More playoff basketball in Class 1A girls on Thursday as teams compete in the Sweet 16. Winners advance to the Great 8 which is tentatively set for Saturday but may be pushed back to Monday because of impending weather.
Games below are listed in bracket order. Colorado Preps will track all games throughout the night an our Girls Basketball Scoreboard. Scores can be sent to us by text at 970.380.7737.
Photo provided by Lone Star journalism.
#1 Briggsdale vs #16 Haxtun
Most of the week has been spent trying to determine if Briggsdale will be allowed to participate in the tournament after their last opponent, Shining Mountain, had to forfeit its opening round game when a player tested positive for COVID on Monday. If the Falcons are indeed allowed to play, they bring in an offense that averages more than 63 points a game. Kylie Krise leads the attack at 15.6 points a night, followed by Jenna Krise at 14 a game, and Shelby Hoffman at 13.3. The Falcons beat Haxtun 60-46 early in the season. They led 32-15 at the half. That was one of two losses for the Bulldogs to 1A opponents, the other being against Lone Star. Five of their six losses were to postseason qualifiers. Bella Tori leads the team with 11 points and better than seven points a night, while Taylor Schram adds 10 points and five assists.
#8 South Baca vs #24 Manzanola
Manzanola entered the tournament with just two wins, one by forfeit, but as the champion of the Fishers Peaks league. The Bobcats added another forfeit victory over Shining Mountain, and find themselves in the Sweet 16. They have been outscored 525-139 on the season, including a 78-9 defeat by South Baca on Feb. 13th. Emma Martinez scores just over seven points a game to pace the squad. South Baca dropped its first and last games of the regular season, reeling off 12 straight wins in between. Their upset loss at the hands of Eads (39-37) likely cost the Patriots a top five seed. Alissa Hebberd is a double-double machine, averaging 17.2 points and 11.6 rebounds, to go with 4.2 steals. Jamie Quick (12.1 points) and Jentry Patrick (10.1 points) give them three players in double figures.
#5 Kim/Branson vs #12 Cotopaxi
Tuesday’s 39-36 first round win over #21 Evangelical Christian was the ninth consecutive victory for Cotopaxi. The last loss, one of two for the Pirates this season, came against their Sweet 16 opponent, Kim/Branson back on Feb. 12th. The Mustangs took that one in an exciting 45-42 finish. They led big going into the fourth quarter, and then had to hold on after being outscored 15-6 in the frame. Koylynn Gulliford, who leads Cotopaxi at better than 21 points, 10.8 rebounds, and almost three blocks, tallied 17 points and 10 boards in that contest. Talara Nittler had 16 points and four steals for Kim/Branson in the win. She averages just under 11 points a night. The Mustangs’ lone loss on the season came against South Baca, 52-33.
#4 Flatirons Academy vs #13 Merino
Eight of the first nine teams Merino played this season made the postseason, and the Rams suffered all five of their losses during that stretch. Their 43-24 win over #20 Eads on Tuesday was their seventh in a row. Freshman Makenna Sutter led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds. Faith Trenkle and Taysa Conger each added 11 points. For Trenkle, that is right on her season average, while Conger (9.6 points) and Sutter (8.4) both surpassed their regular numbers. Flatirons Academy has won two straight and five of its last six heading into Thursday’s game. All four of their losses this season have been against postseason qualifiers, and none were by more than seven points. Four Bison players are scoring double figures, led by sophomore Kenlee Durrill at 16.6 points. Freshman Emma Cox scores 14 points and pulls down close to 10 rebounds, and classmate Emily DeHaan adds 11 points. Savana Kascak completes the group at just over 10 points a game.
#2 Kit Carson vs #15 Lone Star
Lone Star burst on the scene last season, making it all the way to the regional finals and nearly upsetting Fleming in the process. The Longhorns loaded their schedule with top competition this season, with six opponents qualifying for the postseason. They went 2-4 in those contests. Alivia Weathers, the team’s leading scorer at 13.5 points a night, had 14 in their 64-52 opening round win over Kiowa. However, it was Alison Davis’ 25 points that were the big difference. After a down year last season, Kit Carson is back near the top of the standings thanks to a deep roster. The Wildcats routinely play nine in their main rotation, and 12 have played in at least ten games. Freshman Sedonia Isenbart and sophomore Tess Johnson each average 9.8 points to lead the team. They also combine for more than 11 rebounds a night.
#7 Dove Creek vs #10 McClave
McClave reached the Great 8 last season and after Tuesday’s 43-30 victory over #23 Belleview Christian has the Cardinals one game away from getting there again. The final weekend of the regular season was tough on them, as the Cards dropped games with South Baca (44-35) and Kit Carson (53-34), and nearly lost to Cheraw, pulling out a 43-42 win in OT. A reason for the struggles is a season ending injury to Anna Beckett who went down with the injury early against Kit Carson. Before the injury, she was the Cards top scorer pouring in nearly 17 points a game. She also snagged 4.7 steals. Maggie Chase will now shoulder more of the offensive load and she totals 12.7 points with over seven rebounds a game. Despite being one of only three unbeatens, Dove Creek barely ended up with a first round bye. The Bulldogs have dominated their opponents this season, outscoring them 802-346. They only had one game decided by single digits, a 51-48 win over 2A Ignacio last week. Grace Hatfield is one of the top scorers in the classification, recording 21.2 points a night. Lexi Gray adds 7.3 points and a team-leading 10.6 rebounds.
#3 Sangre de Cristo vs #14 Elbert
Sangre de Cristo cruised through the 1A portion of its schedule, posting a perfect 10-0 mark. The Thunderbirds suffered both of their losses against 2A qualifiers, but a total of 16 points. Their most recent outing was a 48-43 defeat by Rocky Ford last Friday. They have been regulars in the state tournament for most of the last 20 years, and a win on Thursday gets them back to the Great 8. Standing in their way is Elbert, who lost the last two regular season games against Evangelical Christian (43-35) and Shining Mountain (37-31). The Bulldogs hosted Springfield in the opening round and they utilized a 27-21 fourth quarter to pull out a 60-51 victory. Olivia Lay tops the Bulldogs in scoring (14.6 points) and rebounding (9.6). Maisen Avent (11.8 points) and Kinsey Bitterman (10.4 points) combine for more than 22 points a night.
#6 Fleming vs #11 Simla
It’s been a decade since Fleming and Simla last met, and that was also in the state tournament. Simla laid claim to the championship in a 40-37 classic. The Cubs set up this meeting by taking out #22 Longmont Christian 62-35 in the opening round. They won the Black Forest league and bring a three-game streak into the contest. Outside of a 16-point loss to Kit Carson, the Cubs dropped games to Elbert (37-35) and Limon (48-43). Kaitlyn Rector powers the team with 15.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and also records 4.1 steals. Cede Smith leads Simla with 6.5 steals a night. Fleming has won five straight since dropping a 55-50 tilt to Briggsdale. Three of those five wins were against postseason qualifiers. All three losses on the season were to teams that made the postseason. Kendyl Kirkwood recorded double-doubles in seven contests and averages 18.3 points and 12.8 rebounds on the season. Whitney Chintala adds 14 points and better than five assists.
