STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Falcon fodder. Take a long look — the depth in Class 5A girls basketball is quite nice. It has gone unnoticed because two-time defending champion Highlands Ranch casts a jet-black, opaque shadow from border to border.
The Falcons (University of Colorado signee Alyssa Fressle and Wisconsin-bound Jade Davis) are seasoned. They rebound. They defend. They can shoot outside. They make free throws. And it will be worth watching to see if they take their sixth title in nine seasons.
Next up to try to topple the Falcons in the Sweet 16 — being played today in Colorado Springs, Golden and Loveland — is Central (G.J.), which has won 15 of 16 games. In the same quadrant is a must-see Horizon-East matchup. And the other top seeds — Chaparral, Lakewood and Regis — are alive and well.
The surprises probably are Columbine, which knocked off Palmer, and Durango, which toppled Air Academy, both on the road.
A victory today means a trip to the Great 8 on Saturday at the Denver Coliseum.
Many teams, few spots. Friday- Saturday matchups at high seeds serving as subregional hosts will pare the 4A boys field to a final four, and it’s almost too bad.
There are a lot of interesting teams in 4A boys.
Defending state champion Abraham Lincoln (Francisco Cruz), undefeated Cherokee Trail, once- beaten Widefield and Pueblo South have the goods to win it all, but Broomfield, Fossil Ridge, Golden, Thomas Jefferson, Mountain View, Steamboat Springs and Ralston Valley (Pierce Hornung) have high-class credentials.
Eyes on Eagles. As front-runners, the defending 4A champion Broomfield girls (Mariah Metoyer and Anna Prins) have enjoyed it. Some can handle targets on their backs, others can’t.
Now, it will turn more interesting for 4A girls through Friday and Saturday rounds. Golden (Cassie Lambrecht), Moffat County (Markie Workman), Pueblo East, Sierra and Silver Creek, which earlier downed Broomfield, are among those that eagerly await their chances.
Balance of powers. Basalt, Faith Christian, Holy Family and Roosevelt hold the top 3A girls seeds for Friday-Saturday rounds in a 32-team group that will lead to next week’s quarterfinals at Moby Arena in Fort Collins.
And, no, you’re not seeing things — this is the class in which the private school-public school struggle is most relevant.
Bishop Machebeuf won the title in 2007. There has been an even split of the past 10 championships, public and private.
Small schools, big dreams. The 2A-1A boys and girls will have Friday-Saturday regional rounds at neutral sites to set up next week’s quarterfinals in Pueblo.
Of note, three-time defending 2A girls champion Limon isn’t back for a fab fourth, but 2A boys Grand Valley and 1A girls Eads are eyeing repeats.
SPRING SPORTS
Bring a coat. It’s cold, and there’s snow to be seen in most areas, so today’s beginning of Colorado spring sports is, well, another opening day of Colorado spring sports.
The Denver Post will begin daily previews Friday that will continue into next week along with the 10-day overlap with the basketball state tournament.
