It’s a very good Tuesday night schedule for boys’ basketball and we’ve made our choices for the most important ten games of the night. All factor heavily into conference races and district tournament seeding.
Photo is provided by Karla Shotts at Englewood schools.
Crested Butte at Center: Both teams have had solid campaigns and the winner could end up second to Sanford in the 2A Southern Peaks. Each club has faced the Indians with Crested Butte falling 50-28 on January 18th and Center came up short 49-38 last Saturday. The Titans (8-2) only other loss came against 1A Ouray in December and they’ve won six of seven since. Center opened 2-0 and has split their last eight.
Belleview Christian at Flatirons Academy: Flatirons opens the game at 3-0 in the 1A 5280 and tied with Denver Waldorf in first place. Belleview Christian has split their first two conference games but the Bruins are 9-3 overall. Offensive leaders for Flatirons are Jonah Cox (13.1) and Trenton Rowan (10.3) and they also combine for 12 rebounds a game. Belleview’s Logan Owen (27.0) is one of the top scorers statewide and he has scored at least 17 points in every game including five of at least 30.
Telluride at Ridgway: Neither team is above five hundred for the season but the winner gains the inside track to third place in the San Juan behind top 10 conference members Ignacio and Mancos. It’s also the first of two regular season meetings. Both teams have faced league leading Ignacio. Telluride lost by 20 points and Ridgway by 11.
Dawson at Heritage Christian: It’s still crowded in the 2A Mile High as six teams are within one game of the leaders. Highland and Denver Christian are favored to finish 1-2 again this year and they’re tied with Dayspring Christian (all unbeaten) for the early lead. Dawson and Heritage Christian are tied with Union Colony Prep one game back. Dawson has three very good scorers in Coby Grant Krenz (20.5), Riley Burridge (18.8) and Phil Geraghty (14.8) and overall, they average 73 points a game. They face a Heritage Christian defense that allowed 107 points in last Friday’s loss to Highland. The Eagles are led on offense by Jaden Johnson (18.9).
Grand Valley at Coal Ridge: It’s a wild Western Slope chase as six teams sit atop the standings with one loss apiece. These are two of the clubs. Coal Ridge is coming off a 59-55 road win at Delta last week. Austin Gerber netted 23 points with Andrew Herrera and Irvin Ortega with 12 apiece. Ortega added a team high eight rebounds. Grand Valley topped Moffat County 65-40 last Friday but then fell at Aspen (45-40) the next night. Emilio Garcia (16.5) leads the Cardinals in scoring on the year.
Salida at St Mary’s: The top four teams in the Tri Peaks all receive a first-round bye in the district tournament and the two clubs are right in the mix for that spot. Both are 3-2 in league play and one game back of third place Lamar (5-1). Manitou Springs and Vanguard (both 6-0) sit tied in first. Both teams are struggling right now. Salida has lost two straight; falling to Manitou Springs (82-61) and James Irwin (54-51) on back-to-back nights. St Mary’s has a tough two point loss to St Mary’s and a 17 point setback to Manitou Springs in league play but ended that skid by beating Florence handily last week.
Englewood at Weld Central: Both teams are unbeaten and part of a four-way tie atop the Colorado 8 with Conifer and Fort Lupton. Englewood also meets Conifer on Thursday so they’re entering a crucial three-day stretch. They begin play a perfect 10-0 on the season with Nate Gravagno (16.7), Gunner Johnson (14.3), Hunter Johnson (10.8) and Josh Jones (10.3) all averaging double figures. All four are underclassmen as well. Weld Central finished their non-league slate with losses to Frederick and Jefferson Academy but has responded with conference wins over Skyview and Riverdale Ridge. Kevin Shaffer (16.6), Bryce Andrews (14.5) and Noah Sena (11.4) pace the Rebels offense.
Windsor at Mead: Mead leads Windsor and Erie by two games in the Tri Valley so the Wizards must win to stay in title contention. The Mavericks won the first matchup with a 70-58 decision on the road in Windsor. Will Maher and Elijah Knudsen both scored 16 points to lead four players in double figures. The Mavericks shot 58 percent from the field compared to 46 for Windsor. The Wizards were led by Chase Eastin and Jaden Kennis with 12 apiece.
Boulder at Mountain Range: The Panthers can celebrate top 10 billing with an important league win over the Mustangs. Boulder shares the Front Range lead with Fairview but Mountain Range, along with Fossil Ridge, is in third place just one game back. Boulder has won six straight overall since a 10-point loss to Ralston Valley. Just one conference game has been decided by single digits and that came in a 63-55 win at Rocky Mountain. Caleb Wehmuller paces Boulder with 11.6 points per game. Mountain Range dropped their league game to Fairview (50-34) but has won their last three. They’re led by Conner Hindson (14.1) and Logan Dexter (13.9).
Highlands Ranch at Legend: Legend enters the week alone atop the Continental race (2-0) with the Falcons one of six teams trailing by just one game. The Titans have league win over Ponderosa (55-53) and Castle View (67-56). Garrett Sieber scored 19 against Ponderosa and Tanner Lamb matched that number against Castle View. Highlands Ranch opened the Continental stretch with a 57-41 win over Heritage but then fell short to Douglas County (66-52). Ryker Cisarik (16.5), Tristan Hurdle (14.2) and Yafet Mesfin (13.0) all average double figures for the Falcons.
