Prep highlights: Central vs. South boys game, more Pueblo prep events to watch for this week

Jeff Letofsky, The Pueblo Chieftain
·2 min read
Pueblo South High School's Mateo Esquivel goes up high for a layup against Pueblo Centennial at the Southwest Motors Events Center on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
Pueblo South High School's Mateo Esquivel goes up high for a layup against Pueblo Centennial at the Southwest Motors Events Center on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

The matchup is finally here.

The long-awaited meeting between the Pueblo Central and South high school boys basketball teams will go off at 5 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Southwest Motors Events Center. The South-Central League contest highlights prep events/games to watch for the week of Jan. 24.

The Colts (15-0 overall, 2-0 S-CL) enter the contest as the No. 1 team in Class 4A, while the Wildcats (14-1, 2-0) are No. 5. Each team has been in the state's top 10 rankings all year.

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The teams meet again at 8 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Events Center, likely for the league title.

Here are other events/games to watch this week:

Senior Shayla Padilla has embraced the new era of Cyclone basketball, becoming one of the team's leaders.
Senior Shayla Padilla has embraced the new era of Cyclone basketball, becoming one of the team's leaders.

Pueblo West at South girls basketball

The Cyclones and Colts continue South-Central League play with a 7:30 p.m. tilt at the South Gym on Jan. 24. South is 6-6 overall and has yet to play a league game because of COVID-19 protocol. Pueblo West is 6-7 overall and 2-0 in the league.

This matchup has annually decided the league title and this season should be no different. The teams meet again on Feb. 10.

Central at Centennial girls swimming

The Wildcats travel across town to take on the Bulldogs in the pool in a South-Central League meet at 5 p.m. on Jan. 25.

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Liberty at Pueblo County ice hockey

The Lancers come to Pueblo to take on the Hornets in a nonleague matchup at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Pueblo Plaza Ice Arena.

Pueblo County is 0-7 overall and 0-5 in the Class 4A South League. Liberty is 3-8 overall and 2-2 in the 4A North League.

East High School’s Xavier Freeman dumps Pueblo County’s Bryce Garcia during the Class 4A 182-pound championship match at the Southwest Motors Events Center on Saturday March 13, 2021.
East High School’s Xavier Freeman dumps Pueblo County’s Bryce Garcia during the Class 4A 182-pound championship match at the Southwest Motors Events Center on Saturday March 13, 2021.

Pueblo East at Pueblo West boys wrestling

The Eagles travel to Pueblo West to take on the Cyclones at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in a South-Central League match at Jerry Kersey Gym.

East is currently ranked No. 3 in Class 4A and has five wrestlers ranked in the top four in the state. Pueblo West has two wrestlers ranked in the top four.

Chieftain senior sports reporter Jeff Letofsky can be reached by email at jletofsky@chieftain.com or on Twitter @jeffletofsky

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: See what's in store this week for Pueblo prep school sports teams