Pueblo's top high school games to watch for the week of Jan. 30

Chris Abdelmalek, The Pueblo Chieftain
·5 min read

With the winter sports season slowly nearing its end, some sports are headed into the final stages of league action while others are just reaching the heart of league play.

From matchups against some of the top-ranked programs in the state on the basketball court to a potential new cross-city rivalry on the wrestling mat, this week's Pueblo prep sports lineup has plenty of compelling action to choose from.

Here are the top high school games and matches to watch for the week of Jan. 30 to Feb. 4:

Girls basketball

Pueblo West's Jamie Suazo looks to pass during a game against Colorado Springs Christian on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022.
Pueblo West's Jamie Suazo looks to pass during a game against Colorado Springs Christian on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022.

  • James Irwin vs. Rye at Rye High School, Monday, Jan. 30, 6 p.m.

  • Pueblo West vs. Pueblo County at Pueblo County High School, Monday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m.

  • Pueblo Centennial vs. Pueblo East at Events Center, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 3:30 p.m.

  • Pueblo South vs. Pueblo Central at Event Center, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 6:30 p.m.

  • Swallows Charter vs Dolores Huerta Prep at Dolores Huerta Prep High School, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m.

  • Pueblo South vs. Pueblo East at Events Center, Thursday, Feb. 2, 6 p.m.

  • Pueblo County vs. Pueblo Centennial at Pueblo Centennial High School, Friday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.

  • Pueblo West vs. Pueblo Central at Pueblo Central High School, Friday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.

  • La Junta vs. Pueblo Central at Pueblo Central High School, Saturday, Feb. 4, 12:30 p.m.

  • Highlands Ranch vs. Pueblo West at Pueblo West High School, Saturday, Feb. 4, 1 p.m. 

The Pueblo West Cyclones and Pueblo County Hornets are tied atop the South-Central League standings for girls basketball, and their matchup on Monday could go a long way in determining who will win the regular season title.

However, a couple of wins this week could also put Pueblo East in a position to challenge West and County at the top of the standings.

Boys basketball

Xavier Davis of Pueblo Central rises up against his defender from Skyview High School in a match up on Jan. 6, 2023
Xavier Davis of Pueblo Central rises up against his defender from Skyview High School in a match up on Jan. 6, 2023

  • Pueblo Centennial vs. Pueblo East at Events Center, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 5 p.m.

  • Pueblo County vs. Pueblo West at Pueblo West High School, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m.

  • Pueblo South vs. Pueblo Central at Event Center, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 8 p.m.

  • Swallows Charter vs. Dolores Huerta Prep at Dolores Huerta Prep High School, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 8 p.m.

  • Pueblo South vs. Pueblo East at Events Center, Thursday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.

  • Pueblo Centennial vs. Pueblo County at Hornet Gym, Thursday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.

  • Pueblo Central vs. Pueblo West at Pueblo West High School, Thursday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.

  • Ellicott vs Rye at Rye High School, Friday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m.

  • Mesa Ridge vs. Pueblo County at Hornet Gym, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, 1 p.m.

  • Weld Central vs. Pueblo Centennial at Pueblo Centennial High School, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, 3 p.m. 

The South Colts and Central Wildcats are front runners in the boys S-CL this season with both currently sitting at 4-0 in league play. The two teams will battle it out this week in pivotal league matchup. The Colts are ranked in the top 15 of Class 5A, while the Wildcats are the ninth-ranked team in Class 4A.

West and County are currently fighting for third place in the league.

Girls swim and dive

Pueblo County Maggie Jagger battles a tight-knit 500-yard freestyle at the CHSAA 3A state swim championships Tuesday, March 16, 2020
Pueblo County Maggie Jagger battles a tight-knit 500-yard freestyle at the CHSAA 3A state swim championships Tuesday, March 16, 2020

  • Pueblo County vs. Pueblo South at Pueblo East High School, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 5 p.m.

  • Girls Varsity S-CL Championships at Pueblo County High School Friday, Feb. 3, 3 p.m.

The final regular season meet will take place between County and South this week shortly before the S-CL championships this coming Friday. The championships will be held over two days at Pueblo County High School with the finals taking place Saturday at 1 p.m.

Boys wrestling

East High School's Daniel Duarte, left, checks the clock during the 220-pound matchup with Fossil Ridge's Roman Ragazzo at the Coronado quad on Saturday February 13, 2021.
East High School's Daniel Duarte, left, checks the clock during the 220-pound matchup with Fossil Ridge's Roman Ragazzo at the Coronado quad on Saturday February 13, 2021.

  • Pueblo West vs. Pueblo East at Pueblo East High School, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 6 p.m.

  • Pueblo County vs. Pueblo Central at Pueblo Central, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m.

  • Pueblo Centennial vs. Pueblo South at Pueblo South, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m.

  • Pueblo County vs. Pueblo Central at Pueblo Central High School, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m.

  • James Irwin Charter vs. Pueblo West at Pueblo West High School, Friday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m. 

Nearing the end of their season, the top-ranked Pueblo East Eagles will take on Pueblo West this week while third-ranked Pueblo County heads to Pueblo Central. The Centennial Bulldogs also head to South this week in a matchup against the Colts.

This week's matchups should offer a good test for Pueblo teams to see what adjustments they'll need to make heading into the upcoming regional tournaments.

Ice hockey

Pueblo County's Zeke Phillips clears the puck during a game against Woodland Park on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022
Pueblo County's Zeke Phillips clears the puck during a game against Woodland Park on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022

  • Palmer vs. Pueblo County at Pueblo Plaza Ice Arena, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 8 p.m.

  • Rampart vs. Pueblo County at Pueblo Plaza Ice Arena, Friday, Feb. 3, 4:30 p.m.

  • Summit vs. Pueblo County at Pueblo Plaza Ice Arena, Saturday, Feb. 4, 4 p.m. 

The Pueblo County hockey team is in need of a victory this week if they hope to make the playoffs.

Currently sitting fourth in league standings, the Hornets take on Palmer — a team they lost to last week in a 7-6 nail-bite. On Friday, they'll face the Rampart Rams, who are currently below them in the standings. The matchup will be an opportunity for the home team to get a win that would help its chances of making the postseason.

Girls wrestling

Leighanna Ramos of Pueblo Central attempts to gain control over Alison Evans of Vista Ridge in a dual held at Pueblo Central High School on Jan 26, 2023.
Leighanna Ramos of Pueblo Central attempts to gain control over Alison Evans of Vista Ridge in a dual held at Pueblo Central High School on Jan 26, 2023.

  • Pueblo Central vs. John Mall at Lady Panther Wrestling Tournament, Friday, Feb. 3, 8 a.m. 

The girls wrestling team from Pueblo Central will head to the Lady Panther Wrestling Tournament this Friday to take on multiple schools, including John Mall, which features several wrestlers from Rye High School.

Ivey McAlhaney, Alex Miera, Tavey Hunter, and Eruka Peterson all attend Rye but wrestle for John Mall. This tournament will be a good test for all involved leading up to regionals.

Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or on Twitter: @chowebacca

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo's top prep sports games to watch for the week of Jan. 30