Class 2A Girls Basketball Weekly Update Week 4
By Tayler Garcia
We have decided for the month of December to look at the top 10 teams and teams who are off to great starts. We will look back at the past week plus look ahead to this week & weekend. This will be the final update for the 2023 season.
#1 Merino (5-0)
Merino wraps up 2023 with a 5-0 record. Merino then looked to end 2023 with 3 games participating in the NJC Holiday Shootout. Merino won the NJC Holiday Shootout. Merino defeated Prairie 60-14, Akron 54-42, and Sedgwick County 50-39. The Rams will kick off 2024 with a pair road game. They will open league play against Wray on 1/5 and then a non-league game against Lyons on 1/6.
#2 Sedgwick County (5-1)
Sedgwick County ends 2023 with a 5-1 record having beat South Platte 56-21, Pagosa Springs 54-49, Heritage Christian 38-33, Holyoke 47-15, and Wiggins 53-37. Their lone loss comes in the Championship of the NJC Shootout against Merino 50-39. To kick off the big part of the season in the new year, the Cougars will play at home on 1/5 against Akron in a league game. For Sedgwick County, Abigail Dille has 93 points, 14 assists, and 22 rebounds, Lainee Nein has 85 points, 18 assists, and 33 rebounds, Ryen Carlson has 30 points, Avery Goddard has 8 assists, and Chloe Thode has 32 rebounds.
#3 Limon (2-2)
Limon starts off with a 2-2 record for the 2023 portion of their season. Their wins are from their games against Wiggins (50-45) and Sterling (47-29) and their losses are from Peyton (65-62) and Yuma (61-33). The Badgers will kick off 2024 with a home game against Dolores Huerta Prep on 1/6. Leading Limon so far this season are Jentri Marx with 65 points, 21 assists and 35 rebounds, Katelyn Tacha with 51 points and 15 assists, Teal Schmidt with 19 points, 7 assists, and 23 rebounds, and Enyceia Frescas with 22 rebounds.
#4 Akron (4-2)
Akron ends the 2023 portion of their season with a 4-2 record. Their wins come against Burlington (45-34), Otis (59-26), DCA (45-30), and Wiggins (52-40). Their two losses are from Idalia (28-27) and Merino (54-42). After the break, the Rams will face Sedwick County on the road on 1/5 in a league game. Top players so far for Akron this season are Addicyn Kessinger with 108 points and 49 rebounds, Kinsey Grauer with 68 points, 15 assists and 17 rebounds, Kashlee Randel with 48 points, 15 assists and 18 rebounds, and Becky Drum with 4 assists.
#5 Burlington (2-3)
Burlington did not play any additional games this last week and will not play until the new year on 1/6 on the road against Elbert in a league game. The Cougars have a 2-3 record to end 2023 with top players being Kiyarra Williams with 60 points, 8 assists, and 32 rebounds, Trinitee Holmes with 55 points, 10 assists and 44 rebounds, and Reagan Simpson with 34 points, 16 assists and 20 rebounds. For score details of previous games, refer to last weeks article.
#6 Rangely (6-1)
The Panthers wrap up 2023 with a 6-1 record with wins against Manila (49-41), American Heritage (46-36), Nucla (53-20), De Beque (58-33) and Sterling (50 -32). Their loss was a close one with Yuma where the score was 51-46. They will kick off the new year on 1/5 with a road game against North Fork and a home league game on 1/6 against Soroco. Stat leaders so far for Rangely are Miah Wren with 123 points and 9 assists, Annika Cantrell with 48 points and 57 rebounds, Ashlynn Ducey with 46 points and 8 assists, Miley Chism with 11 assists and Emmeree Wagner with 23 rebounds.
#7 Simla (4-3)
Simla finishes their pre-break season with a 4-3 record having beat Wiggins 59-54, Holyoke 48-17, Monte Vista 48-30, and Sangre de Cristo 58-22. Their three losses come from Peyton (51-26 and 51-30) and Merino (52-33). Leading the team so far in their success are Carlee Cox with 59 points, 13 assists and 41 rebounds, Kylie Maranville with 57 points, 12 assists and 41 rebounds, Katie Gotschall with 44 points and 15 assists and Amara Mazerall with 31 rebounds.
#8 Sanford (3-0)
The Mustangs have not played any additional games since their close victory over Centauri last Tuesday (42-39 in overtime) but have not wrapped up 2023 yet. They will face Hayden in the Katte Classic hosted by Denver Christian on 12/21. Sanford will then face either Denver Christian or Belleview Christian in the next round. After the break, Sanford will host Pagos Springs on 1/4 to kick off the main portion of the season.
#9 Denver Christian (4-1)
The Thunder are 4-1 so far this season. They fell in their first game to Colorado Academy 58-42 but have won their following four games against Forage Christian (54-37), West Grand (45-26), Byers (60-54) and St. Mary’s Academy (47-46). Denver Christian will play in the Katte Classic this week and open tournament play against Belleview Christian. Denver Christian will face either Sanford or Hayden in the next round. They will begin their 2024 season on 1/9 against Lyons on the road. Stat leaders so far for the season are Kamiree Fuller with 95 points, 13 assists, and 24 rebounds, Noelani Book with 69 points, 26 assists, and 24 rebounds, Fabiana Genc with 22 points and 49 rebounds, and Anna Averett with 13 assists.
