Snow put a damper on a handful of games recently, but next week’s slate will provide prep sports lovers with a serving of tremendous competition.

Here is a look at upcoming events this week.

Compelling contests

Boys basketball

Doherty at Liberty, 7 p.m. Wednesday

In their previous eight meetings with the Lancers, the Spartans hold a 7-1 record including two blowout wins in 2024 with a 76-39 win and 74-31 victory.

The Lancers last beat Doherty in 2022 and hope to parlay their success this season into a victory against the Spartans, who are 4-7 through 11 contests this year.

While Elijah Mack’s 21.1 points per game leads Doherty’s offense, the Lancers flaunt London Praytor, the six-foot-10 Toledo commit who recently became Liberty’s all-time blocks leader with 122 (and counting.)

Discovery Canyon at Cheyenne Mountain, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

As of Jan. 22, both teams hold spots in the top 10 of CHSAA’s RPI and have terrorized their opposition all season.

Noah Eckels continues to pace the Thunder at 13.3 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per contest.

In the teams’ first meeting last season, Eckels and Hugh Tarpenning scorched the Red-Tailed Hawks for 37 points on 16-of-19 shooting.

However, this year, Cheyenne Mountain holds its opponents to 49 per game and Alex Treglia (16.4) and Cayden Cooper (15.3) lead the offense for the Red-Tailed Hawks.

Girls basketball

Lewis-Palmer at Palmer Ridge, 5:30 p.m. Friday

Both rivals are well over .500 this season, which should make for a competitive game in the Battle for Monument.

However, on the basketball court, Monument belongs to the Bears. Palmer Ridge is 20-4 against Lewis-Palmer all-time and has won eight of 10 games against the Rangers.

Lewis-Palmer’s Rylee Edmondson, who averages 17.4 per contest, hopes to blast through Palmer Ridge’s defense, which allows just 31.5 per game and averages 17.6 steals per contest.

Vista Ridge at Pine Creek, 7 p.m. Tuesday

This matchup between the top two 6A Colorado Springs Metro League teams also features a pair of the area’s top scorers.

Pine Creek’s Brooklyn Stewart (20.1) and Vista Ridge’s Jasmine Byers (20.4) will joust and hope to lead their team to victory in the first of two meetings between the teams.

The Wolves are 0-8 all-time against Pine Creek and the Eagles have won all but one of the contests by double figures.

Area rankings (official as of Wednesday afternoon)

Boys basketball

6A-4A

1) Discovery Canyon (11-1)

2) Mesa Ridge (11-1)

3) Cheyenne Mountain (10-3)

4) Sand Creek (10-2)

5) The Classical Academy (10-1)

3A-1A

1) Vanguard (7-3)

2) Banning Lewis (5-3)

3) Evangel Christian Academy (6-3)

4) St. Mary’s (5-3)

5) Thomas MacLaren (6-6)

Girls basketball

6A-4A

1) Air Academy (12-0)

2) Pine Creek (10-2)

3) Vista Ridge (8-2)

4) Palmer Ridge (9-2)

5) Lewis-Palmer (8-3)

3A-1A

1) Ellicott (8-2)

2) Colorado Springs Christian (7-2)

3) Thomas MacLaren (10-2)

4) Evangel Christian Academy (7-2)

5) St. Mary’s (5-3)

If you haven’t heard…

Cheyenne Mountain girls swimming holds 4A’s top spot

Earlier this week, CHSAA released its weekly rankings with the Red-Tailed Hawks atop the 4A polls alongside Broomfield (second) and Ponderosa (third.)

Cheyenne Mountain owns a 4-0 record this season in duals and have placed first in all but one meet this season.

The Red-Tailed Hawks will compete at the league championships on Jan. 29-30 and head to the Veteran Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton Feb. 7-8 for the state championships.

Mesa Ridge, Discovery Canyon boys basketball on 11-game win streaks

Both teams dropped their season opening contests away from home – Mesa Ridge lost by three points to Liberty and Discovery Canyon lost by one to Pueblo South.

Since then, both have terrorized their opposition. The Thunder and Grizzlies have each won tight matchups and blowouts en route to an 11-1 start through 12 games.

Discovery Canyon heads to Mesa Ridge at 1 p.m. on Feb. 8 for a clash between the two area monoliths.

The Thunder own a 5-0 record over the Grizzlies but the two have not played since 2021 when Discovery Canyon earned a 78-65 win.

Air Academy returns home

Following a near three-week hiatus from contests at Air Academy High School, the Kadets winter sport athletes will once again play at home.

The Kadets girls basketball team returned home Wednesday in their matchup against Discovery Canyon and the boys basketball team along with wrestling will host events this month.

For details regarding attending Kadet home events, please check the Gazette’s previous story on obtaining a pass.