Top 10 Colorado boys basketball games in January

The boys are back on the hardwood as basketball games have resumed play in Colorado. Throughout each classification there are several games that will have major implications in deciding league championships and also seeding placement in their respective state tournaments.

Although there are several noteworthy games, here is a look at 10 of the contests through the month of January that will have a big impact on the high school basketball landscape.

Class 5A

Eaglecrest (Centennial) at Smoky Hill (Aurora), Jan. 5, 7 p.m.

The Centennial League opener for both teams, Smoky Hill and Eaglecrest will try and get the inside track on the league title. The league has shown to be among the toughest in the entire state for the last several seasons and there is no reason to believe that trend won't continue this season. This early January tilt should provide a glimpse of how the Centennial League will look in 2022.

Anthony Harris Jr. averages a double-double on the year with 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game this season. Brayden Maldonado has emerged as the Buffaloes leading scorer at 17.6 points per game and also hands out 5.2 assists per game. Rickey Mitchell has also been a key offensive player as he scores 14.3 points per game.

The Raptors have balanced production across the board. Mostapha Elmoutaouakkil leads the tema in scoring at 19.3 points per game and is one of two players – Jayden Washington being the other – to average around six rebounds per game. Washington also averages 13.4 points per game.

Regis Jesuit (Aurora) at Chaparral (Parker), Jan. 21, 7 p.m.

This could be the game that shows just how much parity there is in 5A this year. Chap's lone loss came against Fossil Ridge while Regis Jesuit has yet to lose to an in-state opponent. This Continental League game will showcase two of the top teams in 5A and a close game here could be an indicator that this could be anyone's championship to win.

Luke Williams has been vital to the Wolverines early success as he leads the team in scoring at 17.9 points per game and is second on the team with six rebounds per game. Joel Speckman II adds 16 points per game but leads the team in rebounds (8.6) and steals (2). There is good support scoring throughout the roster which has made Chaparral a top-flight team in 5A.

Regis Jesuit has already found itself in close games and have won and lost a couple of contests that were decided by fewer than 10 points. That makes this team battle tested ahead of what is sure to be a tough battle. Archer Van Sickle leads the scoring effort with 14.5 points per game while Tarea Fulcher and Tavian Willsea also score in double digits each game.

Class 4A

Lewis-Palmer (Monument) at Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs), Jan. 8, 7 p.m.

Of all the teams that looked to be a threat in the PPAC this year, Discovery Canyon has been a bit of a pleasant surprise. Wins over Longmont and Pueblo County ahead of the winter break has the Thunder in a great spot to contend for a league title, despite having to go through a few 5A teams to get there. The Rangers look very much in championship form so this clash should be one with major implications for the playoff picture.

Trent Pasvogel leads the Thunder with 16 points per game and gets a good amount of help from Ethan Smith who scores 13.4. Smith also leads the team in steals as he gets 2.6 per game. Cameron Whittle leads the Thunder in rebounding with 6.8 per game and also plays an offensive role with 9.1 points per game.

Cameron Lowe leads the Rangers in scoring with 18.1 points per game and leads the team in assists at 3.2 per game. Brady Jones and Eli Robinson each average at least 14 points per game. Defensively, the Rangers are solid as a team as they hold their opponents under 50 points per game.

Pueblo Central at Pueblo South, Jan. 27, 5 p.m.

This is a showdown between two teams that could easily make a deep playoff run and potentially meet again in the postseason. Both teams made the Great 8 last season and South eventually advanced to the state semifinals. As far as top games from any classification, this could be the most anticipated game of the season.

Kadyn Betts is a prime candidate for player of the year in 4A and his early numbers are the biggest reason why. He's averaging 24 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, to go with two steals and three blocks. Syris Williams is also an explosive scorer at 20.6 points per game and he also dishes out a team-high 7.2 assists and swipes 6.2 steals per game.

The Austin brothers will be the tone setters again this year for the Colts. They combine to average over 44 points per game with Maurice Austin averaging 23.8 and Tarrance Austin getting 20.8. They both average five steals per game and Maurice leads the team in assists with 8.6 per game.

Class 3A

Kent Denver (Englewood) at Eaton, Jan. 8, 3 p.m.

Kent Denver will take its high-powered offense north to Eaton for a game where plenty of points will be scored. The Reds average 74 points per game as a team and will have to figure out to how somewhat slow down the Sun Devils who are putting up 93 points per game. This will be more of a track meet than a basketball game which is sure to be fun to watch.

