Basketball clubs continue to gear up for the fast approaching 2019-20 season and Colorado Preps continues the rundown of top players and teams from each conference.  Next up for review is the Ark Valley.
Four of the five league members posted winning records last year but it was champion South Baca that made the deepest post-season run.  The Patriots were 22-0 entering the state tournament but a quarterfinal loss to Haxtun (51-44) dashed their title hopes.  South Baca though responded with wins over Sangre De Cristo and DeBeque to bring hardware (consolation trophy) to Southeast Colorado.  The Patriots again will make a run to the league title this year but will be challenged by several other clubs.
We list the top three returnees for each club in several categories.  Numbers are based on stats posted to MaxPreps during the 2018-19 season.
 
South Baca (22-1)

  • Points: Alissa Hebberd (12.2), Delaney Eskew (11.6), Patience Crane (8.5)
  • Rebounds: Hebberd (10.4), Alison Wilson (4.0), Jami Quick (3.3)
  • Assists: Eskew (4.5), Crane (2.9), Wilson (2.3)
  • Three’s: Crane & Eskew (43), Jentry Patrick & Kieley Stegman (10)

Springfield (14-9)

  • Points: Julia Mondragon (11.1), Alexis Crane (9.9), Kyra Parks (6.6)
  • Rebounds: Brinlyn Dukes (4.9), Mondragon (4.4), Melanie Woller (4.1)
  • Assists: Crane (3.0), Parks (1.8), Alayah Meltabarger (1.4)
  • Three’s: Crane (34), Parks (14), Dukes (12)

Wiley (13-10)

  • Points: Taira Weber (9.0), Macy Rowan (6.2), Kristen Summers (3.8)
  • Rebounds: Weber (6.1), Summers (6.0), Rowan (5.5)
  • Assists: No stats posted
  • Three’s: No stats posted

Kim/Branson (12-9)

  • Points: Talara Nittler (8.4), Ashton Elliot (6.7), AJ Winford (5.8)
  • Rebounds: Winford (5.9), Megan Wait (5.2), Sidney Goode (3.2)
  • Assists: Goode (3.1), Tori Goode (2.0), Nittler (1.6)
  • Three’s: Nittler (23), S. Goode (18), Elliot (17)

Walsh (5-15)

  • Points: TeAnna Sharpe (4.1), D’Neil Doyle (1.4), Karina Calzada (1.4)
  • Rebounds: Sharpe (4.9), Doyle (2.1), Calzada (1.8)
  • Assists: Calzada (0.3), Doyle (0.1)
  • Three’s: Doyle (2), Calzada (1)