Pikes Peak area rankings: Fountain Valley hockey climbs to No. 2

PIKES PEAK AREA RANKINGS

BOYS' BASKETBALL

5A

1. Fountain-Fort Carson (6-6), No. 1 last week

2. Liberty (6-5), No. 2

3. Rampart (8-4), No. 3

4A

1. Sand Creek (9-0), No. 1

2. Lewis-Palmer (9-2), No. 2

3. (tie) Wasson (10-1), No. 3

Cheyenne Mountain (10-0), No. 3

3A

1. CSCS (6-2), No. 1

2. James Irwin (6-2), No. 2

3. TCA (6-2), No. 3

2A

1. Peyton (5-2), No. 1

2. Calhan (3-2), No. 2

3. The Vanguard School (5-4), NR

NOTES: Liberty returned to its spot at No. 2 following wins over Ponderosa and Pueblo South last week, while Rampart had its three-game winning streak ended with a tough loss at Aurora Central. The Lancers won’t play again until the Metro League opener at Fountain-Fort Carson on Jan. 21, both teams’ first game since Jan. 11. … It’s “Judgment Week” for undefeated Cheyenne Mountain. On Tuesday, the Indians travel to Sand Creek, then head north to defending 4A state champion Lewis-Palmer on Friday. … They’re tied with the same record and both are undefeated in the 3A Tri-Peaks West standings, but not for long. CSCS plays host to TCA on Tuesday. The Titans have won six straight but face their toughest test against a Lions team that has quality wins over five-time reigning 3A state champ Faith Christian as well as 4A Air Academy. … Peyton blew a 31-13 lead at top-ranked Limon in a heartbreaking, 65-64 loss Saturday that Colorado Preps Network owner Kevin Shaffer called “the best contest I’ve witnessed this year.” That’s two losses by Peyton, both by one point. Vanguard cracks the poll at No. 3 after knocking off Pikes Peak Christian, which held the No. 3 spot last week.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

5A

1. Palmer (8-2), No. 1 last week

2. Liberty (7-4), No. 3

3. Rampart (7-5), No. 2

4A

1. Mesa Ridge (11-0), No. 1

2. Sand Creek (7-3), No. 2

3. Palmer Ridge (7-2), No. 3

3A

1. St. Mary’s (8-0), No. 1

2. TCA (9-0), No. 2

3. Manitou Springs (5-5), NR

2A

1. Vanguard (9-0), No. 1

2. ECA (6-2), No. 2

3. Peyton (6-1), No. 3

NOTES: Rock Canyon took out both Rampart and Palmer last week. The Rams have lost three straight. Liberty is off until league play starts Jan. 22, while Palmer plays three games this week (Valor Christian, Castle View and Cheyenne Mountain), while Rampart hopes to break its drought at Douglas County on Tuesday before opening up league play against Palmer. … Sand Creek has won three straight, including a league-opening win against Palmer Ridge on Jan. 8. Palmer Ridge hosts Air Academy on Tuesday, then plays three games this weekend at a tournament in Colby, Kan. … St. Mary’s hosts 8-0 Trinidad on Thursday in an early Tri-Peaks East showdown. Manitou Springs is 3-0 in 2013 and hopes to keep it going this week at Fountain Valley and at home against Salida. Senior Meghan McGee scored 21 in the Mustangs’ win over CSCS on Jan. 8 … ECA beat CSCS on Jan. 8 but fell to an undefeated Lutheran team Saturday that lost in the 2A state title game last year. ECA’s other loss came at the hands of TCA, 9-0 in 3A. Colorado Springs School is quietly 6-2 but faces quite the task in its league opener against juggernaut The Vanguard School.

HOCKEY

1. Doherty (8-2), No. 1 last week

2. Fountain Valley (6-2), No. 3

3. Air Academy (6-2-1), No. 2

NOTES: Doherty proved it deserves that No. 1 ranking after shaking off a late Air Academy goal to score in overtime and give the Spartans another valuable two points in the league standings. After Monday's win over Pine Creek, the Spartans climbed into fifth place in the Peak Conference. They get their next big test Saturday against conference-points leader Heritage. ... Fountain Valley may have climbed to the No. 2 spot even without Air Academy's loss. The Danes shocked previously one-loss Mountain Vista. And it wasn't a nail-biter either. The Danes scored the game's first four goals before cruising to a 6-3 victory and climbing into third place in conference. ... One night later, it was Air Academy's turn to beat Mountain Vista, though according to Kadets' coach Dave Meisinger, the Golden Eagles were missing a number of their top players for a club tournament over the course of the weekend. Still, a win's a win and two points are two points for the Kadets who sit fourth in conference.