A big reason behind the Sun Devils' absurd scoring numbers is their ability to knock down the 3-pointers. The team has connected on 65 long range shots with Ethan Levin accounting for 30 of them. He leads the team in scoring with 27 points per game. Jay Royal and Duke Benson also average over 20 points per game.

Eaton also has three players with respectable scoring numbers, giving it a balanced offensive attack. Zac Grable and Mitch Haythorn each average 16.5 points per game and Walker Martin adds 15.7. Martin also leads the team in rebounding with 9.2 per game.

University (Greeley) at Sterling, Jan. 14, 7 p.m.

This is a key game in the run for the Patriot League championship. University went into the winter break after losing a high-scoring affair with Highland and although Sterling has a loss on its record, it has yet to get beat by an in-state opponent. The winner here will take the edge in the league standings ahead of a showdown with Eaton.

Jackson Keil has been productive on both ends of the floor for the Tigers as he leads the team in points (20.3), rebounds (7.6) and steals (1.7) per game. Ryder McConnell adds 16.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. As a team, Sterling grabs nearly 30 boards per game with 23 of them coming on the defensive side.

The Bulldogs have plenty of scoring options with four players averaging double-digit figures. Tayt Chacon scores almost 25 points per game and also leads the team in rebounds (8.6) and assists (3). Desmond Williams scores 15.6 points per game while Andrew Mendoza and Kanon Padilla each add 10.

Class 2A

Wray at Holyoke, Jan. 14, 4 p.m.

Holyoke got off to a great start of the season before a crushing 57-30 loss to Wray brought the Dragons back to reality. But they'll get another crack at the defending 2A champions midway through the month and they plan on learning from the defeat. Round 2 will also count in the league standings which makes it a more important showdown than the first meeting.

Wyatt Sprague leads Holyoke with 16.7 points per game while big brother Miles Sprague is the leading rebounder, pulling down 5.8 per contest. Ethan Johnson adds 15.5 points per game and also dishes out 4.2 assists per game.

The defending champions are getting a double-double each game from Bryant Schoenthal. He scores 19.8 points and grabs 12.7 rebounds per game. He scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the previous meeting against the Dragons and will look to have another big game on the 14th.

Class 2A/1A

Haxtun at Yuma, Jan. 7, 7 p.m.

This league showdown pits top five teams from 1A and 2A against each other in what should be a fun game. They share matching 5-1 records and this will be the first game for both teams coming out of the winter break. Haxtun suffered a loss to Holyoke last month while Yuma's lone loss came against Eaton in double-overtime.

The Indians have plenty of weapons on offense as four players average double-digit scoring numbers. Clay Robinson leads the team with 18.8 points per game and also is the leading rebounder at 6.8. Javier Duran, Jesus Ross and Javier Gamboa all score more than 10 points per game. Gamboa and Robinson share the team lead in steals with 3.3 per game each.

Haxtun has been consistent offensively, scoring nearly 60 points per game and defensively have held their opponents to 40 or fewer points in three of their six games.

Limon at Genoa-Hugo/Karval, Jan. 7, 7 p.m.

Another league game pitting top 1A and 2A teams against each other will happen on the same night as Haxtun vs. Yuma. Limon and Genoa-Hugo/Karval should be a competitive clash between two teams with state championship ambitions. This game will see conflicting styles as Limon doesn't score a lot of points and tires to limit possessions as the Pirates have no problem trying to put up points.

As a result, Genoa-Hugo/Karval has three players putting up admirable scoring numbers. Trey Smith leads the team with 20.2 points per game. Wyatt Miller adds 14.2 and Colby Simmons has 12. Miller also leads the team in rebounds with 8.4 per game.

Brady Rockwell leads the Badgers in scoring with 11.5 points per game and Treyton Marx has been crucial with his 10 rebounds per game. The Badgers average 30.3 points per game as a team and will likely need to score more than that to get a win over the Pirates.

Class 1A

Prairie (New Raymer) at Merino, Jan. 21, 4 p.m.

A crucial non-league game for both teams, the Mustangs and Rams will each be looking for a big win in this contest, just as the playoff picture will start to clear up a bit. They've each suffered at least one loss this season but in late January, they'll be facing off to get a very significant win at a crucial time in the year.

Andy Long has shined in the early part of the season and he leads the Mustangs with 20.5 points and six rebounds per game. David Speicher has been very complementary with 13 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Merino has put together a good team defensive effort in its first five games as the Rams give up fewer than 40 points per game which can turn into a winning formula if they carry that effort through the remainder of the season.