These annual events are money grabs disguised as baseball, but our roster had college-worthy players who were receiving legitimate interest. It felt worth it. Little did I know how much Morris would lend credence to our 1,400-mile trek.

For those not familiar with the out-of-state event, you can be assured of getting your ears boxed without quality pitching. After a disappointing performance in Albuquerque the week before, adding an arm was a priority.

Luke Martin, a longtime Team Colorado member, said he knew a kid who could fit — Morris, a high school teammate at Monarch High School in Louisville.

Morris met us in Atlanta. He was 5-11 or so, 145 pounds with disheveled hair. Imagine running Tim Lincecum through the copy machine at 80 percent, and that was Andrew.

Affable, smiling, he informed me and fellow coach Craig Gienger at the field the next morning that he could throw 90 mph. His build and the scarcity of fireballers in Colorado made me pessimistic.

We put him on the mound against the 643 DP Cougars, and a striking metamorphosis took place.

His first pitch clocked 91 mph on the scoreboard. I turned to Gienger and blurted, “Where has he been all of our lives?”

“I just remember hitters returning to the dugout with that look, ‘what was that?’ ” said Gienger, the longtime head coach at Douglas County High School. “They clearly were not picking the ball up.”

Morris dazzled in Georgia, throwing a no-hitter in 1-0 loss, combining on a no-hitter in relief and delivering a game-winning single at the plate.

“We should have won my first start. I had six walks,” Morris said, taking blame for our offense. “All those guys were like 2019 grads on the team. I was a 2018 grad and they were all older than me. It was kind of funny. But, man, I had a lot of fun.”

The last time I saw Morris was a week ago in Minneapolis. He walked from the back of the Minnesota Twins clubhouse and gave me a hug. He was in the big leagues, a long reliever in the Twins bullpen.

Having covered MLB for nearly 20 years, I have chronicled countless journeys to The Show. But this hit different, a mixture of pride and overwhelming joy.

Let’s be clear, I had nothing to do with Morris’ pitching development and talent. But the four games he took the mound for us that summer — and the plates he broke at Six Flags over Georgia to win an oversized donut — made me convinced he would get drafted.

Seeing Morris, now 24 and married to Anaya after a courthouse ceremony two years ago during spring training, reaffirmed my faith in hard work and dreams.

“Since forever, that’s how long I have been imagining this. It was always what I wanted since I was little,” Morris said. “I think that competitor was always in there. I was going against older kids, and I was the young guy, the underdog. My attitude was, ‘I can do this. It doesn’t matter how big I am.’ ”

So much about Morris is unique. He graduated from high school at 16 years old, the result of starting preschool young and testing out of the second grade.��He went from battling an injury in his junior year and throwing 83 miles per hour, to being named��

He signed with Colorado Mesa University as a two-way player, and dominated on the mound, posting an 18-2 record with 215 strikeouts in 175 2/3 innings. He needed a new challenge, transferring to Texas Tech for his final college season, a move that served its purpose and also reset his personal compass.

“The last year at Mesa, there wasn’t a lot of adversity. It was good for me to push myself. And I was able to have a Friday night role in the Big 12. I think it made the transition to pro ball a lot smoother,” said Morris, who makes Colorado his offseason home. “They wanted me to put on 20 pounds. I was on board with that. But my mechanics got out of whack. I can’t even watch videos from then. In the end, I learned a lot.”

Morris is a thinker. A problem solver. He returned to 185 pounds this offseason, leaving him “strong, mobile and twitchy.” He positioned himself to reach the big leagues.

But, he thought he was ready last summer. Morris lives in an apartment near Target Field, and never felt further away as he pitched for Triple-A St. Paul.

“I had a forearm strain, and when I came back, I was throwing well. Everything felt good. All I wanted to do was get up there and help the team. Every time they needed someone, I was ready. And it didn’t happen,” said Morris, who compiled a 2.98 ERA in 68 minor league appearances. “The ups and downs of emotions were hard. Going into this spring training, I was in a much better headspace, not worrying about stuff out of my control.”

The Twins told Morris during the Grapefruit League that they viewed him as a candidate for a role in the rotation and bullpen. He went to work, and after two strong minor league outings, received the call he had been waiting for since his mother, Tricia Leines, held a birthday-themed party for him when he was 2 years old.

“We were in Toledo at the time. And we flew into Detroit, which is about an hour away. So I had to run back to the hotel to get my stuff, literally run,” Morris said. “I told my wife you have to get a ticket to Toronto and I will call everybody, my mom and dad. She was freaking out. To be able to make my debut (on April 12) with family there was so cool.”

Morris has held his own with a 5.17 ERA in 15 2/3 innings, becoming “an awesome” addition, said all-star starter Joe Ryan. Coming out of the bullpen, his fastball has added nitro, topping out at 98 mph. He throws a four-seam, two-seam, cutter, changeup, sweeper and curveball.

“Andrew said he was game for anything to reach the big leagues, which is always an encouraging mindset,” Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said. “He has shown some really good signs in his outings and we think his future is really bright.”

Morris intersected with his past in February. LaTroy Hawkins welcomed him as the Twins’ new bullpen coach. The same Hawkins who helped the Rockies reach the World Series in 2007.

“So I went to a Rockies spring training game when I was a kid. I was near the bullpen with my dad and yelling for LaTroy to throw me a ball. He wouldn’t give it to me,” Morris said. “I left there thinking he’s the worst. And now he’s one of my coaches. LaTroy is great. But, I couldn’t wait to tell him that story.”

Hawkins laughed when it was brought up. He promised to make it right.

Can’t say I am surprised. It felt like things were going to go Morris’ way the first time he unleashed that fastball at LakePoint.

“Oh man, I felt so bad about it,” Hawkins said. “We are going to take a picture of me handing Andrew a ball and send it to his dad. He’s a good kid.”

No. 8 Pine Creek (5-3) vs. Regis Jesuit (4-4)

When/where: 6:30 p.m. Friday at Kellogg Stadium

Last meeting: Pine Creek 28, vs. Valor Christian 14, Oct. 26, 2024

Streaming/Radio: , 92.5 FM

Regis Jesuit gets another shot at a statement win with Pine Creek coming to Aurora. Three of the Raiders’ four losses have come against teams currently ranked in the Post Preps Top 10, and the other was to an out-of-state power. Now they’ve got Pine Creek and No. 5 Legend to close out the regular season and are sitting on the edge of getting to host a first-round game in the 5A state playoffs. Pine Creek’s three losses are also to current Post Preps Top 10 teams, and the Eagles have work to do in order to vault back into the top 8 of the CHSAA seeding index and earn a first-round bye.

