As winter sports kick into full gear, we’ll preview upcoming events in the Pikes Peak region.

Here are a few notable competitions and notes for the upcoming week.

Compelling contests

Boys basketball

Mesa Ridge at Palmer, 7 p.m. Friday

Since scoring 44 points to open the season in a 47-44 loss at Liberty, Mesa Ridge has averaged 57 points per contest and is 8-1 sans the Grizzlies’ Wednesday night matchup at home against Harrison.

Bryce Riehl has scored 20 or more in five contests and averages 21 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals per game.

The Terrors (6-6) will look to avenge a 60-58 loss to the Grizzlies last season when J’twane Mike scored a team-high 19 points.

This season, Mike is averaging 17 per contest and dropped a season-high 30 against rival Doherty last Saturday.

Banning Lewis at Manitou Springs, 7 p.m. Thursday

Although Banning Lewis has a 3-0 record at neutral sites, the Stallions are 0-2 this season on the road.

Meanwhile, the Mustangs have won both of their home contests by 16 or more.

The Stallions handed the Mustangs their worst loss of the season last year and beat Manitou Springs 73-40 at Banning Lewis.

Manitou Springs’ tandem of Nate Gentzel and Sam Fournier average nearly 25 per game, and the Stallions will need to slow the duo to stave off a .500 record.

Girls basketball

Palmer Ridge at Discovery Canyon, 5:30 p.m. Thursday

Both teams enter this matchup on fire.

The Bears finished 15-10 last season but have an 8-2 record this season.

Discovery Canyon is 7-3, matching the amount of wins it finished the 2023-24 season with. The Thunder have not reached double-digit victories since 2018-19, when they were 15-10 and earned a spot in the 4A playoffs.

Palmer Ridge built its record despite having no players averaging double-figures. However, Corinna Arellano, Taylor Peterson, Annaliese Bossinger, Addison Steenland and Sofia Romero all average 2.2 steals or more per game.

That defense will be necessary to stifle Discovery Canyon dynamo Natalie Neuhaus, who averages 17.2 points.

Air Academy at Lewis-Palmer, 5:30 p.m. Thursday

The Kadets hope to continue their romp through the competition in their fifth consecutive road contest.

Air Academy (11-0) has won all but one matchup this season by double figures. On defense, the Kadets allow just 31.6 per contest and, outside of a 66-50 win against Fruita Monument, have not allowed an opponent to score as much as 49 points.

But the Rangers average 51.3 points, led by junior Rylee Edmondson’s 17.4 average.

Wrestling

Colorado Springs Metro Wrestling Championships (boys and girls), Friday and Saturday

Fountain-Fort Carson’s Trojan Arena will host a plethora of Pikes Peak region teams, including returning champions Pine Creek on the boys side and Discovery Canyon for the girls.

Pine Creek earned its ninth Metros championship last season and has six ranked wrestlers entering the tournament. But Falcon, which placed second in 2024, will also contend for the boys crown and features seven competitors in Tim Yount’s On The Mat rankings.

Pine Creek’s girls squad holds the highest ranking per Inside Colorado Wrestling at No. 6 in 5A, and it hopes to capture the Metro title in the team’s first year.

Area rankings

Boys basketball

6A-4A

1) Discovery Canyon (10-1)

2) Mesa Ridge (8-1)

3) Liberty (8-2)

4) Sand Creek (9-2)

5) The Classical Academy (9-1)

3A-1A

1) Vanguard (6-3)

2) Banning Lewis (4-3)

3) Evangel Christian Academy (6-3)

4) Peyton (4-5)

5) St. Mary’s (4-3)

Girls basketball

6A-4A

1) Air Academy (11-0)

2) Pine Creek (9-2)

3) Vista Ridge (6-2)

4) Palmer Ridge (8-2)

5) Lewis-Palmer (8-2)

3A-1A

1) Colorado Springs Christian (5-2)

2) Thomas MacLaren (8-2)

3) Ellicott (7-1)

4) Evangel Christian Academy (6-1)

5) Peyton (4-5)

If you haven’t heard …

Palmer Lake Outdoor Classic postponed to Jan. 21

To avoid this weekend’s “arctic blast” the Palmer Lake Outdoor Classic, which was already postponed on Jan. 8, has been rescheduled to Tuesday.

At the moment, competition will still begin at 6 p.m. with the CHSAA Foundation game. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Deja Burns moves into national conversation

Sierra’s 41-35 victory over Sand Creek on Tuesday night was the Stallions’ 10th game of the season. That meant Deja Burns hit the minimum requirement for games played to join MaxPreps’ national blocks rankings.

Burns finished the contest against the Scorpions with four to give her 75 total, or 7.5 per game to rank fourth in the nation.

In four of the Stallions’ games, Burns has blocked 10 or more shots, including 16 against Dakota Ridge on Dec. 5.