Championship Saturday looming large in Colorado boys basketball

When the Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) boys basketball team dropped in four points in the final seconds to stun Grandview (Aurora) last Saturday in a Class 5A state quarterfinal, it gave a glimpse of what could be on the horizon this weekend.

In just five short days, all five classifications will crown state champions and close out the 2016-17 winter sports season. A whirlwind three-day period will see a few dozen games pitting the state's best against one another.

In Class 5A and 4A, new state champions will be crowned. Two-time defending 3A state champion Colorado Springs Christian will attempt to bring home a third consecutive title, and Sanford is hoping to make it four in a row in 2A.

Fleming, fresh off an upset victory over Rocky Mountain Lutheran (Commerce City) in 1A regional play, is going for its second championship in a row.

Here is a quick look at each of the five classifications headed into Thursday's quarterfinal round for 3A, 2A and 1A:

MaxPreps Colorado boys basketball brackets

Class 5A
Final 4: No. 1 Eaglecrest (Centennial) (22-4) vs. No. 5 Rock Canyon (23-3); No. 2 ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) (24-2) vs. No. 3 George Washington (Denver) (24-2).
Championship: 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Denver Coliseum
• Both of these semifinal matchups are rematches of non-league tilts earlier in the regular season. Rock Canyon upended Eaglecrest 60-55 on Dec. 6 behind 28 points from Sam Masten and 19 from Colin Rardin. ThunderRidge handed the Patriots one of only two losses on the season one month later in a 71-61 victory, backed by 30 points from Corey Seng.
• That doesn't mean much headed into Friday's semifinals at the Denver Coliseum. Eaglecrest, the 2016 runner-up, has handled each of its three postseason opponents, winning by an average of 18 points. Colbey Ross scored 19 points in a 72-53 victory over Denver East in the quarterfinals. Rock Canyon, meanwhile, used a tip-in at the buzzer from Nick Janedis to down Grandview 42-40. The Jaguars went 2-1 against the other three semifinalists during the regular season, and are making their first Final 4 appearance.
• The other semifinal figures to be a fast-and-furious showdown. ThunderRidge and George Washington have been the tournament's two highest-scoring teams, combing for 494 points in six games. The Grizzlies used a strong first half to hold off Chatfield (Littleton) 72-64 in the quarterfinals, with junior Kaison Hammonds scoring 30 points. Jon'il Fugett scored a team-high 18 points in the Patriots' 65-52 victory over Fort Collins last Saturday.

Class 4A
Final 4: No. 1 Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) (22-4) vs. No. 12 Golden (19-7); No. 2 Pueblo South (20-6) vs. No. 6 Lewis-Palmer (Monument) (22-4).
Championship: 3 p.m. Saturday at Denver Coliseum
• Valor Christian is the only holdover from last year's semifinals, and the Eagles will need to beat the Demons for a third time this season to make a return trip to the title game. The two Jeffco League rivals matched up twice during the regular season, with Valor controlling both contests. The Eagles have won 14 games in a row and held their three playoff opponents to 55 points or less. Jalen Sanders scored 27 points in a 60-51 victory over Mead in the quarterfinals.
• Golden knocked out No. 5 Holy Family (Broomfield) in the third round, and then had to defeat a league foe in Evergreen in the quarterfinals. Kayden Sund and Adam Thistlewood combined for 45 points in the 59-52 victory.
• Pueblo South ended South Central League rival Pueblo West's hopes of a second consecutive 4A crown with a thrilling 64-62 victory in the quarterfinals. South last won a title in 2001 and hasn't been to the finals since 2009.  • Lewis-Palmer, which won it all in 2012 and 2013, needed two overtimes to edge D'Evelyn (Denver) 80-77. The Rangers defeated Pueblo South 54-47 on Dec. 15 and have won 18 consecutive games.

