One-thousand points in a high school basketball career is still a fairly rare accomplishment. Just not this year at Vista Ridge.

Seniors Jasmine Byers and Brooklyn Kaiser joined the exclusive club earlier in the winter. And now, they have the Wolves on the brink of their best season in a decade.

On Monday, Class 6A No. 12 Vista Ridge (11-2) beat Mesa Ridge 62-43 for its fifth straight win of the season. Kaiser scored 22 and Byers 18.

In this week’s look-in on 6A-4A girls’ hoops, we dig into a few of the pleasant surprises from across the state.

**

Class 6A

No. 12 Vista Ridge: The Wolves ended a streak of seven straight losing seasons a year ago, finishing 13-10.

Building on it, they’ve won 11 of their first 13 games this winter and are on pace to have their best season since 2015-16, when they went 16-9.

Byers and Kaiser have led the way offensively, averaging 18.8 and 18 PPG this winter.

No. 15 Riverdale Ridge: Can you really be a surprise team with perhaps the state’s most-decorated prospect, Briahanna Crittendon.

We say … Yes.

So far, the Ravens (10-5) have made the jump from 4A to 6A look like a breeze.

After winning the 4A title behind Crittendon a year ago, the junior is currently averaging 26.8 PPG — scoring at least 34 in her last four games — and has the Ravens moving towards the classification’s top 10.

No. 19 Fossil Ridge: The Sabercats (11-5) shook off an 0-3 start to season and have won 11 of their last 13 games.

Junior Elli Johnson (12.8 PPG) scored 16 on Friday, leading them past Poudre 47-29.

Class 5A

No. 12 Golden: Finishing 10-13 a year ago, the Demons are 15-2 this winter.

Their four-game winning streak was halted in a loss to No. 13 Columbine on Monday. But that hasn’t taken much away from their stellar start to the season, which has been aided by a defense allowing just 28 PPG.

No. 18 George Washington: Following a choppy start to the season, the Patriots (8-6) have won their last five games, including their first four in the 6A/5A All City League.

On Friday, they beat Denver North 59-38 behind 12 points apiece from Abryanna Alejo Grajeda and Nala Jordan. It was their fourth straight game holding an opponent to 40 or fewer points.

No. 35 Niwot: The Cougars (9-7) have as many wins as they did in the previous two seasons combined.
Though they’ve lost three straight and won’t get the benefit of an easier road any time soon, with 6A No. 5 Broomfield and 4A No. 8 Holy Family up next, the Cougars are hanging around in the playoff picture.

Class 4A

No. 17 Kennedy: On the back of consecutive losing seasons, the Commanders (10-3) have won six straight.

On Friday, five players outscored DSST: Conservatory Green by themselves in a 63-8 win. Senior Morgan Williams (14.3 PPG) led the way with 15 points, six rebounds and six steals.

No. 22 Fort Morgan: The Mustangs (6-6) were 1-22 last season. Now, .500.

Over the last two weeks, they’ve bounced back from lopsided losses to No. 1 University and No. 3 Eaton with wins. In those victories, Shaelynn Ramirez (8.4 PPG) scored a career-high 25, followed by 14.

No. 23 DSST: Montview: The Knights (8-4) have moved inside the classification’s top 25 with three straight wins.

On Thursday, they beat No. 33 Eagle Ridge Academy 62-44 behind 19 points from Emmie Kouyate (9 PPG) and 18 from Mykah Rimpson (8.2 PPG).

DSST: Montview finished 8-14 a year ago.