Must-see Centennial League games …

&nbsp; Undoubtedly, Colorado heads into its most-unusual girls basketball season since sanctioning in the 1970s. It’s a very late start, there will be fewer games, probably no fans and only about 67 percent of the usual playoff qualifiers. However, it doesn’t mean it won’t be worth watching as this season’s players may prove to be as hungry as any other on record. Following are the games not to be missed in the Centennial League, which has produced four of the past five Class 5A champions as well as one of the final four a year ago that never got to decide the title because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Mark ‘em down, the below Centennial matchups, a league that also knows how to do it – it always offers home-and-away schedules, the only way to play hoops … &nbsp; <strong>Wednesday, Jan. 17 – Mullen at Grandview, 7 p.m.</strong> So why not have a blockbuster game for an opener? It’s the reigning 4A champion Mustangs at the 5A runnerup – and seemingly ever-present -- Wolves. Really good stuff here. Mullen returns its entire team, headed by elite point guard [player_tooltip player_id="95130" first="Megan" last="Pohs"]. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="95172" first="Gracie" last="Gallegos"] has been covering the opposition’s best player since her first game as a freshman and should break out offensively. And the 6-foot-2 [player_tooltip player_id="95170" first="Imani" last="Perez"], another junior, is eager to go against an elite 5A front line. As for Grandview, the 6-7 [player_tooltip player_id="95167" first="Lauren" last="Betts"]  has been recognized as not only the top player in Colorado, but in some circles as the best in her class nationally. She pretty much has it all – size, length, establishing position, rebounding, a nice move with her back to the basket and free-throw shooting. She also isn’t a black hole – she knows when to pass the ball. Betts is joined by Iowa signee [player_tooltip player_id="95122" first="Addison" last="O’Grady"], who’s 6-5. Junior swing player Marya Hudgens will be key as Grandview’s inexperienced guards will be tested. The Wolves, by the way, are 119-7 in the league since the 2011-12 season. Wow! They’ll do it again at Mullen on Feb. 19. &nbsp; <strong>Friday, Jan. 29 -- Mullen at Cherry Creek, 7 p.m.</strong> It will be the Mustangs’ second game of the season and why should it be easy? They will have heavyweights back-to-back. Undoubtedly, this home-and-away will decide no worse than second in the Centennial. Previously, the Mustangs had issues dealing with [player_tooltip player_id="95016" first="Jana" last="Van Gytenbeek"], now playing for Stanford. And it certainly won’t hurt that [player_tooltip player_id="95019" first="Cali" last="Clark"] has moved on to Colorado State. Still, the Bruins have Hawaii-Pacific signee [player_tooltip player_id="116769" first="Abby" last="Wrede"] and other hungry players who seem intent on continuing dominance – they have beaten the Mustangs in 22 of the past 28 meetings. However, Mullen, still miffed at not getting its title try 10 months ago, will be using its experience and depth to overcome the largest school in the state. Other players of note include [player_tooltip player_id="116759" first="Elaina" last="Martinez"], [player_tooltip player_id="116776" first="Alexa" last="Dominguez"] and [player_tooltip player_id="116771" first="Haley" last="Van Horn"], the younger daughter of Keith, the No. 2 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft. They’ll meet again at Mullen on Feb. 22. &nbsp; <strong>Tuesday, Feb. 2 -- Cherry Creek at Grandview, 7 p.m.</strong> District and league rivals always make for nice matchups, don’t they? It certainly was evident in 2019, when Cherry Creek beat Grandview by two points in the big-school finale. The Bruins, who will host the first round, also beat the Wolves in two of three outings in 2018-19 and split with them in 2019-20.  The Christiansons, Logan, a 6-1 senior, and Kinsey, a 6-0 junior, will have to put up considerable fights inside. Grandview, which will be looking at a newer backcourt, continues to play well as the statewide target and veteran coach Josh Ulitzky knows how to prepare. The second meeting between the two teams will be Feb. 24 and, who knows, perhaps a third meeting in the 5A playoffs.