Five league champions are among the eight teams that have advanced to the 3A girls’ basketball state quarterfinals and they will be challenged by three other clubs also seeded in the top 10 of the 32-team bracket. Quarterfinals are set for Thursday at the University of Denver and we provide a breakdown of each team still in the chase for the state tournament.
Individual statistics are provided courtesy of MaxPreps.
#1 ST MARY’S PIRATES (23-1)
COACH:Â Mike Burkett
STATE TITLES:Â 2018 (defending champion) — beat Colorado Springs Christian 44-38
LEAGUE:Â 2nd in Tri Peaks (9-1)
REGIONALS: Â Beat Riverdale Ridge 82-22 and Salida 77-27
STREAK:Â Won 10 (only loss to CSCS 55-38)
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 3-1
- Wins: Pagosa Springs, Lutheran, Colorado Springs Christian
- Losses: Colorado Springs Christian
TEAM NOTES:Â Split two games with CSCS this year — beat them in state finals last March — outscored opponents by 769 points this year — average margin of victory 32 points — only one game decided by single digits — beat CSCS 40-34 in district finals — 10 wins by at least 40 points — Pirates have 142 three-pointers — top 8 scorers are underclassmen
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Josephine Howery | 20.5 | 6.4 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 52 |
| Seneca Hackley | 13.3 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 32 |
| Catherine Cummings | 10.4 | 7.4 | 0.2 | 1.0 | |
| Brooklyn Valdez | 7.8 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 24 |
| Ellie Hartman | 6.7 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 17 |
| Paige Indovina | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 4 |
| Kacey Barta | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1 |
| Rachel Wilcox | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 3 |
| Mackenzie Pepper | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 6 |
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#9 ALAMOSA MEAN MOOSE (17-6)
COACH:Â Shawn Cody
STATE TITLES:Â None
LEAGUE:Â 2nd in IML (8-2) — one of three league teams in final 8
REGIONALS:Â Beat Colorado Academy 48-16 and Platte Valley 39-30
STREAK:Â Won 2 (13-3 since Christmas — all losses to Pagosa Springs)
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 3-5
- Wins: Centauri (3)
- Losses: Sanford (2A), Delta, Pagosa Springs (3)
TEAM NOTES:Â First state tournament appearance since 2007 and second since 1993 — just two wins all-time and both came in 1991 — lost to Montrose 65-48 in finals that year — three wins over Centauri by total of seven points but allowed them to finish second behind Pagosa Springs — three losses to Pagosa by 37 points — outscored opponents by 324 points — gave up more than 40 points in only four games
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Lilly Lavier | 12.3 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 4.8 | |
| Slyvie Caton | 10.7 | 5.9 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 14 |
| Emily Lavier | 9.4 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 27 |
| Alma Martinez | 5.3 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 4 |
| Terese Chavez | 3.7 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 4 |
| Devyn Mitchell | 2.4 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 3 |
| Taylor Motz | 1.7 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 | |
| Kelly Castillo | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 04 | 3 |
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#4 DELTA PANTHERS (23-1)
COACH:Â Kyle Crowder
STATE TITLES:Â None
LEAGUE:Â Won Western Slope Title (9-0)
REGIONALS:Â Beat Lake County 63-39 and Skyview Academy 53-39
STREAK:Â Won 19 (only loss to Centauri)
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 1-1 (played on back to back nights)
- Wins: Alamosa
- Losses: Centauri
TEAM NOTES:Â First ever appearance in state tournament appearance — outscored opponents by 395 points — program won just 9 games three years ago — record of 7-1 in games decided by less than 10 points (only loss to Centauri) — seven of top eight scorers are underclassmen
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Sara Geddes | 10.6 | 6.6 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Keely Porter | 8.8 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 9 |
| Erika Kuta | 8.2 | 8.2 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 4 |
| Alexa Huff | 7.7 | 5.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 4 |
| Missa Webb | 7.7 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 6 |
| Marcy Schaal | 3.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 4 |
| Haylin McCulloch | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2 |
| Madison Geick | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 6 |
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#5 EATON REDS (23-1)
COACH:Â Todd Hernandez
STATE TITLES:Â None
LEAGUE:Â Won Patriot Title (10-0)
REGIONALS: Â Beat Coal Ridge 48-33 and University 48-44
STREAK:Â Won 16 (only loss to Pagosa Springs)
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 0-1
- Losses: Pagosa Springs
TEAM NOTES:Â First state tournament appearance since 2016 — previous two years ended with losses to CSCS in regional final – had qualified nine times from 2000-16 — has 19 state tournament wins all-time – outscored opponents by 424 points — average margin of victory is 18 points — record of 7-0 in games decided by 10 points or less
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Bailie Duncan | 10.4 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 21 |
| Sydney Booth | 8.5 | 6.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | |
| Nakaiya Kuskie | 7.4 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 42 |
| Addie Randel | 6.9 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 10 |
| Micheala Hill | 5.9 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 2.0 | |
| Jennifer Jarnigan | 4.3 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 10 |
| Ahana Leffler | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | |
| Mady Bruch | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1 |
| Kaleigh Williams | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | |
