Busy the word to describe the Friday girls’ basketball schedule as several top 10 clubs could see strong challenges. Among the top games are #3 Sangre De Cristo vs #9 Cotopaxi in 1A, #1 Centauri vs #7 Delta in Class 3A and an important league game between #5 Wray and #8 Haxtun in the Lower Platte. Also on the docket is a good cross-class pairing between #8 Pagosa Springs (3A) and #10 Del Norte (2A).
Below is a preview of all top 10 games and others important to league and playoff standings. Final scores can be sent to Colorado Preps by text at 970.380.7737 or by email to [email protected]. Results from these games will be posted here.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #1 Briggsdale beat Peetz 70-7
FINAL: #2 Kit Carson beat Cheraw 52-32
FINAL: #3 Sangre De Cristo beat #9 Cotopaxi 39-28
#6 Fleming at Weldon Valley (PPD)
FINAL: Sierra Grande beat Mountain Valley 50-40
NOTES: Last year the matchup between Sangre De Cristo and Cotopaxi determined the Southern Peaks championship but the teams are in different leagues this year so it will go into the books as a high-quality non-league test for both. It will also factor into the state tournament seedings quite heavily. Sangre De Cristo won both meetings last year including a win for the district championship. This year, the T-Birds have played just once; downing Custer County with ease (59-12). Cotopaxi is 2-0 and has allowed just 50 points in beating La Veta and Evangelical Christian. The winner between Sierra Grande (1-1) and Mountain Valley (2-0) probably ends up in the top three conference wise at seasons end. The Panthers are coming off a tough 54-50 loss to Center last night and also play Antonito tomorrow so this is a key stretch for them. Mountain Valley has beaten South Park (30-26) and La Veta (38-28) with Natalie Roberts scoring 23 points and Nicole Berry 20. It’s the league opener in the High Plains for both Kit Carson and Cheraw. They along with McClave should make for an interesting race. Kit Carson has won 32 straight conference games. They’re 3-0 overall this year and have momentum from last Friday’s 59-44 win over 2A Limon. Tieler Randel hit three treys and finished with a game-high 14 points. Sedonia Isenbart added 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Cheraw has surrounded a narrow loss to Kim/Branson with wins over Evangelical Christian and Las Animas. Top ranked Briggsdale is coming off an important win at Haxtun and is heavily favored at Peetz.
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #1 Rye beat Holly 68-13
FINAL: #3 Holyoke beat Yuma 37-26
FINAL: #4 Limon beat Stratton/Liberty 67-26
FINAL: #5 Wray beat #8 Haxtun (1A) 75-49
#7 Rocky Ford vs Swallows Charter (PPD)
FINAL: #8 Ignacio beat Bayfield 38-28
#9 Soroco vs South Park
FINAL: #8 Pagosa Springs (3A) beat #10 Del Norte 41-30
NOTES: Valuable RPI points and improved state tournament seeding up for grabs in the top 10 cross classification battles between Wray-Haxtun and Pagosa Springs-Del Norte. Since the Wray-Haxtun encounter is a league matchup we’ll start there. The winner gains an important win but comes nowhere close to clinging the conference crown since both have future meetings with Holyoke and Sedgwick County. Wray has not been tested in wins over Akron (64-34) and Caliche (84-34) but they’re a veteran group that plays important games in February and March every year. This year, Karly Godsey leads the team with 15 points per game; Tabby Jones is next with 11.5 and Kaycee McBride has chipped in 10. Larissa Salmans is scoring just 5.5 points thus far but also adds six rebounds, five steals and four assists. For Haxtun, this is their third straight ranked opponent and they split previous matchings with Fleming and Briggsdale; stunning the Wildcats 52-48 but falling to Briggsdale 60-46. Bella Tori scored 14, Allie Thompson 12 and Taylor Schram 11 against Briggsdale. Schram hit three treys and Thompson and Tori both pulled down seven rebounds as well. The offense committed 27 turnovers and must cut down on that number against the Eagles. Del Norte topped Alamosa 44-39 in their opener so tonight’s game is their second against a 3A opponent. It will be more difficult to get the win as the Pirates have also played the Moose and beat them by a wider margin (36-17). Pagosa Springs topped 2A Sargent 44-20 last night including a 15-point run to open the game. Rye and Rocky Ford will battle later in the year for the Santa Fe crown. Both were winners last night and each should get another this evening. Rocky Ford looks to avoid a letdown after beating #7 Flatirons Academy (1A) on Thursday. The first half was wild as the Meloneers led 14-4 after one but were outscored 20-7 in the second quarter. They scored seven of the final 10 points to gain the win. Rye blitzed John Mall 80-13 last night and has outscored three opponents by 116 points. In the past, the Holyoke-Yuma battle would be among the most anticipated in the regular season but the teams are off to completely different starts. The Dragons are 4-0 and have won each game by at least 16 points. They led Byers 24-3 after one. Kristen Vieselmeyer finished with 18 and Correy Koellner 13. Yuma is winless (0-3) but pushed Limon 42-35 last week. Ema Richardson tallied 16. Limon, Ignacio and Soroco all are expected to grab wins this evening. The Badgers are playing for the first time since the Kit Carson loss; Ignacio continues to battle injuries and Soroco gets on the court after having their game at Plateau Valley last night cancelled.
