Golden ready to make another run at Jeffco, Colorado state girls basketball title

Over the previous six seasons, the Class 4A Jeffco League has done its best to stake its claim as perhaps the classification's premier girls basketball league.

It started with D'Evelyn (Denver) making back-to-back trips to the state finals in 2012-13. Two years later, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) earned consecutive 4A crowns, defeating league foe Evergreen in the 2016 title game. A year ago the Cougars took their turn, capturing the school's first state championship with a victory over Pueblo South.

But somewhat lost in that shuffle is a program that has re-emerged as a 4A power and is eager to make its own push toward state. Golden won 22 games a year ago and finished first in Jeffco – defeating eventual champion Evergreen twice along the way. The team reached the quarterfinals before falling by three points to top-seeded Pueblo South.

The Demons return a pair of first-team all-state talents in seniors Abby Garnett and Makena Prey, and first-year coach Tim Hammond is eager to see what lies ahead.

"They are really excited. They worked hard in the fall and now it's time to start playing some games," Hammond said. "It changes the level of excitement. They were getting comfortable with practice, and now it's time to start turning it up."

The 6-foot-1 Garnett, who has signed with the University of Ohio, averaged 16.9 points and 9.7 rebounds as a junior. Prey, who is 6-foot, averaged a double-double at 16.2 points and 10.8 rebounds.

"Both of them really understand the game well," Hammond said. "Makena is really solid on defense and people don't pay attention to that. With Abby, I don't think people pay enough attention to how she is a really good passer. Obviously she can score, but what I really like is how she sees the floor."

Golden's other senior, Mia Johnson, is a player that Hammond said is very valuable and can play multiple positions. The Demons also have the youth factor on their side with eight sophomores on the roster. Hammond said the team needs its younger talent to step up and complement the play of its three seniors.

"It's kind of neat how those sophomores are getting a lot of opportunities this year," he said. "That makes them much better players down the road."

It isn't like Golden has an easy path, though, as the Jeffco League is loaded once again. Evergreen returns junior Claudia Dillon, who was the 4A Player of the Year last season, along with four more of its top six scorers. Valor Christian graduated its two leading scorers, but has three freshmen on varsity. D'Evelyn returns Angi Reed and Bailey Marvel, and Hammond mentioned Green Mountain (Lakewood) and Littleton as other threats in the league.

"It's going to be a great challenge for us, but that's what makes it fun," he said. "In the long run I think that is what is going to help us out when we get to the playoffs."

With the season already underway, the next few weeks will feature a number of tournaments headed into the winter break. Here is a quick glance at the rest of the state:

Colorado girls basketball regular-season tournaments

Class 5A
Defending champion: Grandview (Aurora)
Overview: Grandview graduated 5A Player of the Year Michaela Onyenwere off of its title-winning team, but the Wolves return senior Leilah Vigil (13.8 points, 8.6 rebounds) and junior Alisha Davis (9.3 points, 7.5 rebounds), among others. … Highlands Ranch has not won a state title since 2011, but the Falcons were young a year ago. Four players return who averaged at least 10 points, led by second-team all-state selections Tommi Olson and Autumn Watts. … Regis Jesuit (Aurora) split its four games in an out-of-state tournament. The Raiders graduated only one senior, and Francesca Belibi averaged a double-double at 15.7 points and 11.6 rebounds as a sophomore. … State runner-up Lakewood also went 2-2 at the same tournament, including a loss to Regis Jesuit. The Tigers return first-team all-state forward Camilla Emsbo, but the team lost Kira Emsbo to injury before the season began. … Jana Van Gytenbeek, who averaged 14.8 points and 5.7 assists as a freshman, helped lead Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) to the semifinals last winter.
Returning all-state players: Francesca Belibi, Jr., Regis Jesuit (2nd team); Camilla Emsbo, Sr., Lakewood (1st team); Tommi Olson, Sr., Highlands Ranch (2nd team); Jana Van Gytenbeek, Soph., Cherry Creek (2nd team); Autumn Watts, Jr., Highlands Ranch (2nd team).

