Colorado boys basketball postseason gets rolling in three short weeks

With the featured presentation just a few short weeks away, think of the first few weeks of February as the coming attraction.

The postseason is looming large and arriving shortly for the boys basketball season, but there is still plenty left to be decided. The regular season won't come to a close until Feb. 18, leaving a jam-packed slate of games for the first 2 ½ weeks of the month.

Five teams from Class 3A-1A are still undefeated, though a top-two showdown in 1A between unbeaten Holly and Cheyenne Wells on Feb. 9 will eliminate one of those. In fact, each of the five classifications will present its own top-five matchup at some point in the coming weeks.

So when the dust finally settles and the brackets are released, where will everything fall? That is yet to be determined, but before that can take place, here are 10 games to watch over the five classifications headed into February:

Class 5A
• Grandview (Aurora) (16-1) at Eaglecrest (Centennial) (14-3), 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8
The first meeting between the Centennial League rivals lived up to the hype, with fourth-ranked Grandview edging the Raptors 70-67. Senior Lechaun Duhart had 22 points in that contest, while Gage Prim went for nine points and 14 rebounds.
Colbey Ross led Eaglecrest that night with 24 points and six assists. The Raptors have won five in a row since that setback, taking down three ranked teams in the process. Ross is averaging just shy of 20 points on the season.
• ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) (15-1) at Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) (15-2), 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17
This meeting could very well decide the Continental League title, with both the Grizzlies and Jaguars currently undefeated in league play. Top-ranked ThunderRidge is riding a seven-game winning streak, with the points coming in bunches as of late. Senior Corey Seng is averaging 23.5 points a game.
Rock Canyon opened January with a non-league loss to Mountain Range (Westminster), but the Jags have won six in row since that night. Junior Sam Masten is averaging 23.8 points and junior Tyson Gilbert isn't far behind at 16 points.
• Denver East (12-5) at George Washington (Denver) (16-2), 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18
These two Denver Prep League rivals close out the regular season in a clash that might decide the league crown as well. East has endured an up-and-down season, but the Angels are always dangerous at this point in the year. Former Patriot Daylen Kountz has averaged more than 22 points in his six games, and East has three players who average more than four assists.
George Washington has been on a mission all year, and has rolled to six consecutive victories since ThunderRidge handed the Patriots their only in-state loss this season. Junior Jon'il Fugett and senior Jervay Green each average a little more than 17 points a game, and senior Calvin Fugett, Jr. averages 15.4.



Class 4A
• Lewis-Palmer (Monument) (13-4) at Vista Ridge (Colorado Springs) (13-4), 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1
Since the teams' first meeting, a 61-48 Vista Ridge victory, Lewis-Palmer has been on a tear. The Rangers have won nine in a row headed into Wednesday's rematch at Vista Ridge. Sophomore Joel Scott and seniors Angelo Battistelli and Billy Cook each average more than 13 points a game.
Vista Ridge is also rolling with 10 consecutive victories. Senior Hunter Maldonado's 24.4 points and 6.4 rebounds pace the 5A Wolves. During the team's current win streak, Vista Ridge has knocked off ranked teams in 5A Doherty and 4A's Sand Creek (Colorado Springs) and Lewis-Palmer.
• Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) (13-4) at D'Evelyn (Denver) (14-3), 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4
Second-ranked Valor Christian's only loss during the month of January came at the hands of Jeffco League foe D'Evelyn, a 70-60 loss at home Jan. 11. Eagles senior Jalen Sanders scored 30 points that night and is averaging 23.6 on the season.
No. 3 D'Evelyn had its nine-game winning streak snapped Jan. 27 with a loss to Evergreen, but the Jaguars upended Valor and Golden during that run. Senior CJ Olson and junior Charles Dinegar each average more than 15 points a game.
• Mead (Longmont) (14-3) at Holy Family (Broomfield) (13-4), 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14
The first meeting between the Tri-Valley foes resulted in a 19-point Holy Family victory. The two teams go again on Valentine's Day, with Mead looking to avenge the loss. Senior Michael Ward continues to drive the Mavericks at 22.2 points per game.
Holy Family has won eight out of nine, including the triumph over Mead. Sophomores Tanner Baird and Kyle Helbig lead the team in scoring.

Class 3A
• Resurrection Christian (Loveland) (14-0) at Sterling (12-2), 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 3
One of the best 3A matchups of the regular season comes Friday with top-ranked Resurrection Christian visiting No. 3 Sterling. The Cougars are averaging a state-best 88.3 points per game, led by senior Tanner Ervin's 28.1. The team has topped 100 points in three of its past five games, including a remarkable 121-point effort Jan. 27 at Estes Park.
Sterling has yet to lose to an in-state opponent. Junior Bodie Hume averages 15.4 points per game, and opponents have topped the 50-point mark only three times against the Tigers all season.
• Kent Denver (Englewood) (12-2) at Lutheran (Parker) (8-5), 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7
This Metro League contest pits two of the league's best, with both hoping to get a leg-up in the pursuit of the league crown. Kent Denver has won six in a row. Three players average in double figures, led by sophomore Coby Gold at 12.3.
Lutheran's record is a bit deceiving. The Lions endured a four-game skid midway through the season, but two losses were to out-of-state teams and the others came to ranked opponents – including undefeated Resurrection Christian. Lutheran has won six out of seven though, with senior Will Willis averaging 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds.

Class 2A
• Sedgwick County (Julesburg) (13-1) at Akron (11-1), 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9
Since being handed its only loss of the season a little more than two weeks ago – a five-point overtime loss to Holyoke – Sedgwick County has reeled off six consecutive victories. The past three wins have come by a combined 16 points.
Akron's only blemish this season came to top-ranked and undefeated Highland (Ault) back on Jan. 20. The Rams have to get past sixth-ranked Holyoke five days before drawing Sedgwick County, but a balanced lineup that has four players scoring in double figures – led by seniors Jordan Herder and Levi Basler – presents a tough matchup in its own right.

Class 1A
• Holly (14-0) at Cheyenne Wells (11-0), 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9
Don't overlook this 1A clash between two of the current three undefeated teams in the classification. Holly has enjoyed its share of blowouts and survived some close battles, but this should be the team's toughest game of the season to date. With senior Yaniel Vidal averaging nearly 21 points a game to go along with 8.3 rebounds though, expect the Wildcats to be up to the challenge.
Cheyenne Wells needed overtime to hold off Fleming last Saturday, withstanding a furious fourth-quarter rally from the Panthers before holding Fleming scoreless in OT for a 67-62 victory. Senior Kendall Pelton averages more than 16 points a game and eight rebounds.