The run that Evergreen’s girls basketball team is currently enjoying is impressive on multiple levels.
Sure, the defending state champions have won 10 games in a row, including a quality 52-33 victory over Valor Christian last Friday. But the Cougars (13-1) are getting the job done with a stifling defense that is tied with Rifle for the fewest points allowed in Class 4A this season — and with one fewer game played.
Evergreen hasn’t allowed an opponent to score more than 34 points in a game since Dec. 7, and recently had a stretch where it only gave up a combined 53 points over three games.
With a big test looming Wednesday at Golden, junior Claudia Dillon (16.4 points and 10.6 rebounds a game) and the Cougars have a chance to further cement themselves as a frontrunner in the 4A ranks.
Evergreen is one of four teams that owns a 6-0 league mark. Air Academy (14-1), Holy Family (13-2) and Mesa Ridge (10-2) are also continuing to dominate in league play.
The Kadets were a perfect 3-0 last week, including Monday’s 52-40 victory at Falcon. Holy Family hasn’t dropped a game in 2018, knocking off Erie and Mead last week. Mesa Ridge put up a combined 159 points in victories over Woodland Park and Mitchell, with four players scoring in double figures against Woodland Park.
Pueblo West (13-1) opened South Central League play with victories over Pueblo County and Centennial, with the Cyclones piling up a season-high 92 points against the Bulldogs, thanks to 23 points from Hannah Simental.
Centaurus and Greeley Central continue to pace the Northern League with identical 5-1 league marks. Greeley Central went 3-0 last week, downing Northridge, Thompson Valley and Greeley West.
Vista PEAK Prep also went 3-0 last week, with senior Denali Hughes continuing to be a force at the basket on both ends of the court. Fort Morgan’s Haley Lewis also had a strong week, going for a combined 47 points in Colorado 7 victories over Skyview and Alameda. The Mustangs (8-6) are still unbeaten in league play, with Lewis averaging more than 18 points a game.
Pueblo East (10-5) had a rare four-game week thanks to the Orange and Black Classic tournament. The Eagles have a big South Central contest this week with Pueblo West.
Speaking of the Steel City matchup, here is a look a handful of this week’s top games in the 4A ranks:
Pueblo West (13-1, 2-0 league) takes its four-game winning streak into a tough week that includes game at Pueblo South (7-7, 2-0) and home against East on Friday.
The Cyclones’ only setback this season came to 5A Fruita Monument. Senior Olivia Lough returned for the floor last week after having not played since Dec. 21, scoring 15 points against Thompson Valley. Her presence, along with that of Simental, provides a big boost for West.
Pueblo South has won three in a row after a three-game skid. Three players are averaging in double figures in points, led by junior Gabi Lucero (16.9 points, 9.5 rebounds).
East is getting big production from Riley Harding at 17.6 points a game, and Nastassja Rubio is adding nearly 14 points.
Sierra dropped its second Colorado Springs Metro League game last week, falling to The Classical Academy by four points. The Stallions (9-5, 5-2) have one of their toughest weeks of the season coming up, with home games against Mesa Ridge on Tuesday and Widefield (11-3, 6-1) on Thursday.
Aubrey Robinson scored 18 points when Sierra lost to Widefield by one point earlier in the season. The Gladiators have won four in a row since a loss to Mesa Ridge, including an impressive 73-46 rout of TCA last Friday. Charisse Fairley led Widefield with 25 points and Aaliyah Ricketts added 24 — the pair combined for nine steals.
Two teams attempting to stay in the Tri-Valley chase meet up Tuesday night when Mead (10-4, 4-2) visits Berthoud (13-2, 4-2).
The Mavericks had a five-game winning streak snapped with league losses to Windsor and Holy Family. Mead allowed a season-high 60 points against the Wizards, but a fourth-quarter rally gave the Tigers a run for their money.
Berthoud also had its struggles with Windsor last week, falling 70-61 after shooting just 29 percent. Emily Cavey had a team-high 22 points but was 4-for-18 from the field.
Greeley Central travels to Mountain View (8-7, 4-2) on Tuesday. The Mountain Lions have lost two of their past three games, though junior Raleigh Basart (13.9 points per game) continues to play well.
Juniors Naomi Hidalgo (15.4 points) and Hattie Sheets (10.4) have come up big for the Wildcats, who also face Niwot (7-7, 3-2) on Friday. The Cougars nearly came up with the upset victory over Centaurus, and seniors Sophie Grant and Mary Gillett have played well.
Golden (14-1, 5-1) goes back-to-back against two of Jeffco’s best this week, hosting Evergreen on Wednesday and then heading to D’Evelyn (11-4, 4-2) one day later.
The Demons, who routed Littleton and Green Mountain last week, need a strong week to remain in the Jeffco hunt. Senior Makena Prey, averaging a double-double at 21.5 points and 11.3 rebounds, and Evergreen’s Dillon are two of the top players in 4A.
D’Evelyn has won four in a row after back-to-back losses to Golden and Evergreen. Bailey Marvel scored 19 points on 8-for-8 shooting in a win over Standley Lake last Wednesday.
A handful of teams in the Western Slope League are still chasing Rifle in the league standings, and two of them — Palisade and Glenwood Springs — meet Thursday.
The Bulldogs (8-8, 4-1) beat the Demons earlier this month by 13 points and have won four of five. Alexandra MacAskill notched 13 points in a 40-28 victory over Steamboat Springs last Friday.
Glenwood (8-7, 3-2) had a three-game winning streak snapped with a non-league loss to Fruita Monument.