GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pretty in pink. From Feb. 8-17, college and high school teams across the country participate in the Women’s College Basketball Coaches Association “Think Pink” breast cancer awareness campaign. The only teams in Colorado taking part are ThunderRidge and Highlands Ranch, who go at it Friday night in front of a pink-clad crowd. Each school will sell pink team shirts, with proceeds going to the Jill Lamb Memorial Fund. Jill, the wife of Mountain Vista girls basketball coach Brian Lamb, lost her battle with breast cancer last Thursday.
Highlands Ranch and University of Colorado-bound Alyssa Fressle won the previous two regular-season meetings by five points each. The Falcons are 9-0 and in command of the Continental League with three games to play. ThunderRidge is 7-2 in league play and stands fourth in the league chase, also behind Regis and Chaparral.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Bragging rights. No cupid necessary in Jefferson County tonight. Starting on the north end, in 5A the battle for bragging rights in Arvada will match league unbeaten Arvada West (13-8 overall) against crosstown rival Arvada (also 13-8, but just 2-6 in league play). In Class 4A Jeffco, preseason No. 1 Ralston Valley started the season 4-5 but since has reeled off 11 straight victories and is a perfect 6-0 in league play. A stern test at D’Evelyn, smarting after a Tuesday loss to Golden, is in order at 6 p.m.
Valley’s big victory. There had been a big valley for Valley. The Vikings boys basketball team won only three times in 13 outings, then scored what arguably is the upset of the season Friday with a 63-54 overtime decision that snapped the 32-game victory streak of defending Class 3A champion Eaton. Valley trailed 48-40 with 4:19 to play in regulation, held the Reds scoreless until overtime and made 26-of-39 free throws. “We played each possession like it was the last of the season, just like I’ve wanted them to,” Vikings coach Ryan Voehringer said. Valley began the season 0-6, when Jarrod Huwa was sidelined with a broken finger. The 6-foot-5 wing returned for 26 points and 10 rebounds against host Eaton. The Vikings were the previous team to beat the Reds, on Jan. 16, 2007, also at Eaton.
ICE HOCKEY
Battle Mountain peaking. One year after Aspen became the first team west of the Continental Divide to claim the state title, Battle Mountain (Eagle/Vail) is one game from running the table in the Peak Conference and eyeing a home playoff date in the first two rounds of the playoffs next Friday and Saturday. The Huskies, who won 6-0 on Wednesday night at Steamboat Springs, finish the regular season Friday night at home against Pine Creek (also looking to secure a playoff bid). Another Friday night game with playoff implications in the Foothills Conference will have Chatfield traveling to Breckenridge to battle Summit. For seeding purposes only, Friday’s Ralston Valley at Kent Denver game will be well worth your dime.
