Home stretch brings with it big-time battles in Colorado boys basketball

It says something about the level of talent statewide that with only a handful of weeks remaining in the boys basketball regular season, there are still seven teams with unblemished marks.

That may certainly change in February, as the month has been known to be especially cruel at times. The heart of the league season is where some teams separate from the pack, and others fall behind.

With that in mind, here is a look at 10 games to watch in February:

• Manitou Springs at Colorado Springs Christian, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 2
The Class 3A Tri-Peaks League has been tightly contested thus far, highlighted by St. Mary's (Colorado Springs) upending defending state champion CSCS on Jan. 22. It was the first in-state loss of the season for the Lions, who once again have ridden the talented duo of junior Justin Engesser (21 points, 6.8 rebounds) and senior Samuel Howard (16.2 ppg, 9.8 rebounds).

The Mustangs have won nine in a row since being dealt their only loss of the season. Junior Lucas Rodholm averages 15.8 points a game, with senior Steven Jensen (13.5) and sophomore Cole Sienknecht (11.6) not far behind.

• Overland (Aurora) at Eaglecrest (Centennial), 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3
These two 5A Centennial League rivals already tangled once this season, with the Raptors posting a 57-45 victory. De'Ron Davis didn't play that night for the Trailblazers, who have won four in a row since. Davis, Jervae Robinson and Alijah Halliburton each average at least 11.0 points a night.

Eaglecrest has handled all comers this season, led by junior Colbey Ross (19.6 points, 4.2 assists). Most recently Eaglecrest took down No. 6 Denver East in a nonleague matchup.

• Vista Ridge (Colorado Springs) at Lewis-Palmer (Monument), 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3
The first time these 4A Pikes Peak foes met back on Jan. 8, the Rangers earned a hard-fought 39-36 victory in an offensive struggle. The two teams combined for only six points in the fourth quarter.

Lewis-Palmer is riding a 13-game winning streak behind seniors Jonathan Scott (17.9 ppg), Charlie Hovasse (13.3), Sam Strasburger (10.9) and Joe Decoud (9.4). Vista Ridge limited the Rangers to 30 points below their season average. Junior Hunter Maldonado averages 21.5 points and 6.6 rebounds a game.

• Holly at Wiley, 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5
Three of the seven teams in the Southeastern League are currently ranked in the top six of the CHSAANow.com 1A poll, and Holly and Wiley are in the top three. Holly hasn't lost an in-state game all season, and the Wildcats' two out-of-state losses came by a combined five points.

Wiley has only a pair of losses, one of which came by one point to Holly in the Lamar Holiday Tournament on Dec. 18. Senior Caden Eastin averages 15.6 points a game for the Panthers, and junior Christian Dellamaestra goes for 14.7 points and 9.9 rebounds.

• Rye at Crowley County (Ordway), 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9
Crowley County has sustained only one loss on the season, but it came against Rye on Jan. 9. The 2A Santa Fe League could be decided in the rematch, with Chargers sophomore Bradley Clabey leading the charge at 13.1 points and 8.4 rebounds a game.

Rye is riding a nine-game winning streak after dropping two of their first three games. Senior Connor Hale and his 20.8 points and 6.9 rebounds pace the Thunderbolts.

• Regis Jesuit (Aurora) at ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch), 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9
With four teams currently ranked out of the Continental League, the final few weeks of the season will go a long way to deciding the seeding for the 5A state tournament.

After back-to-back losses in mid-January, the Raiders rediscovered their winning ways. Senior Geoffrey Kelly averages 13.2 points and senior Michael Wambsganss is next at 11.7.

ThunderRidge won its first nine games before also dropping consecutive games. The Grizzlies are back on a five-game winning streak, with four players averaging at least 11 points a game. Senior Clay Verk leads the pack at 16.9 points a game.

• Lutheran (Parker) at Denver School of Science & Tech: Green Valley Ranch, 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11
This may be a non-league matchup, but it's a rematch from Dec. 18 that DSST-Green Valley Ranch won by two points. The Raptors are currently the only undefeated team in the 3A ranks and are averaging more than 78 points a game. Seniors Ellis Jones (19.8 ppg) and Jadyn Michaell (19.7) provide for a strong 1-2 punch offensively.

Lutheran has only had a handful of games in January but will pack six games into the final three weeks of the regular season. Senior Tanner Rich and junior Will Willis average more than 11 points a game.

• Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) at Legend (Parker), 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16
This is another key Continental League showdown between a pair of teams vying to remain in the hunt. Legend has had an up-and-down season thus far, but the Titans nearly took down Regis Jesuit on the road before falling 53-50 on Jan. 22. Danny Garrick and Monroe Porter (13.7 ppg) and Riley Matticks (12.5) have paced Legend.

Rock Canyon has won 14 of its past 15 games, with the only setback coming in Las Vegas. The Jaguars have a challenging February slate, but backed by Sam Masten (16.1 points) and Isaac Hirsch (11.3), the team is among those to beat at the moment.

• Pueblo South at Pueblo West, 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 19
The second of two meetings in February between the two 4A South Central League rivals, this contest will close out the regular season. The two teams meet Feb. 2, as well.

The top-ranked and undefeated Colts played a tough nonleague schedule to get ready for league competition. Four players average more than 11 points a game, and senior Maleek Johnson is out in front at 16.6 points a night. Isiah Pannunzio averages 14.3 and Brett Devries 13.2.

Pueblo West has only one in-state loss this season, which came to Rampart (Colorado Springs) by two points Jan. 9. Junior David Simental is one of the state's top scorers with an average of 25.6 points a game. Senior Kenneth Tack averages 14.9 points..

• Liberty Common (Fort Collins) at Resurrection Christian (Loveland), 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 19
Three teams are currently undefeated in 2A, and Resurrection Christian is at the top of the heap with a 13-0 mark. The 3A/2A/1A Mile High League is a three-team race right now with the Cougars, Liberty Common and Dayspring Christian (Greeley).

Resurrection Christian has already topped the 1,000-point mark for the season, and junior Tanner Ervin (25.2 ppg) has been virtually unstoppable. Senior Luke Fick isn't far behind at 17.8 points a game.

Liberty Common already has a one-point victory over Dayspring Christian, though the Eagles did drop two of three games in January. Senior Josh VanVleet leads the team with 17.2 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.