Ten Colorado girls basketball games to watch for January

With the calendar turning the page and closing the book on 2017, basketball teams around the state can finally get back to business.

The winter break has officially wrapped up and teams are taking to the court once more, so the 2018 portion of the girls basketball season has commenced. The nine-day layoff allowed teams to rest up for the sprint that is the next two months, with league play having already gotten under way in some classifications.

While state tournaments are still in the distant future, the importance of upcoming games is already ramping up. January has some big clashes in store across all five classifications.

Here is a look at 10 games to keep an eye on in the coming weeks:

Class 5A
• Highlands Ranch (8-2) at Regis Jesuit (Aurora) (7-2), 5 p.m., Jan. 27
Typically one of the most intriguing regular-season games each year features the Continental League rivals, both of whom figure to be in the mix for a state championship.
Highlands Ranch's two losses came in out-of-state tournaments, one each in the La Jolla Country Day Tournament in California and the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix. The Falcons went 3-1 in both tourneys, and in between the team thoroughly handled in-state teams in Arapahoe (Centennial) and Monarch (Louisville). Junior Autumn Watts is averaging 17.1 points per game, and seniors Tommi Olson and Courtney Humbarger are just below 13 points a game.
Regis Jesuit dropped both of its games early in the La Jolla tourney. The Raiders have won five in a row since then, including a narrow victory over defending state champion Grandview (Aurora). Sophomore Jada Moore (13.0 points) and junior Francesca Belibi (11.9 points, 9.4 rebounds) have provided the biggest spark to an offense averaging 58 points a game.
• Lakewood (7-2) at Ralston Valley (Arvada) (6-1), 5:30 p.m., Jan. 26
The second of two meetings between the 5A Jeffco League rivals could ultimately decide which team comes away with the league title, depending on what happens within the rest of the league.
The teams play for the first time Jan. 4 at Lakewood. The Tigers dropped both of their games early at the La Jolla Country Day tournament. Lakewood has won six in a row since that time, averaging 66 points a game over the previous three games. Senior Camilla Emsbo leads the team at 16.1 points a game, and sophomore Nadia Trevizo has stepped into a scorer's role at 10.1 points.
Ralston Valley opened the season with a three-point loss to Grandview, only to reel off six consecutive victories. That includes a pair of impressive wins over Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) and Fairview (Boulder) in the Fairview Festival. Senior Delaynie Byrne is getting the job done with 18.6 points and 7.6 rebounds, and freshman Sydney Bevington has chipped in with 11.4 points and three steals a game.
Both teams also have to contend with a Columbine (Littleton) program that went 8-1 in December.

Class 5A/4A
• Thomas Jefferson (Denver) (10-1) vs. Denver East (7-1), 2:30 p.m., Jan. 20, ThunderDome
The Denver Prep League rivals open league play with each other in what could eventually help decide the DPL champion.
Thomas Jefferson won six in a row before falling by seven points to Centaurus (Lafayette), only to rattle off four more victories to close out December. Three players average in double figures for the Spartans, with junior Kharial Clark leading the team with 13.5 points to go with 7.2 rebounds. Senior Zoya Robbins puts up similar numbers at 11.5 points and 7.6 rebounds.
East's only December defeat came in the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, though the Angels have a Continental League run coming early in January before opening DPL play. Senior R'manie Pulling is averaging 18.5 points, and scored 48 points in her final two games of the Tarkanian.
• Fruita Monument (8-1) at Pueblo West (8-0), 3:30 p.m., Jan. 5, Rampart Tournament at Broadmoor World Arena
Fruita Monument has been steady and consistent throughout the early portion of the season. The team's only loss came by seven points to a 10-win Castle View (Highlands Ranch) team. Now the Wildcats have one more tune-up before Southwestern League play begins and it comes in the form of the Rampart Tournament at the Broadmoor World Arena. Fruita Monument plays 5A Rampart, 4A Pueblo West and 3A Colorado Springs Christian, but the Cyclones offer the stiffest test. Wildcats senior Riley Snyder figures to be the go-to target for Fruita Monument, with Snyder averaging 18.6 points, though senior Angelique Gall has averaged 12 points a game.
Pueblo West is also looking for one more tune-up before South Central League play begins. The Cyclones, save for a five-point victory over Windsor, have been too much for opposing teams. West is coming off an impressive 49-38 victory over Holy Family before the winter break.



