VISTA RIDGE VS FOUNTAIN FORT CARSON

Vista Ridge post Tristan Pratt in action during the Fountain-Fort Carson and Vista Ridge basketball game at Fountain-Fort Carson High School on Thursday, December 8, 2016. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Team *Record Last week

5A

1. Doherty 3-1 t1

2. Rampart 3-2 t1

3. Vista Ridge 2-3 3

4A

1. Lewis-Palmer 3-1 1

2. Sierra 3-1 2

3. Sand Creek 5-1 3

3A and below

1. CSCS 3-0 1

2. Manitou Springs 5-0 2

3. The Vanguard School 4-0 NR

Breakdown: After four road games to start the season, Doherty has its home opener against Dakota Ridge on Tuesday, followed by another home game against Legend on Saturday. In between, the Spartans on Thursday play at Mountain Vista, a program that reached the 5A semifinals three straight seasons before falling in the second round in 2015-16. Rampart, which held off Vista Ridge 58-57 on Dec. 6, meets 4-0 Grandview on the road on Tuesday before a home game against 4A power Denver South (4-2) on Thursday. Vista Ridge's three losses have come to teams with a combined 15-3 record. . Lewis-Palmer, which hasn't played since Dec. 3, ends the layoff Tuesday on the road against 6-0 Vista Peak. Sand Creek had its five-game winning streak to open the season ended by Pueblo Central on Dec. 10. The Scorpions travel to city rival Sierra on Friday in a battle of two of the area's finest in 4A. Sierra has won three of the four meetings but hasn't played L-P since January 2012. . CSCS and Manitou Springs remained undefeated with three combined wins last week, as did The Vanguard School, which debuts at No. 3. The Coursers host CSCS on Friday. Just off the radar is 2A Peyton. The 4-0 Panthers on Friday travel to Ellicott (2-1), which has reached the state tournament the past two seasons.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Team Record Last week

5A

1. Pine Creek 4-1 1

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2. Rampart 2-2 2

3. Doherty 4-0 3

4A

1. Mesa Ridge 4-2 2

2. Sand Creek 2-3 1

3. Sierra 2-1 3

3A and below

1. St. Mary's 4-0 2

2. CSCS 3-0 3

3. (tie) Peyton 4-0 NR

Ellicott 3-0 NR

Breakdown: Pine Creek ran its winning streak to four last weekend in winning all three of its games at the Boulder County Invitational. The Eagles host Regis on Thursday. Doherty won a tournament title of its own last weekend at the Dakota Ridge Invitational in Littleton. The Spartans play three games this week, including a home matchup Thursday against Mountain Vista, which advanced to the Round of 16 in last season's 5A state tournament. . Mesa Ridge, whose only two losses came to 5A opponents Horizon and Doherty, is done for the calendar year and won't play its next game until Jan. 5. Sand Creek suffered single-digit losses to 5A foes Eaglecrest and Legend last week. On Thursday, the Scorpions host Sierra. We won't penalize Sierra for not playing last week and keep them at No. 3. They'll make up for it this week. Of the three games the Stallions play this week, two will be against 4A semifinalists from a season ago (Sand Creek and Holy Family). A handful of other teams are knocking on top-three door, including TCA (5-0), Lewis-Palmer (5-1), Falcon (4-1) and Air Academy (5-2). . St. Mary's has made its case for moving into the No. 1 spot following convincing wins over Lutheran (defending 3A state champ) and Pagosa Springs (2015 3A champ) last week. On Tuesday, the Pirates host the team that eliminated them from the 3A playoffs last season when Faith Christian comes calling. Peyton, which won only seven games last year, travels to Ellicott (16-7 last year) on Friday.

ICE HOCKEY

Team Record Last week

1. Cheyenne Mountain 4-0 2

2. Lewis-Palmer 0-4 1

3. Air Academy 2-1 NR

Breakdown: Cheyenne Mountain is off to an impressive start, scoring seven goals in each of its four victories. This week, the Indians have a home-and-home against a 2-1 Heritage squad, starting at Colorado College on Friday and moving north on Saturday. Lewis-Palmer has entered the third period tied or down by only one goal in three of its four games to start the season but have been outscored 6-0 over the final 17 minutes in losses to Regis (3-1), Ralston Valley (5-2) and Mountain Vista (2-0). Air Academy on Saturday meets upstart Fort Collins (3-0), which is making its high school debut this season and has outscored its opponents 19-4.

*-All records and rankings through Sunday.

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