It took a few months to kick in, but the Colorado high school basketball season is cresting — and none too soon.
After chugging along since November, picking up steam along the way, the top teams are starting to square off in head-to-head matchups. The field of top contenders is beginning to sort out.
No. 1-ranked East will play the game of the season so far when the Angels face No. 8 George Washington at 1 p.m. Saturday in what is an always-entertaining Denver Prep League game at Manual’s Thunderdome. East and George — along with Abraham Lincoln, among others — have defined quality hoops in the state for years.
And it’s not the only game pitting top-ranked teams this week. On Tuesday, No. 1 and nationally ranked Highlands Ranch routed No. 2 Regis 74-49 in a girls basketball game that packed the Falcons’ gym. The number of people alone — estimated at more than 2,000 — testified to the game’s importance.
East and GW are likely to find a more competitive result. The Angels (15-3, 3-0 DPL) have been rolling of late, led by the brothers Thornton. With DaVaughn (averaging 14.8 points) and Demetrius Thornton (12.4), East has won its past five games by an average of more than 40 points.
But don’t expect a rout of GW (15-3, 3-0). The Patriots counter with four players averaging in double figures: Thomas Bropleh (12.9), Tyrell Millard (11.6), Nick Sather (10.9) and Tony Adams (10.1).
East will be led by longtime coach Rudy Carey, who is nearing 600 career victories — a 590-136 mark, to be exact.
The field of teams in the state’s largest classification might not sort out completely after Saturday’s East-George contest. But the waves will be felt — and heard.
AROUND TOWN
Pink is a very hockey color.
Major League Baseball has made an annual celebration of pink bats and pink ribbons on uniforms to raise awareness for breast cancer research. This weekend, hockey takes its turn. The Rocky Mountain Rage hosts the Arizona Sundogs starting at 7 p.m. Friday at the Broomfield Event Center, and the hometown Rage will don commemorative black jerseys with pink lining. The jerseys will then be auctioned off, and the proceeds will go to the Denver affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. The game has Central Hockey League implications. The Rage (62 points) continues to pace the Northwest Division, ahead of the rival Colorado Eagles (53). Arizona (54) leads the Southwest Division.
Friday:
Saturday:
STAY ON THE COUCH
Bowling for dollars.
Annually one of the dumbest televised events on the sporting calendar, the NFL Pro Bowl will bore a half-stadium full of people in Hawaii and a nation full of desperate football fans when the game is played Sunday at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The game-slash- glorified vacation — which airs on Fox (KDVR-31) at 2:30 p.m. — will pay the players of the winning team $40,000 apiece. The losing team gets a paltry $20,000 per. The NFL’s best quarterback, Tom Brady, and Patriots teammate Randy Moss have already backed out of the game. But Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey and safety John Lynch will be in uniform.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Cheering 101.
The cheerleading clinic Sunday for kids ages 4-14, hosted by the Denver Athletic Club and the University of Denver, should be fun for several reasons. The clinic, starting at 9 a.m. at the Ritchie Center at DU, will provide a crash course for young fans so they can perform that night at the Pioneers’ game against visiting Louisiana-Lafayette. And, the registration fee is a benefit for Family Tree, an area organization for helping struggling families. Oh, and there’s lunch. And T-shirts. See for more information.
WEAK IN REVIEW
Or is it weak in preview?
There’s not much weak about a sports week that included, chronologically: 1. The Giants’ Super Bowl upset of the Patriots on Sunday; 2. Bobby Knight’s resignation from the college ranks Monday; 3. Roger Clemens’ appearance before top members of a Congressional committee for a steroids chat Tuesday; 4. Touted running back Darrell Scott’s announcement that he will play for the Buffs, and not the Longhorns, on Wednesday. Enjoy it now, because beginning with the NFL Pro Bowl, things aren’t looking up for next week.
