Boys lacrosse will be the first spring sport to move into its postseason, as the Colorado High School Activities Association announced state pairings Tuesday.
Centennial League champion Arapahoe, led by high-scoring senior Eric Law (49 goals, 19 assists), is the top overall seed in the 24-team field. The Warriors, whose only in-state loss came to Kent Denver 8-7 in the season opener, have a first-round bye. League rival and Centennial runner-up Mullen is seeded second.
Kent Denver, champions of the Front Range League, earned the third seed, while South Suburban League champion Heritage round out the top four seeds. Also awarded first-round byes were Regis Jesuit (No. 5 seed), Cherry Creek (sixth), Fort Collins (seventh) and eighth-seeded Mountain Vista.
First-round action begins Thursday and continues through Saturday. After the first round, those winners will be shuffled so that the lowest remaining seed will meet Arapahoe, with the second-lowest seed facing Mullen, etc.
The first-round matchup to watch will be played Friday in Steamboat Springs. The Sailors will be making their first playoff appearance after winning the newly formed Mountain League with a 13-0 record. Although Steamboat Springs outscored its competition 145-42, it did not play a team from outside the league during the regular season. Lewis-Palmer finished second in the competitive Pikes Peak League
FIRST-ROUND SCHEDULE
No. 24 seed Highlands Ranch at No. 9 Chatfield, 6 p.m. Friday, Trailblazer Stadium, Lakewood
No. 23 Denver East at No. 10 Douglas County, 7 p.m. Friday
No. 22 Ponderosa at No. 11 Colorado Academy 4 p.m. Friday
No. 21 Columbine at No. 12 Rock Canyon, 6 p.m. Thursday, Shea Stadium, Highlands Ranch
No. 20 Smoky Hill at No. 13 Fairview, 5 p.m. Thursday
No. 19 Wheat Ridge at No. 14 Monarch, 1 p.m. Saturday
No. 18 Grandview at No. 15 Air Academy, 7 p.m. Saturday
No. 17 Lewis-Palmer at No. 16 Steamboat Springs, 5 p.m. Friday
