Class 2A Girls Basketball Weekly Review and Preview by Tayler Garcia

Class 2A Girls Basketball Weekly Review and Preview

By Tayler Garcia

This week marks the beginning of league play for many teams, or the last couple of games before teams’ dive into league play. We look at the top 16 teams in this article and see if there is much movement yet or if teams are already solidifying their position in the top half of the class pack.

Merino

Merino remains undefeated at 10-0 on the season after beating Stratton last week 63-35. The teams sits at number one in the CHSAA Seeding Index and will start league play this week. The first game of Lower Platte league play for Merino will be against Haxtun on 1/23, where the Rams will be looking to maintain their perfect record and start their league record off with a win. Merino will then travel to Limon on 1/24 to take on the Badgers to end the week and will start next week off hosting Yuma on 1/27.

Simla

The Cubs remain undefeated at 7-0 on the season, 1-0 in league play, and are sitting in the number two spot in the CHSAA Seeding Index. The last two wins for Simla were over Hoehne 85-22 and Liberty Tree Academy 74-2. Simla will be looking to maintain their perfect record and will take on Idalia on 1/23 and then they will travel to Fowler on 1/24 to end the week. Simla will then play next week starting off against Limon on 1/27 and Byers on 1/28.

Stat leaders for the Cubs are Carlee Cox with 77 points, 22 assists, and 39 steals, Brynlee Amendt with 66 points, 26 assists, 28 rebounds, and 32 steals, Katie Gotschall with 66 points, Trenna Kocerha with 22 assists, 36 rebounds, and 25 steals, and Anna Kerst with 28 rebounds.

Sanford

Sanford was undefeated to begin the week, but after a loss to Centauri 42-46, a top 3A team, Sanford is now 12-1 overall on the season, 1-0 in the Southern Peaks League, 1^st in the Southern Peaks league and are 3^rd in the Seeding Index. Last week, the Mustangs got wins over Fowler 54-19 and Custer County 47-13. The Mustangs will not play the rest of the week and will pick up games next week starting by traveling to Trinidad on 1/30, and then they will play in Sargent on 1/31.

Sedgwick County

Sedgwick County sits in the number four spot in the CHSAA Seeding Index with a 6-3 overall record, a 1-0 league record and are currently 1^st in the Lower Platte League. The Cougars lost to Stratton last week in a close game of 34-36, but was able to beat league opponent Caliche 52-37. The team has the rest of the week off and will resume games on 1/27 when they travel to Garden County. Then the team will play Perkins County on 1/29 and Akron on 1/30.

Leading the team on the stat board are Lainee Nein with 145 points, 28 assists,53 rebounds and 23 steals, Ryen Carlson with 90 points and 15 steals, Piper Buettenback with 56 points, 14 assists, 54 rebounds, and 19 steals, Sophia Rahe with 12 assists, and Daryn Nein with 42 rebounds.

Sargent

Sargent sits in the number five spot of the CHSAA Seeding Index. The Farmers are 9-1 on the season after beating La Veta 52-15. Sargent will be hosting the Center Vikings tonight and will be looking to get another win to add to their record. Next week, the Farmers will kick off games in Monte Vista on 1/27.

Leading the team on the stat board are Kandace Pargin with 144 points, 12 assists, 16 rebounds and 20 steals, Angelise Garcia with 126 points, 18 assists, 9 rebounds, and 15 steals, Kimberly Pargin with 80 points, Rylie Harmon with 7 assists and 10 steals, and Denver Holman with 7 rebounds.

Akron

Akron is currently 6-5 overall and are 6^th in the CHSAA Seeding Index. Last week, the Rams were able to get the win over Burlington 61-60 but fell to Wiggins 39-47. Akron will be looking to keep their record on the winning side and will host Holyoke on 1/23. The team will then play next week on 1/30 when they go on the road to Sedgwick County.

Sitting at the top of the stat board for Akron are Molly O’Neil with 66 points, 9 assists, 39 rebounds, and 9 steals, Kashlee Randel with 25 points, 14 assists, 18 rebounds, and 16 steals, Addison Weis with 24 points and 5 assists, Taylor Benish with 24 rebounds, and Mackenzie Fincher with 7 steals.

Plateau Valley

The Cowboys are 9-2 overall on the season with a 3-0 league record and are 1^st in the Western Slope League. Plateau Valley is currently on a 7 game winning streak after beating West Grand 56-5 and Nucla 55-42 at the end of last week and beginning of this week. The team will be looking to add more wins to their streak and their record this week as they wil host Vail Mountain on 1/24.

Stat leaders for the Cowboys are Presley Hawkins with 129 points and 56 rebounds, Macy Bevan with 127 points and 61 rebounds, Ava Johnson with 65 points, Lexi Taylor with 34 assists, Lili Taylor with 28 assists, 51 rebounds and 43 steals, Bailee Taylor with 21 assists and 38 steals. And Ryann Bevan with 33 steals.

Swink

The Lions ended last week with a loss to Granada 45-60 but was able to bounce back and get the win over SCA to start this week 71-31.  This puts Swink at 7-4 overall and 2-0 in league play, putting them currently in 3^rd in the Santa Fe League. The team will be looking to add another win to their overall record as they take on Walsenburg tonight. Next week the team will play Hoehne on 1/27 to start the week of with a league game.