Grandview (4-4) vs. Eaglecrest (6-2)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium

Last meeting: Grandview 38, vs. Eaglecrest 15, Oct. 25, 2024

Streaming:

Eaglecrest may not be in the Post Preps Top 10, but the Raptors are No. 7 in the ranking system that matters most — the CHSAA seeding index. That means the Raptors have a shot at earning a first-round bye in the 5A state playoffs if they manage to win out. Easier said than done, of course, with Grandview and Arapahoe on the docket the last two weeks. Grandview is smarting after a 14-7 loss to Cherokee Trail and could use another win if it wants to host a first-round playoff game — especially with Cherry Creek looming in Week 10.

CLASS 4A

Frederick (6-2) vs. Monarch (6-2)

When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Spangenberg Field

Last meeting: Monarch 21, at Frederick 20, Oct. 25, 2024

Streaming:

A league title will be on the line for the second straight year when Frederick and Monarch meet in Lafayette. The Coyotes won the last meeting and are 4-1 over their last five games with Malakhi Payne, uh, bringing the pain with 798 yards and 11 TDs rushing. The junior RB will need to produce more of that to trade haymakers with Frederick’s explosive offense. Matt Loyd’s Golden Eagles are averaging 39.5 points per game over their current six-game win streak, with the senior combination of QB Preston Kissinger (1,406 yards, 15 TDs on 79.2% passing) and SB Sonny Delpizzo (1,637 total yards) doing much of the damage.

Bear Creek (6-2) vs. Ponderosa (5-3)

When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at EchoPark Stadium

Last meeting: Ponderosa 41, at Bear Creek 0, Oct. 25, 2024

Streaming:

Ponderosa finds itself back in the 4A mix after posting back-to-back shutouts of Highlands Ranch and Golden. Jaron Cohen’s Mustangs have risen all the way to No. 11 in the latest CHSAA seeding index and could climb higher with a win over Bear Creek. The Bears are trying to get right after losing two straight to Golden and Heritage, the last a 35-21 setback that saw Heritage pull away with a 21-point third quarter. Tom Thennel has turned things around in his return to Lakewood, but the Bears’ hopes of hosting a state playoff game may rest on winning this one.

No. 1 Dakota Ridge (8-0) vs. Golden (6-2)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Marv Kay Stadium

Last meeting: Dakota Ridge 47, vs. Golden 21, Oct. 25, 2024

Dakota Ridge and Golden head to the Colorado School of Mines campus to renew a series that’s gone the Eagles’ way seven of the last nine years. Dakota Ridge is chasing its third unbeaten regular season in the last six seasons, and has looked invulnerable through eight weeks. The Eagles have beaten all eight of their opponents by double-digit margins, getting touchdowns from their defense and special teams with regularity. With Golden coming off a shutout loss to Ponderosa, the Demons must turn things around quickly.

Cheyenne Mountain (7-1) vs. Grand Junction (6-2)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Stocker Stadium

Last meeting: Grand Junction 32, at Cheyenne Mountain 15, Oct. 25, 2024

Streaming:

Nobody has been able to stop the Cheyenne Mountain offense through eight weeks. Even in their lone loss of the season, the Red-Tailed Hawks managed to put 45 points and 350 rushing yards against No. 8 Sand Creek. The bigger challenge will be stopping a Grand Junction attack that’s dangerous in its own right. The Tigers have scored 138 total points since a shutout loss vs. No. 5 Durango, with senior RB Matthais Martinez-Santana averaging 10.7 yards per carry over that period. First to 40 wins?

No. 4 Broomfield (7-1) vs. No. 6 Riverdale Ridge (8-0)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Riverdale Ridge Stadium

Last meeting: Broomfield 22, vs. Riverdale Ridge 13, Oct. 25, 2024

Streaming:

Is Riverdale Ridge ready to join 4A’s elite? The Ravens have feasted on a schedule that, through eight weeks, includes nary a team with a winning record. The combined record of their eight opponents: 11-52. Now, the Ravens get a chance to prove they’re ready for prime time with the reigning 4A champion Broomfield Eagles coming to Thornton. Riverdale Ridge has shut out three opponents this season and is giving up an average of just 5.6 points per game. Do that against the high-powered Eagles (40.0 points per game), and the rest of 4A will take notice.

CLASS 3A

No. 6 Lutheran (5-2) vs. No. 3 Holy Family (6-1)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Mike G. Gabriel Stadium

Last meeting: Lutheran 42, vs. Holy Family 35, Oct. 25, 2024

They sit on opposite ends of the Denver metro, but Lutheran and Holy Family have created one of 3A’s better football rivalries in recent years. The two programs have met five times since 2020, with Holy Family holding a 3-2 edge, including a 3A championship game win in 2023. Now they meet with a league championship likely up for grabs, with both teams coming off back-to-back shutout victories. Holy Family has a pair of big-game wins over Mead and Roosevelt on its resume. Lutheran needs one of its own to climb into the top eight of the CHSAA seeding index.

No. 8 Grandview (1-1) vs. No. 4 Ralston Valley (1-0)

When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at NAAC Stadium

Last meeting: Ralston Valley 10, at Grandview 9, Sept. 5, 2024

Streaming:

A week after putting a scare into No. 3 Legend, Grandview takes on another 5A heavyweight. Like last week’s loss to the Titans, Grandview held a fourth-quarter lead vs. RV last year before ultimately dropping a heartbreaker. The Mustangs have won four straight in this series, and senior QB Zeke Andrews (355 total yards, 4 TDs) looked awfully sharp in Week 1 at Erie.

No. 5 Mountain Vista (2-0) vs. Erie (1-1)

When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Halftime Help Stadium

Last meeting: Mountain Vista 55, at Erie 12, Sept. 6, 2024

Streaming:

In the last two weeks, Mountain Vista has won a 49-45 shootout vs. Bakersfield-Liberty and shut out Arapahoe, 20-0, on the road. So, it appears the Golden Eagles can win in a variety of ways. Oregon State commit Braylon Toliver (28 carries, 195 yards) will give the Vista defense a real test. And the same can be said of dual-threat QB Marquise Reese and Vista’s many weapons against Erie.

No. 1 Cherry Creek (2-0) vs. Millard North, Neb. (0-1)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Stutler Bowl

Last meeting: Cherry Creek 42, at Millard North 10, Sept. 6, 2024

Streaming:

The Bruins’ intrastate romp continues with Nebraska power Millard North visiting the Front Range to take on the defending 5A champions. Creek may not play a tougher team the rest of the season than the Cardinal Mooney squad it just beat 24-21 in Florida. UConn commit Jayden Fox (20 carries, 225 yards) is currently averaging 15.2 yards per carry. Could that number actually go up this week?

No. 7 Arvada West (2-0) vs. No. 6 Fairview (1-0)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Recht Field

Last meeting: Fairview 35, at Arvada West 30, Sept. 6, 2024

If Arvada West is a serious 5A contender, these next two weeks are the time to prove it. First, the Wildcats get a shot at avenging a back-and-forth loss to Fairview. Then, they get a date with third-ranked Legend next weekend. The Fairview offense is as explosive as ever, as last week’s 41-7 win at Legacy proved. Now the Knights face an A-West defense that’s allowed 13 points through two games. Expect another classic.

