AURORA | A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports from Dec. 6-11:
• The Aurora Central girls swim team travels to Hinkley for an East Metro Athletic Conference dual meet at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6 as the two district rivals get the first of several looks at each other over the course of the season. The Thunderbirds play host to Gateway at the same time on Dec. 11.
• The Rangeview boys basketball team could have a shot at its second tournament championship of the season, as the APS Tip-Off champion Raiders seek to make the 8 p.m. title game at the Ralson Valley Roundup. With a win over Ralston Valley on Dec. 6, coach Shawn Palmer’s Rangeview team would take on either Valor Christian or Montbello in the final.
• Championships in a variety of boys and girls basketball tournaments are decided Dec. 8. In boys play, the Ponderosa Invitational (which includes Hinkley, Overland and Vista PEAK) and ThunderRidge-Heritage Tip-Off (which includes Cherokee Trail and Gateway) each wrap up. The Ponderosa championship game is scheduled for 3 p.m., while the TR/Heritage title is decided at 3 p.m. at ThunderRidge. In girls play, Gateway wraps up the Ponderosa Invitational, Rangeview concludes the TR-Rock Canyon Invite and Smoky Hill finishes up at the Battle in the Rockies tournament in Fort Collins.
• The new Cherry Creek Schools District ice hockey team debuts at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 when the Bruins — a mixture of players from five schools across the district, including Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest and Grandview — play host to Cheyenne Mountain at the Family Sports Center. The Cherry Creek program returns to the ice for the first time since the 1980s.
• The annual Grandview Duals are scheduled for Dec. 8, as the host Wolves welcome nine other wrestling teams including locals Rangeview, Regis Jesuit and Smoky Hill. Grandview lost to Pomona by two points in last season’s championship match. The Panthers are back in the field, along with the Aurora teams and Adams City, Air Academy, Denver East, Lakewood and Northglenn.
• The Denver East Angels Invitational girls swim meet is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 8 at Manual High School, with a field that includes Smoky Hill. The Buffaloes — undefeated in their first two dual meets — finished fourth out of 18 teams in the meet last season, which also included Overland.
• Regis Jesuit visits Overland at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 in a top all-Aurora boys basketball matchup as the young Trailblazers — featuring sophomore point guard Austin Conway and freshman post player De’Ron Davis — meet the Josh Perkins-led Raiders, who will return to Colorado play after a visit to the Dan Majerle Challenge in Phoenix.
• The Grandview Invitational girls basketball tournament tips off on Dec. 11 and continues Dec. 13 and Dec. 15. Two other Aurora teams are in the eight-team field, as Cherokee Trail opens against Dakota Ridge at 3 p.m. Dec. 11, while the host Wolves take on Rangeview at 7:30 p.m.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