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #1 Centauri beat #7 Delta 66-55
FINAL: #2 Lutheran beat St Mary’s Academy 70-7
FINAL: #3 University beat Sterling 43-23
FINAL: #4 Vanguard beat Manitou Springs 58-42
FINAL: #6 Eaton beat Resurrection Christian 57-47
FINAL: #9 St Mary’s beat Woodland Park 67-35
FINAL: Moffat County beat Middle Park 71-27
FINAL: Faith Christian beat Machebeuf 31-27
FINAL: Colorado Springs Christian beat Lamar 49-41
NOTES: With both teams having high expectations this year, the game between Centauri-Delta will be a good gauge for each on if they can contend for a state championship. There is a common opponent as both have narrowly beaten Durango. The Falcons took out the Demons 52-49 on Tuesday and Delta opened the season with a 62-61 overtime win. Centauri picked up strong efforts from Brenna McDaniel and Courtney Hamilton in their win. McDaniel went for 17 points, four assists and three steals and Hamilton added 15 points and 15 rebounds including eight on the offensive end. Alexa Huff dropped in 21 points, Mary Schaal 13 and Erika Kuta 10 in their win over the Demons. Kuta had two threes, seven rebounds and four steals. Jessica Dexter also picked up eight boards with seven coming on the offensive end. To win the Tri Peaks title, Vanguard probably needs to beat St Mary’s and Manitou Springs. The first of those matchups is tonight in the Springs. Pace will be important. The Coursers have scored 89 and 75 points in the first two conference games. Manitou tallied 73 against Florence but still probably doesn’t want to get into a high scoring affair this evening. Grace Allen led the Mustangs with 24 points and 10 others scored against Florence. Vanguard led Salida 28-0 in the first quarter as Ramiyah Boyd (21) and Juliana Garcia (20) combined for 41 points. Ranked #1 in the preseason, University needs a win over Sterling to break a three-game losing streak. It started last week with the last second loss to Lutheran (36-35) and has continued this week with losses to Brush (62-56) and Weld Central (53-43). Sterling has won two straight including a 40-24 league opening win over Strasburg on Wednesday. Jalyssa Maker recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Outside the rankings, Lamar seeks a 4-0 start and a win over CS Chrsitian gives the Savages a very good chance at a top four league finish. Lutheran, with their win over Faith earlier this week, remains heavily favored to land the Metro title but Faith Christian and Machebeuf are two of many teams in the second-place chase. Middle Park and Moffat County is an important game for two teams battling for a berth in the tournament. The Tigers are coming off a tough loss to 2A Cedaredge on Thursday but should battle Delta for the 3A title. Middle Park is the likely runner-up to Academy in the Frontier.
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #2 Green Mountain beat Alameda 95-6
#8 Thompson Valley at Northridge
FINAL: #9 Severance beat Fort Morgan 73-44
FINAL: #10 Berthoud beat Frederick 57-36
NOTES: On paper, the best matchup pits Thompson Valley at Northridge. The Grizzlies are quietly 3-0 while the Eagles are coming off their first setback in a 62-48 loss to Mead. Northridge has wins over Fort Morgan, Frederick and Greeley Central by at least 14 points apiece but the Eagles represent their most difficult test of the first two weeks. Seneya Martinez tops the Grizzlies with 13 points a game followed by Karly Beck and Makenna Shaffer at 9.7 apiece. Thompson Valley picked up 16 points from Amelia Solt and 14 from Charlee Durtsche in the loss to Mead. The remaining three games could end up being one-sided. Green Mountain (4-0) has outscored their first two Jeffco opponents 161-33 while Alameda has tallied a total of 26 points in their first two matchups. Severance led Skyline 32-8 at halftime earlier this week as they bounced back nicely from the loss to Thompson Valley. Fort Morgan meantime, is in rebuild mode and has scored just 77 points in three games. Frederick (0-2) gave up 90 points in a loss to Windsor on Wednesday so Berthoud could get another big offensive night after scoring 81 points against Greeley West their last time out.
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #2 Valor Christian beat Lakewood 67-35
FINAL: #7 Fossil Ridge beat Mountain Range 66-25
FINAL: #8 Ralston Valley beat Pomona 87-17
NOTES: Although Arvada West and Chatfield remain unbeaten in league and overall, Valor Christian can take another major step in claiming the Jeffco championship. The Eagles stunned Ralston Valley 65-63 on Wednesday and now look for another win over Lakewood. Those three clubs have routinely finished 1-2-3 in the standings in recent years. Against Ralston Valley, the Eagles outscored Ralston 28-15 in the fourth quarter to score the exciting win. Jenna Siebert poured in eight threes and finished with a game high 27 points. Lakewood (2-2) also has a league loss to Ralston Valley (54-26) so they need an upset to remain in the title discussion. The Tigers host just 20 percent from the field in the loss (9-45) and committed 20 turnovers. Ralston Valley looks to take out some frustration on Pomona tonight. The Panthers (1-3) are improved but are still not ready for the likes of Ralston. As conference play in the Front Range starts this weekend, three teams are unbeaten with Fossil Ridge (3-0) and Mountain Range (1-0) two of them. Mountain Range finally got on the court on Wednesday in a 55-33 win at Far Northeast. Fossil Ridge (3-0) scored their best win over Erie (53-51) last Saturday.
