We’re already starting to see some important conference games pop up on the girls’ basketball schedule and in one case, a league championship could be decided tonight. That matchup takes place in Class 1A between Lone Star and Idalia. A look at that game, three top 10 clashes and several other games is included in our Tuesday preview.
Colorado Preps is always on the lookout for photos of teams in action in all classes. If you have some photos we could use on the website and in future previews, please email to [email protected].
Feature photo provided by OT SportsChek.
CLASS 1A
FINAL: #1 Briggsdale beat #8 Haxtun 60-46
FINAL: #2 Kit Carson beat #4 Limon (2A) 59-44
FINAL: #5 Simla beat Miami Yoder 75-28
FINAL: Lone Star beat Idalia 50-30
NOTES: Three highly attractive games can be found on the 1A schedule this evening and while there are two top 10 battles on the list, the most important contest is outside the polls between Idalia and Lone Star. That game likely determines the YWKC champion with the winner taking a huge step to claiming the automatic playoff berth as a league winner. Differing momentums going into the game as Idalia is coming off their first win in beating Flagler (49-41) on Monday while Lone Star looks to bounce back from a 67-40 loss to Flatirons Academy last Saturday. Idalia’s win was not as close as the score indicates as the Wolves led 35-10 at intermission. The defense collected 30 turnovers. Lone Star was outscored 20-4 in the opening quarter and could never push back against Flatirons. Alivia Weathers, with 19, was the only double figure scorer. Haxtun moved into the top 10 this week thanks to their win over Fleming last week. Fleming was ranked #2 at that time and now the Bulldogs get a crack at number one. Haxtun had great balance against Fleming with K’lyn Bornhoft (13), Allie Thompson (11), Bella Tori (11) and Taylor Schram (10) all reaching double figures. Bornhoft and Schram also combined for five treys and Tori added 10 rebounds. Briggsdale has not been pushed in rolling past Front Range Baptist (67-11) and Idalia (72-44) but this is their first road game. Four players averaged double-digits through week one with Kyle Krise averaging a team best 16.5 points. Shelby Hoffman and Peyton Nicklas are both at 13.5 with freshman Jenna Krise next at 10.5. The last time Kit Carson and Limon got together; the Badgers ended the Wildcats 75-game winning streak. Last year, the Wildcats were building a new team with serious graduation losses and the Badgers returned almost their entire team. The roles are reversed this year with the Badgers looking to replace seven key seniors and the Wildcats returning all but one key player. Kit Carson has wins over Prairie (52-9) and Wiley (73-43) by a combined 73 points. Stephanie Framel (13.0) and Taylor Johnson (11.0) lead the offense but six others average at least 3.5 points. Limon has beaten Genoa Hugo (45-25) and Yuma (42-35) with Trista Marx totaling 33 points and 12 rebounds. The Badgers feature seven others getting between two and six points per game. Simla and Flatirons Academy should get easy wins tonight but we do want to mention the good start for Miami Yoder. The Buffaloes had just four wins in three years but are 2-0 through the first week. Senior Lania Anderson picked up 52 points and 25 rebounds in wins over Deer Trail and Flagler.
CLASS 2A
FINAL: #3 Holyoke beat Byers 53-30
FINAL: #6 Cedaredge beat Olathe 50-26
FINAL: #10 Del Norte beat Hoehne 46-26
Calhan at Thomas MacLaren
NOTES: Not long ago, Cedaredge and Olathe were battling for the 3A Western Slope championship but both have dropped into the 2A ranks this year and could face off for the 2A WSL Southern division crown. They also collide on February 16th. The Bruins have outscored opponents by 61 points this year with wins coming against Hotchkiss and Meeker. Top returnee Kammie Henderson went for 19 points and 12 rebounds against Hotchkiss and bettered those numbers with 25 points and 18 rebounds against Meeker. Olathe captured just five wins in 3A last year but is off to a 2-0 start this year with hard fought wins over Roaring Fork (41-28) and Plateau Valley (54-48). Mariah Garcia led the Pirates in scoring last year (8.5) and topped that average with 11 points against Roaring Fork in the opener. In earning wins over Perkins County NE, Otis and Brush, Holyoke was among the busiest teams in week one and Kristen Vieselmeyer also had one of the best starts in any class. The junior scored 21, 29 and 33 points in the wins and also added 13, 8 and 18 rebounds. Vieselmeyer also added six assists and 10 steals on the week. Lauren Herman was also very solid; averaging 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds. Both players collected two double-doubles on the week. Byers is already getting accustomed to tight games as both contests last were decided by two points or less; beating Kiowa 57-55 in overtime and falling to Akron 32-30. Symantha Linnebur is second in scoring (11.0) and first in rebounding (12.5). Del Norte (2-1) looks to bounce back from a tough 61-30 loss to top ranked Rye last Saturday. The Tigers committed a whopping 34 turnovers and forced just nine. Kaeci Madrid, with 16 points, led the offense. Hoehne could be a bubble team for the state playoffs later this year. After falling to Sargent (38-33) last Friday, they recovered to knock off Center (47-35). They are very strong with the top four scorers either freshman or sophomores. All four average between 6-7 points a game. Peyton, despite some key injuries, remains favored to land the Black Forest title with Calhan-Thomas MacLaren the likely top challengers. Calhan also faces Peyton on Thursday so it’s a big week for the Bulldogs. They’re 0-2 and have scored just 60- total points in losses to Ellicott and Elbert. Thomas MacLaren has given up 47 total points in beating Banning Lewis and Pikes Peak Christian.
