Manual’s Thunderdome will be the site of the first of three big Denver Prep League games down the stretch. East, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are perfect in league play and at 1 p.m. Saturday either the Angels or the Patriots will have a blemish.
The Lancers should continue to “Francisco Cruz” (Lincoln’s scoring leader at 23.4 points per game) until the pivotal last week of the season, when the Angels and Patriots invade their gym.
Other Saturday games of note include a 4A Western Slope League affair with Palisade traveling to Steamboat to take on the No. 6 Sailors at 5:30. A good battle of 3A big men will also take place when Kent’s Ben Stewart and Denver Lutheran’s Trevor Williams (6-feet-11) lock up at 4 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Look who’s No. 1. After Friday’s 40-37 stunner over Broomfield (the Eagles won the first meeting by 23 points), the Silver Creek Raptors jumped to No. 1 in the latest 9News/Denver Post Class 4A poll.
Broomfield and Silver Creek are both 11-1 in the Northern League’s Western Division. The Raptors finish the regular season with two of the teams battling for the third spot in the league before cross-division play begins.
Friday night begins with a trip to Fort Collins to play Fossil Ridge at 7 p.m.; Tuesday is a crosstown dual with Longmont at 5 p.m.
The city of Longmont is not foreign to quality girls basketball programs. It was just four short years ago that Skyline stunned the Class 4A field with a title.
WRESTLING
One week to regionals. An usually busy Saturday has been tamed a bit this weekend in preparation for next week’s statewide wrestling regional tournaments. Of note this weekend, the Coronado Invitational in Colorado Springs. The Cougars have turned out some of the state’s best in recent years: see Henry Cejudo and Gabe Burak. The latter’s little brother Micah will try to use the home-mat advantage to claim a 125-pound title.
GIRLS SWIMMING
One week to state. League tournaments abound this weekend in preparation for next week’s state tournaments at Edora Pool in Fort Collins. The Centennial League title, a battle between Cherry Creek and Fairview, could be a precursor to next Thursday and Friday. Continental, Jefferson County, Front Range, Skyline and Colorado Springs all have league championships on deck this weekend.
