attractive game for the week is on Wednesday as Grandview and Cherry Creek meet for the second time. Both teams are ranked in the top five and they sit one-two in the Centennial league with the difference a 54-53 win by Grandview in the first meeting. Doherty leads Fountain Fort Carson by one game in the CS Metro and they scored a 55-53 victory in game one. Valor Christian can basically secure the Jeffco crown. They lead Dakota Ridge and Ralston Valley by one game in the league standings and they already topped Ralston. Fruita Monument and Grand Junction are both looking up at Montrose (4A) in the Southwester league. Grand Junction won the first meeting 39-36 and a second win should lock up the 5A portion of the league race. Regis and Highlands Ranch lead the Continental and they collide on the 12th but Mountain Vista is only one game back in third. In the Front Range, Fossil Ridge leads Legacy, Horizon and Broomfield by one game. The Sabercats have already beaten Legacy and Horizon so a win over Broomfield puts them in great shape.
