CHSAANow

Month: January 2018

  • Legislative Council notebook: Changes to football’s calendar; volleyball moves to bracket format

    Legislative Council January 2018
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    AURORA — Football’s calendar will align with the national setup, allowing for more consistency with surrounding states, and flexibility within the state’s current format.

    Additionally, volleyball is heading to a bracket format, there will be a new process for adding a new sport, teams will be allowed to play an exhibition game to raise money for their program, and baseball’s move to a 23-game regular season in 3A, 4A and 5A was approved.

    Those were among changes made by the CHSAA Legislative Council during the first of their two annual meetings on Thursday.

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    Football changes

    Peetz Stratton/Liberty football
    (Dustin Price/dustinpricephotography.com)

    For the immediate 2018 season, football’s changes means that the start of practice will move up by a week, and begin on Aug. 6. Additionally, this change will build in a bye week for classes 4A through 6-man, and allow for 5A to move to a 24-team playoff — something that was also approved on Thursday.

    The lead up to full contact will be as follows: two days in helmets, two days of full pads with limited contact, and one day of full pads and full contact. Scrimmages will be allowed on Aug. 16, with the first regular season games allowed on Aug. 23.

    No longer will the first week of competition be known as Zero Week — the former scrimmage/contest hybrid week. Instead, it’ll simply be Week 1.

    Because the existing approved dates of the postseason remain in place, it leaves a bye week during the regular season for 6-man through 4A, and a bye week for the top eight seeds in the 5A football playoffs while seeds Nos. 9-24 play in the first round.

    Elsewhere in football:

    • 2A and 3A will play their championship games at a neutral site.
    • The proposed league alignments were all approved and are now final.
    • As noted above, 5A is moving from a 16-team playoff to a 24-team playoff.

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    Volleyball bracket

    Valor Christian Lewis-Palmer volleyball
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    All five classes of the state volleyball tournament, held annually at the Denver Coliseum, will change from pool play to a bracket starting this fall.

    The bracket format will be a 12-team Olympic crossover, meaning it will be double-elimination up until the semifinals, where the tournament will change to a single-elimination.

    “We are really excited to be moving in this direction,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bethany Brookens said following the volleyball committee meeting last November.

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    New process for adding activities and sports

    Legislative Council meeting January 2018
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    The process for adding a new sport or activity — something that was in the spotlight last January with boys volleyball — has been overhauled.

    Now, the process will be as follows:

    • The Board of Directors must approve the new activity for a piloting process, while taking into account things like “longevity and history of the activity, support from the activity’s governing body, ability to host a coach’s clinic on skills and safety (sports only),” and “adequate number of officials (sports only).” The pilot program must last at least one year. New activities can ask for a pilot program from the Board at any point.
    • The new activity must have support from the Classification and League Organizing Committee, the Sports Medicine Committee, the Equity Committee, the and Board of Directors before the Legislative Council can vote on it.

    The new bylaw additions also outlines step-by-step what each new activity should be doing, and when.

    It seems likely that boys volleyball and girls wrestling will approach the Board to begin the piloting process. Both sports have expressed interest.

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    Foundation Showcase creates exhibitions to raise money

    A new bylaw which allows teams to participate in a “Foundation Benefit Contest” beyond the game limits was approved.

    This will allow schools the opportunity to schedule exhibition games where they charge admission, keep score and raise money for their programs or a cause.

    These games will not have any impact on postseason/playoff considerations.

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    Elsewhere:

    • Here’s a full breakdown of baseball’s increase to 23 games in 5A, 4A and 3A.
    • The Technology Committee gave a report on their recommendation with the RPI.
    • Seven new schools were approved for initial membership: DSST-Byers, KIPP Northeast, Loveland Classical, Riverdale Ridge, Strive Prep Rise, Strive Prep Smart, Thomas MacLaren. This gives CHSAA 358 member schools.
    • Stargate, Golden View Academy and Victory Prep Academy were approved as full members.
    • The cross country proposal to score four of the six runners at the 2A state meet was amended, so 2A will remain with three scoring runners.
    • Field hockey officially changed its OT procedure for the playoffs. Now, games will play 11 on 11 in the first OT. If still tied, they will play 7 on 7 in a second OT. If the game remains tied, they will go to a shootout.
    • 3A girls soccer’s postseason field will expand from 24 to 32 teams in 2019.
    • New CHSAA Board members to start in 2018-19: Luke DeWolfe, Steamboat Springs; Chase McBride, Niwot; Obafemi Alao, DSST-Green Valley Ranch; Don Steiner, Evangelical Christian.

