Ball Fever: Checking in for the final week of the regular season

Welcome back, hoop fans, the time is here! We are at the final week of another great regular season and there are some league winners to be crowned, 1000-point career scorers, and final slots in postseason brackets to be filled. Let’s take a look at the top games for our 5A/4A CHSAANow Top 10.

Tuesday, 2/15

It’s been a long season for the Lincoln Lancers and it will get no easier, as they face No. 4 Denver East (19-2) led by D’aundre Samuel’s 18 points per game.

Our coaches have voted a new No. 1 for the first time this season and it’s Fossil Ridge, which celebrated Brock Mishak’s 1000 points in his career last week and some exciting finishes including Ty Brown’s last second buzzer beater that 9News’ Quentin Sickaffoose caught on film.

That amazing shot secured the league title for the Sabercats and after all that excitement, they can’t afford a let down at Fairview this night as the new No. 1.

Mountain Vista is holding on to our No. 9 spot and they have another tough league battle at Legend.

5A Top 10 Alert! Regis is back in our coaches poll at No. 10 and will face No. 6 Douglas County. Both squads are on winning streaks and one must come to an end with momentum towards the postseason.

Chaparral, No. 4 in 5A, is as hot as any team in the state with a 6-game winning streak which includes their hot-shooting upset of then-No. 1 ThunderRidge last week. The Wolverines have another tough Continental League battle against Heritage.

ThunderRidge dropped to No. 2 after their rare home loss to Chap and that was their only loss in the state of CO this year. They will be hungry to bounce back… look out Ponderosa. The Grizz are coming and they won’t be friendly visitors.

League title on the line in the 4A Top 10 Alert! Unbeaten No. 1 Pueblo South looks to keep its stellar season rolling along but they’ll have to deal with Kadyn Betts (who just celebrated a 1000 point career, and is still just a junior) and No. 5 Pueblo Central.

Wednesday, 2/16

No. 6 Rock Canyon starts our action this night with a rare non-league tilt with Brighton late in the season.

Not Top 10 action but if you’re down south, you certainly can’t go wrong with Doherty and Air Academy. Both teams are capable of spoiling some high seed’s season come tournament play.

Don’t look now but Fredrick has a 10-game win streak going on and we have a 4A “Top 10 Alert!” with No. 6 Windsor, which is sitting at 13-5 themselves heading into final week.

There’s No. 2 Lewis Palmer still rolling at 20-1, with its only loss coming against a strong 5A team in Chaparral, and they will host Pine Creek mid-week.

Eaglecrest, 16-4 and No. 5 in 5A, must get this win over Mullen to keep their 10-1 #CentennialTough league record in tact.

Thursday, 2/17

Our new 5A No. 1 Fossil Ridge is back in action again and this time we get some north Fort Collins vs. Boulder rare late season action.

No. 8 Horizon is back in action after a heart-breaking loss at the buzzer to Fossil Ridge. This one won’t be easy, as the Hawks face Rocky Mountain and Aidan Kuhl, who is averaging 25 points per game and scored a “monsta” 44 points against Fossil Ridge last week.

There are only two unbeaten schools left and Montrose puts it’s 21-0 record and 4A No. 4 ranking on the line at Grand Junction out west.

No. 5 Pueblo Central is in another late season rivalry. This time, it’s Pueblo West in a tough week of scheduling.

Did No. 1 Pueblo South survive the early week battle with Pueblo Central? If so, they look to stay unbeaten along with Montrose if they can get by Pueblo East again.

Friday, 2/18

No. 6 Douglas County is surging on a four-game win streak and has only two losses in tough Continental League play, but an always-prepared Legend team awaits.

At No. 9, Mountain Vista closes out league play against rival Rock Canyon in one where the play and crowds are always exciting.

On the night the Continental League will be decided, No. 3 Chaparral looks to continue its momentum against Ponderosa.

Continuing the Continental “Friday Night” theme, big, bad ThunderRidge will be looking to make another statement at Castle View.

No. 5 Eaglecrest is closing in on a Centennial League title but will need to close things out against a tough Cherry Creek team that would love to ruin the Eagles’ plans.

Regis, just back in our Top 10 at the final No. 10 spot, looks to keep momentum and better standing in final bracket against Heritage to close out regular season.

Saturday, 2/19

Not ranked squads on Saturday, but there’s potential for a fun Saturday afternoon battle where the winner earns the league title in Rangeview and Vista Peak.

Do we finally get that ThunderDome “banger!!!” The finale of “city ball” at 3 p.m. in No. 4 Denver East taking on their annual rival George Washington? Both are unbeaten in league play and the title’s on the line.

Stay tuned in on twitter folks as we follow along all week for these exciting games that will produce league champions and surely some exciting league tourney finals all leading up to “Bracket Sunday” and our version of #MileHighMadness 2022. Enjoy the final week of the regular season and the postseason is poised to be even better. #BallFever