The girls game continues to evolve, particularly on the Class 5A level.
And everyone wants a piece. Look around. The Centennial League has some challengers. So does the Front Range group, which contains the only team still undefeated (Fort Collins). The Denver Prep, Jefferson County and Colorado Springs Metro also feel good about getting into the final rounds of March.
But big-school play keeps coming back to the Continental, which has won 14 Colorado titles since 2000.
It will be on display this week with tri-leaders Castle View, Highlands Ranch and Regis Jesuit at 3-0 and a couple of important meetings.
Highlands Ranch (13-3 overall) will be tested twice on the road. On Tuesday, the Falcons and Autumn Watts (16.1 points) will be at Chaparral (11-5, 2-1), which is rising behind Sydney Speights (12.3 points, 6.3 rebounds).
But Thursday figures to be even more interesting as the Falcons will be at Regis Jesuit and Fran Belibi (13.2 points, 9.3 rebounds). And big? Officials have decided to offer a boy-girl doubleheader in Regis Jesuit’s boys gymnasium.
Meanwhile, the Front Range will offer some of its best in assorted head-to-head matchups. On Tuesday, Fort Collins (13-0, 3-0) will be in Boulder to meet Fairview (10-5, 4-1). Delsie Johnson (15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds) has been powering the Lambkins. Ashley Panem (17.3 points) and Denali Pinto (17.1) will have to be handled for the Knights. And on the same night, Broomfield (7-8, 3-1) and Steph Peterson (16.9 points) will head to Fort Collins to take on Fossil Ridge (11-4, 4-1). Ashley Steffeck is leading the SaberCats with 12.6 points and 5.5 rebounds.
In Colorado Springs, Doherty is riding the Metro at 5-0. But the Spartans and junior Brionna McBride (14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds) promise to be tested twice — they will be at Fountain-Fort Caron (9-6, 3-1) on Tuesday and host Liberty (11-4, 4-2) on Thursday.
Jeffco matters figure to heavily involve Lakewood (12-3, 4-1) and Camilla Emsbo (16.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 blocks). The Tigers first will host Dakota Ridge (10-5, 4-1), which is tied with the Eagles for second place in the league, on Wednesday, then visit Jeffco-leading Ralston Valley (13-1, 5-0) on Friday. Delaynie Byrne is getting 21.1 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Mustangs.
Mullen, after starts of 0-5 and 1-6, has climbed to 7-8, 4-2 and is tied for third in the Centennial with Arapahoe (9-6, 4-2). Two toughies on the road await. The Mustangs first must deal with defending league and 5A state champion Grandview (11-3, 6-0), rolling behind Leilah Vigil (12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds) and Alisha Davis (11.8 points, 10.3 rebounds), on Wednesday in Aurora, then travel to Centennial to meet the Warriors. The Mustangs’ freshman guard tandem of Megan Pohs (10.7 points, 4.7 assists) and Elaina Martinez (10.7 points, 3.1 steals) is evolving.
Two of the five teams undefeated in the early going of the East Metro Athletic Conference will go at on Tuesday, Brighton (8-7, 2-0) and Vista PEAK (9-4, 2-0), and this week’s highlight in the Denver Prep will have the Far Northeast Warriors (10-5, 1-1) facing off against Denver East (9-4, 1-0) and R’Manie Pulling (17.4 points).