  • Technology Committee reports on its RPI recommendation

    Legislative Council meeting January 2018
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    AURORA — During the Legislative Council meeting on Thursday, the Technology Committee reported on their recommendation surrounding the future of the RPI formula.

    The gist of that recommendation: Move away from the standard formula — 25 percent weight on a team’s own winning percentage, 50 percent on a team’s opponent’s, and 25 percent on the opponents of their opponents — to a 30/40/30 model.

    The recommendation was delivered to the CHSAA Board of Directors during their meeting on Wednesday. The Board will vote on that recommendation in February.

    The Technology Committee has met several times since last August, including an in-person meeting, and several video conferences, in exploring the future of the RPI. Included was a trip to visit with Erik Packard, a statistics professor at Colorado Mesa University who has his own ranking system for high school sports.

    The Committee also commissioned a survey of CHSAA member schools asking for their input on the RPI. More than 220 schools responded. That survey showed that:

    • Accuracy is the most important factor in a formula.
    • They want more weight on their own winning percentage.
    • They believe that RPI should be used to set postseason fields, but not to seed them.

    Using this feedback as a guide, the Technology Committee then set out to examine all the RPI data CHSAA has ever captured — including from seasons prior to its implementation in 2016.

    In order to determine which formula was most accurate, they compared a team’s ranking in the final RPI standings of the regular season to their actual performance at the state tournament.

    Seven different weights were examined. Because schools had asked for more weight on their own winning percentage, they first looked at a 50/25/25 model. In every case — in every sport — that formula was the least accurate.

    In the overwhelming majority of the data, the standard formula (25/50/25) was the most accurate.

    A second formula was either the most or the second-most accurate formula in all sports: 30/40/30.

    Ultimately, this is the formula the Technology Committee recommended to the Board on Wednesday. The recommendation is that this formula be used in all sports, which will help eliminate the confusion of separate formulas.

    Worth noting: It is the most accurate formula for football, too — more accurate than the current formula (37.5/37.5/25) that is being used.

    Additionally, the Technology Committee will explore what it would look like if a classification modifier were to be used in all sports.

  • Baseball to lengthen season for 3A, 4A, 5A teams in 2019

    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    AURORA — Baseball in Colorado is going to be a little bit longer. At Thursday’s Legislative Council meeting, the council voted the passage of an amendment that proposed expanding the number of games in Class 3A, 4A and 5A.

    Starting in 2019, those classes can schedule up to 23 games. As a result, athletes are now allowed 161 innings of participation, up from the previous number of 133.

    The 23-game schedule applies to the classes that do not have district tournaments as a part of their schedules. 

    The 1A and 2A classes participate in district tournaments so their game cap remains at 19.

    A number of factors led to the raised issue of increasing games. Colorado has been ahead of the curve in many aspects when it comes to baseball participation. The pitch count rule that was enacted in 2016 has been adapted on a national scale.

    But the number of competitions has been one aspect of the game that the state has not caught up to until the passage of the amendment. Games in northern states with weather that is comparable to Colorado compete in anywhere from 22-25 regular season contests.

    Additionally, 23 games has been the number of contests allowed in basketball and volleyball and the baseball committee felt it was time to match that number.

    “I’m always trying to know what the coaches and the schools are looking for, but it had to make sense,” assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann said. “I think this time, the coaches did a great job on educating their coaches on why they needed those games.”

    Later in the meeting, the baseball committee report was passed, which extended the season one week. State championships for 3A, 4A and 5A will now be held the weekend after Memorial Day.

    As with anything involving sports in the spring, weather can always be a factor when taking this kind of action. The final day of the 3A, 4A and 5A state tournaments were pushed back a day last spring due to weather conditions leaving the fields unplayable.

    With the extra week, more favorable weather could help the season finish on the expected end date rather than pushing the final games back one or several days.

