Top 10 Colorado girls basketball games in February

Some teams already have done their dirty work. ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch), the top-ranked girls basketball team in the CHSAANow.com poll, for instance, already has defeated the remainder of the top six.

Many other teams across the state still have plenty to prove, ground to gain in the final few weeks of the regular season. With that in mind, here's a look at the Top 10 games to watch as calendar flips to February.

Class 5A

Grandview (Aurora) (13-2, 6-1) at Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) (10-6, 7-0), 5:30 p.m., Feb. 4
Cherry Creek handed the No. 2 Wolves their first loss of the season on Jan. 9, but that 50-40 decision came with Grandview star Michaela Onyenwere out of the lineup. The Bruins, the first team receiving votes outside the top 10, remain the only team in the Centennial League without a loss behind senior double-double machine Molly Rohrer. Grandview will be aiming to even the score.

Monarch (Louisville) (15-2, 5-1) at Horizon (Thornton) (12-5, 3-3), 6:30 p.m., Feb. 6
Each endured a tough loss Thursday night – Monarch to Broomfield, Horizon to Legacy – and each will be aiming to keep their lofty perch in the rankings. No. 4 Monarch is led by Sacramento State-bound guard Raegen Rohn and sophomore center Jasmine Jeffcoat while No. 6 Horizon counters with one of the area's finest posts, Alyssa Rader.



Broomfield (14-2, 6-0) at Legacy (Broomfield) (10-5, 5-0), 6:30 p.m., Feb. 19
After No. 2 Broomfield's win at Monarch on Thursday night, only two teams remain unbeaten in the stout Front Range League. Only time will tell if these two will remain that way until the league finale, but this should be a dandy either way. Colorado State-bound Callie Kaiser stars for Broomfield, while future Northern Colorado athlete Courtney Smith is Legacy's top producer.

Class 4A

Canon City (16-0, 7-0) at Mesa Ridge (Colorado Springs) (11-5, 7-1), 7 p.m., Feb. 3
Canon City is the lone team in 4A without a loss, and the team with the best chance to overthrow that accomplishment is the team that didn't lose a game all of last year. Defending champion Mesa Ridge has retooled after some early struggles, and the unranked Grizzlies and prized junior Kylee Shook are eyeing a statement victory. Canon City has remained unflappable behind Emily Lambrecht and Nicole Archambeau.

Pueblo West (12-4, 3-0) at Pueblo South (10-4, 2-1), 7 p.m., Feb. 3
Much is still to be decided in the South Central League, which boasts three ranked squads – these two, along with Pueblo East. Fourth-ranked West meets No. 9 South for the first time in this one, then again on Feb. 20. Senior point guard Haley Simental leads the Cyclones in a pivotal road contest against the 2013 champion Colts, who are led by senior Jaylyn Duran.

Glenwood Springs (12-2, 8-0) at Palisade (11-2, 7-0), 6 p.m., Feb. 3
The last two unbeaten teams in the Western Slope League will square off not only in this one, but again at Glenwood Springs on Feb. 10. Needless to say, these contests will go a long way toward determining the league champ. Glenwood Springs has climbed to No. 5 in the rankings with star Madi Spence while Palisade, despite a nearly identical record, hasn't yet caught the eyes of the voters (ninth team receiving votes). The Bulldogs and junior Aspen Guray will have a chance to do so with this two-game set.

Class 3A

Manitou Springs (12-1, 5-0) at St. Mary's (Colorado Springs) (14-0, 6-0), 7 p.m., Feb. 6
The only two unscathed teams in the Tri-Peaks League will go at it in what could amount to a de facto league-title game. No. 2 Manitou Springs, winners of seven straight, is led by junior Angala Jensen while No. 5 St. Mary's has received solid production from junior Olivia Florek and junior Maggie Hartman. Adding further intrigue, Manitou Springs won last season's matchup 53-52.

Olathe (10-1, 6-0) at Moffat County (Craig) (7-4, 5-1), 6 p.m., Feb. 6
Olathe is the only team out west that is getting any love in the rankings at No. 7, but the Pirates are no lock to win their own league. That's because they have to take on Western Slope foe Moffat County one more time. The visiting Bulldogs played Olathe to within 64-59 on Jan. 10 and now get the Pirates on their home floor. Payton Grett had 18 for Olathe and Leah Camilletti 24 for Moffat County in the initial meeting.

Class 2A

Caliche (Iliff) (12-0, 4-0) at Akron (10-2, 2-0), 4 p.m., Feb. 19
Four teams remain unbeaten in the classification, and they don't crisscross much with 2A teams being so widespread. If No. 3 Caliche keeps its streak of amnesty alive, it will be in for a fight against No. 6 Akron, a perennial power. Caliche's Shayln Johnson is a Player of the Year candidate, while Akron counters with standout junior AJ Miller in this Lower Platte League showdown. Akron's lone losses are to 3A No. 4 Lutheran (Parker) and 2A No. 4 Yuma.

Class 1A

Kit Carson (11-0) at Idalia (11-1), 3 p.m., Feb. 7
This nonleague thriller is as good as it gets, as top-ranked Kit Carson hopes to have its perfect season still intact when the Wildcats visit the No. 3 Wolves. Freshman Micayla Isenbart and senior Aurelia Isenbart each average a double-double for Kit Carson with a combined output of 34.4 points and 22.6 rebounds per contest. Idalia, which has won seven straight since its lone loss to 2A Caliche, counters with a balanced attack led by Susana Herarra.