4A No. 6 Heritage (1-0) vs. Arapahoe (0-1)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at LPS Stadium

Last meeting: Arapahoe 42, at Heritage 28, Sept. 7, 2024

Streaming: ,

Is this the year Heritage finally wins back the Milk Jug? Arapahoe is riding a five-game win streak in this Littleton rivalry and has won eight of the last 10 meetings. But Heritage is loaded with offensive weapons, and senior quarterback Jamison Seese has little trouble getting them the ball. Arapahoe just got shut out by Mountain Vista, but that was the case last season, too, and that Warriors squad turned around and slapped 42 points on Heritage.

CLASS 4A

No. 3 Montrose (2-0) vs. 3A No. 10 Palisade (1-0)

When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Stocker Stadium

Last meeting: Montrose 35, vs. Palisade 14, Sept. 6, 2024

Streaming:

The arrow is pointing up for Joe Ramunno’s Palisade program. Now comes a date with 4A power Montrose and an opportunity to make an emphatic statement. Montrose has beaten the Bulldogs six straight times dating back to 2018, with the average margin of victory 23.7 points. If Palisade can hang with Montrose, winners of 19 straight regular-season games, the rest of 3A is on notice.

No. 2 Broomfield (1-0) vs. Monarch (2-0)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Spangenberg Field

Last meeting: Broomfield 46, vs. Monarch 0, Sept. 6, 2024

Streaming:

Coming off its winningest season in 11 years, Monarch is off to another hot start with wins over Poudre (20-0) and Longmont (43-13). Now the degree of difficulty goes up a notch with the reigning 4A champions visiting. Broomfield has beaten Monarch in each of their last five meetings, including last year’s 46-0 drubbing, and just put up 204 rushing yards in a Week 1 win over Frederick.

CLASS 3A

No. 5 Roosevelt (1-0) vs. No. 8 Holy Family (1-0)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Mike G. Gabriel Athletic Stadium

Last meeting: Roosevelt 38, vs. Holy Family 21, Sept. 6, 2024

A pair of perennial 3A powers clash in a matchup that could easily be replayed in November. The Roosevelt defense is fresh off a dominant performance that saw the Rough Riders force three turnovers and notch 10 tackles for loss in a 35-0 win over Northfield. Holy Family was just as impressive in its 49-6 win over Northridge — a rout that included four interceptions and two blocked punts.

Arvada West (6-2) vs. Chatfield (6-2)

When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Jeffco Stadium

Last meeting: Chatfield 42, at Arvada West 0, Sept. 29, 2023

A league title may be a bit of a longshot for Arvada West and Chatfield, but both programs still have a real chance to earn a first-round bye in the 5A state playoffs. And a win here would go a long way toward securing that. A-West picked off Denver East three times en route to a gritty 29-21 win over the Angels last week. That sort of defensive effort will be required against Chatfield, which has a quarterback who can sling it in sophomore Cash Williams (1,125 yards, 12 TDs) and plenty of weapons for him to spread the ball around to.

Fossil Ridge (5-3) vs. No. 10 Fairview (8-0)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Christian Recht Field

Last meeting: Fairview 55, at Fossil Ridge 28, Oct. 20, 2023

Fairview has claimed five league titles in the past six seasons. If this year’s Knights are to meet that standard, they’ll have to beat Fossil Ridge to do it. Throw out a 68-49 shootout win over Fort Collins, and Fairview has been dominant on both sides of the ball. Yet the Knights have beaten only one 5A program (Arvada West) that currently sports a winning record. Consider a matchup against senior QB Nick Kubat (1,881 yards, 25 TDs passing), San Diego State commit Marcus Mozer (40 catches, 631 yards) and Co., a proper test.

Eaglecrest (5-3) vs. Grandview (4-4)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium

Last meeting: Grandview 39, vs. Eaglecrest 32, Sept. 29, 2023

Could this be a must-win for Grandview’s playoff hopes? With the Wolves sitting at No. 22 on the CHSAA RPI, that just might be the case. A fourth-quarter touchdown staved off a potential upset bid from Cherokee Trail in a 14-13 win last week. Oddly enough, the Raptors lost to the Cougars by the same one-point score. That was the first of two straight losses for Eaglecrest, which could use a win with a matchup against Arapahoe looming in Week 10.

No. 8 Regis Jesuit (5-3) vs. No. 7 Pine Creek (5-3)

When/where: 1 p.m. Saturday at D20 Stadium South

Last meeting: Pine Creek 21, at Regis Jesuit 17, Oct. 6, 2023

Regis Jesuit took its lumps with a freshman quarterback taking snaps to start the season, dropping three straight to a murderer’s row of Valor Christian, Brophy Prep (Ariz.) and Cherry Creek. The Raiders and wunderkind signal-caller Luke Rubley is now reaping the benefits. Regis has ripped off five straight wins, scoring an average of 38.8 points per game as Rubley’s racked up 1,020 yards and nine TDs on 62.7% passing. A trip to the Springs to take on Pine Creek will reveal just how far they’ve come.

CLASS 4A

No. 7 Riverdale Ridge (8-0) vs. No. 4 Broomfield (7-1)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium

Last meeting: N/A

Just how much of a threat is Riverdale Ridge in Class 4A? This is the week we find out. The Ravens have bulldozed everything in their path en route to a program-best 8-0 start, outscoring opponents 332-22. The problem? Not a single one of those eight teams currently have a winning record. Now comes a date with 4A blue blood Broomfield, which has outscored its last three opponents 162-0 and is unbeaten against 4A competition. The Ravens defense, led by senior Colton Lancaster (37 tackles, 10 for loss), hasn’t given up a point in 14 quarters. Something’s got to give.

Monarch (6-2) vs. No. 9 Frederick (6-2)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Frederick High

Last meeting: Monarch 30, at Frederick 23, Aug. 31, 2023

A league title and potentially a first-round bye will be up for grabs when the Coyotes head to Frederick on Friday night. The latter has won six straight since starting the season with losses to Broomfield and Mead, topping 40 points in all six victories. Dual-threat senior QB Gavin Ishmael (2,180 total yards, 32 TDs) has been electric for the Golden Eagles, who are eyeing their first unbeaten run through league play in 12 years. A Monarch defense that’s allowed just 19 points over its last three games awaits.

CLASS 3A

Holy Family (4-3) vs. No. 5 Lutheran (7-1)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Lutheran High

Last meeting: Holy Family 33, vs. Lutheran 8, Dec. 2, 2023

Nearly 11 months after meeting in the 3A championship, Holy Family and Lutheran renew their budding rivalry with the 3A Metro League title at stake. Holy Family beat Lutheran twice on its way to the 3A state title last fall, but now the Lions have the upper hand. Lutheran has won four straight since falling to 4A Pueblo West, with the combination of QB Eli Abramson (1,474 yards, 20 TDs passing) and RB Sawyer Wald (1,058 yards, 14 TDs rushing) piling up astronomical numbers in the process. Can Holy Family, which has played and lost to three ranked teams this fall, summon the defensive effort to slow them down?

