Welcome back, hoops fans! Quite a week 8 that was dubbed the week of upsets on social media. Those upsets resulted in new #1 teams in three of our Coaches Poll classifications. The upsets will continue and league play is heating up! Lets take a “Look Ahead” at Week 9:
Tuesday Feb. 7
This week’s coverage starts with red hot #6 Fort Collins who is fresh off their huge upset of rival Fossil Ridge last week and now the Lambkins have ran off 10 wins in a row and they travel to Horizon on this night.
Speaking of Fossil Ridge, they come in at #3 this week in the Coaches Poll after the tight loss to Fort Collins. Watch out Mountain Range, the Sabercats are bringing their 70 point per game pace your way!
6A Top 10 Alert! Another one of those “Continental Clashes” this time #7 Regis hosts #8 Highlands Ranch. Both squads are 4-2 in league play and the Falcons will be tasked with trying to slow Tarea Fulcher and his 17 points per game.
After 4 straight wins Valor has climbed back into the Coaches Poll at #9 and the 5th straight win won’t be easy vs. Ralston Valley and super soph Tanner Braketa’s 25 points per game. Valor won the first match up of these league foes by 4.
Rock Canyon suffered their 2nd loss of the season and didn’t drop far coming in at #2 in 6A and they face a league foe in Ponderosa who is flying high after a huge win over neighborhood rival Chaparral at the last second. Noah Wilhelm’s 18 points a game is a big reason Pondo is on a run recently.
ThunderRidge is hanging on to their #10 spot and they travel to Chaparral who always play tough at home. The Grizzlies need this one to keep their Continental title hopes alive.
The Fever Crew can’t wait to see this Frederick’s squad style of play which is producing 80 points per game. They lost their first game of the season by one point on Saturday and will be looking to win big vs. Niwot.
As if we needed another big Continental league match up here comes Mountain Vista who has returned to our Coaches Poll #1 spot and they’ve reeled off 6 wins in a row doing it. The states top squad travels to Heritage!
Wednesday Feb. 8
Up one spot to 5A #3 Tucker Mills 18 points per game and the Mead Mavericks look to take down Centaurus for the second time this season.
#9 Longmont moved up one spot and they tangle with Holy Family after winning their January match up by 11.
High flying Smoky Hill has dropped a couple of spots to #5 but they’ve won two in a row and are back on track. Grandview’s Uk Onyenwere is “stat-stuffin” at 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal per game but the Wolves will have their hands full keeping up with the Buffaloes 78 point pace.
Vista Peak is holding steady at 5A #7 and 1-16 Regis Groff may be in trouble here!
A big one in Jeffco as 5A #6 Dakota Ridge takes on D’evelyn. Dakota Ridge has lost a rare two games in a row so we can picture them coming out strong here to try and remain unbeaten in league play.
Denver East is up to #4 now and even garnering some first place votes as of late. They have a rare late season non league game vs. Rangeview.
Thursday Feb. 9
#5 Frederick and Luke Justice’s 21 points per game look to take Skyline down for the second time this season.
The “double-double” machine Luke Wagstaff and Fort Collins at it again this week, this time vs. Poudre. Just put 20 and 10 in the book for big Luke now!
#9 Valor Christian at it again with a familiar foe Arvada West.
Lewis Palmer holding steady at #8 in 5A have a good one vs. Lutheran.
Friday Feb. 10
Aiden Krusoe’s 14 points per game is a big reason Highlands Ranch is #8 in 6A and they have a Continental battle with Legend.
More excellent league action as #3 Mead heads over to Holy Family.
5A #5 Dakota Ridge finishes a busy week at Pomona.
#1 Mountain Vista take their fast paced action to upset minded Ponderosa who will try to slow big Cade Stevens 18 points per outing.
6A Top 10 Alert! #10 ThunderRidge and #7 Regis rekindle their Continental rivalry. The Raiders will try to coral outstanding juniors Charlie Spann and Andrew Crawford.
#2 Rock Canyon and the “crazies” travel to Castle View for a league match up.
#4 in 5A Windsor is on a 9 game winning streak and travel to Centaurus on Friday night.
Saturday Feb. 11
It doesn’t have the appeal of years past but the Denver East vs. George Washington Saturday showdown is always exciting and high scoring!
Quite a busy week for Fort Collins and they’ll make the trek to Boulder to take on Fairview Saturday.
Thomas Jefferson has been playing good ball of late and have a non league Saturday match with Vista Peak.
Well, that closes out our Week 9 coverage of our big school 6A and 5A Coaches Poll Top 10 action. We haven’t used that “parity” word yet this season but with so many upsets and new #1’s its hard not to say league and state titles are truly up for grabs. We are sure we’re in for another exciting week, enjoy! #BallFever