Ball Fever: Checking out the week 8 slate
By Thomas Trotman
Photo: PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com
Tuesday, Feb. 1
Cream rising? This week starts with 17-0 No. 3 Montrose, led by Luke Hutto and Trey Reese who are leading the squad in EVERY statistical category, as they take on Fruita Monument.
5A No. 2 Fossil Ridge beat a game Rocky Mountain team by five in early January. Look for this rematch to be just as good! The Sabercats’ 11-game win streak on the line in this one.
Not top-10 action, but Rangeview is now at 13-4 and earning a few top-10 votes in our poll. This night they tangle with Prairie View, which is usually a fun one in EMAC action.
No. 4 Mead takes the defending champ show to Skyline.
Always fun city action with No. 3 Denver East taking on Thomas Jefferson. The Angels were on a 14-game winning streak until Regis came to town last Saturday and beat them by five. The Spartans better be ready, East will be hungry to return to winning ways.
Longmont sits just outside our 4A top-10 and face No. 8 Holy Family in other solid 4A battle.
Pueblo Central, 15-2, has faced a tough recent schedule and look to get back on track against rival Pueblo West.
Even though they faced a loss last week, Windsor moves up to 4A No. 7 and look to beat Erie at home.
If we’re talking about rising to the top in Colorado hoops right now, you must take a look at 17-0 Pueblo South, who is showing they may not just be No. 1 in 4A but one of the best teams in the entire state! They see Pueblo East in a late 8 p.m. tilt down south!
Wednesday, Feb. 2
No shame in No. 5 Rock Canyon losing last Friday night to No. 1 ThunderRidge, and this road test won’t be easy at Heritage where neither team can afford another Continental league loss.
Both at a solid 13-4, and both earning top-10 votes, Air Academy and Vista Ridge should be right down to the wire.
Centaurus, 13-4 as well, is holding on to the 4A No. 9 spot. They put their 3-game winning streak on the line versus Silver Creek, who is a strong 12-4 on the season themselves.
Mountain Vista, sitting just outside our 5A top-10 garnering 32 votes this week, are headed to face 14-3 No. 6 Douglas County. The Huskies are ranked and have the better overall record, but Vista has only one league loss, so this is a big one for DougCo!
Smoky Hill dropped a couple spots to No. 9 in our poll after last week’s loss to Eaglecrest. At 6-2 in league play they need this one over Arapahoe.
Wednesday usually means strong Continental league rival action, and that remains true in No. 4 Chaparral heading to Highlands Ranch.
More Continental! Regis, holding on to the 5A No. 10 spot and fresh of the huge win over Denver East, can’t afford a let down against Castle View in league play.
These Eaglecrest Raptors seem to be finding their groove at 13-4. With a seven-game win streak, and ranked No. 7, they have a tough test again at Overland.
Another HOT 4A squad, Green Mountain, is on a seven-game streak and ranked No. 6 as they take their show to Littleton.
Thursday, Feb. 3
Cream of the crop theme continues with our state’s top squad at 16-1 (only loss coming out of state to St Joes CO in Alaska) ThunderRidge looking to stay flawless in state at league foe Legend.
In need of a little “city vs. the suburbs” action head on over to No. 4 Chaparral visiting George Washington. The Patriots will play with pride!
Pueblo Central is looking to stay hot, but it won’t be easy as Pueblo County pays a visit with a solid 13-4 record of their own.
Thursday nights are usually pretty quiet around the state, but No. 1 Pueblo South will once again be worth the price of admission as they try and take the streak up against Pueblo Centennial down south.
Friday, Feb. 4
4A No. 7 Windsor is always tough in league action as they take on Silver Creek.
Green Mountain is up to No. 7 and on a five-game winning streak, and will face an always ready Golden squad.
Up north, Fossil Ridge is looking to continue their fire run at rival Poudre.
More of that top-squad dominance with No. 2 Lewis Palmer looking to add to their 17-1 record vs Rampart. The Rangers’ only loss came to 5A Chaparral this year, folks!
4A “top-10 alert”! Get your popcorn ready for No. 4 Mead at No. 8 Holy Family…let the rivalry and braggin’ rights commence!
No. 9 Smoky Hill travels to Mullen on “Centennial Tough” Friday night!
More Centennial action with No. 9 Eaglecrest hosting A-Town foe Cherokee Trail.
Saturday, Feb. 5
Holy Family has little time to rest after the huge Friday night game with Mead, as Sand Creek makes the trek north on Saturday.
Mead is not off the hook either as they have to “lace em up” after the battle with Holy Family and face a game Falcon squad coming in at 10-4.
Interesting to see how Denver South will handle the rare visit from Rocky Mountain on a weekend afternoon!
No. 6 Douglas County looks to continue an impressive season and Continental play when Heritage comes to get it on.
FNE Warriors (the Bellos) will have to be on top of their game if they hope for any chance of slowing No. 4 Denver East. Won’t be the classic we were used to in the “good ol days” but DPL pride brings out the best.
No. 5 Rock Canyon ends the week vs. Castle View in league play.
5A “top-10 alert!” Not just a game of the night candidate, but this has the potential to be game of the week material when No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 10 Regis get after it for serious Continental league standing!
Sheesh! Another solid packed week of action. That weather is predicted to come our way, but hoping it’s not too frigid for us “hoop heads” to go out and get our CHSAA fix! And remember, always 72 & sunny in the gym!