No. 3 Pomona (5-2) vs. Mountain View (5-2)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Ray Patterson Stadium

Last meeting: N/A

Panther pride has returned to the Pomona football program in its first season at the 3A level. After suffering through a 3-17 stretch in its final two seasons at 5A, Pomona has transformed into a title contender behind dual-threat junior QB Emmitt Munson (1,781 total yards, 10 TDs) and a defense allowing just 8.0 points per game vs. 3A competition. Survive this trip to Mountain View, which saw a four-game win streak ended by No. 4 Thompson Valley last Friday, and the Panthers will move a win away from a winner-take-all Week 11 league showdown with those same T.V. Eagles.

Note: All stats taken from

Denver South’s own mascot foreshadowed its undoing at the hands of the Coyotes.

Once upon a Wednesday dreary, while they pondered, weak and weary

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten season —

While their offense nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping on the glass,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at their backboard.

“’Tis some Coyotes,” they muttered, “tapping at my season’s closing door — Only this tournament game and nothing more.”

Monarch (19-5) senior forward Van Nellessen was the harbinger of the Ravens’ end. He threw down no less than four alley-oops en route to a 29-point performance, coming alive in the second half to punish Denver South (16-8). A critical block, with 43 seconds left, robbed the Ravens of a chance to tie things up one last time.

He responded with one of those flashy dunks, drawing energy from his brethren in the stands.

“The student section helped a lot. They were super energetic,” Nellessen said. “We really just needed to play hard, play our game of basketball. We knew we would get it done.”

Senior guard Graham Johnson, likewise, found his spark in the second half and proved a menace from behind the arc. He finished his night with 17 points for the Coyotes. Denver South junior Dominic Rhoades-Martinez led his Ravens with 19 points, followed with another 16 from senior Jonathan Trease.

“(Class 6A is) super competitive and, you know, you got to be at your best every day if you really want to compete. Today, we weren’t quite at our best and we dropped one,” Trease said. “It hurts to lose in the first round, any round, and know your season’s over with that.”

While multiple Coyotes and Ravens got on the board in the first half, the opening 16 minutes boiled down to a battle of wills between Nellessen and Rhoades-Martinez. Rhoades-Martinez did a little bit of everything to lead the field early with 15 points, and Nellessen trailed slightly behind with 12.

The Ravens’ biggest advantage lay with their offensive rebounding, which secured them critical second-chance points leading to a 37-32 halftime lead.

The Coyotes spent the better part of the second half playing catchup, but crossed that Rubicon with two minutes, 36 seconds left in the third quarter. Naturally, a Nellessen block converted into a layup from Logan Laverty to tie things up at 47-47.

The two teams played point-for-point until the final minute. Then the Coyotes pulled away. They ended their regular season with their first Front Range League title in 20 years, and dotted the exclamation point with a thrilling first-round victory in the postseason.

Now, they’ll have to brave No. 2 Mountain Vista when they hit the road for Round 2 on Saturday.

“(Nellessen) didn’t play very well in the first half and then he really brought it, obviously, in the second half. I think they all did. I think they all upped their game,” Monarch head coach Tim DeBerry said. “These guys just came together. That����ap awesome. They just decided we’re going to play, become buddies and do all the things that good teams do. This is what happened, so I can’t complain. After 37 years, it����ap probably the best team I’ve had.”

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Flash forward to last season, Olofsson’s first with some time spent in the NHL, and his long journey to the top of the sport came full circle: There, sitting across from him in the Dallas Stars locker room, was Joe Pavelski,��one of the players he watched so intently as an elementary school kid.

“It was nuts,” Olofsson said. “What a guy. He’s such a pro, but he also acts like he’s 16 still sometimes. He can talk to anyone, and wears many hats.”

Olofsson’s NHL career is only 33 games old, but he’s already lived an eventful hockey life. His family lived in Sweden, Germany, Austria and Northern California before settling in Colorado the summer before he started eighth grade.

His older brother, Gustav, has played 62 NHL games, including three last season with the Seattle Kraken. His younger brother, Jesper, is currently a defenseman for Monarch High School.

And Fredrik is now the fourth-line center for his adopted hometown’s team, the Avalanche, after joining Colorado in a June trade.

“For us as a family, obviously it’s fantastic,” Håkan Olofsson, Fredrik’s father, said. “We’re extremely thrilled and proud and happy to see him get the opportunity. I think we’ve known he’s had some really great upside. And I think he’s taken an unusual path to get to the NHL. But everybody has their own journey. He found what worked for him.”

Gustav and Fredrik were born in Sweden. Like most Swedish kids, it was hockey in the winters and soccer in the summers. In a surprising twist, it was actually when the family lived in Vienna, Austria, that the hockey bug really caught the Olofsson family.

Håkan was a soccer player, a towering 6-foot-7 defender who likely scared quite a few opposing teams in the lower divisions of Swedish soccer when he came forward for corner kicks in his day. His wife, Ulrika, was also a great athlete who played several sports in her youth.

“The Austrians, they were kind of interesting,” Håkan said. “Even at that age, they practice three, four times a week, and it was pretty intense. So when we moved to San Jose the next year, that was kind of the natural sport, even though they also played soccer at the time. They had just gotten farther along on the hockey side, so it was more natural for them and it became their main sport.

“With three boys at this level of hockey, it becomes not just a hobby – it’s a lifestyle. It’s kind of what we do. My colleagues tease me, but I say, ‘Hey, my best weekends are when we have three, four hockey games on the calendar.’ That����ap what I like to do.”

The Olofssons spent four years in San Jose, which is where Jesper was born, before moving back to Sweden for three years. The next move was to Broomfield, and it proved to be their last.

Gustav and Fredrik found a club home with the Colorado Thunderbirds.

“We were trying to find tryouts after coming here in the summer. Coming from Sweden, we didn’t really know what levels meant what, just that the more A’s, the better,” Fredrik said. “So we got in with the Thunderbirds and luckily I made that team. I was in the same age group as Dominic Turgeon, and he became one of my best friends. Pierre was a great coach for us. We had group that stuck together for four or five years, and it was just a blast.”

That group also included future NHL players Troy Terry, Brandon Carlo, Mikey Eyssimont and Dylan Gambrell. Olofsson spent two years in the USHL, which included getting drafted by Chicago in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL draft, and then four years of college hockey at Nebraska-Omaha.

The Blackhawks passed on signing him, so Olofsson went home to Sweden. After a season in the second division and then two successful years with IK Oskarshamn in the SHL, the Stars signed him and he split last season between the AHL and NHL.

Colorado added him for cash, a minor transaction that even diehard fans might have missed. But the Avs gave him a chance to win the No. 4 center job during training camp, and he basically went wire-to-wire as the lead candidate.

“I think he plays the game the right way,” linemate Andrew Cogliano said. “I think he has the right intentions of knowing how he has to play defensively and being reliable. Now I think it����ap a matter of the three of us jelling.

