Isn’t it obvious? Pueblo wants the girls Class 4A championship.
Pueblo South and Pueblo West, seeded first and second, respectively, remain alive and are seeking final four victories on Thursday at the Denver Coliseum for a rubber match.
The two southern powers have Windsor and Evergreen standing in their way.
The final will be Saturday.
Below are capsules on the semifinals:
(5) Windsor vs. (1) Pueblo South, 5:30 p.m.
At 20-6, Windsor enters on a six-game winning streak. The Wizards were 12-2 in the Tri-Valley League, a game behind Holy Family. They have one title, in 1994, when they beat Lamar 68-53 in 4A. Lamar then went on to win four consecutive gold balls. … The Wizards were in one other final, in 1978, the third season of sanctioning, and lost 60-58 to Wray in AA. … Windsor took a 52-45 loss in nonleague to Pueblo South three days before Christmas. … The Wizards’ defense has been steady through three playoff rounds after earning a bye — in games against Erie, The Classical Academy and Rifle, the Wizards have surrendered 41, 43 and 43 points. … Junior Michaela Morgan tops Windsor scoring at 11.1 points. … Pueblo South (24-2) has won five titles — 1979, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 2013. The Colts take it very seriously. … They tied with Pueblo West for the South Central League crown. Just like in boys, they split two league games and, just like in boys, would love a third meeting in the final. … Pueblo South beat Golden, the Jefferson County League champion, in the Sweet 16 by 50-47 and had only four players score, but it was enough. Gabi Lucero was tops with 22 points and Maddi Leigh added 10. … Â Maya Austin’s 14.0 scoring average leads the Colts. Lucero (12.8), Andrea Nelson (11.8) and Hannah Kochen (11.2) are not far away.
(3) Evergreen vs. (2) Pueblo West, 4 p.m.
At 23-3 and winner of four straight games, Evergreen finished a game behind Golden in the Jeffco standings. … The Cougars split two games in league play with Valor Christian, the two-time defending state winner, then eliminated the Eagles in last weekend’s Great 8. … They’ve only given up a combined 108 points in three postseason games. … Evergreen was state runner-up a year ago and has yet to a girls basketball title. … The Cougars’ quality nonleague victories came against Holy Family and Mullen. … Claudia Dillon is averaging a double-double — 13.4 points and 10.5 rebounds. Baylee Galan-Browne adds 10.4 points. … Pueblo West is 23-3 and won 11 games in a row. … The Cyclones beat Windsor 64-49 on Dec. 21. They also beat the likes of Holy Family and Durango in nonleague. … The Cyclones made the final four two seasons ago, losing to eventual champion Valor Christian. … In the Great 8 victory over Mesa Ridge
by 58-48, freshman Hannah Simental scored 23 points and junior Olivia Lough went for 17 points and 12 rebounds. … On the season, Lough averages 17.3 points and Simental 10. … The Cyclones were eliminated in the first round a year ago by D’Evelyn and they have openly used it as motivation.