D’Evelyn girls basketball in 5A/4A Jeffco League driver’s seat

WESTMINSTER — D’Evelyn’s girls basketball program ran its Class 5A/4A Jeffco League winning streak to 17 games Friday night at Standley Lake High School.

The Jaguars — No. 2 in the 4A girls Colorado Preps poll this week — took down the Gators 58-43 to extend the conference winning streak that dates back to the 2021-22 season.

“Absolutely,” D’Evelyn coach Chris Olson answered when asked if he liked where his Jaguars (13-2, 5-0 in league) were sitting almost halfway through conference play. “We said at the beginning that the league champ might have one or two losses this year. We’ll take 5-0 at this point. Next week is a big week with Bear Creek and Littleton.”

It was a big game for D’Evelyn facing a Standley Lake (11-3, 2-3) squad that was ranked No. 7 in the 5A girls poll this week. The main concern was how to handle Gators’ 6-foot-2 senior Taylin Serlen, who is nearly averaging a double-double with 20 points and almost 10 rebounds per game.

The Jaguars have their own league MVP candidate in senior Peyton Marvel who came in averaging 21.1 points and 14.4 rebounds.

“They are both such great players,” Olson said of Marvel and Serlen. “I think with P (Marvel) she is such a game-changer.”

Marvel had a game-high 14 points at halftime, including a 3-pointer in the final minute of the second quarter that pushed the Jaguars’ lead to double-digit at 26-14. Marvel, who will actually play softball at Colorado Christian University next school year, finished with 17 points. Her only made basket in the second half was a 3-pointer to end the third quarter.

“Taylin is a great athlete and I know she is going to Regis University next year. She has great skill,” Marvel said. “Honestly, I couldn’t be the MVP without my teammates. I wouldn’t be mad if I didn’t get MVP. I know there are some great players in our league.”

Serlen did all she could attempting to cut D’Evelyn’s deficit in the second half. She scored 11 of her 17 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as junior Ellie McMann had a big second half herself for the Jaguars scoring 8 points in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

“Ellie handles the ball and gets it where it needs to go,” Olson said of his point guard. “We have been talking to her this year about her looking for her opportunities more. Obviously next year she is going to have to carry more of that. I’m really proud of her tonight in finding those opportunities.”

McMann finished with 13 points, the only other player beside Marvel and Serlen to reach double-digits.

“I know that on any given night how our offense flows that whoever is having a good shooting night can take that spot,” McMann said. “We can all shoot and are willing to do it.”

D’Evelyn senior Abby Paulson came off the bench to hit a pair of 3-pointers, fellow seniors Megan Schonberger and Ingrid Dalla also connected from deep. D’Evelyn senior Macy Scheer was scoreless in the first half, but the Jaguars’ second leading scorer had 7 points in the third quarter as D’Evelyn started to pull away.

“We have a lot of depth. You really can’t just take Peyton and Macy away,” Olson said. “Abby (Paulson) game in and hit a pair of 3-pointers tonight. We have players who can contribute and do things.”

The win gave D’Evelyn sole possession atop the league standings. Dakota Ridge (7-7, 4-1) suffered its first league loss with a road defeat to Evergreen on Friday night.

“I think it really shows how much work we have put in,” McMann said of the 5-0 start in league play. “Earlier this week when we had the Snow Day we were all sad that we didn’t get to practice and be around each other. We just want to be around each other as much as possible.”