“He’s a smart guy. He has a great work ethic and wants to get better. Usually, when you have guys like that, they find a way to make things work.”

Cogliano, Olofsson and Logan O’Connor had been a hit together so far. The Avalanche had created nearly 71 percent of the shot attempts at 5-on-5 when Olofsson was on the ice entering Saturday night’s game against Carolina, 70 percent of the shots on goal and more than 67 percent of the expected goals – all excellent offensive numbers for defensive-minded players.

Olofsson’s also found a significant role on the penalty kill, despite not playing a second in those situations for Dallas in 28 games last season. He averaged 2:25 per night on the PK in the first four games, while the Avs started the year a perfect 17-for-17 on the kill.

“Steady, smart player, especially on the defending side of the puck,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “He’s kind of fit right with Cogs and OC. That����ap been a good line for us, doing exactly what we expect them to do.”

When the Olofssons came to Colorado, it was because Håkan started a new job, with Ball Aerospace. Two years later, one of his previous employers tried to lure him back to Silicon Valley in Northern California.

The family decided Colorado was where new roots were being put down, and the moving around was at an end.

“We’re from northern Sweden, my wife and I, so we’re used to four seasons,” Håkan said. “But here, the winters are pretty mild to us, and they’re sunny. The summers and springs and falls are much longer than we’re used to in Sweden, so climate-wise, you can’t beat it. The only downside is there’s no ocean around, so we miss out on some family and Swedish traditions, but we make the most of it when we get to travel home to Sweden.

“We also felt we wanted more stability, and I found a great company to work for here with Ball. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”

Fredrik is very proud of his Swedish heritage, but he also talks like someone who grew up in Colorado and California. He did admit that when he’s around Mikko Rantanen, or other Swedish and Finnish players, his “European English” accent returns.

For his parents, having two of their sons playing about an hour apart is a blessing. Gustav is playing for Coachella Valley, Seattle’s AHL affiliate, but Fredrik and Jesper are close enough to go to each other’s games. Jesper’s teammates at Monarch get pretty excited when they see a current NHL player in the stands.

“We’re thrilled about that,” Håkan said. “I don’t know if I’ll make it to 41 home games this year, but we’ll give it our best shot.”

Fredrik played in Denver last year during a preseason game, but was a healthy scratch his one trip here during the regular season. So Thursday night was the first time he played an NHL game that counts at Ball Arena.

He grew up going to games there when it was still Pepsi Center. This season, he’s already played in San Jose against a team he grew up watching, against his brother’s organization in Seattle and against the franchise that drafted him but declined to sign him (Chicago).

The home opener in particular meant a lot, because his family was there to support him.

“My dad has sacrificed a lot and traveled a ton. My mom has been a rock star, taking care of me and my two brothers,” Fredrik said. “It����ap not easy when you’ve got three boys at home that are full of energy and probably beating up on each other.

“My brothers and I were always playing outside, playing in the garage. We broke … way too many things. I’m sure it drove my mom crazy, but it����ap been a hell of a ride.”

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Now they can say, “I told you so.”

Or, as senior point guard Isa Dillehay put it: “I think everybody doubted us, but look where we are now.”

Grandview defeated No. 4 Monarch, 38-28, Saturday afternoon at the Denver Coliseum for its second consecutive championship and fourth in six years.

Sophomore center sophomore Sienna Betts, the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year, led the way with 20 points and 20 rebounds.

“When we got to this point, there was no way we were going to lose,” Betts said.

And coach Josh Ulitzky, who has guided the Wolves to all four state championships, figured his team peaking at the right time.

“We have kids who are composed and we played the toughest schedule in the state,” Ulitzky said. “That made a difference. Every single one of these girls came through for us.”

The game’s turning point arrived with 6 minutes, 24 seconds, left in the fourth quarter, and Grandview holding a 27-24 lead. That’s when Betts was whistled for her fourth foul. Only the game didn’t turn as expected.

Instead of tightening up, the Wolves played their best basketball of the afternoon, going on an 11-4 run to close out the game. Lexi Yi drained a 3-pointer for her only points of the game. Dillehay — at 5-foot-3 the shortest player in the tournament and nicknamed “Mighty Mouse” by her teammates — made a critical steal and cashed it in for a fastbreak layup, then made a beautiful dish under the basket to Deija Robinson for another bucket.

“Sienna is the leader of this team, but Isa is the heart and soul,” Ulitzky said.

Dillehay now owns two state basketball titles, as well as a state soccer crown.

“It’s so amazing for coach to say that,” said Dillhay, who finished with five points and, remarkably, four rebounds. “I work so hard for my teammates. I love every single one of them. I really do put my heart and soul into every one of these games.”

Monarch certainly had its chances. And senior point guard Natalie Guanella, who led the Coyotes with 14 points, did everything in her power to try and win the game. It held a 16-15 halftime lead, fueled by Guanella’s 11 points.

But in the end, Monarch’s cold shooting ruined its chance for an upset. The Coyotes were 7 of 43 (16%) from the floor and 5 of 19 (26%) from the foul line.

“I’m not 100% sure what happened, but I just know that we didn’t score enough,” said coach Mike Blakely, who steered his team to a 26-2 record. “If we had scored more and shot better we could have been OK.”

Monarch keyed on Betts defensively and took the ball at her on offense, but the 6-3 Betts was too good and too strong to be denied.

“We tried to attack Betts, but it took a long time to get that fourth foul on her,” Blakely said. “If we could have gotten it sooner we would have been in better shape.”

Betts’ older sister, Lauren, a McDonald’s All-American who helped lead Grandview to the state title last season and now plays at Stanford, sat in the first row watching her sister.

After the game, the two sisters hugged in a tearful embrace.

“I won a title with my sister last year and that was so special,” Sienna Betts said. “But this game, with these girls, I can’t put it into words.”

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BOYS

Class 6A

Friday at Denver Coliseum

No. 1 Mountain Vista (24-2) vs. No. 4 Denver East (24-2), 4 p.m.

No. 7 Regis Jesuit (20-6) vs. No. 3 Fossil Ridge (24-2), 12:45 p.m.

Favorite — Mountain Vista: The Golden Eagles have just about everything you want in a championship contender. Size? Six-foot-9 Caden Stevens is a shot-blocking menace. Depth? Eight players have appeared in 25-plus games. Experience? Six of those eight are seniors. All that’s missing? Mountain Vista’s never reached a title game before, let alone won it.

Challenger — Fossil Ridge: A year removed from reaching the 5A title game, the SaberCats are back in the Final 4 with a chance to finish what last year’s team started. Senior post Nick Randall (22.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.7 bpg) is the clear No. 1 option, but with five players averaging two-plus assists a game, this is a team that strikes from all angles.

