Denver Post staff writer Jon E. Yunt
looks at the action ahead in high
school sports:
CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL
December to remember.
The first of three sports seasons comes to an end Saturday but will certainly go out with a bang. Invesco Field at Mile High has been a hit with the big schools the past three seasons, and this weekend should be no different. Douglas County, which won the initial big-school title at Invesco Field in 2005, is back and will play Grandview in the Class 5A finale at 2:30 p.m. The 4A title game will bring the Steel City’s Cyclones of Pueblo West to town to try to slow Monarch’s running attack at 11:30 a.m. In Class 3A, there is a great story waiting to be told either way. First-time title game appearances for both Falcon and Berthoud will be decided at District 20 Stadium on the campus of Liberty High School.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Quick reunion.
And isn’t it ironic, don’t you think? With apologies to Alanis Morissette, tonight’s Highlands Ranch-at-Legacy game is dripping with irony — OK, maybe just coincidence, as was her song. It was only eight months ago when we saw these teams play for the Class 5A girls crown at the Coors Events Center in Boulder. The county setting may be the same, but the teams are a little different. Gone are Jaclyn Thoman for the Falcons and Melissa Jones for the Lightning, but Highlands Ranch’s Alyssa Fressle is back and may be the most exciting player in the state. Quincey Noonan looks to pick up the scoring pace for coach Jody Welch’s Lightning.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Awkward opener.
Maybe it won’t be that weird, but it’s the kind of early-season matchup that makes one raise an eyebrow. Fort Collins and new head coach Monte Alcaraz, who spent the past six seasons at Class 4A Windsor, open the 2007-08 season Friday night against Windsor. Alcaraz, who still lives in Windsor, compiled a 121-30 record with the Wizards and guided them to a state title game in 2003. Dustin Duncan is taking over for Alcaraz at Windsor. Duncan was an assistant at Windsor last season and coached two years as an assistant at the University of Northern Colorado.
ICE HOCKEY
Skate blades sharpened.
Breckenridge is the place to be Friday and Saturday to get your hockey fix. The four mountain teams — Summit, Aspen, Battle Mountain and Steamboat Springs — meet at Stephen C. West Arena for a three-game, roundrobin affair. Defending champion Aspen and senior defenseman Simon Dolginow lost to Steamboat Springs last year at this event and will try to exact a bit of revenge Saturday at 3:15 p.m. Other games of note this weekend include two Friday: Pueblo County at Ralston Valley, 6:30 p.m. at APEX Ice Arena; and Air Academy at Kent Denver at The Edge at 8 p.m.; and one on Saturday: Peak to Peak, the 2005 champion with goalie Greg Borchers, will be at Sertich Arena in Colorado Springs to battle perennial power Cheyenne Mountain.