Top scorers for the Lions are Jocelyn James with 139 points, Taylor Mendenhall with 84 points, and Miley James with 62 points.

Heritage Christian

Heritage Christian is currently 7-2 overall on the season, 4-0 in league play, are 1^st in the Mile High league and are 9^th in the CHSAA Seeding Index. The Eagles got a win this week over Flatirons Academy 37-25. The team will be looking to add more wins to their overall and league record tonight as they place Gilpin County in a league game. Then next week the team will start league games against Union Colony Prep on 1/27 and will play Clear Creek on 1/28.

Rangely

Rangely rounds out the top 10 teams in the CHSAA Seeding Index with a 6-3 overall record, a 2-0 league record, and are 3^rd in the Western Slope League. The team is now on a two game losing streak after falling to North Fork 49-51. The Panthers will be looking to break the losing streak as they travel to Vail Mountain on 1/23 and North Park on 1/24.

Stat leaders for the Panthers are Aubriann Tapia with 122 points, 59 rebounds and 36 steals, Aubrey Yates with 103 points, 27 assists, and 36 steals, Tegan Behunin with 63 points, 19 assists, 50 rebounds and 45 steals, RyLee Kenney with 25 assists, and Addison Scott with 57 rebounds.

Calhan

The Bulldogs are 7-2 overall on the season with a 1-0 league record and are 2^nd in the Black Forrest league. Last week the team fell to Burlington 40-55 but was able to bounce back this week and beat Kiowa 52-25. Calhan will be looking to maintain their success and keep adding wins to their record as they will travel this weekend to Elbert on 1/23 and Byers on 1/24. Next week the team will start off playing Peyton on 1/26.

Stat leaders for Calhan are Fallyn Mallette with 102 points, 24 assists, and 31 steals, Kenidee Stewart with 99 points, Savannah Stewart with 94 points, 23 assists, 42 rebounds and 38 steals, Willow Levicki with 32 assists, 101 rebounds and 52 steals, and Aubrie Waugh with 41 rebounds.

Byers

The Bulldogs are 5-1 overall this season and are currently 12^th in the CHSAA Seeding Index. After losing their first couple of games in January, the team was able to come out with a win over Elbert 67-28. The team will be looking to keep their winning going and will take on Flagler on the road on 1/23 and then the team will host Calhan on 1/24. The Bulldogs will then travel to Simla next week to take on a tough opponent in the Cubs on 1/28.

Leading the team on the stat board are Leyla Sayler with 78 points and 45 rebounds, Madilee Olsen with 67 points, 35 assists, 37 rebounds and 26 steals, Sydney Smith with 48 points and 11 steals, Taiya Eymann with 10 assists, and Abi Green with 30 rebounds and 14 steals.

Dove Creek

Dove Creek is currently 8-3 overall on the season with a 2-0 league record and are 2^nd in the San Juan League. The Bulldogs are currently on a 4 game winning streak after they were able to beat Ridgeway 40-37 and Monticello 44-36. Dove creek will be looking for continued success as they take on Dolores at home on 1/24 and then travel to Nucla on 1/27.

Leading the team’s stat board are Taylor Hampton with 196 points, 15 assists, 142 rebounds, and 45 steals, Hadley Hatfield with 85 points, 63 assists, and 47 steals, Brooklyn Ivey with 43 points, Mykaela Fury with 15 assists, 77 rebounds, and 39 steals, and Leah Barnett with 46 rebounds.

Del Norte

The Tigers are currently 5-4 overall on the season after beating Custer County 43-33 and Sangre de Criston 51-24. Del Norte will start league play now and will be looking to get a good start as they travel to Trinidad to take on the Miners tonight. Then the team will take a few days off and resume next week and host the Sargent Farmers on 1/30.

Leading the stat board for Del Norte are Emma Parra with 17 points and 2 steals, Ady Ruybal with 7 points, 1 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal, Makenzie Consaul with 4 points, 7 rebounds, Brynley Brown with 5 rebounds, and Elaina Consaul with 1 steal.

James Irwin

James Irwin in 4-3 overall on the season after falling to The Vanguard School 46-55 and Salida 40-66. The team now sits in the 15^th spot in the seeding index and will be looking to move their way up the rankings and find some success. The Jaguars will take on Manitou Springs on 1/23 and will try to get a win added to their record.

Stat leaders for James Irwin are Hannah Meier with 71 points, 11 assists, 52 rebounds, and 39 steals, Mia Busby with 71 points, 22 assists, 102 rebounds, and 28 steals, Stella Reed with 57 points, 70 rebounds, and 16 steals, and Syrai Rigsby with 15 assists.

Holyoke

The Dragons are currently in the 16^th spot in the CHSAA Seeding Index and are 6-5 overall on the season with their last game resulting in a win over Haxtun 44-27. Holyoke will kick off league play this week and will be looking to add wins to their overall and league record as they take on Akron on the road on 1/23. Next week the team will start play by traveling to Perkins County on 1/27.

Leading the team on the stat board are Raia Spargue with 154 points, 15 assists, 59 rebounds, and 34 steals, Ellie Kleve with 120 points, Lia Spargue with 45 points, 22 assists, and 17 steals, and Annessa Colglazier with 32 assists 78 rebounds, and 17 steals.