    “That would be nice,” Borgmann said. “By extending it into that next, that’s the week we were generally finishing up anyway probably four of the last five years. It’s not like it’s a foreign concept to be playing after the scheduled end date. Hopefully the weather cooperates in all spring sports so we’re not facing that as often as we have in the past.”

    There is one other factor that increasing the number of games brings up. Last week, the equity committee recommended that if baseball was going to increase the number of contests that the same action should be taken for the like-sport of softball.

    “The membership is going to have to address the softball piece,” Borgmann said.

    Boulder athletic director and equity committee chair Eddie Hartnett urged the leagues to consider the implications that the passage would present to softball prior to their vote.

    The amendment passed with a 60 percent vote from the Legislative Council.

  • No. 2 Pueblo South boys basketball locks down on defense to beat No. 3 Pueblo West

    Pueblo South Pueblo West boys basketball
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    PUEBLO — Pueblo West coach Bobby Tyler has experience with winning a state championship. He, more than most, knows that the defense’s role in the game is far from a cliche. It’s the truth.

    In a state championship atmosphere at Massari Arena, he was helpless as he watched Pueblo South’s defense play at a championship level.

    After not allowing a single point in the third quarter, the Class 4A No. 2 Colts came away with a 48-31 win over the No. 3 Cyclones.

    “It’s crazy, that’s what Tonay (Aragon) said we needed to do at halftime,” Colts forward Marcell Barbee said. “He said we needed to hold them to zero points.”

    Ask and the crowd of 3,000-plus on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo shall receive.

    Aragon gave South (13-2 overall, 3-0 South Central) a massive momentum swing by hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer to go into halftime.

    “My teammates have confidence in me shooting,” Aragon said. “I have confidence in myself. They allow me to shoot those shots and without them I couldn’t make that. It was a big swing for us.”

    Pueblo South Pueblo West boys basketball
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Up to that point, it was far from a scoring clinic for either team. The Cyclones (12-3, 2-1) showed early that they were going to struggle from the field. They connected on just six total field goals in the first half and Nieyeme Smeyer-Willimas only scored five points in that span.

    Both teams played with the physicality and intensity that made each point all the more valuable. Because when the time comes in the playoffs that’s how one survives and advances.

    “It’s like a state championship game,” Tyler said. “You’re not going to see a state championship game that’s 97-84. You just don’t see those anymore. It’s always defense, man.”

    Quick South baskets from Barbee and Greyston Aguilera put the Cyclones on their heels early in the third quarter. Knowing the importance of this first matchup in terms of league standings, the Colts pushed on, trying to keep as much pressure on Smeyer-Williams and Pierre Taylor as possible.

    “I can’t explain it,” South coach D.J. Johnson said. “I thought we did a really good job communicating defensively and moving our feet. I thought we did a great job in that second half of playing straight up and challenging them.”

    While West was in a drought, South started coming alive offensively. Barbee was having trouble successfully attacking the basket in the first two quarters, but helped spark the Colts in the third. He scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the second half.

    Aragon quietly added 16, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth that sent the South students into a frenzy.

    “He does the right thing. He’s a great hooper,” Barbee said. “He has the smarts for the game and will do whatever it takes to win tonight.”

    Smeyer-Williams led the Cyclones with 13 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter. The West players filed out of the locker room looking defeated. But they were reminded of something very important after the loss. They don’t practice all year to worry about one game against a league rival.

    “The boys talked about that when we got down a bit,” Tyler said. “This isn’t what we’re working towards. We have to get better because of this, but we’re working for something bigger down the road.”

    And they’ll always have a chance at redemption. As Tuesday showed, neither school’s gym can contain the amount of interested viewers that this game brings in. The rematch on Feb. 9 will take place at the Event Center on the state fairgrounds, the site of South’s 64-62 win in the 2017 4A Great 8.

    And there is no reason to think that the rematch will be every bit as rowdy as Massari Arena was on Tuesday.

    Pueblo South Pueblo West boys basketball
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

  • Conifer boys hoops gets 27-point 4th quarter to survive scare from Arvada

    ARVADA — Conifer’s boys basketball team found its scoring touch in the nick of time Tuesday night at Arvada High School.

