Prep briefs from Friday, Feb. 16: AHS hockey loses, Basalt’s Morales out

Aspen hockey can’t hang on against Resurrection Christian

The No. 9-ranked Aspen High School hockey team lost for the second consecutive game on Friday, falling 4-2 at No. 6 Resurrection Christian.

The Skiers led 1-0 after a period thanks to a goal from Reece Cohan, but were outscored 2-1 in the second to make it 2-2 going to the third period. In the final period, the Cougars scored twice more, the game-winner coming via a power play, to score the key victory.

Aspen beat Resurrection Christian 3-1 on Feb. 3 in Aspen.

With the loss in the rematch, the Skiers fell to 11-4-3 overall and 9-2-3 in Peak Conference play. The Skiers (21 points) will finish third in the conference behind Heritage (23 points) and Resurrection Christian (22 points).

Aspen still has one regular-season game to go, Saturday’s 5 p.m. game against non-league foe Mountain Vista (5-12-1) at Lewis Ice Arena in Aspen.

Basalt’s Morales falls in semis at state wrestling

Basalt High School senior Oswaldo Morales came up one match short of the finals at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament inside Denver’s Pepsi Center. In Friday’s semifinal, the BHS heavyweight was pinned in 23 seconds by Alameda’s Preston Duran (29-7). Duran will face Delta’s Logan Church in Saturday’s final.

Morales (28-5) will have the opportunity to wrestle for third place in the playback rounds.

In the 220-pound bracket, Basalt senior William Rivera lost via a 12-5 decision in his playback match. He had won his opening-round match before losing in the quarterfinals Friday morning.

At 195 pounds, Basalt senior Thomas Wirth won his first playback match with a 10-6 decision before falling in his second. He lost via fall in the first round to Sheridan’s Faustin Lopez, who will wrestle for the state championship.

acolbert@aspentimes.com