A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports between Jan. 2-9, 2014:
• The annual Aurora Public Schools Classic boys and girls basketball tournaments are set for Jan. 2-4, with the boys playing at Gateway and the girls at Hinkley. The tournament is traditionally played to open the season, but comes after the winter break this season. Coming into the boys tournament, Rangeview sits at 5-2, while Aurora Central is at 3-5, Hinkley is 1-6 and Gateway 1-8. The Rangeview girls enter the tournament at 4-6, followed by Hinkley at 2-3, Aurora Central at 2-4 and Gateway at 2-6.
• The Regis Jesuit ice hockey team skates against Mountain Vista at 5:45 p.m. Jan. 3 at Family Sports Center in the first game of the new year for coach Dan Woodley’s Raiders, who played just three games before the winter break, winning all of them. Regis Jesuit posted a 2-0 victory last season against the Golden Eagles, who also enter the game at 3-0.
• The Grandview boys basketball team plays host to Regis Jesuit at 7 p.m. Jan. 3 in a battle of Aurora’s top two teams in won-loss record prior to winter break. Fresh off a tournament championship at the Mission Prep Christmas Classic in California, coach Gary Childress’ Wolves sit at 7-1, while coach Ken Shaw’s Raiders — who won back-to-back road games going into winter break — stand at 6-1. Regis Jesuit visits another top Aurora team, Overland, at 7 p.m. Jan. 4.
• The Cherry Creek co-op ice hockey team welcomes state champion Ralston Valley to Family Sports Center at 6 p.m. Jan. 4 as the Bruins try to make a statement to open Foothills Conference play. The Mustangs cruised to a 6-1 victory when the teams met last season and are off to another strong start this season, as they outscored their first four opponents 31-4.
• The first of a number of Centennial League girls and boys basketball headers is Jan. 8, including Cherokee Trail at Smoky Hill with the girls set to battle at 5:30 p.m., followed by the boys at 7 p.m. Eaglecrest is also at neighborhood rival Grandview with the same time schedule.
• The Aurora Public Schools Duals wrestling championship is contested at 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at Aurora Central, as the host Trojans, Aurora Central, Gateway and Hinkley go against each other in a quad meet. Among other strong duals scheduled for the same day include Regis Jesuit at Heritage (6 p.m.), Cherry Creek at Grandview (7 p.m.) and Eaglecrest at Arapahoe (7 p.m.).
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