    Holding on to a 39-37 lead through three quarters against an improved Arvada squad, the Lobos scored 27 points in the final eight minutes to take a 66-48 road victory in the Class 4A/3A Colorado 7 League game.

    “It all started on the defensive end really,” Conifer senior Mark Studer said of the Lobos’ 27-point fourth quarter. “As soon as we get stops on the defensive end it translates into the offensive side.”

    Conifer’s Mark Studer had a game-high 22 points against Arvada. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Studer (22 points) had carried Conifer offensively through three quarters, but seniors Seth Sankey, Antonio Lucero, Andrew Wood, David Jacobson and Joe Mead all had buckets to allow the Lobos to pull away in the final quarter.

    Mead had a trio of baskets during a Conifer 10-0 run in the final quarter. Jacobson buried a key 3-pointer that started a 9-0 run in the final three minutes.

    “We actually talked about that at halftime,” Conifer coach Eric Valerio said of getting more scoring from different players after Studer scored 16 of 31 points for the Lobos in the first half. “Mark Studer is an exceptional player and even a better kid, but you have to have somebody else step up.”

    The win kept Conifer (8-9, 4-1 in league) in the mix for a conference championship and automatic bid for the 4A state tournament. The Lobos’ lone league loss was a heartbreaking 1-point home loss to Skyview (8-6, 2-1) last Friday night.

    Skyview, Fort Morgan and Conifer are the likely candidates to come out on top of the league this season.

    “That’s been a big goal for these guys,” Valerio said of winning a conference title. “I’m excited to play some more good teams and see how league finishes up.”

    The Lobos have a key road game against Fort Morgan (5-10, 3-1) on Friday night.

    Conifer’s Antonio Lucero (10) takes a shot over Arvada’s Quentin Terry. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “It was absolutely scary, but it’s just another game for us,” Studer said after Tuesday’s win. “Just one more to get us to our goal of a league championship. Every game is going to be just as important.”

    Conifer left the 4A Jeffco League after the 2015-16 season and joined the 4A/3A Colorado 7 League. The first year in the new league the Lobos had a strong conference record and qualified for the 4A state tournament for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.

    Arvada (4-10, 1-4) hosts another former 4A Jeffco foe — Alameda — who is also now in the Colorado 7 conference at 7 p.m. Friday. The Pirates defeated the Bulldogs 74-61 in their first league meeting back on Jan. 16.

    Arvada senior Quentin Terry was a dominating force at times Tuesday against Conifer. The Bulldogs’ big man finished with a team-high 15 points. Senior Marcel Sobhi poured in a dozen points for Arvada and junior Isaiah Vigil contributed nine points from his point guard position.

    The Bulldogs held a 12-point lead late in the first quarter before Conifer was able to chip away with some pressure defense that led to some easy buckets.

    “He (Arvada coach Vernon Whittington) has done an incredible job with this program,” Valerio said of the Bulldogs’ first-year coach. “They do things the right way. I was very impressed how well they played. I think really highly of their coach.”

    Conifer’s Andrew Wood (11) and the rest of the Lobos are eyeing a 4A/3A Colorado 7 League title. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Photos: Arapahoe and Cherry Creek diving meet

    LITTLETON — Arapahoe and Cherry Creek swim and dive held a dual meet on Tuesday evening.

    Arapahoe junior Franny Cable set the pool record with a score of 319.90.

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  • Photos: No. 8 Windsor girls basketball tops Erie behind Moran’s 18 points

    ERIE — Michaela Moran had 18 points as No. 8 Windsor girls basketball beat Erie 51-44 on Tuesday.

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  • Pomona’s football state champions move from gridiron to hardwood

    ARVADA — It’s been 51 days since Pomona finished the climb to the top of the prep football pedestal in Colorado and lifted the Class 5A state trophy.

    Seniors Ryan Marquez (quarterback) and Riley Govan (receiver), along with junior David Ross (receiver) were key during the Panthers’ run to the school’s first state football championship since 1988.

    Now, Marquez, Govan and Ross are focused on the basketball court and getting Pomona (7-8, 2-4 in 5A Jeffco League) into the mix for a conference title and berth into the 48-team 5A state tournament.

