GIRLS BASKETBALL: Schedule/Results 1-8-13
Thirteen ranked teams are on the court tonight across the state and in many cases, the ranked teams are involved in conference play. Maybe the most important games can be found in Class 4A where top ten opponents Palmer Ridge and Sand Creek square off. Both teams have faced strong competition to date and hope to use the rugged schedules as key ingredients to a conference championship.
Below is a preview of the top games in each class. Final scores can be reported to Colorado Preps by text to 970.380.7737 or by email to kevin@coloradopreps.com.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #7 Gilpin County beat Alexander Dawson 46-21
FINAL: Belleview Christian beat Denver Christian 44-29
FINAL: Idalia beat St Francis KS 51-36
FINAL: Peetz beat Creek Valley NE 62-42
Coming off their first-ever state tournament appearance, Gilpin County has picked up where they left off winning all six games in December. The Eagles have been involved in tight games twice beating Deer Trail (35-32) and 3A Middle Park (30-26). Andromeda Ramsey and Samantha Peterson both average 14 points a game and combine to score about 67 percent of the team’s points. Ramsey has nearly doubled her scoring average from last year while Peterson is scoring three more points a night from a team that won 23 of 26 games a year ago. Belleview Christian was a state tourney team two years and has opened the season winning six of seven. Their lone loss came against Kim (61-49) at home. Denver Christian (3-4) is a bigger school that has played a stronger schedule so the game is considered a toss-up.
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #2 Lutheran beat Lyons 74-18
FINAL: Holyoke beat Wiggins 49-21
FINAL: Ignacio beat Dolores 55-48
FINAL: Longmont Christian beat Shining Mountain 40-39
FINAL: Highland beat Resurrection Christian 79-40
Lutheran has had just one of their first four games decided by single digits and that was a very impressive 43-35 win over 3A power Denver Science in week two. The Lions also have a solid win over Peyton (75-56) by 19 points and are one of the clear favorites to contend for a state championship. Seniors Jennifer Vigil (14.3) and Whitney Dettmering (13.0) are leading the push for a second straight championship game appearance. Lyons (1-5) probably doesn’t have enough firepower to upset to the second ranked Lions. They did beat Union Colony (39-30) in their final game before the Christmas break to post their first win of the campaign.
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #2 Machebeuf beat Eaton 50-39
FINAL: #3 Denver Science beat Middle Park 60-14
FINAL: Bennett beat Bruce Randolph 77-23
FINAL: Sheridan beat Pinnacle 49-44
FINAL: Estes Park beat Heritage Christian 50-31
FINAL: Florence beat Salida 35-29
FINAL: Manitou Springs beat Colorado Springs Christian 51-44
FINAL: Platte Valley beat Faith Christian 45-39
FINAL: Bayfield beat Montezuma Cortez 49-41
Eaton has played in the last two state finals but the Reds have almost an entirely new roster this year due to transfers and graduation. They’ve also struggled against the Metro league dropping all four games against the conference this year while going 3-0 against the rest of the state. Machebeuf has been dominant this year rolling to five wins by a combined 161 points. Their narrowest margin of victory came in a solid 52-38 win over Mullen. Standout center Rebecca Howell is gone via graduation but senior guard Aisha May has picked up the slack scoring 19 points per game up six points a night from her junior campaign. We got a chance to see both Denver Science and Middle Park play at the Buena Vista Invitational last month and based on that viewing, the Knights should be able to post a lopsided victory. Bennett meantime hopes to push Denver Science for the Frontier league title and to do so, they cannot afford losses to lower division teams such as Bruce Randolph. McKayla Hicks directs the Tigers attack and is the team’s second leading scorer (13.9). She dropped in 51 combined points in back-to-back wins over Strasburg and Platte Valley last month.
