CLASS 1A GIRLS BASKETBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
The second month of the basketball season comes to a close this weekend, and it brings some of the most anticipated match-ups of the year with it. We take a look at the top-16 teams in the Thursday morning release of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.
#1 MCCLAVE (11-1)
History was made last Saturday in McClave’s 67-47 victory over #8 Stratton, as Abrielle Gomez climbed over the 1500 point plateau, becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer in the process. The Lady Cards led that game 29-3 at the end of the first. Gomez finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the year. McClave followed that with a 58-24 win over #16 Kim/Branson on Tuesday. The Lady Cardinals host #11 Granada on Friday, and will visit Holly on Saturday.
#2 EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (10-1)
The Lady Eagles picked up a couple of big wins last weekend, starting with a 51-33 victory against #14 Prairie on Friday. Mia Castro racked up 14 points, seven assists, and eight steals, and Reagan Schultz added a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds. The following day at Hi-Plains, ECA held a 10-9 first quarter lead, and then allowed a total of 11 points over the final three frames to secure the 41-20 victory. Sadie Caldwell had a team-high 15 points, and Schultz tallied another double-double, this time with 10 points and 17 boards. ECA goes to Elbert on Friday for a Black Forest league game, and hosts Kit Carson on Saturday.
#3 EADS (9-2)
Dangerously frigid wind chills limited Eads to just one game last weekend, when the Lady Eagles made a trip to Stratton on Friday. They would earn a wild 53-52 win with Bailey Sierra recording 15 points and seven rebounds. Anna Wollert and Tailee Weeks-Johnson added 10 points apiece. The Lady Eagles were supposed to face #5 Idalia on Saturday, but that contest was postponed to Valentine’s Day. This weekend has Eads hosting #9 Cheraw in High Plains play, and will also host Kim/Branson on Saturday.
#4 NUCLA (13-1)
Nucla bounced back from its first loss of the season to add two wins to its tally in the last week. The Lady Mustangs got 14 points from Shay Snyder and 13 from Lantry Galley in a 45-18 win over De Beque last Thursday. They took down 2A #15 Dove Creek 41-23 on Tuesday. The latter came in San Juan league play. Nucla visits Mancos for a league contest on Thursday.
#5 IDALIA (8-3)
Idalia posted a 2-1 mark over the past week, taking a 56-45 win over Lone Star last Thursday, falling to 2A #2 Simla 67-20 on Friday, and evading #15 Flagler by a 40-37 count on Tuesday. Ailyn Monarrez-Estrada flirted with a triple-double in the win over Lone Star, recording 12 points, 11 rebound, and eight assists. She had six points and six rebounds to lead the Lady Wolves at Simla. Idalia’s off until next Thursday, when it begins a stretch of three games in three days.
#6 CALICHE (11-2)
The Lady Buffs enter the weekend on a three-game winning streak that includes a 41-37 decision over Flagler last Saturday. Caliche outscored the Lady Panthers 14-2 in the fourth quarter to grab the win. The most recent victory came on Tuesday, as the Lady Buffs beat Peetz 62-20 on the road. Their streak goes on the line on Friday when they travel to Merino. Caliche will also be in action on Monday, with Lone Star paying a visit.
#7 FLEMING (7-3)
After having their five-game winning streak snapped, the Lady Wildcats got back into the win column with a 61-28 domination of Peetz last Friday. Fleming has a tough challenge on Thursday, visiting Stratton in a top-10 clash. The Lady Wildcats will travel to Union Colony Prep on Saturday, and also make a trip to 2A #1 Merino next Tuesday.
#8 STRATTON (7-5)
For the Lady Eagles, the 53-52 loss to Eads last Friday, and the 67-47 defeat at McClave put them on a three-game skid. They got back on track on Tuesday with a 53-21 win against Elbert. Sophia Isenbart went for 27 points and nine rebounds against Eads, and Elle Bohnen added a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards. Isenbart tallied 22 points and 12 rebounds at McClave, and Bohnen just missed joining her in double-double land, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds. In the win over Elbert, Isenbart posted 13 points and 16 rebounds, and Layla Bancroft hit for 10 points off the bench. After the big game with Fleming on Thursday, Stratton goes to Kit Carson on Friday, and will host Deer Trail on Tuesday.
