AURORA | The city’s recent tradition of deep runs and Class 5A state championships is alive and well with half of the teams headed to the Great 8 hailing from here.
Third-seeded Rangeview, No. 4 Overland, No. 6 Grandview and No. 7 Smoky Hill all came away with Sweet 16 victories Wednesday night, punching their ticket to play Saturday at the Denver Coliseum.
On top of that, four of the eight teams remaining come from the Centennial League (including No. 24 Cherry Creek), while three hail from the Continental League (No. 1 Chaparral, No. 2 Mountain Vista and No. 5 ThunderRidge) and one from the EMAC (Rangeview).
A slate of four quarterfinal games on Saturday begins with Grandview and Rangeview meeting in an all-Aurora battle to decide the winner of the semifinal spot from the Larry Farmer Region at 12:30 p.m.
That game is followed with Overland going against ThunderRidge at noon, with the winner representing the Kent Smith Region in the Final Four.
Smoky Hill is set for a 5 p.m. contest against Mountain Vista to determine the winner of the Chuck Williams Region and its semifinal entrant.
The 6:30 p.m. nightcap pits Cherry Creek against Chaparral to decide the Chauncey Billups Region qualifier for the semifinals.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Sentinel Prep Sports
2019 CLASS 5A BOYS STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
GREAT 8 (March 2 at Denver Coliseum)
NO. 6 GRANDVIEW (19-6) vs. NO. 3 RANGEVIEW (23-2), 12:30 p.m.
No. 5 ThunderRidge (20-5) vs. NO. 4 OVERLAND (19-6), 2 p.m.
NO. 7 SMOKY HILL (20-5) vs. No. 2 Mountain Vista (23-2), 5 p.m.
No. 24 Cherry Creek (14-12) vs. No. 1 Chaparral (21-4), 6:30 p.m.
SWEET 16
No. 1 Chaparral 82, No. 17 Mullen 57
No. 24 Cherry Creek 76, No. 8 Fairview 67
NO. 4 OVERLAND 72, NO. 13 EAGLECREST 56
No. 5 ThunderRidge 59, No. 21 Denver East 56 (OT)
No. 2 Mountain Vista 71, No. 15 Fruita Monument 65
NO. 7 SMOKY HILL 53, No. 23 Highlands Ranch 36
NO. 3 RANGEVIEW 72, No. 19 Fountain-Fort Carson 54
NO. 6 GRANDVIEW 42, No. 11 Rock Canyon 38
