CLASS 1A GIRLS BASKETBALL DAILY DIGEST – FEB. 22ND
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
District 1 finally gets to join the postseason fray, with quarterfinals on tap today. Finals have already been set in two districts, and several others will get to that point by the end of the night.
DISTRICT ONE
There is just one quarterfinal contest on the slate tonight in District 1, where #4 Caprock Academy squares off against #5 North Park for a spot in the semifinals. The winner will face #1 Dove Creek tomorrow.
North Park beat the Lady Eagles 53-30 just about a month ago, overcoming an early five-point hole. The Lady Wildcats outscored Caprock 47-19 over the final three quarters to secure the victory. Dezirae Gonzales recorded a triple-double in the victory, posting 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 steals. Sarai Rea and Taylor Phillips each had nine points for Caprock Academy.
DISTRICT TWO
The first semifinal in District 2 will be the third clash this season between #1 McClave and #4 Kit Carson. McClave won the first two meetings, 45-22 in the finals of the Lamar Holiday Basketball Tournament, and 60-47 two weeks ago. Kit Carson topped #5 Granada 41-25 in the quarterfinals behind 18 points and 12 rebounds from Lindsey Mayhan.
Zoe Martinez had 11 points in the first meeting for the Lady Cards, while Abrielle Gomez had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Nadaya Buttry led Kit Carson with 13 points in that contest. Martinez and Gomez were again key forces in the second win, scoring 14 and 13, respectively. McKayla Kinniston added 10 points and nine steals. Avery Johnson had 15 points for the Lady Wildcats, and Mayhan tacked on 10.
Eads bounced #7 Wiley 56-25 on Tuesday, with Tailee Weeks-Johnson (17), Alessandra Paez (14), and Lexi Shotton (13) all scoring double figures for the Lady Eagles. Third seeded Cheyenne Wells handled #6 Cheraw by a 43-26 count. Aubry Carroll was one of three Lady Tigers in double figures with 17. Aliyah Muth and Paige Ryser each added 10.
Just about two weeks ago, Eads took a 46-42 win at home over the Lady Tigers, with Anna Wollert and Paez both scoring 12 points. Wollert also grabbed 14 rebounds. Muth had 13 points for Cheyenne Wells, and Ryser tallied 11.
DISTRICT THREE
South Baca and Springfield are set to play on Friday for the District 3 title, after both picked up semifinal wins on Wednesday. South Baca, seeded #1, needed a 17-8 fourth quarter to oust #4 La Veta by a 49-43 score. The #2 Lady Longhorns beat #3 Kim/Branson 37-23.
While the winners will fight for the automatic qualifying spot into regionals, Kim/Branson and La Veta will also play on Friday. Those two will play for third. Both games will be at La Junta High School.
DISTRICT FOUR
Weldon Valley earned a spot in the District 4 semifinals against #1 Briggsdale by beating #5 Peetz 47-37 on Tuesday. The #4 Lady Warriors got double-doubles from Haylee Nelson (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Annie Onufrak (11 points, 14 rebounds). Briggsdale beat Weldon Valley last month, 70-31. Jenna Krise had 28 points to lead the Lady Falcons, and Bailey Loyd added 16. Onufrak had eight for Weldon Valley, and Skylar Scott tacked on seven.
The other semifinal has #2 Fleming going up against #3 Prairie. The Lady Wildcats took a 37-35 win on the road last month, getting 13 points from Ciana Lousberg. Kayla Kugler led Prairie with 14 points, while Hannah Kugler added eight points and 14 rebounds.
DISTRICT FIVE
Three of the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals in District 5, with only #4 Arickaree getting the boot in the quarterfinal round. Top-seeded Stratton motored past #8 Bethune 60-28, while #5 Otis upset Arickaree 36-29. Aedyn Tribelhorn had 13 points for the Lady Bulldogs in that upset, and Alli Hornung chipped in 10 points.
Idalia (#2) only led #7 Lone Star by five at the half before putting together an 18-6 third. The Lady Wolves won 42-32, with Jaylyn Kechter collecting 15 points and 11 rebounds. Hi-Plains had its hands full with #5 Flagler in the quarters, but the Lady Patriots finally pulled out a 43-35 victory.
DISTRICT SIX
As expected, the top four seeds in District 6 made the semifinals, slated for Friday at Centauri High School. Top-seeded Sangre de Cristo got there on a bye, and the Lady Thunderbirds will face #4 Centennial, who beat #5 Lake City 47-26.
The other semifinal will have #2 Creede playing #3 Sierra Grande. Creede rolled #7 Antonito 62-25, while the Lady Panthers dropped #6 Moffat 54-12. Jaylyn Quezada (19) and Alexia Gonzalez (16) combined for 35 points for Sierra Grande.
DISTRICT SEVEN
Semifinal action in District 7 will also take place on Friday, with the action happening at Limon High School. The top seed, Kiowa, had a bye in the quarterfinals, and the Lady Indians will meet #4 Pikes Peak Christian, who beat #5 Deer Trail 41-32.
The #2 Genoa-Hugo/Karval Lady Pirates blasted #7 Cripple Creek-Victor 56-18, earning a spot in the semis against #3 Hanover. The Lady Hornets took care of business against #6 Miami-Yoder, 46-26. Lavana Sweazy put 32 points in the books for the winners.
DISTRICT EIGHT
The finals in District 8 have been set since Tuesday, when #1 Flatirons Academy routed #4 Mile High Academy 90-12, and #2 Rocky Mountain Lutheran controlled #3 Front Range Baptist, 36-22. Emma Cox went off for the Lady Bison, scoring 42 points, while Emily Dehaan added 21. For the victorious Lady Eagles, it was Ginny Shade putting up 15 points, 10 rebounds, and six steals.
While those two programs will decide the district championship, Mile High Academy and Front Range Baptist will tangle for third place. The Lady Mustangs look to be safely into the field of 32 for regionals, but Front Range Baptist was outside of the top-32 on Thursday, coming in at 34th in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.
MileHigh Prep Report 