Postseason underway as Colorado Class 5A and 4A high school girls basketball brackets released

Games begin Tuesday with the top 16 teams in each class getting a bye in the first round. Those byes are well-earned, and a few of those top teams have a great opportunity at making a run at a state championship.


Class 5A // Brackets
There is a blend of hope and anticipation when looking at the makeup of the 5A state bracket. Two years ago, right before COVID-19 put a halt to the state championship games, Grandview (Aurora) had just knocked off a very talented Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) team. Yet, Lauren Betts – the No. 1 recruit in the country – didn't get the chance to win a state championship.

Last year, the Wolves fell to Regis Jesuit (Aurora) in the semifinals, and Betts' dream of winning state was once again put on hold. After a slow start to the season, the Wolves have looked determined in their mission to capture their first 5A crown since 2018. Of their eight losses this season, only one has come against a Colorado team and that was to Mullen (Denver) on Jan. 5.

Betts is setting the tone for the team, averaging a double-double at 16.7 points and 10.1 rebounds. Her younger sister Sienna Betts is putting in the work, too, as she averages 10.6 points and 9.4 rebounds while also leading the team with 3.6 assists per game. Marya Hudgins adds 15.8 points to give the Wolves a well-rounded attack, which would be fun if they can play their way to the state title game.

Defending champion Valor Christian lost a couple key pieces from its title winning team from last year, but it also regained a piece that could lead to a repeat. Raegan Beers has been a force for the Eagles, averaging 19.7 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. She has gotten a lot of help from Macey Huard (12.7 PPG) and Quinn Vansickle (11.8 PPG).

The Eagles lost their regular-season showdown to Grandview but got significant wins over No. 2 Highlands Ranch and No. 9 Regis Jesuit and No. 12 Columbine (Littleton).

Defensively, Valor Christian has been one of the best teams in the entire state as of late. In their last 10 games, they held their opponents to under 50 points. They Eagles will face the winner of Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) and Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins), both of which average around 50 points per game this season.

Monarch (Louisville) was just a game away from finishing the regular season undefeated, but was tripped up by Rocky Mountain on Jan. 25. Aside from that game, the Coyotes have been arguably the biggest surprise of the season.

Natalie Guanella leads the team in both scoring (18.1 points) and steals (3.0), and fellow junior Amelia Rosin is averaging nearly a double-double with 12.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Arezo Safi adds 10 points per game to give the Coyotes a core that could make a deep playoff run not just this season, but next year as well.

Doherty (Colorado Springs) might not be a top-four seed, but the Spartans have played like an elite team all season. The lone in-state loss was to Regis Jesuit on Nov. 11 and it was only a nine-point game. Payton Sterk and Gabby Beauperthuy combine to average nearly 30 points per game, giving the team a solid scoring combination. Beauperthuy is also the team's leading rebounder at 9.3 per game.

The Spartans state the state tournament with a bye and will face the winner of Chatfield (Littleton) and Smoky Hill (Aurora). Should they get through the Round of 32, they will still have to contend with the likes of Fruita Monument and Highlands Ranch to reach the Final 4.

In other early matchups, Vista PEAK Prep (Aurora) heads into the tournament with Breanna Jefferson, the state's leading scorer. She'll be vital for the Bison as they take on Greeley Central in the first round. Also, Air Academy has a chance to get through two rounds as sophomore Caitlin Kramer has been outstanding by scoring 18.9 points per game. Senior Brianna Sealy adds strong leadership for the Kadets and averages 11.2 points and 8.2 rebounds.

Class 4A // Brackets
There could be a rematch of last year's state championship game on the horizon. Windsor enters the postseason as the No. 1 overall seed after putting together a 22-0 regular season. That record includes two wins over Holy Family (Broomfield), which sits in the No. 3 spot on the bracket.

Olivia Reed is the only Wizards player to average better than 10 points per game as she comes in at 12.1. She's also the team's leading rebounder at eight per game and has certainly played a huge role in the team's success this season. But for the Wizards, it has been so much about the team effort. Mykaela Moore and Jolie Jiricek each average more than nine points per game and contribute in other areas. Moore has been outstanding on the defensive side, grabbing 3.5 steals per game while Jiricek is dishing out two assists per contest.

The Wizards won their four state tournament games last year by an average of 42 points per game before losing to Mullen in the state championship game.

Speaking of the Mustangs, this might be the first time in several years that Mullen is appropriately seeded. The Mustangs are the No. 2 overall team on the bracket, which is a better representation of what this team is capable of than past years when they have been ranked 9 and 14.

The now two-time defending state champions look more than able to make a third run at the state title considering the talent they continue to roster. Gracie Gallegos and Kilah Freelon are each averaging at least 13 points, and Freelon is second on the team in rebounding at 6.5 per game.

The Mustangs haven't lost to an in-state 4A team all season and have also notched some impressive wins like a Jan. 5 win over Grandview. Mullen has a first-round bye and will face the winner of Pueblo South and Coronado (Colorado Springs).

Like Mullen, George Washington (Denver) put together a tough schedule against a lot of 5A teams and has looked every bit the part of a state title contender. The Patriots advanced to the Great 8 last year before losing to Windsor.  They have a more experienced roster this season, led by Mya Cotto, who is averaging 16.9 points per game. Jaida Redwine adds 13.2 and is also the team's leading rebounder at 7.6 per game. The team has also been strong on the defensive side of the ball as it swipes 19 steals per game.

Green Mountain (Lakewood) has also asserted itself as a team to watch in the postseason. The Rams nearly went undefeated in league play, only losing a nail-biter to D'Evelyn in overtime on Feb. 11. Avery Oaster has emerged as one of the most versatile players in the region. She averages 15.1 points, nine rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.7 steals. Jayda Maves is the team's leading scorer and also stands out on the defensive side of the ball as she nearly matches Oaster with 3.6 steals per game.

Green Mountain comes in as the No. 6 seed behind a 21-2 record. Beside the overtime loss to D'Evelyn (Denver), Green Mountain dropped a 47-35 game against Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village). The Rams will see the winner of Kennedy (Denver) and Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) this weekend. 

There are several key games to watch in the first round. The classification's leading scorer, Mason Rowland, will try to get Durango by Regis Groff (Denver) and into a big showdown with No. 16 Littleton.

Palmer Ridge (Monument) will ride the hot hand of Mia Womack (16.1 PPG) to try and get by Longmont, setting up a big showdown with Thompson Valley (Loveland) later in the week.