There are six top 10 matchups on the Class 3A-4A-5A girls’ basketball schedule this week and even more could take place if tournament brackets play out as expected. Those games and others are included in our weekly look at the top games across the state.
CLASS 3A
Thursday – #3 Lutheran vs Colorado Springs Christian
After falling short in the state championship game each of the past three years, Colorado Springs Christian begins a new era with coach Cayla Fitzgerald taking over for Mark Engesser. The new coach won her first game with the program last week as the Lions took out Calhan 50-37. Sophomore Elleah Hoekert led the way 18 points and senior Corrie Anderson added 15. The two also connected on four three-pointers including three from Anderson.
Lutheran, which has won two state titles since 2014, blew past three foes to easily win the Bennett Tournament. They allowed just 47 total points in beating Conifer, Bennett and Skyview Academy. They recorded 53 steals during the tournament including 12 from Stephanie Schultz and nine from Kaitlyn Kyle. Those two also led the offense with 11 points per game. Freshman Raelyn Kelty also added 10 points a night.
Friday – #1 St Mary’s vs #2 Pagosa Springs
The early season clash of the highest two ranked teams in 3A takes place on a neutral court as they face off at the Buena Vista Invitational. And the game could give us an indication of how big the gap is between St Mary’s and the rest of the division. The Pirates are the two-time defending state champions and heavily favored to a land a third title next Spring.
The push for a third title is off to a great start as the Pirates blasted Resurrection Christian (75-22) and Mead (81-33) in their first two games. As expected, seniors Josephine Howery and Seneca Hackley led the way. Howery, the returning player of the year, scored 24 points against Resurrection Christian and added 21 against Mead. Hackley went for 37 points in those two wins and added 13 steals including nine against Mead.
Lost in the shuffle of those two is the solid play of Ellie Hartman. The sophomore scored 13 points with four rebounds, two assists and three steals against Resurrection Christian. She also scored 11 with five assists and four rebounds against the Mavericks.
Pagosa Springs has played just one game thus far; routing Salida 64-25 last Saturday. The Pirates this season are led by seniors Hailey Griego, Teagan Stretton, Elsa Lindner and Taylor Lewis. Griego led the team in scoring (12.5) and rebounding (7.2) last season while Stretton, Lindner and Lewis combined for nearly 17 points and 10 rebounds a night.
Saturday – #8 Vanguard vs Peyton (2A)
Unranked to open the season, the Coursers jumped into the 3A poll this week thanks to an upset of Delta (59-47) last week. The Panthers were ranked third at the time. Vanguard followed up the big win with another victory over Manitou Springs (37-31) to claim the top prize at the Faith Christian tournament.
Alexis Garcia led Vanguard in scoring last year (15.4) and she netted 12 against Delta but it was freshman who led the offensive attack. Hailey Blanchard dropped in 20 and Julianna Garcia added 12. Those three also combined for seven three pointers in 26 attempts. They also totaled 31 of the team’s 37 points in the title win over Manitou Springs.
Peyton’s new coach is Brian Green who returns to the school following a very successful run with the boys’ program earlier this decade. It appears they will play a bit more up-tempo. The Panthers averaged 44.7 points per game last year but totaled at least 65 in all three wins last week. Leading scorers include Kayleigh Mannering (18.0), Shelby Miller (14.3), Annika Deanda (12.7) and Paige Gowen (10.0).
CLASS 4A
Tuesday – #1 Mullen vs #6 Regis (5A)
There are five matchups of top 10 clubs in Classes 4A and 5A this week but this one may be the most attractive. Regis has been one of the top big-school programs for many years and Mullen is coming off the 4A state title. Both have plenty of talent returning and each seeks a signature win in December.
Mullen won the Castle View/ThunderRidge tournament last week; beating Grand Junction, Dakota Ridge and Cherokee Trail by a combined 104 points. The top scorer on the week was Megan Pohs who averaged 14 points over the three games. But it was Gracie Gallegos, with 15 points, who paced the team in the championship win over Cherokee Trail. Pohs was next with 10.
Regis has won at least 20 games each of the past three years and opened this year with a 64-48 win over Doherty. The game with Mullen starts a tough three-day stretch as the Raiders also meet #7 Holy Family on Thursday. Later this month, they again take part in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix.