    “It was great to get back to basketball. I love basketball. I love playing with my teammates,” said Marquez, a four-year varsity player on the basketball court to go along with his impressive prep resume that includes being the starting quarterback in three 5A state football title games. “It did have a little different feeling. I was more relaxed this year.”

    Pomona’s Riley Govan (22) had a pair of TD catches during the Panthers’ state football title run. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Marquez, a three-sport (football, basketball and track) athlete, is still weighing his college options. He has had some Division II football offers along with some preferred walk-on invites from Division I football programs.

    What Marquez is also focusing on is helping lead Pomona back to the playoffs on the basketball court. The Panthers haven’t qualified for the postseason since the 2011-12 season. That is the main goal for Pomona.

    “The biggest goal we have it to make the state playoffs. It’s been a long time,” Pomona coach Jon Baskin said Monday night after a 55-38 home victory against Westminster. “We are more competitive at all the levels. It’s progress, but it’s really slow.”

    Pomona kept Westminster (0-14, 0-3 in 5A East Metro League) winless on the season thanks to a strong third quarter. Ross poured in a dozen of his game-high 16 points during a 6-minute stretch to start the second half.

    “That third quarter I started to get it going and felt more comfortable,” said Ross, who added that he tries to get in the gym to work on his shot during the football season. “Things started opening up for me.”

    Pomona’s Guridj Dorlean goes up for a shot Monday against Westminster. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Marquez finished with 10 points. Govan and senior Guridj Dorlean pitched in eight points each as Pomona ended a 3-game losing streak.

    To start the week, the Panthers sat No. 56 in the RPI standings that determine the 48-team field for the state tournament. Pomona has to either win the league title to get an automatic bid or finish in the top 48 to get into the playoffs.

    “I’d love to see a league title. That might be out of reach at this point, but I want to see a playoff game,” Marquez said referring to a 3-game league losing streak. “We have all the talent and coaching to do it. We just have to get everything in order.”

    Marquez, Govan and Ross are the leading scorers for Pomona that have made some noise this winter. The Panthers ended two-time defending 5A Jeffco League champion Chatfield’s 30-game conference winning streak to open league play. Pomona also knocked off rival Ralston Valley a few weeks ago.

    “My goal, much like every other coach in the league, is to win the league,” Baskin said. “It’s not like we are outclassed by teams like Chatfield. Our league has so much parody this year.”

    Lakewood and Arvada West both defeated the Panthers with buzzer-beaters last week.

    “A lot of these league games have been close until the end. We haven’t been lucky enough,” Ross said. “We’ve been working on finishing games and playing all four quarters.”

    Pomona gets back into conference play against league-leading Bear Creek (9-4, 5-1) at 7 p.m. Wednesday before getting a chance to sweep the season series against Chatfield (6-8, 3-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.

    “We are not in basketball mindset at times,” Baskin admitted. “We are competitive and have a chance to win most games, but we aren’t clicking 100 percent all the time.”

    Pomona senior Ryan Marquez (2) said Monday he is still weighing his football scholarship options. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Photos: Kountz, Marble help No. 5 Denver East boys hoops top Eaglecrest

    AURORA — Daylen Kountz and Kwane Marble led No. 5 Denver East boys basketball to a 76-71 win over Eaglecrest on Monday.

    Kountz led the Angels with 31 points, while Marble dropped 23.

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  • Ball Fever: League play heats up as boys hoops enters the thick of the regular season

    Douglas County Regis Jesuit boys basketball
    (Marcus Gipson/Jmariahimages.com)

    Welcome back, hoops fans! As we discussed in our mid-week report our focus this week will be on the little things that help teams win, the “Dirty Work!”

    The Fever Crew received a ton of positive feedback on the angle and we’re excited to dig into a bit more of our unsung heroes. Let’s get to the rest of Week 7!

