Week number one of the girls’ basketball season comes to a close with a tremendous Saturday schedule. Seven top 10 matchups can be found on the slate as state tournament seedings will be impacted with each result.
Three of the anticipated matchups are found in Class 2A including a good battle between #1 Rye and #8 Del Norte. Both clubs are coming off state tournament appearances a year ago and each has carried that momentum into this season. The top ranked Thunderbolts knocked out a very good 3A Manitou Springs in their opener (48-30) behind 15 points from Sophie Adamson and 13 from Jolee Ortiz. Morgan Elarton also collected seven rebounds.
Del Norte is already 2-0 with wins over Alamosa (44-39) and Swink (51-30). They outscored Swink 16-1 in the first quarter to gain early command in the road victory.
#3 Sanford and #7 Ignacio could decide the highest seed from the Southwest area. Both are picked to win conference titles and receive automatic bids but this one could determine which club gets the better spot in the bracket. The Indians are averaging 62.5 points a game after beating Custer County and Mancos earlier this week. That may give them a slight advantage as Ignacio is seeing their first action of the season. They were 18-6 a year ago with a season ending loss to Holyoke (47-34) in the state quarterfinals.
Today’s game between #9 Meeker and #10 Cedaredge was thought to be a preview of the Western Slope championship game as the league has been split into two divisions. Meeker was the favorite in the North and Cedaredge the South but those predictions may have changed after last night. That’s because the Cowboys lost their season opener at Rangely (64-48). So they will look to bounce back against a Cedaredge team that handled Hotchkiss 54-26 on Friday. The Bruins led 24-9 at halftime and then blew it open with a 20-8 run in the third.
Also in Class 2A is an interesting battle between #4 Holyoke and 3A Brush. Brush is coming off a trip to the 3A Great 8 and opened 2021 with a 61-37 decision over Yuma on Thursday. Brooke Rule dropped in 15 while Kealy Langford and Kashlyn Tadolini each added a dozen. Holyoke opened with a win 16-point win over Perkins County NE and then slammed Otis 72-27 on Friday.
In Class 1A, the main attraction is in the Metro area where #7 Lone Star heads to #10 Flatirons Academy. The Longhorns were scheduled to get in a tune-up with Longmont Christian earlier in the week but that game was cancelled so today is their season opener. Flatirons blasted Loveland Classical 68-4 on Thursday and didn’t allow a point in the second half.
#8 Cotopaxi looks for a 2-0 start as they host Evangelical Christian. The Pirates edged La Veta 36-27 in their season opener last night. It was their first game since topping Briggsdale in the state quarterfinals last season. Today they must avoid looking past the Eagles to a big date next week with Sangre De Cristo. The T-Birds were scheduled to have a good test with Dove Creek this afternoon but that contest has been postponed.
In Class 3A, it will be hard to top last night’s thriller between #4 Lutheran and #1 University where the Lions hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for the one-point win. But #5 Vanguard and #7 Platte Valley will give it a go. Both the Coursers and Broncos have been building their program through talented youth and this is the year both hope to break through with a state tournament appearance. Platte Valley is 2-0; beating Weld Central and Faith Christian by a combined 57 points. Bree Bunting has scored 27 points in those wins, Cora Schissler 26 and Andi Schissler 20. All three are underclassmen as the Broncos have just one senior on the roster. Vanguard has yet to see game action this year but won 20 games last year and return high scorers Alexis Garcia (13.7), Hailey Blanchard (11.9) and Juliana Garcia (11.6).
In Class 4A, #4 Erie looks for a second straight win against a 5A program as they tangle with #8 Fossil Ridge today. The Tigers took out Broomfield 65-58 on Tuesday as Grace Moyers dropped in four three-pointers to finish with a game-best 23 points. Support came from the likes of Sarah Hill (11), Anna Hefner (11) and Deb Altshuler (10). Fossil Ridge was not pushed in their opener on Friday; downing Rocky Mountain 60-21.
Down the street neighbors #2 Valor Christian and #3 Highlands Ranch tangle in the lone top 10 meeting in Class 5A. Grandview is heavily favored to land the championship this year but the winner of this one could easily land the number two overall seed in the playoff bracket. Valor dropped Mountain Vista 70-39 last night with newcomer Haley Huard netting 19 points. Kindyll Wetta (12) and Ali Wetta (10) also reached double figures. Highlands Ranch rolled Denver East 76-23 in their first game. Alex Pirog (18), Payton Muma (17) and Gianna Principatto (14) all reached double figures. Muma also hit four three-pointers and dished out seven assists.
The entire top 10 schedule is below. Final scores can be sent to Colorado Preps by text at 970.380.7737. They will be posted in our Girls Scoreboard with top 10 results also recorded within this story.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #1 Briggsdale beat Idalia 72-44
FINAL: Haxtun beat #2 Fleming 52-48
#3 Sangre De Cristo vs Dove Creek (PPD)
FINAL: Boise City OK beat #4 South Baca 59-15
FINAL: #6 Kit Carson beat Wiley 73-43
FINAL: #10 Flatirons Academy beat #7 Lone Star 67-40
#8 Cotopaxi vs Evangelical Christian
FINAL: #9 Simla beat Cheyenne Wells 50-13
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #1 Rye beat #8 Del Norte 61-30
FINAL: #2 Limon beat Yuma 42-35
FINAL: #3 Sanford beat #7 Ignacio 51-41
FINAL: #4 Holyoke beat Brush 69-45
FINAL: #5 Wray beat Caliche 84-34
FINAL: #6 Rocky Ford beat Sargent 49-13
FINAL: #10 Cedaredge beat #9 Meeker 67-34
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #5 Vanguard beat #7 Platte Valley 58-37
FINAL: #8 St Mary’s beat Peyton 66-56
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #3 Green Mountain beat Ponderosa 61-51
FINAL: #8 Fossil Ridge (5A) beat #4 Erie 53-51
FINAL: #8 Falcon beat Fountain Fort Carson 52-44
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #2 Valor Christian beat #3 Highlands Ranch 65-52
