Monday Morning Point Guard

You know that super catchy, slightly annoying Christmas carol that goes “On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…”

Although the tune can be quite addicting, it is also quite confusing.  Since when are there 12 days of Christmas? I thought it was only one day. And why in the world is a partridge hanging out in a pear tree? Is that a partridge’s natural habitat? And why is a pear tree in the mix in the first place? 

Let us digress. Instead of drummers drumming or lords o’leaping this holiday season, our true love is giving us ballers balling, with some enticing high school hoops clashes before Christmas break.

The NBA doesn’t start giving until the day of Christmas, but there are already many presents underneath the basketball tree, with high school basketball in the mile high area in full swing.

Tis’ the season for high school hoops to heat up. Here are a handful of marquee match-ups in the days leading up to Christmas. Our true love in this case is CHSAA, for scheduling the games. Unfortunately, no calling birds, French hens or turtle doves are on the docket.

Cue the goofy music…

On the 14th day before Christmas our true love gave to us, Sailors Sailing and Skiers Skiing.  Steamboat Springs (2-2) at Aspen (0-2). Monday, December 12th. This small town rivalry is usually an argument about who has the best ski resort. Both cities can brag about their respective mountains, but only one high school hoops squad will have
bragging rights after these two teams face-off.

On the  13th day before Christmas our true love gave to us, Rangers Ranging and Cyclones Spinning. Lewis-Palmer (4-1) vs. Pueblo West (3-1). Tuesday, December 13th. Two top ten preseason teams in the 4A classification square off early in the campaign. It’s a quality early season battle between two teams who look to be in the top ten as long as they keep winning.

On the  13th day before Christmas our true love gave to us, Spartans Sparring and Wolverines Wolfing. Thomas Jefferson (3-0) vs. Chaparral (2-1). Tuesday, December 13th. TJ is a historically successful 4A program that hails from the Denver Prep. Coach Laman of the Spartans consistently schedules tough early season tests against 5A competition. This will be one of those tests as they travel to Chaparral to take on the Wolverines, who have started out of the gates fast this season.

On the  12th day before Christmas our true love gave to us, Patriots Protecting and Buffaloes Stampeding. George Washington (1-2) vs. Smoky Hill (4-0). Wednesday, December 14th. An intriguing inter-league match-up between the Denver Prep and the Centennial Conference. GW always seems to field a competitive team and Smoky Hill has started this season smoking hot, winning their first four games in dominating fashion.

On the 10th day before Christmas our true love gave to us, Raiders Raiding and Warriors Rioting. Regis (2-1) vs. Arapahoe (2-0) - Friday, December 16th.  A match-up of two titans from a year ago.  Regis 3-peated last year and crushed Arapahoe in the semi-finals, but Arapahoe was one of the few teams to knock off the Raiders during last year’s regular season. It will be a pleasure to unwrap this early Xmas present pitting two of the state’s best programs against one another.

On the 10th day before Christmas our true love gave to us, Falcons Flying and Wolves Growling. Highlands Ranch (5-0) vs. Grandview (4-1). Friday December 16th. Highlands Ranch was a state title contender a year ago, losing in the semi-finals to Boulder. Grandview has already defeated last year’s champ this season, beating Regis 76-68 in the season’s first game. Highlands Ranch was hit hard by graduation, but Coach Caton and company will always be competitive, and so should this game.

On the 10th day before Christmas our true love gave to us, Raptors Ravaging and Eagles Soaring. Eaglecrest (4-1) vs. Valor Christian (5-1) Friday, December 16th. This will be an interesting early season test for both teams.  Eaglecrest, a public school, is an athletic, established 5A program that generally floats near the top of the Centennial conference standings. Valor Christian, a private school, are an up and coming force looking to take over the 4A Classification. (Have you seen their football teams quick rise to power?) Eaglecrest will face the Eagles, and try to stop them from soaring to new heights.

On the  7th day before Christmas our true love gave to us, Mustangs Galloping and Raiders Raiding. Regis (2-1) at Mullen (2-1). Monday, December 19th. Forgive the cliché, but you can throw records out the window when these two private institutions meet. Like Ohio State vs. Michigan, or Yankees vs. Red Sox, these two enemies do not like each other, but the powers that be make sure that Mullen and Regis play each other every year. Regis has had the upper hand in the rivalry of late, but that doesn’t mean that the Mustangs aren’t primed to give the Raiders their best shot. Even the Christmas spirit won’t soften the animosity involved in this rivalry.

Ho. Ho. Hoops. Merry Christmas!

Contact the writer at newsroom@milehighhoops.com

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