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    The Look Back

    Thursday, Jan. 18

    Douglas County Regis Jesuit boys basketball
    (Marcus Gipson/Jmariahimages.com)
    • Montbello (FNE) and Lotus S/E got things started post mid-week with Kansas tourney action! Sindou Cisse scoring potential has been documented but with our “dirty work” theme Malik Fofanna caught our eye with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals in the “Bellos” blow out win in Colby, KS.
    • Sam Bannec doesn’t always lead the scoring for Regis because he’s the type to do whatever the team needs to win but he led the charge for Regis’ comeback over DougCo.
    • Avery Remboa was all over with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals but it wasn’t enough as Loveland came up short vs. Monarch by 15.
    • In more Kansas tourney play Falcon took on Hutchinson and our Crew sights some serious dirty work from Mitchell Ballage’s 12 points, 10 rebounds, in the 14 point win.
    • We see you Lucas Lacy, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 10 BIG ASSISTS will always stand out on our unselfish “dirty work” radar! Lacy, the senior, getting it done in Widefield’s 21-point win over Harrison.
    • Senior Joshua Frankmore, getting “dirty work” done for Classical Academy in their big 13-point road win at Sierra leading four players with 14 points and 3 rebounds!
    • Ok, Ok….when you’re the top team in the state you get exceptions! Sam Masten’s overall game is off the charts and even though he’s spotlighted regularly we can’t help but recognize 27 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals!! “Stat-Stuffin”, “Dirty Work”, “Monsta” double-double…Whatever you wanna call it – Big Sam got it done in this win over Ponderosa.
    • Highlands Ranch, No. 10 in 5A, continues it’s winning ways and continues to change the Continental landscape with a win at Legend! “Dirty Work”, quietly improving!
    • Our Fever Crew talked about that baseball stud, Bryce Matthews, in “Dirty Work” Edition – Part 1…but there’s another Wolverine who scored 15 on this night and does all the little things to help Chap win consistently! He’s only a soph, but PG Kobe Sanders will be a FORCE in years to come and his 15 points (all 3 pointers!) in Chap’s 23-point win over Castle View is just a sign of what’s ahead for this young man.
    • Can you call it quiet “Dirty Work” when 4A No. 2 Pueblo South takes it to Pueblo Central 81-35!?? Colts “D-Fence” allowed 2 points in the second quarter and 7 in fourth! With their offensive talent this time of defense makes them very scary come March.

    Friday, Jan. 19

    • Montbello (FNE) and Fountain-Fort Carson found each other across the border in the Colby, KS tourney and again it was another “Bellos” senior doing the dirty work along with some scoring punch in Ryan Booker’s 19 points and 2 rebounds. Warriors win 44-37.
    • Everyone did scoring in bunches as Lincoln blew out Denver West but we like the dirty work stat line of senior Shyreef Robbins 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Doing a bit of it all!
    • Speaking of “work”, how about senior Caleb Blackburn of Discovery Canyon’s 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in the win over Vista Ridge.
    • Windsor has battled their way into the 4A top 10 at No. 9 and earn a 7 point win over Berthoud.
    • Silver Creek’s Trent Dykema kept it rolling with another “30-piece” in scoring but how about 19-21 free throws!?? Double digit rebounds? Oh, senior Erik Grossaint pulled down 13 to go along with his 20 point double-double.
    • Senior Luke Johnson “gettin dirty” with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals in No. 4 Longmont’s win over Northridge by 19!
    • Thompson Valley entered the 4A top 10 last week but Greeley Central didn’t mind handing them a loss anyway and we like Xavier Bonham’s line of 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals in the win.
    • There must be dirty work in 4A top 10 action between Evergreen and Valor, right? In a tight 5-point win by the Eagles sophomore R. Rosengarten stepped up with 4 offensive and 11 defensive rebounds!
    • Great week of hoops for Eaglecrest who got a close 1-point win over high flying Smoky Hill. Xaivon Jackson is leading the squad in rebounds, assists, and steals from the PG spot! The Raptors have gotten a few top 10 votes in previous weeks and are knocking on the door.
    • Lane Sherwood scored 14 for Pueblo County but not nearly enough as No. 2 Pueblo South rolls 70-41.
    • Greg Bennett, a junior for Pueblo Centennial, had a workman like line of 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals but again down south No. 3 Pueblo West pulled away by more than 30.
    • The Fever Crew heard the critics about Overland joining the coaches poll with a losing record but the turn around streak they’re on cannot be denied and the Blazers get another team effort/win with R. Clark III leading the scoring with 14 this time.
    • Usually not the leading scorer for No. 1 Lewis-Palmer, junior Noah Baca scored 11, added 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals in the 15-point win over Air Academy.
    • Four players in double digit scoring and Adam Thistlewood added 10 rebounds in Golden’s win by 15 over Green Mountain.
    • Doherty gave Regis all they could handle led by Alijah Bates 24 points on the road but the Raiders Sam Bannec was huge with 19 points and 6 rebounds in the win.

