Colorado Springs Christian, Merino and Briggsdale girls basketball took to the courts at the beginning of December with the knowledge that all eyes would be on them as defending small school champions.
So far, it’s been a pretty good go for each of those teams. But the story of the 2024-25 season is still truly in its opening chapters, and other squads like McClave, Centauri, Denver Christian and Rangely are turning heads.
Play ramps up across the state this weekend and in full swing early next week. Here’s a look at a few teams and players who have made an early impact on the scene.
Class 3A
By the numbers: Denver Christian currently holds the top spot in the CHSAA RPI at 7-1, but the Thunder lost their last pre-break game by seven points to CSCHS, 52-45. Natalie Bohannon, a junior, is leading the charge for DCHS at 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds pre game, while senior Noelani Book is posting 3.8 assists and 3.5 steals a contest. The Thunder still have four nonleague games before Metro League play begins, including a matchup against 6-1 Byers on Jan. 14.
Title defense: Colorado Springs Christian is just 3-2, losing to Lutheran by six and Centauri (8-0) by three at the start of the season. The sophomore-heavy Lions are led by Rose Ross (18.0 ppg).
Future all-stars: Briza Flores of Highland is averaging 19.7 points and already has 21 made 3-pointers. Meeker’s Rylee Sullivan, a junior, has scored at least 16 points in all five of MHS’ games and carries a 20.6 scoring average into the new year. Olivia Klein is heading up a good start for Resurrection Christian with an 18-point scoring average.
Watch us work: Centauri won’t play again until Jan. 10, but the Falcons have been working both ends of the floor very well so far, outpacing teams by a margin of 23 points.
Class 2A
By the numbers: Rangely’s 7-0 start is tops in the 2A RPI, and the Panthers’ closest win has been by 15 points. Miah Wren has been credited with 24.8 points per game with four games’ worth of stats entered in MaxPreps.
Title defense: Merino is 6-0, allowing just 22.8 points per game so far. The Rams face 5-1 Wiggins in an early post-break challenge on Jan. 10.
Future all-stars: Seniors Sara Lechman and Makaila Gifford have led 9-1 West Grand with 12.5 and 11.4 points, respectively. Simla’s Kylie Maranville is shooting 59% from the field with a 15.2 scoring average. Plateau Valley’s Emaline Ealey is averaging a double-double (18.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg) through her team’s 6-1 start.
Watch us work: Sanford is 7-2 with a three-point loss to Salida and a five-point loss to Centauri. The Mustangs have outscored teams 474-276 so far.
Class 1A
By the numbers: McClave is 6-0 with the top RPI so far. The young Cardinals are paced by sophomore Addison Vallejos (14.5 ppg) and three other juniors who average between 6 and 12 points. On Jan. 10, MHS hosts Eads in a rematch of a Dec. 20 game won by MHS, 63-34. Eads is 5-2.
Title defense: Briggsdale has been steady at 5-1, its lone loss coming in overtime to Hi-Plains on Dec. 14. The Falcons’ Kayl Klem had a huge game against Cheyenne Wells before break, posting 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting as BHS won by five points, 53-48. She’s averaging 15 points.
Future all-stars: La Veta’s Aspen Autry is off to a very nice start, averaging 17.7 points while shooting 47% from the floor through the Redhawks’ first seven games. Cheyenne Wells’ Paige Ryser (16.3 ppg) has made 11 3-pointers through six games. Prairie’s Hannah Kugler (17.8 ppg) is averaging about half of her team’s total points per game.
Watch us work: Fleming is 5-1 with its only blemish coming against McClave. The Wildcats have two juniors leading the way with double-digit scoring — Brooke Schaefer (11.7 ppg) and Ciana Lousberg (10.2).
