CLASS 1A GIRLS BASKETBALL – TEAM CAPSULES
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
The two-time champ, Briggsdale, is back for another go-round, but the Lady Falcons are only seeded sixth this year. They won it as the #4 last season. The bullseye is on the back of the top seed, McClave, who enters the tournament ranked #1 for the second straight year. The field include five returnees in total. All games will be played at the Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
Individual statistics quoted below are courtesy of MaxPreps. Teams are listed in bracket order.
#1 MCCLAVE LADY CARDINALS (23-2)
COACH: Brianne Howe
STATE TITLES: 2009, 2006, 2005, 2004
LEAGUE: Won High Plains title (5-0)
REGIONALS: Beat Elbert (70-12), Flagler (61-23)
STREAK: Won 6 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 6-2
Wins: Idalia, Fleming, Eads (2), Hoehne, Burlington
Losses: Stratton, Simla
TEAM NOTES: Fourth straight appearance – runner-up in 2023 – fourth consecutive year with at least 20 wins – won championship in Lamar Holiday Basketball Tournament – 3-2 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1551-726
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Abrielle Gomez | 16.8 | 7.0 | 3.8 | 6.0 | 35 |
| Addison Vallejos | 12.8 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 4.5 | 11 |
| Zoe Martinez | 9.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 63 |
| Ashlynn Steinbrunn | 6.9 | 6.5 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 1 |
| Emily Melgoza | 5.0 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0 |
| Makayla Phillips | 4.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 16 |
#8 HI-PLAINS LADY PATRIOTS (17-8)
COACH: Hannah Rueb
STATE TITLES: None
LEAGUE: Second in YWKC
REGIONALS: Beat Kim/Branson (44-20), De Beque (40-32)
STREAK: Won 2 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 1-6
Wins: Briggsdale
Losses: Eads, Stratton, Idalia, Evangel Christian, Fleming, Briggsdale
TEAM NOTES: First appearance since 2009 – 5-5 in games decided by single digits– outscored opponents 998-788
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Cambria Seaman | 12.5 | 6.5 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 22 |
| Serenity Hernandez | 9.0 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 31 |
| Kennedy Henschel | 5.5 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 7 |
| Maggie Gorton | 4.8 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1 |
| Addyson Henschel | 4.0 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0 |
| Brianna Rueb | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0 |
#4 STRATTON LADY EAGLES (20-5)
COACH: Trey Thompson
STATE TITLES: 1995, 1992, 1990 (A-II), 1988 (A-II)
LEAGUE: Second in Union Pacific (5-1)
REGIONALS: Beat La Veta (54-21), Flatirons Academy (51-15)
STREAK: Won 6 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 4-5
Wins: Hi-Plains, Akron, McClave, Fleming
Losses: Sedgwick County, Eads, Burlington, Merino, Idalia
TEAM NOTES: Third straight appearance – won consolation championship two years ago – runner-up last year – 4-1 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1175-891
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Sophia Isenbart | 18.0 | 7..3 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 10 |
| Clare Miltenberger | 8.5 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 24 |
| Elle Bohnen | 5.6 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 8 |
| Peyton Ruhs | 4.8 | 5.5 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 16 |
| Camory Wedel | 3.8 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 14 |
| Kinsleigh Brachtenbach | 3.0 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 12 |
| Hanna Notter | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 10 |
#5 FLEMING LADY WILDCATS (19-6)
COACH: Randy Kirkwood
STATE TITLES: 1981 (A-II)
LEAGUE: Won North Central title (4-0)
REGIONALS: Beat Creede (57-11), Cheyenne Wells (45-28)
STREAK: Won 2 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 3-6
Wins: Sedgwick County, Briggsdale, Hi-Plains
Losses: McClave, Akron, Stratton, Merino, Idalia (2)
TEAM NOTES: Back after missing the field last year – own five runner-up finishes – 5-1 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1198-939 – Coach Randy Kirkwood surpassed 400 coaching wins during the season
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Brooke Schaefer | 12.5 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 26 |
