CLASS 1A GIRLS BASKETBALL REGIONAL DAILY DIGEST – MAR. 1ST
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
It took one game before shenanigans played out in the 1A girls regional bracket. South Baca, the host of Region 7, was eliminated on Thursday night by #26 Flagler, 33-23. Will chaos reign on Friday, or will the top seeds advance? One state qualifying berth will be awarded, and the final pairings in the remaining seven regions will be set by the end of the night.
REGION ONE (HOSTED BY #1 MCCLAVE)
#1 McClave (20-1) vs #32 La Veta (8-14) 11AM
McClave won the title in District 2 by beating Cheyenne Wells 55-25 in the finals. The Lady Cards have won 11 straight since a three-point loss to the top overall seed in the 3A bracket, Peyton. McClave outscored CW 33-12 in the second half last week to pull away from a tight contest at the half. Abrielle Gomez paces the team at 17 points a game, and Zoe Martinez adds 10. The Lady Cards also get better than eight a contest from Ashlynn Steinbrunn and McKayla Kiniston.
La Veta lost its last two games in the District 3 tournament, including a 36-28 decision to Kim/Branson in the third place contest. The Lady Redhawks have dropped six of their last seven overall. Aspen Autry leads the way at an even 20 points a night. No one else averages as many as six points a game. Jaiden Goemmer grabs better than 13 rebounds a contest.
The last game between these two came in 2021, a clash won by the Lady Cards 56-16. They are 2-1 against La Veta in the MaxPreps era.
#16 Hi-Plains (11-10) vs #17 Sangre de Cristo (17-4) 12:30PM
Hi-Plains had its four-game winning streak snapped by Idalia in the semifinals of the District 5 tournament, 41-25. Caelan Church is the lone Lady Patriot scoring double figures, as she checks in at just under 11 points a game. Cloe Smith and Jessica Sayles both put up just over seven a game, but both have been dealing with injuries and missing time.
Sangre won the title in District 6, beating Sierra Grande 36-31. That was the sixth straight win for the Lady Thunderbirds, but it wasn’t enough to get them into the top-16 of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index, so they were not able to host a regional. Five players score at least six points a night for the Lady T-Birds, led by Audrina Knorr at 10.2. Presley Wilson (9.9). Jaydra Cordova (8.3), Haylee Freel (7.6), and Idahlia Garcia (6.2) round out the group.
This will be the first meeting between the two sides in the MaxPreps era.
REGION TWO (HOSTED BY #2 STRATTON)
#2 Stratton (19-3) vs #31 Front Range Baptist (8-14) 4PM
Stratton won its last six games, five over teams in either the 1A or 2A regionals, including two over #5 Idalia. The latter of those was in the District 5 final last Saturday, with the Lady Eagles taking a 48-35 victory. Sedonia Isenbart in the engine that powers the Lady Eagles, leading the team in scoring (18.1 ppg), rebounding (7.2), assists (4.4), and steals (5.4), but she’s far from being the only weapon for Stratton. Sophia Isenbart and Clare Miltenberger combine for 18 points and are top-three in almost every category.
Front Range Baptist took third in District 8 by beating Mile High Academy 33-28 last Saturday, but the Lady Falcons have not won consecutive games in almost two months. Katie Jacques (9.3 ppg, 7.5 rebounds) and Libby Ciccone (6.5 ppg, 7.4 rebounds) provide a 1-2 punch for the Lady Falcons.
These two programs have not met in the MaxPreps era.
#15 Springfield (12-9) vs #18 Otis (10-11) 1PM
Springfield came up one point shy in the District 3 title game, falling to South Baca 36-35. The Lady Longhorns had won five straight prior to that loss. Lainee Leathers comes in at just a tick under 10 points a game, and Bay Ellis adds eight points and 9.4 rebounds. Aliyah Cohoon and Madison Varnado both score a little over seven points a night.
Otis won three of its final four games, and seven of its last 10, to climb from the high-20s in the Seeding Index up to 17th. The Lady Bulldogs pulled off an upset of Arickaree in the District 5 quarters, but fell to Stratton 64-20 in the semis. Aedyn Tribelhorn (10.1 ppg, 5.7 rebounds), Alli Hornung (8.8 ppg, 5.0 rebounds), and Madelyn Willeke (7.9 ppg, 7.6 rebounds) power the attack for the Lady Bulldogs.
While these two programs have a postseason history in volleyball, this will be the first meeting between the two on the hardwood in the MaxPreps era.
REGION THREE (HOSTED BY #3 FLATIRONS ACADEMY)
#3 Flatirons Academy (20-1) vs #30 Sierra Grande (10-12) 5:30PM
Flatirons Academy rides a 17-game winning streak into the regional semifinal on Friday, with the last coming against Rocky Mountain Lutheran (69-19) in the District 8 championship contest. The Lady Bison scored 159 points in two tournament games last week. Emma Cox leads a three-pronged attack at 27 points a game. Emily Dehaan (15.9) and Annabelle Rakers (11.4) complete the trio.