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #2 Broomfield beat Mountain View 75-29
FINAL: #3 Mesa Ridge beat Legend 49-32
FINAL: #10 Sand Creek beat #6 Palmer Ridge 46-41
FINAL: #7 Windsor beat Roosevelt 58-56
FINAL: Centaurus beat Silver Creek 39-27
FINAL: Frederick beat Mead 41-38
FINAL: Erie beat Northridge 57-36
FINAL: Berthoud beat Skyline 50-43
FINAL: Grand Junction Central beat Palisade 54-52
FINAL: Glenwood Springs beat Battle Mountain 62-12
FINAL: Cheyenne Mountain beat Vista Ridge 53-50
Palmer Ridge (6-1) and Sand Creek (5-3) are relative newbies to the 4A Top Ten scene but both have turned good play against solid competition into a spot in the poll this week. Now they begin the run to what they hope will be a Pikes Peak conference crown. Tonight’s anticipated matchup is the first of two meetings on the season as they’ll battle against on January 29th. Sand Creek freshman Oliana Squires (12.6) is the Scorpions only double figure scorer but is quickly becoming one of the top players in Class 4A. Palmer Ridge has won five straight since a three point loss to Elizabeth including a win over 3A power Centauri. The Bears get a combined 24 points a game from Ali Meyer (12.6) and Madison Thomas (11.6). Broomfield (Northern) and Mesa Ridge (CS Metro) are heavily favored to land conference crowns this year. Mesa Ridge is one of only two teams in their league with an overall winning record (Sierra). Tonight’s game is their final non-conference game before they head to Harrison and Sierra on Thursday and Saturday. Broomfield’s contest with Mountain View is their league opener. Silver Creek and Centaurus should at least compete for second place behind Broomfield so tonight’s game is an important early conference contest. Windsor and Roosevelt are two of four teams in the Tri Valley that won their conference opener so one will drop out of first place.
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #3 Palmer beat Heritage 60-35
FINAL: #4 Highlands Ranch beat #9 Denver East 53-34
#7 Ralston Valley vs Bear Creek
FINAL: Lakewood beat Pomona 65-47
FINAL: Prairie View beat Pine Creek 58-47
Fairview at Mountain Range
FINAL: Poudre beat Loveland 52-41
FINAL: Monarch beat Boulder 65-61
FINAL: Fossil Ridge beat Rocky Mountain 54-22
FINAL: Fort Collins beat Greeley West 74-48
FINAL: Horizon beat Legacy 53-40
FINAL: George Washington beat Northglenn 58-26
FINAL: Liberty beat Douglas County 57-51
Highlands Ranch (2011) and Denver East (2010) have won two of the last three state championships and both appear to be in the mix again this year. Even though this is a non-conference game, the result will be very important to seeding in the 5A post-season bracket. The Falcons have played just three games against in-state teams beating Legacy and Sand Creek while falling to 3rd ranked Palmer (54-51). They’re seeing their first action since winning three of four at the Nike Tournament of Championship. Denver East fell short in a difficult 63-61 loss to Rock Canyon last Saturday. Palmer doesn’t open conference play until a January 22nd battle with Rampart but they have a quality non-league slate on tap until then. They have a good trip to Heritage tonight which will be followed a Saturday visit to Rock Canyon. Next week are home games with Valor Christian, Valor Christian and Cheyenne Mountain. Sophomore Jenn Urbaniak (14.9) and senior Shaniah Leaf (14.8) are virtual co-leading scorers for the Terrors. The battle between Ralston Valley (4-0 in league play) and Bear Creek (3-0) is for the outright lead in the Jeffco. With six wins on the board already this year, Bear Creek is among the biggest surprises of the season. They won just one game last year (1-22) and have combined for just 15 wins since the 2007-08 season. Poudre and Loveland are both 7-1 on the season and each hopes to contend for the Front Range title. Mountain Range (7-0) looks for more respect as they tangle with Fairview. The Mustangs are coming off a three win season and join Bear Creek as a nice surprise.
Comments
Greeley West girls at Collins Front range League play.