Top 10 Colorado girls basketball games in the first half of the season

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With girls basketball firmly underway and significant movement already taken place in the rankings, it's time to take a look at some of the key matchups coming up after the mandatory holiday break.

Here is a look at 10 of those, sprinkling in some from each of the classifications.

Lutheran (Parker) at Manitou Springs, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 5
This nonleague clash between 3A heavyweights promises intrigue, as No. 5 Lutheran will look to upset the top-ranked Mustangs on their home floor. This is a rematch of the third-place game last season, in which Lutheran won 52-42. The Lions graduated their top two scorers but return key senior Kristen Vigil. Manitou Springs is loaded with several potent scorers, led by senior Shelby Megyeri.



Broomfield at Highlands Ranch, 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8
This features the reigning Class 5A champ against the squad that has corralled nine big-school crowns since 2000. No. 6. Broomfield, of course, is playing its first season without retired coach Mike Croell. But Derek Seifried's group is in good shape with BYU-bound point guard Brenna Chase back in the fold, and Eagles sophomore Delaynie Byrne scored 29 points Thursday in a win against Fairview (Boulder). Second-ranked Highlands Ranch counters with three Division-I bound seniors and sophomore scoring machine Leilah Vigil.

Grandview (Aurora) at Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), 5:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8
This is the first of two for the Centennial League powers, and No. 3 Grandview enters as the favorite with powerful junior Michaela Onyenwere in the fold. No. 7 Cherry Creek possesses no such player-of-the-year candidate, but the No. 7 Bruins have exhibited early balance with several capable scorers, including sophomore Sydney Mech. Cherry Creek, which defeated top-ranked ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) on Thursday, is coming off a trip to the final four in which the Bruins recorded a large-scale upset of Highlands Ranch in the quarterfinals.

Idalia at Flagler, 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 9
The top-ranked Wolves and smooth scorer Susana Herarra will square off in this 1A showdown against No. 4 Flagler in a rematch of last season's semifinals. Idalia won that one comfortably and went on to capture the state crown with a 59-50 win against Sangre de Cristo. Flagler made a coaching change this season and now is under the guidance of Jennifer Witt.

Ralston Valley (Arvada) at Lakewood, 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15
Ralston Valley's Hannah Weber and Sarah Bevington are off to sizzling starts, and the No. 4 Mustangs nearly pulled off an early upset before falling 60-59 to ThunderRidge on Tuesday. They'll take on 5A Jeffco League-rival Lakewood in the first of two that will go along way in determining the league champ. The No. 5 Tigers counter with stars of their own in point guard Mackenzie Forrest and center Mckenna Bishop.

Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) at Evergreen, 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15
Defending 4A champion Valor Christian has gotten hot starts from Heidi Hammond and Madison McCoy, which inherit the primary scorer roles this season for the No. 4 Eagles. This could be the biggest Jeffco League game of the season, as No. 7 Evergreen and senior post Samantha Kisiel firmly envision themselves as a challenger for the league crown along with D'Evelyn (Denver) and Golden.

Peyton at Yuma, 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15
Many eyes are pointed at the Yuma-Akron 2A championship rematch the following week, but the top-ranked Indians will first have to endure No. 6 Peyton's best shot. This is a rematch of the semifinals, in which Yuma triumphed 56-44 before going to narrowly lose to Akron in the title game. Logan Hixon is back and scoring richly for Yuma while Peyton counters with senior Kacey Pelkola.



Sand Creek (Colorado Springs) at Falcon, 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15
Montana State-bound Oliana Squires already has a 40-point game for Sand Creek, and with Colorado State-bound Liah Davis also in the fold, the top-ranked Scorpions are a top-flight 4A contender after finishing runner-up last season. Falcon is currently receiving votes in the poll and is a strong the sleeper candidate. While this Pikes Peak League tilt will be a challenge for Khiya Adams and company, it represents an opportunity to firmly arrive on the state map.

Sterling at Eaton, 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19
The No. 2 Tigers are hell-bent on capturing the 3A championship this season after starting 26-0 last season only to fall 39-36 to Pagosa Springs in the championship game. Top scorers Jenna Knudson and Kylie Chavez remain in the fold for Sterling, which will face No. 6 Eaton in this key Patriot League battle. Sterling won the first matchup Tuesday but will have to play this one on the Reds' home floor.
 
Holy Family (Broomfield) at Berthoud, 6:30, Friday, Jan. 22
The upper-echelon contenders in the 4A Tri-Valley league are eagerly eyeing this one, knowing plenty could be at stake when it arrives. Holy Family point guard Katie Chavez is filling up the box score for the fourth straight season for the No. 5 Tigers, while No. 9 Berthoud has gotten an amazing start from Kristina Cavey. The senior began the season with a 36-point game then scored 29 apiece in her next two.