The loss to Sangre in the District 6 finals dropped Sierra Grande to just 2-3 in its last five games. However, the Lady Panthers had won five straight prior to that stretch. Jaylyn Quezada (11.7) and Alexia Gonzalez (10.8) combine for more than 22 points a night.
This is the first meeting between the teams in the MaxPreps era.
#14 Rocky Mountain Lutheran (15-6) vs #19 De Beque (13-8) 7PM
For Rocky Mountain Lutheran, the loss to Flatirons in the District 8 finals broke a four-game winning streak. The Lady Eagles won nine of their last 12 entering regionals. The duo of Ginny Shade (18.6) and Sophia Thiel (11.3) combine for right at 30 points a night. Shade also averages 6.2 steals a game.
De Beque had its own four-game winning streak snapped last week, as the Lady Dragons fell to Dove Creek 55-19 in the finals of District 1. That winning run followed a three-game slide, that was right on the heels of another three-game winning streak. Avery Rigsby tops the squad at better than 14 points a game, and the Lady Dragons get a boost from Ava Vines, who at 8.4 points and 9.9 rebounds is a threat to pop off for a double-double at any time.
This will be the first meeting between the teams in the nearly 20-year history of MaxPreps.
REGION FOUR (HOSTED BY #4 BRIGGSDALE)
#4 Briggsdale (19-2) vs #29 Hanover (12-7) 5:30PM
Briggsdale’s 52-39 win over Prairie in the District 4 finals was the sixth in a row for the Lady Falcons since their loss to Flatirons Academy. Jenna Krise, who leads the team at 28.1 points a game, had 31 in that victory, her sixth straight game with at least 30 points. She’s topped that mark 11 times this season. Claire Brown and Kayl Klem both add 10 points a night.
Hanover had its own four-game winning streak broken in the District 7 semifinals by Genoa-Hugo/Karval, but the Lady Hornets bounced back to take third place by beating Pikes Peak Christian 30-23. Lavana Sweazy averages 16 points a night, while the rest of the teams scores just over 15.
Like many of the other semifinals, this is the first meeting of the programs in the MaxPreps era.
#13 Prairie (14-6) vs #20 Cheraw (9-11) 7PM
Prairie went 5-2 down the stretch, with both losses coming against Briggsdale. Freshman Hannah Kugler is a double-double waiting to happen. She averages 14.4 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. Emily Andrews adds 8.5 points a night.
Cheraw dropped six of its last eight games coming into regionals, including a 43-26 quarterfinal defeat by Cheyenne Wells in District 2. Crislyn Miell pumps in 13 points a night for the Lady Wolverines, while Delaney Bond pulls down 13.1 rebounds a contest.
In a bit of a rarity, there is a small history between these two programs. They met in 2021, with Cheraw taking a 50-28 victory. Miell scored five points for the Lady Wolverines as a freshman. Andrews saw action for the Lady Mustangs, but did not score.
REGION FIVE (HOSTED BY #5 IDALIA)
#5 Idalia (16-6) vs #28 Kim/Branson (12-10) 4PM
Despite finishing as the runner-up in District 5, Idalia is hosting a region as the highest non-champion in the Seeding Index. The Lady Wolves have only lost four times since the start of 2024, with two coming against Stratton. Jaylyn Kechter is just short of averaging a double-double a game for the Lady Wolves, with the junior recording 12.6 points and 9.7 rebounds. Krista Wieser chips in 9.9 points and better than seven rebounds.
Kim/Branson took third in District 3 with its 36-28 win over La Veta, but the Lady Mustangs go into the regional semifinal looking to make it consecutive victories for the first time in almost a month. Ysabel Gonzalez leads the team in scoring at 8.5 points a night, but freshman Kennedy Cranson has come on lately and is giving the squad close to six points and 6.6 rebounds a game.
You have to dig quite a ways back in the record book, but Idalia and Kim/Branson met twice at state, more than a decade ago. The Lady Mustangs won 72-43 in 2010, and 50-45 in 2013.
#12 Fleming (10-9) vs #21 Granada (10-10) 5:30PM
It was a rough finishing stretch for Fleming, who lost its final five games before regionals. The last of those was to Prairie in the District 4 semifinals, 43-41. Brooke Schaefer (9.7 ppg), Ciana Lousberg (9.1 ppg) and MadiKay Serrato (8.7 ppg) are the top scorers for the Lady Wildcats. Ashley Bornhoft grabs just over seven boards to lead the team.
After winning 20 games last season, Granada has been held to half as many wins this year. The Lady Bobcats lost their District 2 quarterfinal against Kit Carson, 41-25, and have been off for 10 days. A win would secure consecutive non-losing seasons, which has not happened in a generation. Seniors Marissa Valenzuela (11.2) and Mariah Sigala (8.2) combine for more than 19 points a night.
These two schools have developed a nice little football rivalry in recent years, but this is their first meeting in girls basketball in the MaxPreps era.