Tuesday – #2 Pueblo West vs #5 Mesa Ridge
Not surprised to see these two clubs in the top five at this point of the season. Even though neither has won a state title since Mesa Ridge grabbed the crown in 2014, both are a good bet to reach at least the semifinals or Great 8 each season.
Pueblo West, which also faces #3 Air Academy at the Pueblo County tournament this week, opened the season at 2-0 with double-digit wins over Sierra and Cheyenne Mountain last week. They pulled away from Sierra with a 18-8 run in the fourth quarter and also took control against Cheyenne Mountain with a 23-8 spurt in the third quarter.
Senior Hannah Simental (20.0) and Maya Sanchez (13.0) lead the Cyclones on offense. Shayla Padilla has added 9.5 rebounds and Gabby Louther 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 5.0 steals.
Mesa Ridge hasn’t played since December 3rd when they knocked out Pueblo East 52-30. The Grizzlies jumped to a 13-point first quarter lead and weren’t pushed from that point on. Serin Dunne with 17 and Marissa Spencer with 16 topped the stat sheet.
Thursday – #7 Holy Family at #6 Regis (5A)
Holy Family is just 1-2 but their early season schedule is among the most difficult in the division. They played three 5A schools at the Horizon tournament last week and face a fourth in Regis. On the schedule in the final week before Christmas are dates with top five opponents Air Academy (20th) and Pueblo West (21st).
Following losses to Arapahoe and Ralston Valley to open the season, Holy Family made quick work of Pine Creek. They led 16-3 after one quarter and that margin stayed intact until the final buzzer (43-32). Eight players scored in the win; a group led by Tyler Whitlock with 13. Cecillia Aanerud added ten rebounds and Whitlock recorded six steals.
Regis, as mentioned, will be facing their second straight top 10 opponent from 4A in this one after facing Mullen two nights earlier. The Raiders return junior Ashley Van Sickle who averaged 13 points a game while serving as the second option behind Fran Belibi (21.8) the past two years.
Friday – #2 Pueblo West vs #3 Air Academy
This matchup takes place at the Pueblo County tournament where each club will play four games over a three-day stretch. Since they’re in the same pool division, only one will have a chance at landing the tournament title Saturday evening.
As we preview before, the game continues a difficult week for the Cyclones as they also meet Mesa Ridge on Tuesday. They enter the tough stretch at 2-0. Air Academy has seen court action just once this season and since the win over Classical Academy (56-15) came on December 5th, they will be well rested ahead of the busy tournament slate. They held TCA to just 18 percent shooting (7-38) in the opening win.
CLASS 5A
Friday – #1 Cherry Creek vs #5 Mesa Ridge (4A)
As the number one ranked team in the state’s biggest class, the Bruins are favored in this one but the game provides a chance for Mesa Ridge to make a huge splash. Should the Grizzlies beat Pueblo West on Tuesday night and then upset the Bruins, they will get strong consideration for the number one spot in Class 4A.
It will be a tall task. The Bruins won two of three games at the “She Got Game” classic in Dallas last week and because of that effort, they’re ranked 25th nationally by MaxPreps. Division One signees Jana Van Gytenbeek (15.0) and Cali Clark (10.3) lead the offense with Gytenbeek also leading the team in assists (7.0) and Clark in rebounds (12.7). Three other Bruins average between seven and eight points a game on offense.
Tournaments – Fairview & Douglas County
Each bracket features two top 10 teams with possible championship pairings between #5 Ralston Valley and #7 Fossil Ridge at Fairview and #8 Cherokee Trail and #9 Sand Creek at the Douglas County. The Fairview bracket opens on Tuesday with action at Douglas County tipping on Wednesday night.
Cherokee Trail is already 4-1 with a lone loss to Mullen (51-29) in the ThunderRidge/Castle View tournament finals. They beat Broomfield and ThunderRidge to get there.
Sand Creek (1-0) rolled three-time defending finalist Pueblo South 88-41 in their only action to date. TiAna Davis dropped in 21, Nikke Derrell 15 and Shamira Wallace 14 in the win. The Scorpions open the bracket against Rampart.
If Ralston Valley and Fossil Ridge meet this week, it will be a rematch of the Horizon Tournament championship game last Saturday. Ralston Valley won that battle 36-29 but neither team played that well. The Mustangs made 12 of 49 shots (24%) and Ralston Valley just 9 of 55 (16%). Combined the two clubs were just five of 36 from the three-point line.
