CLASS 1A GIRLS BASKETBALL REGIONAL REPORT – SATURDAY
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
We enter the day with five tickets to the Great Eight on the line, as teams will join Eads, Cheraw, and Springfield in the bracket that will play out next week at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Friday saw three lower seeds win, two of them in that group that has already qualified for the next round.
MCCLAVE REGION
#1 MCCLAVE (22-2) VS #16 GRANADA (15-8) 11AM
McClave wasted no time in establishing its dominance on Friday, as the Lady Cards outscored Deer Trail 32-0 in the first quarter. They went on to claim a 76-11 victory, with Abrielle Gomez posting 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Granada trailed Kim/Branson 9-7 after one quarter, but came on strong to earn a 47-32 victory. McClave beat Granada 60-26 at the end of January, as Addison Vallejos went for 16 points, and Gomez added 14. Emri Marquez paced the Lady Bobcats with seven points.
CALICHE REGION
#9 CHERAW (22-3) QUALIFIED FOR GREAT EIGHT
Cheraw ran its winning streak to 10 games, and punched its ticket to the Great Eight, by beating Caliche 42-31.
STRATTON REGION
#4 STRATTON (18-6) VS #20 GENOA-HUGO/KARVAL (13-11) 1PM
Kinsleigh Brachtenbach drilled seven three-pointers and tallied 23 points, while Elle Bohnen chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds to lead Stratton past Primero 59-20. Genoa-Hugo/Karval got out of the gates quickly, leading Flatirons Academy by 20 in the first half, and held on for a 39-29 win. Amy James led the Lady Pirates with 14 points, and Lexi James added 11. Early in its current 11-game winning streak, Stratton collected a 50-23 victory over Genoa-Hugo/Karval behind 12 points apiece from Sophia Isenbart and Camory Wedel. Rylee Kelly had seven for the Lady Pirates.
FLEMING REGION
#5 FLEMING (18-5) VS #12 IDALIA (15-8) 1PM
Fleming extended its winning streak to seven with a 62-35 victory over Lone Star, the second over the Lady Longhorns this season. Idalia rolled Weldon Valley 60-21 in the other semifinal. That sets up a third showdown between the Lady Wildcats and Lady Wolves in the last two weeks. Fleming beat Idalia 48-35 on February 20th, and 43-28 last Friday in the NCL/YWKC crossover semifinals. Ciana Lousberg, Hadley Stull, and Brooke Schaefer all had 11 points for the Lady Wildcats in the first win, and Stull put up 16 in the latter. Brigette Kite had 13 for Idalia in the first meeting, and Ailyn Monarrez-Estrada added 10 in that loss.
EADS REGION
#2 EADS (22-2) QUALIFIED FOR GREAT EIGHT
In the second meeting of the year with Kit Carson, Eads flexed its muscles for a 63-39 victory and a trip to the Great Eight. The Lady Eagles head to Greeley with a 14-game winning streak in tow.
PRAIRIE REGION
#10 SPRINGFIELD (20-5) QUALIFIED FOR GREAT EIGHT
Springfield became the first road team to qualify for the Great Eight, as the Lady Longhorns beat Prairie 55-42 in Prairie. They will meet Eads in a quarterfinal next Thursday.
EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY REGION
#3 EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (21-2) VS #14 FLAGLER (17-6) 2PM
ECA racked up its seventh consecutive victory by rolling South Baca 55-26. Flagler made it past Hi-Plains 54-43 for its second straight win. Evangel Christian just beat Flagler 54-50 last Friday as part of the ECA tournament. Reagan Schultz went for 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Mia Castro added 12 points, 10 assists, and nine steals for the Lady Eagles. Rylie Berry led Flagler with 16 points and nine boards, and Clara Hermes tacked on 15 points.
NUCLA REGION
#6 NUCLA (22-2) VS #11 BRIGGSDALE (18-6) 11AM
The hosts in the region had their hands full with De Beque on Friday, needing an 11-7 fourth quarter to advance with a 40-37 victory. Briggsdale cruised past Creede 63-22, as the Lady Falcons led 38-10 at the half. Nucla and Briggsdale have not played since the 2017 state consolation semifinals, a game won by Briggsdale.
MileHigh Prep Report 