    Saturday, Jan. 20

    Cherry Creek Grandview boys basketball
    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
    • Centennial league wins are as tough as ever this season and Grandview got another over Cherry Creek. Everyone contributed to the team win but how about this dirty work: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 deflections from soph Caleb McGill!
    • It would take a huge effort to knock off unbeaten No. 1 Lewis-Palmer and Liberty got just that from Sean Bohuslavsky who dropped 28 big points and senior Moz Doria was all over the “dirty work” with 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in the huge win for the Lancers. The Fever Crew doesn’t expect Lewis-Palmer to fall far after their first loss coming to a 5A squad.
    • Well hello, Kirk Relford! The Windsor senior capped a great week for the Wizards with a 30 point, 4 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steal effort in the 30-point win over Roosevelt.
    • Vista Peak was in need of a signature win and they got it at home over No. 6 Silver Creek. Te’Rae Jackson has been averaging 17 points per game for the Bison who pulled off the big upset.
    • Brendan LaRose with a “monsta” 17 rebounds in the finale of the “Orange & Black” Tourney Classic in Kolby, KS vs. Montbello (FNE) and he also chipped in 19 points for good measure for Falcon!
    • In the week’s finale, Denver East battled Bellevue West (Nebraska) and Daylen Kountz introduced himself to the NE fans with a 23 point, 6 rebound, 4 assists, 2 steal performance in the Angels 8 point road win!

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    The Look Ahead

    Cherry Creek Eaglecrest boys basketball
    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    Monday, Jan. 22

    • Falcon & Air Academy down south…
    • Denver East & Eaglecrest annual get down! Both playing well.
    • Improving Discovery Canyon vs. Cheyenne Mountain.

    Tuesday, Jan. 23

    • Denver East vs. Kennedy in the city.
    • Watch out Heritage! No. 1 Rock Canyon’s comin’ your way!
    • Silver Creek vs. Centaurus.
    • Greeley West vs. Boulder.
    • T-Ridge & Castle View, Continental!
    • Doherty vs. Fountain-Fort Carson. Spartans are 12-3!
    • Longmont & Thompson Valley in top 4A action…
    • Chaparral vs. Highlands Ranch, love it!
    • Pueblo South & Pueblo West “Braggin Rights!” Top 5 4A

    Wednesday, Jan. 24

    • Cherry Creek & Smoky Hill Centennial Tangle!
    • Hot Overland hosts Arap.
    • Eaglecrest/CT in more Aurora action.
    • Grandview, now 12-3, heads to Mullen.
    • Valor, post Vegas strong & Standley Lake
    • GW & Lincoln in the city! Can Lancers slow “en fuego” Patriots?
    • Lewis-Palmer & Palmer Ridge another good one!

    Thursday, Jan. 25

    • Sierra & Widefield should be good, Springs!
    • Liberty & Doherty another southern battle..
    • Highlands Ranch huge Continental test vs. Regis.

    Friday, Jan. 26

    • Grandview/Smoky Hill…IT’S ON!
    • D-South tries to test GW.
    • Thomas Jefferson annual tangle with East.
    • Longmont vs. Centaurus.
    • Eaglecrest/Overland meaningful Centennial stuff!
    • Discovery Canyon vs. Air Academy.
    • Lewis-Palmer & Sand Creek rematch.
    • Don’t sleep on Vista Peak, Rangeview! A-Town fun.
    • Golden/D’evelyn top 4A ball!
    • Pueblo South putting up points eyes P-Centennial.

    Saturday, Jan. 27

    • It’s ThunderDome time: Da Bellos vs. Denver East
    • Fountain-Fort Carson vs. Pine Creek for your southern Saturday.
    • ThunderRidge takes it show to Legend.
    • Longmont/Roosevelt both double digit win squads!
    • Lewis-Palmer & Erie.
    • Littleton takes on Valor.

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    Get out and enjoy the action, folks! Our top players/squads, along with our unsung heroes who do the “Dirty Work” deserve our attention!