AURORA | A look at the games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports between Jan. 2-6, 2016:
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
• The winter season resumes on Jan. 2, as teams in a few sports get going again after a week hiatus for winter break. The unbeaten Regis Jesuit boys basketball team pays a 6 p.m. visit to Grandview in an all-Aurora non-league battle that is part of a slate that also includes three girls basketball games — with unbeaten Grandview at George Washington at 1 p.m. among them — plus one ice hockey game as undefeated Cherry Creek plays host to Palmer at 3:15 p.m. at Family Sports Center.
• Rangeview plays at Thomas Jefferson at 7 p.m. Jan. 4 in a battle of girls basketball teams off to fast starts to the season. The Raiders — who play two days prior — come into the contest after a 6-3 start, while the Spartans opened 7-2. Gateway travels to Evergreen for a 7 p.m. non-league contest as well.
• Quality boys basketball matchups dominate the schedule for Jan. 5, which includes a matchup of undefeated Aurora teams as Regis Jesuit (7-0) plays host to Overland (8-0). The Trailblazers play for the first time since Dec. 19 when they won the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas with tip off with the Raiders scheduled for 7 p.m. Another strong all-Aurora matchup sees 2-6 Smoky Hill taking its home floor at 7 p.m. against an Aurora Central team that’s off to a 6-3 start. Vista PEAK looks to remain hot after ending the opening portion of the season strong when it plays host to Weld Central at 7 p.m. in the second half of a doubleheader that sees the girls play at 5:30 p.m.
• A large slate of boys and girls basketball is in store for Jan. 6, as league play begins for some teams while non-league play winds near a close for others. The undefeated Rangeview boys basketball team welcomes previously unbeaten ThunderRidge in at 7 p.m., while Centennial League play tips off with four matchups involving Aurora teams as Overland visits Mullen, Arapahoe plays at Grandview, Cherokee Trail is home against Cherry Creek and Eaglecrest welcomes in Smoky Hill at 7 p.m. The same matchups take place in girls play at opposite sites, though Smoky Hill is at Eaglecrest at 5:30 p.m. to open a boys-girls doubleheader. Several Unified basketball games also precede the games.
• Wrestling resumes for Regis Jesuit on Jan. 6, when parochial school rival Mullen visits for a 7 p.m. dual match. The Raiders finished 3-2 at the Holiday Duals at Cherokee Trail prior to winter break.
