Denver Post staff writers Neil H. Devlin and Jon E. Yunt look at upcoming events in high school sports:
BOYS BASKETBALL: Denver Prep League saving best for last
With a little more than two weeks remaining in the regular season, the consensus is that the Class 5A-4A Denver Prep League is down.
However, city teams still have ample opportunities to dispel that notion. The inner-league competitiveness among the upper end has been real, with the best to come. Two games for your weekend viewing are available — Friday’s 4A Thomas Jefferson at 5A Abraham Lincoln (7 p.m.) and Saturday’s traditional big-school matchup to watch, East vs. George Washington (1 p.m.) at the Thunderdome. TJ (2005-06) and Abraham Lincoln (2007-08) recently won back-to-back Class 4A titles.
Elsewhere, the Class 5A Colorado Springs Metro keeps its hits coming with Doherty at Palmer on Friday at 7 p.m., the same tipoff for Faith Christian at Bishop Machebeuf in the 3A Metropolitan.
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Cheyenne Mountain vs. Mesa Ridge showdown
The game everyone in the Class 4A Colorado Springs Metro has been waiting for comes today at 6 p.m., when Cheyenne Mountain visits Mesa Ridge. The outright Metro lead will be at stake.
On Friday, 3A Patriot games include Eaton at Estes Park, ranked teams competing for key league positioning. Tipoff is 7 p.m., the same time for 5A Cherokee Trail at 4A Mullen in the 5A Centennial.
On Saturday, East vs. George Washington, a big one in the 5A Denver Prep, starts at 2:30 p.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: League championships set stage for state meets
Technically this is the last week of the regular season, but everybody knows this weekend is a tuneup for next week’s state meets. It’s league championship Saturday and, as usual, the Centennial, Continental and Front Range league meets will be fun to watch. And don’t forget about Jeffco.
The depth of the Class 4A field is up north in Loveland at Thompson Valley. The Eagles have the talent to stop Rock Canyon’s reign atop the 4A field. Windsor, Broomfield, Fossil Ridge and Mountain View make the Northern League a must-see meet.
The state meets next week are Friday and Saturday at EPIC in Fort Collins (5A) and Mountain View (4A).
WRESTLING: Dual format just dandy
Invitational tournaments are so 1990s. Dual-meet tournaments are more popular lately and one week before wrestlers compete in their regional meets. Most leagues will have dual tournaments Saturday.
ICE HOCKEY: Nobody rests Saturday
A full schedule of nine games Saturday will be highlighted by a big one in Vail at Dobson Arena, where Battle Mountain will host a Doherty (10-4-2) team that came up with crucial victories over the past week.
Two teams on the playoff bubble — Valor Christian and Kent Denver — also have important games Saturday. The Eagles host Steamboat Springs, and the Sun Devils have a must-win meeting with Heritage.