Class 4A
• Berthoud (10-0) at Holy Family (Broomfield) (7-2), 5:30 p.m., Jan. 9
Speaking of Holy Family, the Tigers sandwiched a seven-game winning streak between an overtime loss to Air Academy and the loss to Pueblo West. That run included a win over defending state champion Evergreen as well. Senior Izzy Hren has done a little bit of everything for the Tigers, averaging 15.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, seven assists and 4.3 steals.
Undefeated Berthoud provides a big challenge though in Tri-Valley play. The Spartans, who are four victories away from matching last winter's win total, average 65 points a game. Sophomore Emily Cavey has lit up opposing defenses to the tune of 20.1 points a game, 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 steals. She had a season-high 34 points in a victory over Pueblo East and has two double-doubles to her credit.
• Evergreen (7-1) at Golden (8-0), 5:30 p.m., Jan. 24
The defending state champions pay a visit to the undefeated Demons in the first of two Jeffco League matchups.
Evergreen has sandwiched a pair of winning streaks around a four-point loss to Holy Family in early December. Junior sensation Claudia Dillon is averaging 18.1 points and 9.5 rebounds a game for the Cougars, and Baylee Galan-Browne is at 10.1 points.
Golden's closest game thus far is a six-point victory over Longmont on Dec. 14. The Demons are getting the job done with seniors Makena Prey (24.9 points, 11.6 rebounds) and Abby Garnett (16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds). Prey leads 4A in scoring average.
Both teams have a gauntlet to face before meeting up. Six teams in 4A Jeffco have at least six victories.

Class 3A
• Lamar (5-1) at Colorado Springs Christian (5-0), 5:30 p.m., Jan. 26
A rematch of the state championship game last March – albeit a low-scoring one – is among the biggest highlights for 3A in January.
Lamar defeated the Lions 24-18 last March, using a third-quarter burst to take home the championship. The Savages have looked good again early this season, though undefeated Centauri handed the team its only loss. There is also the matter of the Savages having to face undefeated St. Mary's (Colorado Springs) – another 3A Tri-Peaks opponent – on Jan. 5 before getting to the Lions at the end of the month.
CSCS hasn't had a problem scoring points through the first five games. The Lions closed out December with a big victory over Pagosa Springs, and are preparing to face 5A Rampart and Fruita Monument and 4A Pueblo West this weekend in the Rampart Tournament. Junior Megan Engesser is averaging a remarkable 24.4 points and 8.4 rebounds, and Rachel Ingram has poured in 15.8 points a game.
• Centauri (La Jara) (8-0) at Pagosa Springs (5-2), 5:30 p.m., Jan. 26
Centauri has been rolling through opponents this winter, relying on a balanced offense and stingy defense to keep teams at bay. The Falcons stifled defending state champion Lamar, with the Savages managing only 16 points. Junior Melissa Wilson (11.5 points) and senior Caroline Van Berkum (11 points, 8.3 rebounds) have paced an offense that averages 55 points a game.
Pagosa Springs' only two losses came to unbeaten teams in St. Mary's and Colorado Springs Christian. Centauri certainly won't be any easier for the Pirates, whose offense runs through senior Morgan Lewis (16 points, 9.8 rebounds).

Class 2A
• Yuma (7-0) at Holyoke (6-0), 5:30 p.m., Jan. 19
Two 2A undefeated teams square off in a non-league game midway through the month. Holyoke's defense has been impressive and has yet to allow more than 34 points in a game, and three times the Dragons have limited opponents to less than 20 points in a contest. Senior Grace Dille continues to be a monster on the boards, hauling in 17.8 rebounds a game and adding 12.3 points. Sophomore Taeryn Trumper leads the team with 16.3 points a game.
Yuma closed out December with a 10-point victory over the same Wray program that ended the Indians' run in the semifinals last winter. Junior Chasey Blach has given the team a lift on both ends of the floor, averaging 16.7 points and 13.7 rebounds.

Class 1A
• Fleming (4-1) at Briggsdale (5-1), 2 p.m., Jan. 27
While these two North Central foes have already met once this season – Fleming took a 54-51 victory on Dec. 15 – they will meet up one more time late in the month. Fleming, the state runner-up last March, has dropped only one game this season, and that came to 2A undefeated Holyoke. Senior Alli Keisel leads the Wildcats with 16 points a game, and freshman Kendyl Kirkwood is adding 11.6 points and 8.4 rebounds.
Briggsdale had been on a roll before falling to Fleming. The Falcons have only used seven players through six games, but four of them are averaging at least nine points a game. Senior Skyla Miller leads Briggsdale at 12.5 points and Jodel Erickson is at 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds.