Top 10 December games to watch in Colorado high school boys basketball

Video: Dallas Walton AW Smoky
See the Arvada West star in action against Smoky Hill

It didn't take long to turn the page from fall to the winter high school sports season.

While football officially ended last Saturday with three championship contests, the boys basketball campaign kicked off four nights earlier. Defending Class 5A state champion Overland (Aurora) was among the teams to get a jump on the season with a big victory over George Washington (Denver).

Top-ranked and defending champions in 3A (Colorado Springs Christian) and 2A (Sanford) got off to strong starts with a pair of first-week wins, while in 4A Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) made an early statement by taking down 2014-15 champion Air Academy (US Air Force Academy). Pueblo South has four wins already, including one over semifinalist Lewis-Palmer (Monument) and a pair of quarterfinalists in Golden and D'Evelyn (Denver).

While December includes a number of tournaments, there are still plenty of games to watch. Here is a look at 10 games to keep an eye on in the opening month across all five classifications:

Arvada West vs. Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch), 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8
The opener of a tournament at Ralston Valley features two ranked teams in No. 8 Arvada West and No. 9 Rock Canyon. After strong seasons a year ago that ended in disappointment with second-round playoff losses, both teams are off to strong starts. The Wildcats are 3-0 and have been boosted by the return of senior Dallas Walton, who missed last year with an injury. Rock Canyon has won three in a row since a loss to No. 6 Eaglecrest. Sophomore Sam Masten is averaging more than 13 points a game.

Dakota Ridge (Littleton) at Legend (Parker), 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8
After a quarterfinal run in the 5A state tournament a year ago, third-ranked Legend is off to a strong start in the 2015-16 season. The Titans opened with a 77-74 victory over Denver East, a semifinalist a year ago, and then a victory over Fort Collins. Four players scored in double figures in the victory over East. Dakota Ridge's only setback came to East, but the Eagles downed 3A runner-up Colorado Academy in their opener. Senior Tyler McFarland has averaged 15 points through three games.

Cherokee Trail (Aurora) at Denver East, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9
After an early setback to Overland, Denver East held off Dakota Ridge and Fossil Ridge. The fifth-ranked Angels have ridden the hot hands of seniors Daytone Jennings (20.3 points per game), Jack Buckmelter (17.0) and Deron Harrell (15.0). As for No. 10 Cherokee Trail, a one-point loss to Doherty in the opener was followed by victories over Denver South and George Washington. Senior David Thornton has averaged 23.3 points through his first three games, including a 36-point, 16-rebound effort against GW.

Wiley at Kit Carson, 4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11
While neither team advanced to the 1A Great 8 a year ago, both No. 8 Wiley and No. 2 Kit Carson are ranked in the early going. A 15-game winner a year ago, Kit Carson opened with a 56-21 victory at Bethune; Wiley handled Cheyenne Wells 55-42 behind 16 points apiece from Caden Eastin and Christian Dellamaestra.

Bennett at Resurrection Christian (Loveland), 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11
This cross-classification matchup kicks off the Resurrection Christian Invite, with 3A's fifth-ranked Bennett taking on 2A's No. 3 Cougars. Resurrection Christian won its first three games, including taking down another ranked 3A foe in Alamosa in overtime. Junior Tanner Ervin (26.3 ppg) and senior Luke Fick (19.7) are pacing the high-scoring Cougars early. Bennett is also 3-0 and owns a victory over Lutheran, a 3A semifinalist last March. Senior Joseph Goodnight is coming off a 32-point showing against Byers.

Faith Christian (Arvada) vs. Pueblo West, 2:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12
Another tournament cross-classification battle, 3A's No. 3 Eagles take on 4A's sixth-ranked Cyclones in the Glenwood Springs Demon Invitational. Both teams are coming off out-of-state tournaments, with Pueblo West going 2-1 in New Mexico after a season-opening victory over Sierra. Junior David Simental has averaged 25.3 points through four games. Faith Christian went 1-2 at the Christian Cup Challenge of Arizona. The Eagles made the state semis a year ago.

Sand Creek (Colorado Springs) at Doherty (Colorado Springs), 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12
Two Colorado Springs-area squads tangle in a nonleague matchup midway through the month. Sand Creek, ranked fifth in 4A, takes on 5A Doherty while looking to maintain some early momentum. The Scorpions won their first two games, and senior Jordan Phillips and junior D'Shawn Schwartz are off to strong starts. Doherty topped Cherokee Trail and Fairview, sandwiched around a loss to No. 2 ThunderRidge. Senior Dalven Brushier is scoring just more than 17 points per game.

Eaglecrest (Centennial) at Boulder, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 17
Both the Raptors and Panthers have picked up where they left off last season, winning their first three games. Eaglecrest has dominated early, with junior Colbey Ross scoring at a clip of 23 points a game. Boulder and senior Landon Taliaferro have looked good, with Taliaferro averaging 18 points per game. The Panthers made the Sweet 16 last winter.

Sedgwick County (Julesburg) at Holyoke, 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 19
This top-10 2A clash should be a good one, with No. 5 Sedgwick County – the 8-man football champions – visiting fourth-ranked Holyoke. Sedgwick County opened the season with a pair of victories over teams from Nebraska, winning with ease in both contests. Holyoke, which gave defending champion Sanford a run in the quarterfinals last March, opened by topping 1A's top-ranked Fleming, 68-65. Four players scored in double figures, led by senior Bradley Cumming's 19 points.

Paonia at Grand Valley (Parachute), 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 19
With the holiday break approaching, one more cross-classification game makes the list. Paonia, ranked ninth in 2A, visits 3A's No. 8 Grand Valley. The Eagles are back in the swing after getting back a handful of players from the state runner-up football squad, and are off to a 2-0 start. Grand Valley raced past Bayfield and Jefferson Academy to open the season. Senior John Parker and junior Gunner Rigsby each scored 37 points in the opener.