Dark horse — Denver East: Only one other team in the state can get up and down the floor like East, and the Angels just ended their season (Smoky Hill). With 24 consecutive wins, including one over Mountain Vista Jan. 17, nobody is hotter than D’Aundre Samuels (21.8 ppg, 6.6 apg), Austin Mohr (15.8 ppg, 60 3s), high-flying Gil Gonzalez (9.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and East.

Underdog — Regis Jesuit: Senior guard TaRea Fulcher’s late-game wizardry (game-winning shots in the Sweet 16 and Great 8) is undeniable. The Raiders’ mental toughness (fourth-quarter rallies in both season-saving wins) is unquestionable. And that rabid and rowdy student section? Absolutely formidable. But how long can Ken Shaw’s team keep walking a tightrope?

Class 5A

Friday at Denver Coliseum

No. 1 Air Academy (24-2) vs. No. 5 Frederick (25-1), 5:45 p.m.

No. 2 Mesa Ridge (26-0) vs. No. 3 Windsor (22-4), 7:15 p.m.

Favorite — Air Academy: The Kadets haven’t just beaten every 5A team they’ve played this winter. They’ve beaten all but one of them (Pueblo South in the Great 8) by double digits. A group that shares the ball like Air Academy (18.8 apg) without giving it away (10.7 tpg) is always a tough out, especially one that shoots (37.5% from 3) and defends as well as the Kadets.

Challenger — Mesa Ridge: The most stifling defense left in the 5A bracket (41.8 points allowed per game) is also the only one that’s yet to be beaten. The Grizzlies have won 12 in a row by double-digits, and sophomore point guard Bryce Riehl (25 points, 10-of-11 shooting, four assists, four steals) looked awfully comfortable in the Coliseum last week.

Dark horse — Windsor: The Wizards have arguably the most impressive win of the bunch, having knocked off Class 6A Final 4 qualifier Denver East in overtime in December. They’ve also won 21 of 22 since a 1-3 start, with star guard David Hageman (19.4 ppg, 2.9 apg) scoring in double figures every game this season.

Underdog — Frederick: In a bracket as wide open as this, it feels silly to label anyone an underdog. Throw in the fact that the Golden Eagles have lost once all season and have the most potent offense left playing in Denver this weekend — yes, that includes Denver East — and it’s downright dumb. Enjoy the bulletin board material, Luke Justice (22.4 ppg) and Co.

Class 4A

Thursday at Denver Coliseum

No. 17 Holy Family (15-11) vs. No. 4 Eagle Ridge Academy (21-5), 12:45 p.m.

No. 2 Resurrection Christian (22-4) vs. No. 6 Lutheran (18-8), 4 p.m.

Favorite — Resurrection Christian: Sophomores Ty Yoder (17.5 ppg, 4.0 apg) and Cade Crutcher (13.0, 2.7 apg) form an electric backcourt for the highest seed left in the 4A boys bracket, and 6-11 junior Jacob Barker is a shot-altering force in the paint. Since starting the season with three straight losses, the Cougars have won 22 of 23.

Challenger — Eagle Ridge Academy: If the past is the best indicator of future success, one could argue Eagle Ridge is the favorite given the Warriors’ December wins over Resurrection Christian (59-52) and Lutheran (66-58). With five players averaging double-figure scoring, led by 6-6 senior forward Hunter Hill’s 18.3 ppg, this team has options.

Dark horse — Lutheran: The Lions showed resiliency rallying from four points down in the final 1:15 of regulation to knock off No. 3 Alamosa in the Great 8. Between 6-9 junior Hunter Caldwell and 6-8 freshman Kade Speckman, the Lions have the size to match Resurrection Christian. Avoiding a slow start, which plagued them in a Jan. 14 loss to the Cougars, will be critical.

Underdog — Holy Family: The lowest seed of any team left at the Coliseum this week, it’s only natural to list the Tigers in this spot. Until, that is, you look at what they did over the last two weeks: throttling No. 1 Kent Denver 80-53 in the Sweet 16, and dropping No. 8 Colorado Academy 60-43 in the Great 8. Thanks to a rugged regular-season schedule, this team is dangerous.

GIRLS

Class 6A

Friday at Denver Coliseum

No. 8 Arapahoe (20-6) vs. No. 4 Monarch (25-1), 2:15 p.m.

No. 2 Cherry Creek (22-4) vs. No. 11 Grandview (17-9), 11 a.m.

Favorite — Grandview: Sometimes, it boils down to who has the best player. If that’s the case, there’s nobody better than 6-3 sophomore Sienna Betts, the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year and No. 5 sophomore nationally in the ESPN HoopGurlz rankings. With touch around the hoop and passing vision on the perimeter, she’s a threat from anywhere.

Challenger — Cherry Creek: The Bruins’ defensive dismantling of Doherty in the Great 8 wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. Tianna Chambers and A’neya Chambers are lockdown defenders, and fellow sophomore Braelynn Barnett is a handful in the post. After splitting their first two games vs. Grandview, Creek must get its free-throwing shooting right to win the rubber match.

Dark horse — Monarch: The Coyotes emphatically avenged their only loss of the season in the Great 8 (62-44 over Regis Jesuit) and beat the top-seeded team left in the bracket, Cherry Creek, on Dec. 16. The Bruins were without PG Tianna Chambers, however, giving seniors Natalie Guanella (15.7 ppg), Amelia Rosin (11.4) and Arezo Safi (10.6) something to prove.

Underdog — Arapahoe: The Warriors’ upset of No. 1 seed Valor Christian in the Great 8 was no fluke. Sharpshooting guard Gianna Smith (18.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg) drew audible gasps from the Coliseum crowd with her exquisite ball-handling. With the sophomore playing alongside seniors Sydney White (12.5 ppg, 3.1 apg) and Emily Thomas, Arapahoe’s perimeter talent is undeniable.

Class 5A

Thursday at Denver Coliseum

No. 8 Glenwood Springs (19-7) vs. No. 4 Windsor (19-7), 5:45 p.m.

No. 2 Roosevelt (24-2) vs. No. 3 Durango (23-2), 7:15 p.m.

Favorite — Windsor: The Wizards get the nod in the top spot if only one for reason: they’ve been here before … twice. Despite losing its top four scorers from a year ago, Windsor is one win away from reaching the championship round for the third season in a row. With big, bad Mullen no longer in the way, the path to a title is clear.

Challenger — Roosevelt: The highest remaining seed has a win at Windsor on its resume and 24 wins in 25 games. Still, the Rough Riders are entering uncharted territory, with this their first Final 4 trip since 2008. With four players averaging double-figure scoring, led by sophomore Ryanne Bahnsen-Price (14.3 ppg) and freshman Kyla Hollier (14.0), they have the firepower.

Dark horse — Durango: If defense wins championships, there’s no team better suited to win the 5A title than Durango. The Demons haven’t allowed more than 41 points in a game since their season opener. Of course, they also have scored more than 50 only twice since the start of January. Expect a grind.