#10 Heritage Christian (3-2)
The Eagles are 3-2 so far on the season. Their wins are in games where they faced Hoehne (45-51), Prospect Ridge (40-35), and Windsor Charter Academy (48-17). The two losses are against Sedgwick County (38-33) and 4A Glenwood Springs (43-28). They will restart their season play on 1/6 where they will face DCA at home.
Team who are off to great starts and not ranked
We look at 6 teams who are not ranked but are off to a great start this season.
Hoehne (4-2)
Hoehne had an interesting start to their season winning 3 straight games and picking up a quality win over Trinidad in the TSJC Tournament. Hoehne then fell to Heritage Christian (45 to 41) and 4A Pagosa Springs (51 to 36). Both losses are quality losses for the Famers. Hoehne then picked up one of their biggest wins of the season defeating Las Animas 51 to 8 (Las Animas upset Fowler a few days prior). That win puts Hoehne as the early favorite in Santa Fe League. They will be wrapping up their 2023 portion of their season against SCA on 12/21. Stat leaders so far for the Farmers are Janae Ramos with 82 points and 39 rebounds, Ellegra Guriterrez with 51 points and 15 assists, Phoenix San Roman with 43 points and 18 assists, Alessa Cantoria with 14 assists, Kaylah Crosson with 38 rebounds, and Janelle Ramos with 28 rebounds.
Loveland Classical (6-0)
Wrapping up the end of the year, Loveland Classical is 6-0 so far in the season. They have been able to beat ACA 44-36 and 41-35, Caprock Academy 35-26, TPCA 48-27, Union Colony Prep 60-39, and Dawson School 49-25. They will kick of the rest of their season in 2024 on 1/11 with a road game to Rocky Mountain Luther and on 1/12 at Windsor Charter Academy.
Center (4-2)
The Vikings are off to a strong start this season with a 4-2 record so far with one of their losses being to Salida in overtime (38-35) and the other to Sargent in another close game (44-38). Center hosted the C-Town Showdown this past weekend and picked up their best quality wins of the season thus far. Center defeated Calhan 44 to 34 then handed Crowley County their first loss of the season defeating the Chargers 51 to 21. They will open up their 2024 portion of the season on 1/4 against Rocky Ford at home and will go on the road to Peyton on 1/6. Currently leading the team is Alicia Rios with 76 points and 8 assists, Ciara Paiz with 45 points and 30 rebounds, Ximena Miranda with 45 points, Yaya Garcia with 6 assists, Bianey Rascon with 3 assists, and Emiliana Valdez with 34 rebounds.
Plateau Valley (5-0)
The Cowboys end 2023 with a very strong start to their season. They are currently 5-0 and beating their opponents by large margins. They have defeated Soroco 63-7, Vail Christian 75-9, Telluride 54-9, Crested Butte 67-28, and De Beque 48-11. They will open up their 2024 portion of the season on 1/5 against Cedaredge and on 1/6 against North Park both on the road. Their next big test will be when they play Rangely on 1/11. Stat leaders so far for Plateau Valley are Emaline Ealey with 106 points and 58 rebounds, Meloni Miller with 70 points, 14 assists and 45 rebounds, Macy Bevan with 37 points, 12 assists, and 33 rebounds, and Zully Varela Castillo with 18 assists.
Las Animas (5-2)
The Trojans wrap up 2023 with a 5-2 record. Las Animas has some quality wins on their record defeating La Veta (60-17), South Baca (31-24), and Swink (41-35). Last week Las Animas picked up their best win of the season upsetting Fowler 45 to 36 and showing they are a team to watch in the Santa Fe League. Las Animas ended 2023 with a loss to Hoehne 51 to 8 and will look to bounce back in 2024 when they face Center on 1/13. Leading the team so far are Jadann Eck with 79 points, 17 assists, and 38 rebounds, Emma Netherton with 54 points and 64 rebounds, Chanel LaBarge with 42 points and 22 assists, and Ava LaBarge with 14 assists and 26 rebounds.
Evangelical Christian (5-1)
ECA ends 2023 with a 5-1 record. They lost their first game against Fowler in a close game of 45-44 but have since beat La Veta 58-22, Cheraw 48-34, Kiowa 43-38, Custer County 53-25, and Cotopaxi 49-46. They will be back in action on 1/6 against Sierra Grande in a road game. Leading the Eagles so far this season are Reagan Schultz with 54 points and 31 rebounds, Sara Caldwel with 44 points, Mia Castro with 35 points, 30 assists, and 20 rebounds, Ellie Wagner with 7 assists and 19 rebounds, and Alaina Ripple with 7 assists.
MileHigh Prep Report 