With the girls basketball season winding down, it's time to take a deeper look at the leaderboards.
While several eye-popping numbers can be found in each classification, here's a look at two players from each whose numbers, for a variety of different reasons, seem to stand out. Some are approaching historical milestones, some are a bit quirky and some are just downright good.
Maya Austin of Pueblo South is among the statistical
leaders in the state this season. She tops Class 4A
in three-pointers.
File photo by Derek Regensburger
MaxPreps Colorado girls basketball leaders
Here's a look:
Class 5A Tatum Rembao, Sr.,
Loveland (1,832 career points): The Creighton-bound guard, averaging an overall state-best 24.6 points this season, has an outside shot of becoming the third ever big-school player to surpass 2,000 points. She has one more regular-season game, tonight at Mountain Range (Broomfield), then can continue to pile on the points for as long as the Indians (14-8) remain alive in the state tournament.
Makayla Hemingway, Fr.,
Cherokee Trail (Aurora) (6.6 assists): The Cougars have a player in the 5-foot-10 freshman, who is also averaging 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals. The assist total leads the state and gives Cherokee Trail (11-10) hopes for a bright future. Coincidentally, 5A's second-leading assist producer is also a freshman in
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) standout
Jana Van Gytenbeek (5.4 per game).
Note: Earlier this week we chronicled the career of
Grandview (Aurora) All-American
Michaela Onyenwere, who recently became the second big-school player to surpass the 2,000-point plateau. On Wednesday night, she added another milestone: 1,000 career rebounds.
Class 4AMakena Prey, Jr.,
Golden (16.6 points, 10.7 rebounds): A handful of players across the state average a double-double, but few have been as impressive as Prey. Her efforts have helped the Demons (20-3, 12-2) to their first Jeffco League championship since 2008. And she's had the luxury of doing alongside her sisters
Sydney Prey, a senior, and
Haley Prey, a freshman.
Maya Austin, Jr.,
Pueblo South (61 three-pointers): The classification's 16th-leading scorer has been almost equally efficient from inside the arc, as she has connected for 60 two-point baskets. Austin's efforts have helped the well-rounded Cyclones (20-2, 8-1) challenge Pueblo East for the South Central League title and put them in the overall championship picture. Her trey count leads 4A, although
Canon City freshman
Jerika Moore is one behind at 60.
Class 3AAnna Weibel, Sr.,
Estes Park (20.6 points, 14.4 rebounds, 5.9 blocks): Many of the state's finest scorers reside in 3A, but Weibel's name generally isn't typically among the conversation. Weibel's Bobcats are 6-13, but don't blame her. At 6-3, she leads the classification in rebounding and blocked shots and is third in scoring.
Sterling Tigers (no players in the top 50 in scoring; still 18-0): For most the season, top-ranked Sterling was bereft of a double-digit scorer.
Brooke Ploenz's average has sneaked above 10 – it's 10.1 and ranks 56th in 3A – and
Abbey Brower is close behind at 9.9. But the charm for Sterling is the sum-of-its-parts concept in which everyone scores and no one is dominant.
Class 2AMegan Roberts, Jr.,
Dayspring Christian (Greeley) (23.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 2.5 blocks): Roberts does it all for the Eagles (10-8) and has been ultra-consistent. The classification's leading scorer has reached double digits in every game and has scored at least 30 on four occasions. She has scored 430 of her team's 772 points this season, a whopping 55.7 percent.
Emily Pieper, Sr.,
Paonia (6.4 steals): Don't dribble the ball near Pieper. She'll swipe it. The 5-8 point guard is one of the centerpieces of the top-ranked Eagles (17-0) and twice has reached double digits in steals this season. She's had at least three swipes in every game and also chips 12.3 points per contest.
Class 1ASarah McGinley, Sr.,
Heritage Christian (Fort Collins) (21.0 points, 70 threes): Believe or not, the state's most accomplished three-point threat resides in 1A. No one has drilled more than McGinley's 70 treys, and her scoring average ranks second in the classification. And, oh, these numbers carry some weight. She's helped the No. 2 Eagles to a 17-0 mark and has them in the title conversation.
Erykah Tallman, Jr.,
Antonito (15.7 points, 14.9 rebounds): Listed at 5-6, Tallman is producing numbers like someone a foot taller. No. 3 Antonito (17-0) has been a pleasant surprise, and the junior's marvelous production is a big reason why. She's been held to fewer than 10 rebounds only once, and she had nine in that game.
