With just six days remaining in the regular season and the final week schedule dominated by tournament play, only a handful of conference championship remain to be decided. The notes on the top matches below are based on league standings and schedules published by MaxPreps.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARK PASSAMANECK
CLASS 1A
Three league champions will be crowned in the final week and all three key games are set for Friday. La Veta is heavily favored against Primero and a win gives the Red Hawks the Fishers Peak championship. It’s only a three-team league with La Veta also beating Manzanola last week.
Idalia is alone in first by one game over Otis and Arickaree/Woodlin in the YWKC. The Wolves have beaten Otis already and they tangle with Arickaree/Woodlin on Friday. A win there hands the Wolves the league championship but a loss creates a three-way tie for the top spot. They’ve met once previously this year with Arickaree/Woodlin winning 2-0 inside a regular season tournament.
Sangre De Cristo has the lead in the Southern Peaks by one game over Sierra Grande. They collide on Friday in Fort Garland with the winner taking home the guaranteed playoff berth.
Other league races have decided their champions.
- 5280: Flatirons Academy
- ARK VALLEY: Wiley
- BLACK FOREST: Simla
- HIGH PLAINS: Cheraw
- NORTH CENTRAL: Briggsdale & Fleming shared the title
- UNION PACIFIC: Stratton
- SAN JUAN: Dove Creek
CLASS 2A
Sedgwick County and Denver Christian are two league leaders that still need one more win to land their respective conference championship. The Cougars (7-0) lead Haxtun (6-1) by one game in the Lower Platte standings. Since they have the head-to-head win over the Bulldogs, Sedgwick County needs just one win in their final two league matches to win the title. They host Holyoke on Tuesday and then visit Caliche on Thursday.
Denver Christian (11-0) has the same advantage over second place Dayspring Christian (11-1) in the Mile High chase. The Thunder still have two conference matches left; at Heritage Christian on Tuesday and on the road to Lyons on Thursday. A win in either gives them another league championship.
Other champions across the division.
- BLACK FOREST: Calhan
- SANTA FE: Fowler
- SOUTHERN PEAKS: Sargent
- WEST CENTRAL: Custer County
- WESTERN SLOPE: Meeker
NOTE: Stratton and Dove Creek are Class 1A winners inside the Union Pacific and San Juan leagues respectively. Limon ended up second in the Union Pacific while Ignacio and Dolores play Tuesday for the runner-up spot in the San Juan
CLASS 3A
There’s only one match remaining in the entire division that impacts a league championship but it’s a good one between Lutheran and Faith Christian. Both clubs are unbeaten inside the Metro so the winner of their Wednesday clash wins the championship. They could also meet again on Saturday as part of the league tournament to close the regular season.
The rest of the class has determined their champions.
- PATRIOT: Resurrection Christian
- TRI PEAKS: Lamar
- WESTERN SLOPE: Delta
- CONFLUENCE: DSST-Byers
- FRONTIER: DSST-Montview (regular season crown)
- INTERMOUNTAIN: Bayfield
NOTE: DSST-Montview went through the conference schedule unbeaten at 10-0 but their league tournament championship match has not been fully played. The Knights were leading Academy 1-0 on Saturday but the match was delayed until Tuesday when lights went out at the tournament facility.
CLASS 4A
Some cleaning up to do in a few conferences here in the final week with at least three matches on the slate that could change a league race at the top.
In the CS Metro North, Classical Academy (8-1) and Falcon (7-1) are tied for first and split two regular season matches. Both see league action this week and TCA has the more difficult match as they face third place Elizabeth (6-3). A win on Tuesday should give them a share of the crown as the Falcons are expected to easily win their remaining two contests.
In the CS Metro South, Woodland Park (5-0) opens the final week with a one-game edge on Canon City and Coronado (4-1). The Panthers have beaten Canon City but must beat Coronado on the road Tuesday to finish in first outright. A loss likely leaves all three teams tied for the top spot.
In the South Central, the second match between Pueblo County and Pueblo West (5A) will determine if the two clubs share the championship or if the Cyclones wins the title outright. Pueblo West swept the Hornets 3-0 in their first meeting so they have the one game edge going in.
Now the NCAA race is a bit confusing and we’ve sent out some emails to help clarify but right now MaxPreps has both Windsor and Erie at 11-1 and sharing the top spot. The Wizards and Tigers split two meetings this year but we believe only one counts in the conference standings and we’re trying to figure out which one. We can update the story as new information is provided.
Other conference races have been decided with champions crowned.
- JEFFCO: D’Evelyn
- WESTERN SLOPE: Palisade
- COLORADO: Weld Central
- LONGS PEAK: Niwot
- PIKES PEAK: Palmer Ridge
CLASS 5A
The only league champion not officially crowned is Brighton. The Bulldogs topped Vista Peak last week and now sit alone atop the East Metro by one game over the Bison. They still have two league matches remaining and need a win in just one to make their championship official. First up is Hinkley on Tuesday and the Bulldogs also meet Gateway on Wednesday.
All titles elsewhere have been decided.
- CONTINENTAL: Chaparral
- FRONT RANGE: Broomfield
- JEFFCO: Valor Christian
- CENTENNIAL: Cherry Creek (regular season)
- DENVER PREP: Denver East
- SOUTHWESTERN: Fruita Monument & Montrose (4A) share the title
NOTE: Cherry Creek and Grandview both finished 6-1 in the Centennial chase but the Bruins were awarded the top spot based on their head-to-head win over the Wolves. They will likely meet again on Thursday in the finals of the league tournament. Semifinals are up first on Tuesday.
