With two weeks of the basketball season already complete, Colorado Preps will provide our first notebook of the 2021-22 campaign. It’s been fun returning to live game action after staying out of the gym most of last season due to COVID restrictions. Took in seven games at various locations over the past week and will continue visiting locations with a reduced focus on providing score updates.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY OT SPORTSCHECK
We’re looking forward to a big 1A clash between #1 Flatirons Academy and #2 Briggsdale coming up this Friday. Both teams are unbeaten and for the most part unchallenged this year. Briggsdale owns a high quality win over 2A ranked Sedgwick County 49-25 while Flatirons picked up a solid win over 3A Grand Valley 46-41.
They played twice last year with Briggsdale taking the regular season win in overtime 65-60 only to see the Bison return the favor in the state semifinals 76-56. Most everyone for both teams returns this year and while other teams remain in the title chase, Friday’s winner becomes the state championship favorite.
Brinlee Durrell (19.8 points), Emily DeHaan (14.5) and Emma Cox (13.8) all return for the Bison. They were starters during the championship run a year ago. The Bison did lose Savana Kascak from the roster as she dropped in 20 points in last year’s semifinal win. Briggsdale lost Shelby Hoffman to graduation get back Kylie Krise and Jenna Krise. They combined for 30 points in the season opening win over Sedgwick County. Krise scored 26 against Flatirons in the semifinal loss.
Up in Class 2A, Rye is rolling again and not sure anyone beats them during the regular season. They should run through the Santa Fe for a second straight season. They’re 6-0 so far this year and have outscored opponents 374-132. The Adamson twins continue to lead the way. Sydney averages 20.4 points, 5.2 assists and three steals per game while Sophie adds 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.4 steals. Now seniors, the twins are 33-1 in conference play in their high school career with an overall record of 62-6. Even more amazingly, the Thunderbolts won just two games the year before they put on the high school uniform.
The Lower Platte chase should be exciting this year and even deeper than the recent past. Holyoke, Sedgwick County, Wray and Yuma are all ranked in Class 2A with Merino and Haxtun also included in the 1A rankings. And now since Akron, Caliche and Wiggins seem improved, there will be no days off for any league member.
Akron lost to Merino in their opener, but has picked up three straight wins including an impressive 45-29 win over 3A ranked Brush. Sophomore Addi Kessinger is off to a tremendous start. She scored 16 points and pulled down 22 rebounds against Brush and is averaging 17.8 and 14.5 for the season. Quincy Basler provides senior leadership along with eight points and five assists per game. Kendal Velder also netted three treys against Brush.
Caliche is only 1-3 but is not the pushover they’ve been in the recent past. They threatened Haxtun over the weekend before falling 55-47. The Buffs are very young, with their top four scorers either sophomores or freshman. Ryanne Nichols and Karsyn Huss are the top two right now.
Wiggins dropped an opener to 4A Roosevelt but also has wins over 4A opponents Riverdale Ridge and Fort Morgan. They get some carryover from the recent success of the volleyball program including a state title a year ago. Rachael White, an all-state first team selection in volleyball, tops the Tigers with 15 points per game.
Had the chance to see the top three ranked teams in 3A girls over the weekend and all three, Platte Valley, Vanguard and University have enough talent to win the top trophy at years end. Platte Valley is the defending state champions and returns their top four players in Cora Schissler, Brooke Bunting, Andi Schissler and Bree Bunting. All four can both hit the jumper and get to the basket on the drive and they’re tough matchup 1-4 for any opponent. How far they go will be determined by the output of the fifth starter and players off the bench.
Vanguard has a Player of the Year candidate in Ramiyah Byrd. The very lanky 6-1 junior is effective in getting to the basket against any defense but the Coursers will need to hit more outside shots than they did against Platte Valley to be a state title contender. The Coursers are 0-2 to open but the matchups with George Washington and Platte Valley will only help them come the post-season. They’re heavily favored to land the Tri Peaks title.
University has good size and depth but is young in spots. But they also have veteran leadership in guards Taryn Kravig and Emry Trujillo who combined for 32 points in the tournament championship win over Academy on Saturday. Freshman Janay Kravig is also providing an instant impact on both ends of the floor.
Expectations were high for Thompson Valley going into the season and so far the 4A Eagles have played up to them. They’re 6-0 through two weeks and rolled Skyline 65-15 to win a tournament crown on Saturday. Junior Charlee Durtsche is among the top players in any class and is averaging a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds per game. She chips in nearly five steals as well. Senior Amelia Solt is the leading scorer (17.8) with nearly five assists and four steals per game.
The school of course landed the volleyball state title last month so that gives the Eagles confidence even though there are few cross-over players. Up next is a big test with Holy Family so that will tell the Eagles if they can compete and challenge the more powerful programs in Class 4A.
Canon City picked up a nice tournament title at Glenwood Springs over the weekend. They earned the trophy by edging 5A Vista Peak 55-49 in the finals. They also have a quality win over Falcon on their resume with their only blemish during a 5-1 start a two point loss to Classical Academy (49-47).
Skyview did not get a chance to play during COVID last season and their entire program was shut down for the entire campaign. You can tell they’re excited to get back on the court as they’ve rolled to six straight wins to open the season. Defensively, they’ve been stout in holding four teams to single digits. Their schedule gets a bit more difficult this week as they host a tournament and will face 5A opponents Rock Canyon, Ponderosa and Adams City. Mikayla Espinosa, a transfer from Academy, leads the Wolves with nearly 17 points a game while also providing seven rebounds, nine steals and five assists per outing.
In Class 5A, Columbine is quietly 4-0 after beating league rival and top 10 opponent Ralston Valley on Saturday. The 53-45 decision gave the Rebels the Fairview Festival championship. Get used to the name Elizabeth Gentry. The 6-3 sophomore is a tough matchup and is averaging 15 points and seven rebounds a game through two weeks.
Next up for the Rebels is a huge test with top ranked Valor Christian this Wednesday. The Eagles were very impressive in beating #3 Highlands Ranch 68-53 this past week. It was the Eagles first game against an in-state opponent and they rolled; especially Reagan Beers. The senior missed last season with injury but finished with 29 points and 18 rebounds against the Falcons. The Eagles also had 10 three pointers including three apiece from Beers, Macey Huard and talented freshman Quinn Vansickle.
Powerful Regis made a coaching change over the summer with Jordan Kelley taking over the Raiders. They were upset by Ralston Valley on night one of the Fairview Festival but responded with two big wins to finish fifth. The Raiders will go through some growing pains this year as their top four scorers are all underclassmen including sophomores Coryn Watts (14.4 points) and Hana Belibi (11.5). Together they pull down nearly 14 rebounds a game as well. Those four will need to grow up quickly as the Raiders face defending state champion and top ranked Mullen (4A) on Monday night.
