The 3-ball is alive and well on Colorado’s girls basketball scene, and it’s leaving its mark across the state’s rankings and most interesting playoff races.

In Class 6A, Loveland’s Courtlyn Yaussi tied for third all-time in the state record book for 3-pointers in a game last week, knocking down 11 while scoring a school-record 49 points in a 55-point win over Greeley West.

Yaussi has hit 54 of her 156 attempts from beyond the arc this season for the No. 36 Red Wolves (8-8), who are fighting to stay inside the 6A’s 40-team playoff picture.

Elsewhere in the class, Columbine (14-1) had 15 3s in a 6A vs. 5A top-10 win over Golden on Monday. The outburst came just 12 days after the sixth-ranked Rebels went 0 for 26 from deep in a loss to No. 5 Valor Christian.

Speaking of Valor Christian (11-3), star guard Peyton Jones went 8-for-13 from long range in a 36-point win over Lakewood last week. Earlier this season, she buried nine 3s in a single game, proving once more that she can change any game in a hurry.

In 5A, Air Academy’s Kinley Asp hit 11 3-pointers across last week’s wins over Cheyenne Mountain and Discovery Canyon. That puts the sixth-ranked Kadets (14-2, 3-1 5A/4A Pikes Peak League) in a good spot Friday as they can force a three-way tie atop the league standings with a win over No. 2 Lutheran (12-3, 4-0).

In 4A, Holy Family’s Gracie Ward is evidence of how dangerous the No. 6 Tigers (9-5) can be, especially when her 3-ball is falling. Against 6A No. 16 Horizon last week, Holy Family went just 1-for-23 from deep and trailed by 16 entering the fourth quarter before rallying behind three late 3s from Ward. The Tigers eventually lost on Horizon’s free throw with 1.9 seconds remaining, 41-40.

Ward, however, followed up that performance by knocking down four more 3s in an overtime win over 5A No. 12 Frederick on Friday.

Now, here’s a look at a few pivotal games this week across the state’s three largest classifications.

No. 27 Mountain Vista at No. 7 Highlands Ranch/No. 11 Regis Jesuit at No. 9 Legend; both Wednesday, 7 p.m.

On Wednesday, four unbeatens in the 6A/5A Continental League will be trimmed to two. Highlands Ranch (12-3, 3-0) will seek its ninth straight win when it hosts Mountain Vista (9-7, 3-0), while last year’s state runner-up, Legend, looks to beat Regis Jesuit (12-4) for the fourth time in the teams’ last five meetings.

Raiders sophomore Khloe Miller will look to make her mark, particularly on the defensive end. Averaging four blocks per game, she swatted seven shots in a four-point win over No. 24 ThunderRidge last week.

No. 2 Lutheran at No. 6 Air Academy; Thursday, 5 p.m.

Lutheran (12-3, 4-0) can take a stranglehold on the 5A/4A Pikes Peak League with a win. The Lions beat No. 9 Palmer Ridge (13-3, 3-1) last week, and a victory over Air Academy (14-2) would give them at least a one-game cushion atop the standings, along with key tiebreakers.

Air Academy’s Asp, who is averaging 25 points per game, will try to force a three-way tie atop the league as the Kadets aim to beat Lutheran for a sixth straight time.

No. 7 Kent Denver at No. 4 Colorado Academy; Tuesday, 4 p.m.

Colorado Academy (11-3, 5-0) can maintain its lead over 3A No. 1 Denver Christian (15-1, 3-0) in the 4A/3A Metro League with a win. Kent Denver (10-7, 4-1) swept the Mustangs in the teams’ two-game series last season.

Kent Denver’s Austin Duncan leads the league at 18 points per game and is coming off a career-high 32-point performance in a win over Eagle Ridge Academy last week.