White squad puts on a 3-point show in 9th annual Jeffco HS Senior Basketball Games

LAKEWOOD — Shooting beyond the arc wasn’t an issue for the White team Monday night at the Gold Crown Field House.

The White squad — coached by Ralston Valley coach Amy Bahl — let it fly from deep in the 9th annual Jeffco HS Basketball Games presented by FirstBank and Gold Crown Foundation. Bahl’s squad made 14 3-pointers in the girls game that the White team won 81-51.

Jefferson senior Meadow Mondragon led the way with five 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 17 points. Mondragon averaged 15.8 points per game for the Saints this season. However, Standley Lake senior Aaliyah Valenzuela got the nod as the MVP for the White squad.

“I’m sure it was a hard decision,” Valenzuela said of the picking the MVP for the White team. “(Mondragon) as going crazy. She was really good.”

Valenzuela had 14 points to help lead the White to a 30-point victory. The Gator also helped Standley Lake to its first ever appearance in the Final 4 of the girls basketball state tournament.

A 38-36 loss to eventual state champion Lutheran in the 5A state semifinals on March 12 at the Denver Coliseum was a little easier for Valenzuela to deal with after the fun Monday night.

“It took off the sting a little bit,” Valenzuela said of the state semifinal loss. “I feel a little bit better about it.”

Standley Lake had an impressive 22-5 record this season under first-year head coach Enoch Miller. Valenzuela was the only senior on the starting-five for Miller, so the future is very bright for Standley Lake’s girls basketball program.

“I’m so proud of the (Standley Lake) program and how far it has come,” Valenzuela said. “I think we made a lot of progress this year.”

Green Mountain girls coach Matteo Busnardo coached the Blue team. Busnardo’s Rams made it all the way to the 5A title game for the first time in program history, but Lutheran was able to knock off the Rams too by the score of 33-27 on Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum.

Busnardo will be back a good group of talent to make another run at the program’s first state title in school history.

Columbine senior Taylor Speir picked up the MVP honor for the Blue squad. Speir was all over the court and finished with 11 points.

“It was really fun,” Speir said. “It is fun to play with everyone that you played against for the past four years.”

Speir is keeping busy this Spring season playing soccer, along with running track for the Rebels. She will continue her basketball career as a freshman at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.

“I’m really excited about it,” Speir said of playing for Mines coach Brittany Simpson. “It’s a great opportunity and a great school. It is where I wanted to be and it’s close to home which I’m excited about. It will be great to have my family and friends be able to still watch me play.”