REGION SIX (HOSTED BY #6 DOVE CREEK)
#6 Dove Creek (18-2) vs #27 Lone Star (8-10) 4PM
Not only is Dove Creek, the champion of District 1, hosting this region, but the other three opponents are all coming from closer to Kansas than from Denver. The Lady Bulldogs have won 15 straight, including the 36-point victory over De Beque in the district final. Kylie Gatlin (16.5), Ralynn Hickman (12.0), Kalie Gatlin (10.5), and Taylor Hampton (8.8) not only score a lot for Dove Creek, but they all also average at least 6.6 rebounds, and combine for more than 11 steals and 10.5 assists.
Lone Star’s 42-32 loss to Idalia in the District 5 semis was the third in the last five games for the Lady Longhorns, and seventh in the last 11. Aleighcea Kuntz leads the team at 12.7 points a game, and Jade Kuntz adds 8.8 a game.
There’s no previous meeting between the two sides in the MaxPreps era.
#11 Cheyenne Wells (13-9) vs #22 Arickaree (11-8) 5:30PM
Cheyenne Wells finished second in District 2 to McClave, with the loss snapping a five-game winning streak for the Lady Tigers. They are looking for a second state tournament bid in the last three seasons. After Paige Ryser’s team-leading 12.7 points a night, the Lady Tigers have five other players averaging between four and 7.4 points a contest. Shaylee Scheler is tops among that group.
Arickaree has had plenty of time to rest up, as the Lady Bison’s last game was last Tuesday. They were upset by Otis in the District 5 quarterfinals, handing them their second loss in the last three games, and fourth in the final six. Ja’Niya Smith (13.1) and Raeya Schrock (10.1) pace the attack.
Cheyenne Wells won three out of four against Arickaree between 2017 and 2020, when the Lady Bison were part of the co-op with Woodlin. The Lady Tigers own a two-game winning streak in the series.
REGION SEVEN (HOSTED BY #7 SOUTH BACA)
#10 Kit Carson (14-9) vs #26 Flagler (8-13) 4:30PM
Kit Carson being in the final is not unexpected, as the Lady Wildcats were the higher seed in their match-up with #23 Mile High Academy. They outscored the Lady Mustangs 34-8 in the second half on Thursday and put four players in double figure scoring. Payge Booker-Rady led with 17, while Lindsey Mayhan added an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double. Avery Johnson and Nadaya Buttry both scored 10.
The surprise came in the earlier game on Thursday, where Flagler ousted the host, #7 South Baca. The Lady Panthers doubled up the Lady Patriots in the second half, 18-9, to take a 33-23 victory. The win was their first in three weeks.
Kit Carson has won 14 of the last 17 in the series, including three when Flagler was in the co-op with Hi-Plains. Earlier this season, the Lady Wildcats collected a 55-42 victory behind 17 points and eight rebounds from Booker-Rady. Mayhan had another double-double, with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Shay Rady had 16 points for the Lady Wildcats. Jaylie Stone led Flagler with 21 points.
REGION EIGHT (HOSTED BY #8 KIOWA)
#8 Kiowa (15-6) vs #25 Nucla (9-11) 5:30PM
Kiowa had to work overtime in the District 7 finals against Genoa-Hugo/Karval before collecting a 52-45 victory. It was the third straight for the Lady Indians, coming off the heels of a three-game skid. Jordan Perreault has been hot recently and is scoring nearly 13 points a game to lead the team. Paola Vidales (9.7 ppg, 7.9 rebounds) and Lauryn Morehead (8.6 ppg, 6.1 rebounds) help create a triple threat for Kiowa.
Nucla’s slide reached three straight and five of six with a 35-32 defeat by De Beque in the District 1 semis. Kieran Bray (8.2) and Lantry Galley (8.1) are the top scoring threats for the Lady Mustangs, who also get five points apiece from Kendra McCluer, Viviana Zunich, and Shay Snyder.
There are no recorded games between these two in MaxPreps.
#9 Eads (15-7) vs #24 Genoa-Hugo/Karval (7-15) 7PM
Eads rolled into the District 2 semifinals on a six-game winning streak. After a loss to Cheyenne Wells, the Lady Eagles were beaten by Kit Carson for third place. Anna Wollert is averaging a double-double a night at 14.2 points and 10.1 rebounds. Tailee Weeks-Johnson hammers home close to 11 points a game.
Down by close to 20 in the second half, Genoa-Hugo/Karval rallied all the way back to force overtime in the District 7 title game before falling to Kiowa 52-45. It was their fourth loss in the last six games. Amy James is tops on the team at 8.9 points a game, and Rylee Kelly adds seven. Rylee Corn and Chiara Pasquetti combine for another 11 points per contest.
Eads has dominated the series recently, winning 11 of the last 14 meetings. That includes a 57-16 decision just about two weeks ago. Wollert (12), Madison McDowell (11), and Weeks-Johnson (10) all had double figures for the Lady Eagles. Corn led the Lady Pirates with six.
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