CLASS 3A
FINAL: #1 Centauri beat Durango 52-49
FINAL: #7 Delta beat Montrose 53-37
FINAL: #8 Pagosa Springs beat Alamosa 36-17
FINAL: Coal Ridge beat Roaring Fork 38-30
NOTES: With University falling by one point to Lutheran last week, Centauri became the new number one team in the division in new rankings released on Monday. Their reward is a difficult schedule that starts with a road trip to 4A Durango and closes against two ranked opponents in Delta and Rye on Friday-Saturday. Wins in all three will cement their position atop the 3A rankings but also heavily strengthen a run to the top overall seed in the state playoff bracket. Courtney Hamilton continued her strong early play with 23 points and eight rebounds in last week’s league opening win over Alamosa. Brenna McDaniel added 12 points and four assists and Camrey Ruybol displayed a solid all-around game with nine points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals. Durango (2-1) is two points away from a perfect start as their lone blemish came in overtime to Delta (62-61). Maddy McManus (19), Mason Rowland (13) and Ana Cuntz (12) all scored double figures and they combined for 10 three-pointers. The defense also forced 31 turnovers. Pagosa Springs and Alamosa get together for the first of two conference meetings. Alamosa already has the league loss to Centauri so another to Pagosa Springs puts the Moose in a tough spot league title wise. Pagosa has not been pushed in easy wins over Monte Vista (61-24) and Bayfield (59-20). Adelyn Dozier (17.) netted 15 vs Monte Vista and 19 against Bayfield while Molly Graham scored 17 vs the Pirates and 11 vs the Wolverines. Delta and Moffat County are the likely favorites in the Western Slope but behind them are several teams pushing for a top three finish. Coal Ridge and Roaring Fork are two of them. Coal Ridge has beaten two 4A rivals in Steamboat Springs and Glenwood Springs while the Rams have split games with Olathe (loss) and Summit (win).
CLASS 4A
FINAL: #1 Mullen beat Smoky Hill 95-15
FINAL: #3 George Washington beat Northfield 66-21
FINAL: #4 Holy Family beat Riverdale Ridge 87-21
FINAL: #6 Erie beat Fort Morgan 77-18
FINAL: #7 Falcon beat Sierra 70-30
FINAL: #10 Berthoud beat Greeley West 81-20
FINAL: Roosevelt beat Centaurus 57-39
NOTES: In looking at the list, the best game involving a top 10 squad pits #7 Falcon against Sierra. Both teams were in the top 10 to start the season with Sierra dropping out despite a 51-44 win over Cheyenne Mountain last week. Seniors Jaide Howell and Ariana Reyes were dominant on both ends; combining for 29 points and 31 rebounds. Falcon worked through last week with two wins; beating Lewis Palmer (46-34) and Fountain Fort Carson (52-44). Billie Fiore led the way with 18 points against LP and Hannah Burg matched that effort against the Trojans. This is the first of two meetings as they meet again on the 16th. Results from those two and games against Sand Creek could determine the top three spots in the CS Metro chase. Riverdale Ridge (1-0) blew past Niwot 56-20 in their opener but takes a major step up in competition to face Holy Family. It will be a good standard bearer for the Ravens so they can see how far their program has come in a short period of time. Holy Family blitzed Broomfield 61-20 last week behind 18 points from Tyler Whitlock. Defensively, they forced 23 turnovers and limited the Eagles to just 28 field goal attempts. Roosevelt (2-0) and Centaurus (1-0) face off in a non-league game but both teams want a win to boost RPI numbers. Centaurus had 10 players score in a 46-21 win over Standley Lake; Roosevelt averaged 76 points in blowing past Niwot and Fort Morgan.
CLASS 5A
FINAL: #1 Grandview beat #10 Cherry Creek 73-44
FINAL: #3 Highlands Ranch beat ThunderRidge 61-26
FINAL: #4 Regis beat Ponderosa 48-18
FINAL: #5 Arapahoe beat Overland 80-17
FINAL: #6 Chaparral beat Castle View 47-38
FINAL: #9 Rangeview beat Broomfield 57-45
NOTES: Rivalries between Grandview-Cherry Creek and Highlands Ranch-ThunderRidge have treated basketball fans to some great games over the years and those battles continue this evening. There is great tradition in all four gyms with Grandview and Creek combining for the last three state titles and ThunderRidge-Highlands Ranch stringing together nine straight crowns from 2000-08. Grandview is favored this year as Lauren Betts is an impossible matchup for every important. The 6-7 senior has two double-doubles already this year; scoring 31 points with 17 rebounds against Mullen and then going for 19 and 12 against Cherokee Trail. Creek is 0-2 including a 35-point loss to Mullen last Friday where they connected on just 8 of 45 field goal attempts. Highlands Ranch (1-1) is coming off a 65-52 loss to Valor Christian and also plays Chaparral on Thursday so this is a key stretch for the Falcons. They were outscored 36-21 in the second half. ThunderRidge has wins over Mead (48-45) and Denver East (59-45) with freshmen Alexis Baker (26) and Kiera Kayser-Cochran (21) combining for 47 points in the victories. Rangeview (2-0) is a newcomer to the top 10 and will get a stern test from Broomfield in their first game as a ranked team. The Eagles are winless with losses against 4A ranked opponents Holy Family and Holy Family. Rangeview has solid wins over traditional powers Horizon and Fairview with juniors Grace Solarin and NyEra West totaling 47 points and 27 rebounds.
