CLASS 1A GIRLS BASKETBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Only three weekends remain in the regular season, and the action continues to heat up. The top four teams in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index have started to separate themselves from the rest of the pack, but the next eight are within one-tenth of a point of each other. Four of those squads will finish in a position to host a regional round. Here is our look at those teams currently in the mix for the final four hosting spots, with the rankings coming from the Thursday morning release of the Seeding Index.
#5 FLEMING (11-4)
The Lady Wildcats enter the weekend with two straight wins under their belts, having defeated Weldon Valley 65-26 last Friday, and then taking a 52-49 victory at 2A #17 Burlington on Tuesday. Brooke Schaefer had 16 points against Weldon Valley. The Lady Wildcats are 2-0 in the North Central, tied with #8 Prairie for the lead in the league. Those two meet on Thursday at Prairie. Fleming also hosts #10 Briggsdale on Friday.
#6 STRATTON (12-6)
Stratton got a 46-29 win over #13 Flagler on Tuesday, keeping the Lady Eagles alone atop the Union Pacific standings. It was the fifth straight win for the Lady Eagles, who got 20 points from Sophia Isenbart in the contest. Stratton can lock up the league title on Thursday with a win at Burlington.
#7 CALICHE (13-4)
Caliche got at least six points from five different players, including eight points and 14 rebounds from Ryann Svoboda, in a 40-36 win over 2A #10 last Friday, but the Lady Buffs had their two-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday by Prairie. Caliche dropped that contest 37-28. The Lady Buffs will host Haxtun on Saturday in LPAA play, and then visit 2A #2 Simla on Monday.
#8 PRAIRIE (13-4)
That win over Caliche on Tuesday was a bounce back for the Lady Mustangs, who dropped a 50-32 decision at #2 Eads on Saturday. Molly Walker scored 13 points in that loss, and Hannah Kugler added a dozen. The Lady Mustangs can secure the NCL title with a win at home against Fleming on Thursday, as it would give them the tiebreaker over the Lady Wildcats and Briggsdale. Prairie still has a league clash with Weldon Valley next Tuesday.
#9 CHERAW (13-3)
Cheraw slid to third in the High Plains with last Thursday’s 47-32 loss at #1 McClave. The Lady Wolverines were only down five at the half, but got outscored 23-13 after the break. They were able to respond on Friday, and got a lopsided 60-8 win over La Veta. They led 25-3 after one quarter in that one. Cheraw goes to Walsenburg on Thursday, and hosts #12 Springfield in a big non-league tilt on Tuesday.
#10 BRIGGSDALE (13-4)
The Lady Falcons won three times in the last week, getting victories over Peetz (58-32), 2A #4 Sedgwick County (46-39 OT), and Elbert (53-10). Claire Brown scored 21 against Peetz and 17 against Sedgwick County, and Bailey Loyd went for 20 in the first win, and 16 in the second. Pending the outcome of Thursday’s game between Fleming and Prairie, Friday’s game with Fleming could be for a share of the NCL crown. The Lady Falcons also have a home game with Kiowa on Saturday.
#11 IDALA (10-4)
Idalia had its three-game winning streak snapped by Kit Carson last Saturday, as the Lady Wildcats pulled out a 48-42 win at home. The Lady Wolves had just beaten Burlington 55-48 in overtime the night before, with Ailyn Monarrez-Estrada scoring 26 points, and Brigette Kite adding 17, including the three-pointer that forced OT. Idalia hosts Haxtun on Friday, and Eads on Saturday. The Lady Wolves will travel to Otis on Tuesday, looking to lock up the YWKC league crown.
#12 SPRINGFIELD (13-3)
Springfield made it five straight in the win column with a 45-42 decision on the road against Stanton County (KS) on Tuesday. BriLynn Jackson and Cobi Mackey scored 15 points apiece in that win. The Lady Longhorns also got a nice 57-42 win over Flagler last Saturday. They are on the road Thursday at La Veta, and next Tuesday at Cheraw.
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