Another Windsor-Mesa Ridge showdown: What to know for Colorado 5A basketball Final 4 rematch

[ASFN Admin]

For the third-straight year, it's Mesa Ridge vs. Windsor deep into the Colorado Class 5A boys basketball playoff bracket.

Mesa Ridge is the two-time defending state champs, beating the Wizards in the 2023 Final 4 and 2024 title game.

Now, the rematch is on with a primetime matchup at the Denver Coliseum. It will feature two of the state's most electric players, as Windsor's Madden Smiley and Mesa Ridge's Bryce Riehl face off.

Here's what to know about Windsor vs. Mesa Ridge in the 5A semifinals, including how to watch, where to buy tickets and team/matchup info.

Colorado 5A Final 4: No. 6 Windsor vs. No. 2 Mesa Ridge​

• Date: Friday, March 14
• Tip-off time: 7:15 p.m.
• Where: Denver Coliseum

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How to watch Colorado basketball Final 4​

The games will be streamed live on the NFHS Network's CHSAA page at nfhsnetwork.com/associations/chsaa. A subscription is required to watch. Monthly passes are $11.99, and annual passes are $79.99.

Windsor vs. Mesa Ridge will also be broadcast live on radio airwaves at 1310 AM and online at 1310kfka.com.

You can also return to coloradoan.com/sports for live scores and updates from the Windsor-Mesa Ridge game and the 5A Final 4.

How to buy Colorado basketball Final 4 tickets​

Colorado high school basketball Final 4 tickets can be purchased from CHSAA via AXS. Prices vary by age and will include fees if purchased online. All tickets are general admission unless otherwise specified.

• Adults: $12
• Seniors (60+): $9
• Children/students: $9

The Windsor-Mesa Ridge game is in Friday's 4A/5A Final 4 session: axs.com/events/837023/chsaa-4a-5a-final-4-basketball-2025-tickets

Parking in the Denver Coliseum lot is $15 for the drive-up price and $12.50 if purchased ahead of time through CHSAA/AXS. Parking passes are valid for a full day.

The matchup: No. 6 Windsor vs No. 2 Mesa Ridge​

Team, season records:

• Windsor is 20-6 (9-3 Northern Conference), the No. 6 seed in Class 5A and is making its third straight 5A Final 4 appearance.
• Mesa Ridge is 25-1 (10-0 Colorado Springs Metro), the Class 5A No. 2 seed and is going for its third consecutive state title.

How they got here:

WINDSOR

• Beat No. 27 Pueblo East 69-39 in the 5A first round.
• Crushed No. 11 Longmont 64-31 in the 5A Sweet 16.
• Outlasted No. 3 Dakota Ridge 72-64 in overtime in the Great 8.

MESA RIDGE

• Beat No. 31 Pueblo Central 65-31 in the 5A first round.
• Dominated No. 15 Thomas Jefferson 68-47 in the 5A Sweet 16.
• Raced past No. 7 Standley Lake 65-41 in the Great 8.

Leading scorers:

• Mesa Ridge: Bryce Riehl (17.5 points per game), Isaiah Lucas (11.7), Zander Iwanski (11.3)
• Windsor: Madden Smiley (20.9), Brady Kingsley (12.5), John Backhaus (11.1)

Coaches:

• Windsor'sJon Rakiecki is in his ninth season as the Wizards' head coach, with a record of 154-67. He has a career record of 225-125, including stops at Rocky Mountain and Torrington (Wyoming).
• Mesa Ridge's Joel Babbitt is in his third season as the Grizzlies' head coach, with a record of 79-3, including two state championships.

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State championship history:

• Windsor is seeking its first boys basketball state title in 101 years. The Wizards have finished runner-up in 1998, 2003, 2011 and 2024.
• Mesa Ridge is going for three straight 5A state championships, with the Grizzlies' wins in 2023 and 2024 the first state titles for the program since its 1997 inception.

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Colorado high school basketball Final 4 scores, schedules​

Here are the full Final 4, championship scores and schedules for Classes 4A-6A at the Denver Coliseum this weekend:

Thursday, March 13:

• No. 1 Grandview 39, No. 5 Pine Creek 35 (6A girls)
• No. 2 Eaglecrest 79, No. 6 Mountain Vista 59 (OT) (6A boys)
• No. 7 Legend 59, No. 14 Riverdale Ridge 50 (6A girls)
• No. 5 Valor Christian 61, No. 1 Rangeview 51 (6A boys)
• No. 2 Mead vs. No. 6 Mullen (5A girls, 5:45 p.m.)
• No. 1 Air Academy vs. No. 5 Green Mountain (5A girls, 7:15 p.m.)

Friday, March 14:

• No. 2 Timnath vs. No. 6 Delta (4A girls, 11 a.m.)
• No. 1 Kent Denver vs. No. 4 Prospect Ridge Academy (4A boys, 12:45 p.m.)
• No. 1 University vs. No. 4 Holy Family (4A girls, 2:30 p.m.)
• No. 6 Coal Ridge vs. No. 10 Colorado Academy (4A boys, 4 p.m.)
• No. 21 Falcon vs. No. 16 Green Mountain (5A boys, 5:45 p.m.)
• No. 6 Windsor vs. No. 2 Mesa Ridge (5A boys, 7:15 p.m.)

Saturday, March 15:

• 4A girls championship game (10 a.m.)
• 4A boys championship (11:45 a.m.)
• 6A girls title game: No. 1 Grandview vs. No. 7 Legend (1:15 p.m.)
• Unified title game (3 p.m.)
• 6A boys championship: No. 2 Eaglecrest vs. No. 5 Valor Christian (4 p.m.)
• 5A girls title game (5:45 p.m.)
• 5A boys championship (7:15 p.m.)

Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado basketball Final 4 rematch: What to know for Windsor-Mesa Ridge

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