AURORA | A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports from Feb. 15-21:
• Cherokee Trail plays at Eaglecrest at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 in a pivotal game in the chase for the Centennial League championship. The Raptors won the first meeting by 13 points, but the Cougars can put themselves in the driver’s seat with a victory. Overland at Grandview is another key league meeting. Regis Jesuit and ThunderRidge are vying for second place in the Continental League behind undefeated Mountain Vista and the Raiders pay a 7 p.m. visit to the Grizzlies.
• Regis Jesuit and Cherry Creek meet for the first time in ice hockey at 5:45 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Family Sports Center. The playoffs are out of the Bruins’ reach in their first season, but the game is important to the defending state champion Raiders as they continue to try to strengthen their seeding position going into the postseason. While the game marks the end to Cherry Creek’s regular season, Regis Jesuit has one more game on the schedule at 4 p.m. Feb. 16 at Aspen.
• Wrestling regionals take place Feb. 15-16 with Aurora’s 10 5A teams and one 4A squad (Vista PEAK) are scattered at tournaments around the metro area as they take their chances at making the state tournament. Four Aurora teams don’t have far to go, as Smoky Hill plays host to 5A Region 1, which also includes Eaglecrest, Rangeview and Regis Jesuit. Aurora Central, Gateway, Hinkley and Overland compete in 5A Region 4 at Standley Lake, while Grandview is at Doherty (5A Region 2) and Cherokee Trail heads to Loveland (5A Region 3). Vista PEAK is in the 4A Region 4 group at Montrose.
• Arapahoe visits Grandview at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in an important Centennial League girls basketball game as the Warriors look to get revenge after the Wolves posted a decisive road victory over them in January. Grandview was 10-0 in league play through Feb. 12 and had a two-game cushion on Arapahoe and Cherry Creek. Three teams are tied for fourth in the league and two will meet when Cherokee Trail is at Mullen. The third team, Smoky Hill, is home against Eaglecrest.
• The state wrestling tournament opens on Feb. 21 at the Pepsi Center as Aurora wrestlers who made it through regional tournaments get their chance to wrestle for spots on the medal podium. Thousands of fans from around the state annually attend the state tournament, which continues through Feb. 23.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