| Ciana Lousberg | 10.1 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 10 |
| Hayley Chamberlain | 7.5 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 23 |
| Ashley Bornhoft | 4.8 | 6.5 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0 |
| Hadley Stull | 4.7 | 5.0 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 6 |
| Siena Donnelson | 4.0 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0 |
#2 IDALIA LADY WOLVES (21-4)
COACH: Myles Johnson
STATE TITLES: 2016, 2015
LEAGUE: Won YWKC (5-0)
REGIONALS: Beat Weldon Valley (50-21), Prairie (56-23)
STREAK: Won 13 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 7-3
Wins: Hi-Plains, Simla, Burlington, Stratton, Fleming (2), Briggsdale
Losses: McClave, Briggsdale, Eads
TEAM NOTES: Second straight appearance – did not place last year – Won NCL/YWKC tournament – 3-2 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1190-817
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Jaylyn Kechter | 12.3 | 8.5 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 10 |
| Krista Wieser | 11.3 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 5 |
| Ailyn Monarrez-Estrada | 9.5 | 7.0 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 17 |
| Brigette Kite | 5.3 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 5 |
| Tatum Soehner | 5.2 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 9 |
| Addison Richards | 3.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 9 |
| Evelyn Cruz | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1 |
#7 EVANGEL CHRISTIAN LADY EAGLES (19-5)
COACH: Bruce Beers
STATE TITLES: None
LEAGUE: Won Black Forest (4-0)
REGIONALS: Beat Cotopaxi (58-20), Springfield (54-32)
STREAK: Won 2 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 1-2
Wins: Hi-Plains
Losses: Eads, Simla
TEAM NOTES: Did not make the field last year – 1-1 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1262-833
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Reagan Schultz | 13.0 | 8.5 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0 |
| Sara Caldwell | 11.4 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 51 |
| Anna Stonestreet | 11.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 65 |
| Mia Castro | 10.5 | 5.2 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 3 |
| Samantha Maes | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0 |
#3 EADS LADY EAGLES (21-3)
COACH: Trey Eder
STATE TITLES: 2008, 2007, 2003, 1994, 1993, 1991, 1990 (A-I), 1987 (A-II), 1984 (A-II)
LEAGUE: Second in High Plains (4-1)
REGIONALS: Beat South Baca (63-27), Genoa-Hugo/Karval (56-26)
STREAK: Won 16 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 4-2
Wins: Hi-Plains, Evangel Christian, Stratton, Idalia
Losses: McClave (2)
TEAM NOTES: Making second straight appearance – did not place last year – state record holder for girls basketball championships – 1-1 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1167-721
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Anna Wollert | 13.8 | 9.6 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 7 |
| Tailee Weeks-Johnson | 8.5 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 18 |
| Jordynn Turcotte | 6.3 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 19 |
| Lexi Shotton | 5.6 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1 |
| Bailey Sierra | 5.2 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 1 |
| Alessandra Paez | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1 |
#6 BRIGGSDALE LADY FALCONS (18-6)
COACH: Colin Nicklas
STATE TITLES: 2024, 2023
LEAGUE: Second in North Central (3-1)
REGIONALS: Beat Arickaree/Woodlin (48-42), Caliche (36-32)
STREAK: Won 3 straight
RECORD VS STATE TEAMS: 2-5
Wins: Idalia, Hi-Plains
Losses: Hi-Plains, Sedgwick County, Fleming, Akron, Idalia
TEAM NOTES: Making tenth straight appearance – won back-to-back titles – 9-3 in games decided by single digits – outscored opponents 1080-885
| NAME | PTS | REBS | ASSTS | STEALS | 3-POINT |
| Claire Brown | 14.4 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 8 |
| Kayl Klem | 12.2 | 9.6 | 4.2 | 6.3 | 2 |
| Bailey Loyd | 10.6 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 51 |
| Presleigh Herrick | 5.5 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2 |
| Libby Slinger | 2.4 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 4 |
| Sawyer Malcom-Dunfee | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 13 |
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