Underdog — Glenwood Springs: The Demons caught a break with No. 1 George Washington missing offensive fulcrum Jaida Redwine in the Great 8, and they were more than capable of taking advantage. Since starting 7-5, the senior-led squad has won 12 of 14, with one of those losses an OT thriller at No. 3 Durango. A trip to the title game would be the program’s first.

Class 4A

Thursday at Denver Coliseum

No. 1 Holy Family (23-3) vs. No. 4 Lutheran (23-3), 2:15 p.m.

No. 2 D’Evelyn (26-0) vs. No. 3 University (24-2), 11 a.m.

Favorite — Lutheran: The Lions have wins over two of the other three teams left in the bracket, knocking off No. 3 University 46-37 in its own gym on Jan. 5 and topping Thursday’s Final 4 opponent Holy Family 43-31 at home Jan. 30. Their only losses have come against programs from larger classifications. So why are they the lowest seed remaining? We have no idea.

Challenger — Holy Family: All three of the Tigers’ regular-season losses came to teams playing inside the Coliseum this week — Windsor and Roosevelt in 5A and their upcoming Final 4 opponent Lutheran in 4A. It’s that last one that likely sticks in the Tigers’ craw, given that they led 21-15 at halftime, then scored just 10 points the rest of the way.

Dark horse — D’Evelyn: Doubt the unbeaten Jaguars at your own peril. Junior guard Peyton Marvel stole the show in a Great 8 showdown with Riverdale Ridge, scoring 36 points on 10-of-17 shooting. And the Jags showed fantastic discipline limiting the damage from national recruit Bri Crittendon. Two more performances like that, and D’Evelyn just might win its first state title.

Underdog — University: Once again, a stacked bracket comes down to splitting hairs. So, despite the Bulldogs entering Thursday riding an 18-game win streak with a 1,000-point scorer (senior guard Taryn Kravig) leading the way, we must defer to their only two losses, both of which came to teams in the Final 4: Lutheran (46-37) and Holy Family (47-28).

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That’s when Warriors coach Jerry Knafelc decided to take a page out of George Washington’s playbook.

“It wasn’t until we went into break, or as we phrased it ‘Valley Forge,’ that we had the chance to truly refine ourselves,” Knafelc said. “It was like Washington’s winter camp, where he brought in famous generals from other armies to come in and train his troops, because they weren’t functioning very well, and they weren’t very disciplined.

“Then the very first battle out of Valley Forge, the British military leaders said, ‘This is a problem. This is a different group than they were.’ And we took that mindset into our practices during break and came out and started taking care of business.”

In “Valley Forge,” the Warriors amped up the intensity of their practices.�� And with what Knafelc described as a “collaborative intensity” between coaches and players, they started to realize their potential sans-Crispe, who is now playing at Boston University.

Arapahoe proceeded to win 16 of 18 games, and is back in the Final 4 on Friday afternoon against Monarch at the Denver Coliseum, with its sights set on winning the program’s first state title.

“We focused on us and what we could and should be, and then we chose to hold each other accountable,” Knafelc said.

The Warriors’ hot streak down the stretch included winning the inaugural Centennial League tournament. They beat defending state champion Grandview in the championship game Feb. 18, then upset top-ranked Valor Christian in last weekend’s Great 8.

Valor Christian beat Arapahoe in last year’s Final 4 and earlier this season, but the Warriors got revenge, as star sophomore point guard Gianna Smith poured in 24 points to lead the Warriors to a 62-54 triumph.

Beyond the dynamic Smith, Arapahoe’s core features senior captains Sydney White (Cal Baptist commit) and Emily Thomas, plus senior center Holly Jayasaker and junior guard Emerson Stark.

“We stayed together against Valor, because we were down in the first half, down in the third quarter,” White said. “That was my first time beating Valor as an Arapahoe Warrior, so that was a lot of motivation. They’re a really good team, but we knew the whole time we could beat them.”

Knafelc said the group’s growth mindset allowed them to shake off the up-and-down December, plus losses in league play to Grandview (32-30 on Jan. 20) and Cherry Creek (53-41 on Jan. 30) in order to peak at the perfect time.

“Our players didn’t let a few losses get under their skin,” Knafelc said. “They accepted the fact that was part of it, and they came to work every day with their lunch pail, determined to get better. The result is what we saw last weekend.”

Arapahoe is making its fifth Final 4 appearance all-time, and third under Knafelc.

“It would mean so much to us to be the team that finally wins the title,” Emily Thomas said. “Since we lost in the Final 4 last year, our whole goal this entire season has been to make it to the last game.”

The other side of the bracket features Grandview against Cherry Creek in the Centennial foes’ third meeting this season. The Wolves lost to the Bruins 56-40 on Feb. 1, then bounced back with a 55-36 win over the Bruins in the semifinal of the league tournament on Feb. 16.

Grandview, like Arapahoe, features a highly touted sophomore in Sienna Betts. After playing an auxiliary role on the Wolves’ 2022 title team headlined by her sister Lauren (now at Stanford), Betts has come into her own while averaging 21.6 points and 16.2 rebounds. That included a double-double in Grandview’s 57-53 win over Highlands Ranch in the Great 8.

“Sienna expanded what she does from a skill standpoint and in her leadership on the floor,” Grandview coach Josh Ulitzky said. “I never refer to Lauren (when coaching Sienna) because Sienna doesn’t want to be Lauren’s little sister, and she’s already become an incredible player in her own right and a top recruit in the country. This year has been a real opportunity for her to showcase the player she is.”

Creek has been a title favorite all winter long despite not having a senior in its starting five. Clint Evans’ Bruins won the program’s first crown in 2019, and then could’ve repeated in 2020 had the pandemic not canceled the championship game between Cherry Creek and Grandview. Now, the Bruins are back for the final weekend again as the top-seeded team left.

Cherry Creek’s youthful lineup features sophomore point guard Tianna Chambers, sophomore forward Braelynn Barnett, sophomore guard A’neya Chambers (unrelated to Tianna), sophomore guard Molly Dorighi and junior guard Mireya Johnson.��The loss to Grandview in the league tournament was a speed bump, but besides that, Cherry Creek’s been rolling since Tianna Chambers returned from concussion protocol after winter break.

“That (2019 title) team was a much better perimeter shooting team, but this group is more athletic,” Evans said. “This year’s team can slap a lot of pressure on you all over the court.

“Tianna got hurt before Christmas and we weren’t quite playing together and on the same page. And then after Christmas, we got Tianna back and started gelling. Plus, this team has seen every defense that can be thrown at us… We’re ready for (the pressure of this weekend).”

If Arapahoe has anything to say about it, it will be the Warriors, not their more decorated Centennial League counterparts, who have the final say.

“We’re not done yet,” White said.

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BOYS

No. 1 Mountain Vista (23-2) vs. No. 8 Valor Christian (18-7)

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Players to watch: MV — Caden Stevens, 6-9, sr. (17.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.2 bpg); Radek Homer, 6-2, sr. (12.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.8 spg); Cal Baskind, 5-11, so. (12.2 ppg). VC — Cole Scherer, 6-2, so. (15.8 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.2 spg); Archer VanSickle, 6-4, sr. (12.0 ppg, 2.8 apg); Hunter Guiles, 5-11, sr. (11.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg).