| Gracie Schrieber | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 |
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#2 COLORADO SPRINGS CHRISTIAN LIONS (23-1)
COACH:Â Mark Engesser
STATE TITLES:Â 2002 (Beat Estes Park 58-49 for 3A crown)
LEAGUE:Â Won Tri Peaks Title (10-0)
REGIONALS:Â Beat Eagle Ridge Academy 64-21 and Manitou Springs 63-29
STREAK:Â Won 2 (only loss to ST Mary’s in district finals 40-34)
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 3-1
- Wins: Lutheran, Pagosa Springs, St Mary’s
- Losses: St Mary’s
TEAM NOTES:Â Lost in finals to St Mary’s last year — Beat Centauri in quarterfinals last year (52-37) – Coach Engesser has two championships in boys basketball at CSCS — outscored opponents by 883 points this year — average margin of victory of 37 points — only one game decided by 10 points or less (lost to St Mary’s 40-34 in district finals) — won 9 games by at least 40 points — team has made 273 three-pointers
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Megan Engesser | 23.0 | 10.5 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 97 |
| Rachel Ingram | 17.6 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 63 |
| Corrie Anderson | 8.3 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 39 |
| Elleah Hoekert | 7.8 | 6.2 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 25 |
| Abby Knedler | 7.0 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 44 |
| Alica Yee | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
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#10 CENTAURI FALCONS (18-6)
COACH:Â Troy Reynolds
STATE TITLES:Â 2006 (beat Denver Christian 62-57) & 1993 (beat Denver Christian 46-43)
LEAGUE:Â 3rd in IML (6-4) — one of three league teams in Final 8
REGIONALS:Â Beat Roaring Fork 51-37 and Academy 65-50
STREAK:Â Won 3 (lost to Alamosa 42-39 in districts)
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 3-6
- Wins: Swink (2A), Delta, Sanford (2A)
- Losses: Del Norte (2A), Pagosa Springs (2), Alamosa (3)
TEAM NOTES:Â Every loss this season is against a team in a state tournament — six losses by combined 37 points – fifth consecutive state tournament appearance (school record) — lost to CSCS 52-37 in quarterfinals last year — reached semifinals in 2017, 2016, & 2013 — Falcons have made 53 three-pointers — outscored opponents by 383 points – Â record of 5-5 in games decided by 10 points or less
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Melissa Wilson | 14.8 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 28 |
| Courtney Hamilton | 9.5 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 2.2 | |
| Brenna McDaniel | 7.8 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 8 |
| Mia Garcia | 7.1 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1 |
| Brynli Sowards | 4.2 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1 |
| McKenna Bagwell | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 13 |
| Kaitlynn Martin | 2.3 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.7 | |
| Aubry Robins | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
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#3 PAGOSA SPRINGS PIRATES (21-2)
COACH:Â Wes Lewis
STATE TITLES:Â 2015 (beat Sterling 39-36 for 3A Title)
LEAGUE:Â Won IML Title (10-0)
REGIONALS:Â Beat Trinidad 54-17 and Grand Valley 48-31
STREAK:Â Won 16 — only losses to #1 St Mary’s and #2 CSCS (both in December)
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 8-2
- Wins: Lutheran, Eaton, Sanford (2A), Centauri (2), Alamosa (3)
- Losses: St Mary’s, Colorado Springs Christian,
TEAM NOTES: Â 7th straight appearance in state tournament and 9th under Coach Wes Lewis — lost to Lamar (43-30) in quarterfinals last year — lost in 2017 quarterfinals to Lamar (43-42) — lost in 2016 quarterfinals to Centauri (36-35) — last reached championship game in 2014 — lost to Holy Family (52-45) — outscored opponents 427 points for average margin of victory at 19 per game — record of 2-0 in games decided by 10 points or less (beat Lutheran 50-48 and Alamosa 28-21) –
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Hannah Griego | 12.6 | 7.2 | 1.7 | 2.2 | |
| Devin Wilson | 11.3 | 5.0 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 30 |
| Teagan Stretton | 6.2 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 10 |
| Elsa Lindner | 5.8 | 5.1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | |
| Adelyn Dozier | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 19 |
| Taylor Lewis | 4.5 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 1 |
| Molly Graham | 3.2 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
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#6 LUTHERAN LIONS (20-4)
COACH:Â Mark Duitsman
STATE TITLES:Â (5) 2016, 2014, 1998, 1996, 1985
LEAGUE:Â Won Metro Title (10-1)
REGIONALS:Â Beat Lamar 63-31 and Cedaredge 49-45
STREAK:Â Won 15 since loss to Faith Christian
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 0-3 (teams seeded 1-2-3 in bracket)
- Losses: Colorado Springs Christian, St Mary’s, Pagosa Springs
TEAM NOTES:Â Scored last seven points of game in regional final to rally past Cedaredge — first state appearance since 2016 — had appeared in six straight tournaments between 3A-2A (2011-16) — lost to Pagosa Springs 50-48 at home in December — outscored opponents by 592 points for margin of victory at 25 per game — record of 1-2 in games decided by 10 points or less (win in regionals last Saturday) — only two seniors on the roster — made 189 treys
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Stephanie Schultz | 15.8 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 49 |
| Kate Webster | 10.0 | 4.3 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 31 |
| Kaitlyn Kyle | 6.8 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 38 |
| Kate Murphy | 6.5 | 5.5 | 0.3 | 1.0 | |
| Sara Larson | 4.9 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 23 |
| Kallie Lemon | 4.4 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 18 |
| Lexi Wilmoth | 2.9 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 4 |
| Jordan Dack | 2.4 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 0.6 |