Both genders succeed at Pueblo West basketball

Hardly forecasted a preseason favorite in either gender, the Pueblo West basketball teams have fought their way onto the Class 4A landscape.

The Pueblo West boys produced a this-team-is-for-real moment Tuesday night by triumphing 49-46 at Pueblo East, the South Central League favorite and title-game participant last season. The victory gave the Cyclones sole possession of first place in the league at 4-0 (12-2 overall).

"This is one we had to have," Pueblo West coach Bobby Tyler said.

Brandon Jackson keyed the win with 21 points and is one of three Cyclones averaging double figures in points, along with Connor Roumph and Ian Imamura.

The Pueblo West girls, meanwhile, have been a pleasant surprise as well despite a road loss to Pueblo South this week. It was the first setback for the Cyclones, who are 14-1. They get another crack against Pueblo South at home on Feb. 8.

NEEDLES GETS HELP
Although every ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) opponent knows Carlie Needles is the Grizzlies' marquee player, she has still managed to average 26.4 points game. The problem early in the season for ThunderRidge is that Needles, a Florida recruit, largely has been a one-girl show.

She scored the final 18 points in an early win against Denver East and for awhile had produced more than 50 percent of the Grizzlies' points. In recent weeks, though, Needles is getting some support. Sophomore Taylor Williams is morphing into an inside-outside threat and has produced her first two double-digit outings in the past two games (11 and 16 points).

"I've talked to Carlie and I've talked to our team, saying that every night someone is going to try to stop Carlie," ThunderRidge coach Bill Bradley said. "Depending on where they bring an extra defender from, it's going to give one of our kids an opportunity."

With the increased periphery production – Samantha Rusk, Taylor Chase and Reana Kaminsky also have had their moments – ThunderRidge (11-3) has won its past three games by a combined 70 points, all against teams that began the season in the top 10.

"We're building our confidence in working together, and it's awesome," Needles said.

HANSEN CONTINUES POST-INJURY RAMPAGE
Fossil Ridge senior Chris Hansen is averaging a state-best 30 points per game despite missing all of last season with a fractured femur. He suffered the injury at a Colorado State camp and missed a season in which he was expected to elevate to a college-ready player.

Well, Hansen is making up for lost time after an injury some believed might end his playing days. He has scored 40 points twice and tallied four more performances in the 30s for the surprising SaberCats (12-0).

LEWIS-PALMER BOYS' STREAK REACHES 10
After starting the season 1-2, Lewis-Palmer (Monument) has steamrolled the competition. The Rangers pushed their winning streak to double figures Tuesday night with an 86-73 win against Harrison.

Josh Scott, a 6-foot-9 junior center, led the way with 25 points while Kurt Cona and Dezmond James added 19 apiece. Harrison's dynamic Xavier Ford can say he "got his" with 33 points, but it wasn't enough for the Panthers (10-3), who tried to rally with 32 fourth-quarter points.

SIMLA GIRLS KEEP RACKING UP THE WINS
A reputable team for several seasons, the Simla girls had grown accustomed to watching McClave earn the 1A headlines for most of the past decade. Then last season, it was all about undefeated Kim.

Well, it's the Bear Cubs' turn to shine. They have begun the season 11-0 as they enter a key stretch of games against Flagler (7-3) and Limon (7-3). So far, Simla has done well not to be swept under by its elevated status.

"We're trying not to let it affect us at all," Bear Cubs leading scorer Jaci Digby said. "We're trying not to think about it and do our best each game. When it comes to districts, our No. 1 ranking won't matter. We'll have to get out of districts to prove anything."

TOP PERFORMERS
* Joel Haywood, Denver Lutheran: The senior scored 36 points Saturday for the high-flying Lights in an 82-65 win at University. Haywood averages 22.8 points for a Lights squad that has topped the 90-point plateau four times, including twice scoring more than 100.

* Cory Calvert, Chaparral: It has been an up-and-down season for the Wolverines (8-6), but they are currently on a three-game winning streak. Calvert is a big reason why, as he has posted 30 and 27 points in the past two games.

* Emily Glen, Legacy: With 20 points, the junior helped the Lightning record another upset, this time a 64-53 decision against No. 2 Monarch. Last week, the Lightning upset longtime 4A No. 1 Broomfield, which had been 116-3 over five seasons entering the contest.

* Alison Gorrell, Conifer: The Wyoming-bound senior scored 28 points Tuesday night, and the Lobos needed almost all of them in an 81-76 shootout win against D'Evelyn.

RECRUITING NEWS
As national signing day nears, two more in-state football players have verbally committed. Chaparral wideout Christian Gann, who also played quarterback this season while starter Andrew Loudenback sat out the first five games because of a transfer-rule ruling, is bound for Air Force. In addition, Legacy linebacker Corey Ayers bypassed a walk-on invitation at Colorado State to sign with Division II Colorado State-Pueblo.

Paul Willis is a regular sports freelancer for The Denver Post and covered high school, college and pro sports for the Rocky Mountain News from 2000-09. You can reach him at gdpdub@aol.com.