What to know: Chasing its fourth Final 4 bid in 10 years and first championship game appearance in program history, Mountain Vista gets a rematch with a Valor team it beat 75-66 on Jan 10. It’s one of four victories the Golden Eagles have over fellow Great 8 teams, including two over second-seeded Rock Canyon. Valor returns to the Great 8 after a two-year absence.

No. 4 Denver East (23-2) vs. No. 5 Smoky Hill (20-5)

Time: 10:15 a.m.

Players to watch: DE — D’Aundre Samuels, 6-3, sr. (21.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 6.6 apg, 5.0 spg); Austin Mohr, 6-3, sr. (15.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg); Jack Greenwood, 6-2, sr. (10.6 ppg). SH — Rickey Mitchell, 6-4, sr. (23.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.6 spg); Kai McGrew, 6-8, fr. (10.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 2.0 spg); Lorenzo Contreras, 5-9, so. (9.2 ppg, 5.2 apg, 2.4 spg).

What to know: Denver East dropped its first two games of the season, but haven’t lost since behind an offense that’s second only to Smoky Hill in the 6A bracket in scoring — barely (1,927 total points to 1,925). Smoky Hill is going for its first Final 4 appearance in 17 years and first state title in program history.

No. 2 Rock Canyon (23-2) vs. No. 7 Regis Jesuit (19-6)

Time: 8:30 p.m.

Players to watch: RC — Gavin Hershberger, 5-10, sr. (16.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.9 apg); Aidan Peck, 6-7, sr. (13.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.7 apg); Mac Terry, 6-3, jr. (11.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 apg). RJ — TaRea Fulcher, 5-10, sr. (16.5 ppg, 3.6 apg); Joe Dorais, 6-0, sr. (15.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg); Damarius Taylor, 5-11, jr. (13.1 ppg, 1.4 spg).

What to know: Two teams led by electric senior guards — Hershberger for Rock Canyon, Fulcher for Regis — meet in a rematch of a 59-57 Continental League thriller that went the Jaguars’ way. Rock Canyon is unbeaten against everyone not named Mountain Vista and is shooting for its third Final 4 trip since 2017. Regis has won nine straight since losing back-to-back games to Rock Canyon and Mountain Vista.

No. 3 Fossil Ridge (23-2) vs. No. 6 Fort Collins (22-3)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Players to watch: FR — Nick Randall, 6-7, sr. (21.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg); Matthew Boldt, 6-5, sr. (9.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.5 apg); Domenic Leone, 6-3, sr. (8.9 ppg, 3.2 apg). FC — Luke Wagstaff, 6-8, sr. (20.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 5.0 apg); Jayce King, 6-0, jr. (18.7 ppg, 2.0 spg); Jamar Mitchell, 6-5, sr. (13.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg).

What to know: In the in the Great 8 or later, Fossil Ridge gets a shot at avenging one of its two losses on the season (the other is to Valor) as it goes for a second consecutive Final 4 bid. The Lambkins, who won at Fossil Ridge 55-52 on Jan. 31, have already matched their highest win total of the past 13 years and are a win away from reaching the Final 4 for the first time since 1977.

GIRLS

No. 1 Valor Christian (22-2) vs. No. 8 Arapahoe (19-6)

Time: 4 p.m.

Players to watch: VC — Macey Huard, 6-2, sr. (21.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.2 spg); Quinn VanSickle, 5-7, so. (14.4 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.7 spg); Emma Lytle, 5-7, jr. (9.6 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.4 spg). AR — Gianna Smith, 5-10, so. (18.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg); Sydney White, 5-9, sr. (12.3 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.5 spg); Emily Thomas, 5-8, sr. (7.1 ppg, 2.9 apg).

What to know: Outside of an uncharacteristic slip-up vs. Arvada West, Valor has been nearly untouchable this season with wins over five of the other seven 6A Great 8 qualifiers, including a 57-44 victory over Arapahoe. The Eagles have reached the Final 4 three years in a row and the championship round each of the past two seasons (winning in 2021). This is Arapahoe’s third straight quarterfinal trip.

No. 4 Monarch (24-1) vs. No. 12 Regis Jesuit (17-8)

Time: 8:45 a.m.

Players to watch: MO — Natalie Guanella, 5-7, sr. (15.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 3.0 spg); Amelia Rosin, 6-1, sr. (11.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.1 bpg); Arezo Safi, 6-0, sr. (10.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg). RJ — Hana Belibi, 6-0, jr. (17.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg); Coryn Watts, 5-8, jr. (14.6 ppg, 4.0 apg, 1.8 spg); Iliana Greene, 5-2, so. (9.9 ppg) Jane Rumpf, 6-2, so. (9.4 rpg, 1.3 bpg).

What to know: If Monarch is to reach the Final 4 for the first time in eight years, it first must avenge its lone loss of the season. Regis took down the Coyotes at home 50-36 on Dec. 21. Since then, Monarch has won 18 in a row, all but one of which came by double figures: a 54-48 Sweet 16 win over Ralston Valley. The win over Monarch constitutes the high point of Regis’ season.

No. 2 Cherry Creek (21-4) vs. No. 7 Doherty (19-6)

Time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: CC — Tianna Chambers, 6-0, so. (13.8 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 spg); Braelynn Barnett, 6-0, so. (10.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg); A’neya Chambers, 5-10, so. (9.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.4 spg). DO — Brooke Mansanares, 5-11, sr. (11.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.0 spg); Tayva Phillips, sr. (8.4 ppg, 1.7 spg).

What to know: The Bruins’ Class of 2025 core was ahead of schedule a year ago when it made a run to the Great 8. With that group a year older, Creek is now a threat to do some serious damage. The Bruins went 4-3 against 6A Great 8 squads this season, including a 53-41 win at Doherty on Jan. 12. The Spartans are back in the Great 8 for the second year in a row.

No. 3 Highlands Ranch (22-3) vs. No. 11 Grandview (16-9)

Time: 11:45 a.m.

Players to watch: HR — Tori Baker, 5-7, so. (15.3 ppg, 3.9 apg, 2.1 spg); Ezra Simonich, 5-10, so. (10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.2 spg); Maddie Groth, 5-11, sr. (9.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg). GR — Sienna Betts, 6-3, so. (21.6 ppg, 16.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 3.9 bpg); Isa Dillehay, sr. (4.0 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.2 spg).

What to know: Just like a year ago, Grandview took its lumps with a challenging schedule. And just like a year ago, the Wolves are peaking at the right time — this time with a younger Betts (sophomore Sienna, not Lauren) leading the way. An eighth straight trip to the Final 4 will not come easy. Highlands Ranch is 19-1 in its last 20 games behind a pair of super sophomores in Baker and Simonich.

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