CLASS 1A GIRLS BASKETBALL REPORT by Kerry Sherman

CLASS 1A GIRLS BASKETBALL REPORT

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

In what is the final weekend of regular season play for quite a few leagues, there is absolutely no shortage of huge clashes on top. The slate includes a number of top-10 affairs, which could shake up the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index. All rankings in this piece come from Thursday morning’s release of the metric.

THURSDAY

#3 STRATTON AT #4 IDALIA

The biggest thing at stake in this match-up is regional seeding. Stratton enters on a two-game slide after a pair of losses last weekend to 2A top-five teams. Sophia Isenbart had a career-high 33 points in a win over Flagler last Tuesday.

Idalia has won six straight with last Friday’s 46-37 win at 2A #21 Haxtun. Krista Wieser put up a line of 18 points, nine rebounds, and seven steals in the victory. Idalia had won 10 of 11 against Stratton, but are just 2-7 in the last nine, including a seven-game losing streak.

#32 DENVER JEWISH DAY AT #15 PRAIRIE

The Lady Tigers sit firmly on top of the bubble, currently owning the final regional qualifying spot. They’ve won four of their last five to climb into that position. Prairie is safely in the field, but a loss could drop them outside of the top-16. The Lady Mustangs have followed a five-game winning streak with a current three-game slide.

#33 CENTENIAL AT #37 PRIMERO

The winner of this contest keeps its slim hopes of reaching the regional bracket. For Centennial, a win keeps the pressure on DJD and #31 Weldon Valley. Primero would still need a lot of help, even with a win. Centennial is 6-2 in the last eight, while the Lady Bulldogs are 4-4 over the same stretch.

FRIDAY

#13 CHEYENNE WELLS AT #1 MCCLAVE

Cheyenne Wells saw its chances of hosting a regional take a hit last week with a loss to #2 Eads. An upset win over the top-ranked team would be quite the consolation prize for the Lady Tigers, as jumping five teams seems unlikely at this point in the season. To pull off the upset, they’ll have to handle the pressure and high-scoring attack of the Lady Cardinals, who had won six straight before an overtime loss to 2A #6 the last time out.

#5 FLEMING AT #4 IDALIA

The winner of this one is most likely the top seed for next week’s YWKC/NCL tournament. Fleming locked up the NCL title last week with a 41-22 win over #6 Briggsdale, the fourth win in a row for the Lady Wildcats. Fleming has won seven of the last nine meeting with Idalia, but the Lady Wolves won both match-ups last year, including one in the regional round.

#8 HI-PLAINS VS #39 BETHUNE

The final hosting spot is currently occupied by Hi-Plains, who has won four straight and six of seven overall. The Lady Patriots have held their last two opponents to just 32 total points. No one in the current four-game winning streak has scored more than 34. Bethune has seen its postseason hopes dashed by a six-game losing streak. That skid has taken the Lady Bobcats to four games under .500 on the season. They are seeking a win that would establish a new high-water mark for the program over the last two decades.

SATURDAY

2A #5 BURLINGTON AT #1 MCCLAVE

Burlington’ Kiyarra Williams became the school’s all-time leading scorer in last week’s loss to 2A #2 Sedgwick County. She broke the record of legendary coach Duane Lewis that had stood for 65 year. She had topped 1500 points and 1000 rebounds a week earlier at Limon. The Lady Cougars had won three straight, and 12 of 13 prior to that loss. The Lady Cougars travel to Simla on Friday, which could be measuring stick game against one of only two teams to beat McClave this season.

#6 BRIGGSDALE VS 2A #12 AKRON

Coming off a win in its last outing, Akron has not won consecutive games since stacking up three in a row in mid-January. Briggsdale is just 2-2 in its last four, and is seeking to win back to back games for the first time in two weeks. Without injured Claire Brown, the Lady Falcons struggled to beat 2A #34 Kiowa last Saturday. Kayl Klem had 26 points in the 57-53 victory.

#10 NUCLA AT 2A #17 PLATEAU VALLEY

Nucla rolls into Saturday’s clash with Plateau Valley on a seven-game winning streak. Only two opponents have reach 30 points in that run. Lantry Galley posted a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds in Nucla’s 63-23 win over Dolores on Tuesday. Plateau Valley had won four in a row heading into Wednesday’s scheduled game at Aspen. Macy Bevan flirted with a triple-double on Tuesday in a 47-38 win over #11 De Beque, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and eight blocks.