Rangeview's Mariah Franklin
Rangeview junior Mariah Franklin will try to help the Raiders continue their dominance of the Aurora Public Schools Championships girls swim meet on Jan. 26 at Hinkley High School. (Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

AURORA | A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports from Jan. 25-30:

• A strong night of boys basketball is in store Jan. 25 as 10 Aurora teams are in action, half of them on their home floors. In Centennial League play, Grandview plays host to Arapahoe at 7 p.m., while streaking Regis Jesuit is at defending Class 5A state champion Chaparral in a strong early Continental League offering. In girls play, Grandview pays a visit to unbeaten Arapahoe at 7 p.m. with the winner taking over sole possession of first place in the Centennial League standings. Chaparral also takes a trip to Regis Jesuit in a game to be played in the Boys Division gym to seat the large expected crowd.

• The Aurora Public Schools Championships girls swim meet is set for Jan. 26 at Hinkley as Aurora Central, Gateway and Rangeview visit the host Thunderbirds to decide district bragging rights. Rangeview has dominated the meet for the past decade and should be spurred on by a dual meet loss to Gateway. Finals are scheduled for 4 p.m. In other action in the pool, Centennial League teams are at Smoky Hill for the “B” League Championship meet at 10 a.m., while Regis Jesuit swimmers take part in the “B” League Championship meet at Heritage at 11 a.m.

Smoky Hill's Dexter Bess
Smoky Hill junior Dexter Bess won the championship at 220 pounds at the Mullen Invitational Jan. 19. He’ll go for another crown at the Buffalo Invitational Jan. 26 at Smoky Hill High School. (Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)
Smoky Hill junior Dexter Bess won the championship at 220 pounds at the Mullen Invitational Jan. 19. He’ll go for another crown at the Buffalo Invitational Jan. 26 at Smoky Hill High School. (Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

• The 16-team Smoky Hill Buffalo Invitational Jan. 26 brings together a wide mix of wrestling teams from several classifications. Rangeview and the host Buffaloes represent Aurora in the tournament, which begins at 8 a.m. Finals are scheduled for approximately 4:15 p.m. Other Aurora mat teams will be in action at Kennedy (Aurora Central, Overland) and Northglenn (Hinkley, Regis Jesuit).

• Regis Jesuit takes on Resurrection Christian at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in a battle of two of the top ice hockey teams in the Foothills Conference at the NoCo Ice Arena. Both teams had 10 wins. The Raiders took a one-goal decision last season.

Regis Jesuit's Josh Perkins
Junior Josh Perkins (3) and Regis Jesuit routed Mountain Vista by 16 points in Continental League boys basketball play last season, but the Golden Eagles are undefeated this season so far. The Raiders play host to them Jan. 29. (Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

• An early Continental League boys basketball showdown is set for Jan. 29 when Mountain Vista visits Regis Jesuit at 7 p.m. in a battle of league title hopefuls. The Raiders won last season’s meeting by 16 points and are streaking, but the Golden Eagles come in undefeated this time.

• The Vista PEAK boys basketball team takes the floor at the Pepsi Center at 1 p.m. Jan. 30 when the Bison go against Strasburg in a Colorado 7 contest scheduled for the home floor of the Denver Nuggets.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...