Class 3A
Great 8: No. 1 Kent Denver (Englewood) (21-3) vs. No. 9 Basalt (21-3); No. 12 Alamosa (20-3) vs. No. 13 Faith Christian (Arvada) (16-8); No. 2 Manitou Springs (22-2) vs. No. 10 Sterling (19-5); No. 3 Colorado Springs Christian (22-2) vs. No. 6 Denver Science & Tech Stapleton (21-3).
Championship: 6 p.m. Saturday at Hamilton Gym at University of Denver
• Top-seeded Kent Denver was bounced in the first round last winter. Since losing back-to-back games early in the season, the Sun Devils have won 15 of 16 games behind a balanced lineup. … Basalt fell to Coal Ridge (New Castle) twice this season, but the Longhorns were 21-1 against the rest of their schedule. Three players scored a combined 37 of the team's 43 points in a victory over DSST-Green Valley Ranch to reach the quarterfinals.
• Alamosa avoided a fourth meeting with Bayfield after the Wolverines were upset by Delta in the first round. The Mean Moose then dispatched the Pirates by 12 points, and are looking to get back to the 3A title game. … Faith Christian owns the tournament's biggest upset to date, knocking out previously undefeated Resurrection Christian (Loveland) 69-57. The Eagles are always dangerous at state, having won five titles in a row from 2008-12.
• Manitou Springs' only two losses came to two-time defending champion Colorado Springs Christian by a combined three points. The Mustangs had to withstand a rally from Roaring Fork (Carbondale) in the second round though to hold on for a 56-54 victory, getting 12 points apiece from three players. … Two of Sterling's losses came to Resurrection Christian in close contests. The Tigers had a second-round fight of their own, needing overtime to down Coal Ridge 61-59. Junior Bodie Hume leads the team in scoring and rebounds.
• Colorado Springs Christian is on the path toward a third consecutive title, having won 14 games in a row. But the Lions could be looking at a third meeting with Tri-Peaks League rival Manitou Springs in the semifinals. …  One year after being the No. 1 overall seed, DSST-Stapleton has won 17 in a row since a loss to Kent Denver in December. Senior Blake Pullen leads the Knights at 16.6 points a game.

Class 2A
Great 8: No. 1 Sedgwick County (Julesburg) (22-1) vs. No. 8 Sanford (16-7); No. 4 Akron (18-5) vs. No. 5 Highland (Ault) (23-0); No. 3 Del Norte (20-4) vs. No. 6 Paonia (21-2); No. 2 Holyoke (19-4) vs. No. 7 Fowler (20-3).
Championship: 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Budweiser Events Center in Loveland
• Sedgwick County's only loss this season was an overtime setback to Holyoke. The Cougars last won a title in 2008. … Three-time defending state champion Sanford has endured an up-and-down campaign, but the Indians defeated Norwood 44-37 in the regional to punch their ticket to the Great 8.
• Akron fell to Sanford in the 2013 title game. Seniors Jordan Herder and Levi Basler average 18.2 points and 16.8 points, respectively. … Highland is the only undefeated team in the field. The Huskies scored a season-high 93 points to down Peyton in the regional title game, with senior Cole Rouse going for 31 points.
• Del Norte had a more challenging road after a district loss to Sanford, but the Tigers went on the road to defeat Ignacio in the regional finale. Two of the team's losses were by forfeit, and Del Norte has won 18 of 19. … Paonia has won 11 in a row, with senior Dagan Rienks leading the team in points and rebounds.
• Holyoke dropped two of its four games to No. 1 Sedgwick County. The Dragons have three players who score in double figures. … Fowler's Alexander Proctor leads the team with 13.9 points a game, and senior Dean Reed averages nearly a double-double.

Class 1A
Great 8: No. 1 Holly (22-0) vs. No. 8 Ouray (14-8); No. 4 Kit Carson (17-5) vs. No. 5 Longmont Christian (20-4); No. 3 Front Range Baptist (Fort Collins) (20-3) vs. No. 6 Fleming (15-9); No. 2 Cheyenne Wells (20-2) vs. No. 7 Creede/Lake City (16-6).
Championship: 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Budweiser Events Center, Loveland
• Holly was on its way to a second consecutive state title last winter, but was upset in the semifinals. The Wildcats are undefeated this season, led by talented senior Yaniel Vidal. … Ouray knocked off Sangre de Cristo by four points to make the Great 8. The Trojans are paced by senior Ravi Inmon.
• Kit Carson upended No. 2 Cheyenne Wells in district play before toppling Wiley in the regional tournament. Senior Jaxon Crawford has had a strong season to date, averaging 18.1 points and 8.2 rebounds. … High-scoring Longmont Christian has four players who average in double figures in scoring, led by senior Luke Puchino (20.1 ppg).
• Two of Front Range Baptist's three losses came in out-of-state tournaments. Senior Noah Stein averages 15.3 points and 9.8 rebounds, and junior Adam Poole goes for 14.6 points. … Defending state champion Fleming upset Rocky Mountain Lutheran in regional play. The Wildcats endured a six-game losing streak late in the season, but have won six in a row since that time.
• Cheyenne Wells has only dropped games to Holly and Kit Carson this season. Senior Kendall Pelton leads the Tigers at 16.4 points per game. … Creede/Lake City is led by junior Isaac Borchers at 16.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.