#9 CHERAW (11-1)
Cheraw geared up for Thursday’s big match-up with Eads by beating Cheyenne Wells 45-22 last Thursday. The Lady Wolverines allowed four points each in the first, third, and fourth quarters. Their game with Walsenburg on Saturday was called off because of the weather. Following this week’s game with Eads, Cheraw heads to Las Animas on Saturday.
#10 BRIGGSDALE (7-2)
There was only one game played last week by Briggsdale, and the Lady Falcons beat Otis 58-35 in non-league play. Their defense forced 37 turnovers. Before having to make the trip to Prairie next Tuesday, the Lady Falcons will host Hi-Plains on Friday, and 2A #8 Heritage Christian on Saturday.
#11 GRANADA (8-2)
Granada made it five straight wins in the month of January by taking victories against Kit Carson (55-47) last Friday, and South Baca (59-22) on Tuesday. The Lady Bobcats used a 19-5 second quarter to gain its separation against Kit Carson, and they led South Baca 41-13 at the half. That winning streak will be on the line on Friday, when Granada goes to McClave. The Lady Bobcats are home against Wiley on Saturday.
#12 SPRINGFIELD (8-3)
Springfield went 10 days between games, and when the Lady Longhorns returned to action on Tuesday against Kit Carson, the fans were treated to a fun one. The teams swapped the lead throughout the contest, and finally went to overtime tied at 60. Three Springfield starters fouled out in the contest, and the Lady Longhorns fell by a 67-63 count. Springfield visits La Veta on Friday, hosts Manzanola on Saturday, and goes to South Baca next Tuesday.
#13 DENVER JEWISH DAY (8-0)
The Lady Tigers remained unbeaten with three wins in the past week, starting with a 35-26 decision at Golden View Classical Academy last Thursday. Adira Bielsky led the way with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. She added another double-double (12/10) as the Lady Tigers held off Union Colony Prep 48-44 on Monday, and Kaitlin Schatz had one of her own with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Schatz produced 16 points in Tuesday’s 51-20 win over Front Range Baptist. Bielsky had her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 boards. The Lady Tigers will visit Flatirons Academy on Thursday, and host Loveland Classical next Tuesday.
#14 PRAIRIE (9-3)
After having their five-game winning streak snapped by ECA, the Lady Mustangs got the ship righted on Tuesday with a 60-32 drubbing of Potter-Dix (NE). Hannah Kugler went for 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Tanna Bailey added 10 points in that victory. Kugler was held to 11 points in the loss to Evangel Christian Academy. The Lady Mustangs have a pair of home games upcoming, starting with Otis on Friday. They have a big North Central showdown with Briggsdale on Tuesday.
#15 FLAGLER (8-3)
Flagler suffered back-to-back losses in its last two outings, dropping the 41-37 decision at Caliche last Saturday, and falling 40-37 at Idalia on Tuesday. Rylie Berry racked up 17 points and nine rebounds at Caliche, and Belle Schier tacked on nine points and seven steals in that loss. Berry tallied 11 points and 12 rebounds against Idalia, while Sydnie Berry matched her with 11 points. Lexi Witt chipped in 10 points. Flagler will host 2A #12 Burlington in Union Pacific action on Friday, Elbert on Saturday, and Byers in another UP match on Monday.
#16 KIM/BRANSON (7-5)
With a 53-13 win over La Veta last Saturday, the Lady Mustangs pushed its winning streak to five games, all in January. However, that run ended on Tuesday, when they were handed a 58-24 defeat by McClave. Kim/Branson has another big challenge on Saturday, with a trip to Eads on tap. The Lady Mustangs will host Wiley on Tuesday in Ark Valley action.
MileHigh Prep Report 