Class 4A
Defending champion: Evergreen
Overview: While the Jeffco League opened the preseason polls with four teams ranked in the top 10, don't discount what the South Central League did last season. Runner-up Pueblo South and semifinalist Pueblo West combined to win 48 games. South returns three of its leading scorers, including all-state standout Maya Austin (13.4 ppg) and junior Gabi Lucero (12.5 points, 13.3 rebounds). … Pueblo West's Olivia Lough averaged 17.3 points as a junior, and Hannah Simental went for 10.4 points as a freshman. … Windsor has averaged 19 victories over its previous six seasons and made the semis last winter. The Wizards graduated only two seniors and return all-state guard Michaela Moran. … Mesa Ridge (Colorado Springs) won 21 games a year ago and brings back senior Chloe Welch, who averaged 18 points. Junior center Ashley Bowen averaged 12.3 points and 9.4 rebounds.
Returning all-state players: Maya Austin, Sr., Pueblo South (2nd team); Claudia Dillon, Jr., Evergreen (1st team); Abby Garnett, Sr., Golden (1st team); Olivia Lough, Sr., Pueblo West (1st team); Michaela Moran, Sr., Windsor (2nd team); Makena Prey, Sr., Golden (1st team); Chloe Welch, Sr., Mesa Ridge (1st team).

Class 3A
Defending champion: Lamar
Overview: After Holy Family (Broomfield) won six titles in seven seasons in 3A, three different teams have

Cali Clark, Lamar

File photo by Jeffrey Tucker

captured crowns over the past three years. Lamar was the most recent to do it, riding the hot hand of freshman Cali Clark to a victory over Colorado Springs Christian. Clark returns having averaged 15.3 points and 10.6 rebounds. … Speaking of CSCS, the Lions upended No. 1 Sterling on their way to their first title game since 2010. Like Clark, Megan Engesser was a first-team all-state selection after scoring nearly 17 points a game as a sophomore. Rachel Ingram averaged 13 as a sophomore, and the duo has CSCS off to a 2-0 start this season. … Centauri (La Jara) is off to a 3-0 start behind the play of senior Caroline Van Berkum. Ember Canty was a second-team all-state pick as a junior, averaging a double-double at 11.2 points and 10.3 rebounds, along with more than four blocks a game. … Morgan Lewis paces fellow Intermountain League team Pagosa Springs, which fell to Lamar by one point in the quarterfinals. Lewis averaged just shy of 20 points and 10 rebounds a game as a junior. … Sterling was undefeated before falling to CSCS in the semifinals. The Tigers graduated five seniors… St. Mary's (Colorado Springs) is another team to watch, with returning senior Makenna Bodette and sophomore point guard Josephine Howery.
Returning all-state players: Ember Canty, Sr., Centauri (2nd team); Cali Clark, Soph., Lamar (1st team); Megan Engesser, Jr., Colorado Springs Christian (1st team); Morgan Lewis, Sr., Pagosa Springs (2nd team).

Class 2A
Defending champion: Paonia
Overview: After reaching the title game four years in a row, Yuma was upended in the semifinals despite being the top seed last winter. The Indians, fresh off a runner-up showing in state volleyball, bring back the bulk of their team. Cody Robinson averaged 14.9 points as a sophomore and Chasey Blach had a double-double at 10.6 points and 11.3 rebounds. … Defending champion Paonia graduated three all-state players and five seniors overall. … Wray, which upset Yuma, has junior Morgan Smith back at the helm. Smith averaged 11.2 points and 8.3 rebounds a year ago. … Kendra Parra led Del Norte in scoring at 15.2 points a game as a freshman as the Tigers nearly edged Paonia in the semifinals. … Swink won 20 games and returns juniors Brianna Denton and Kyla O'Meal, the team's two leading scorers. … Dawson Knode averaged 14 points and 9.7 rebounds as a sophomore for 21-win Haxtun. … Simla returns its two leading scorers in Jerraldawn Rector and Kegan Hamacher.
Returning all-state players: Dawson Knode, Jr., Haxtun (2nd team); Jerraldawn Rector, Sr., Simla (2nd team); Cody Robinson, Jr., Yuma (1st team); Morgan Smith, Jr., Wray (1st team).

Class 1A
Defending champion: Kit Carson
Overview: Tess Hornung is having quite a year. The reigning 1A Player of the Year helped lead Kit Carson to the state title in basketball, then did the same on the volleyball court (winning MVP honors there as well). Hornung averaged 14.6 points as a junior to go with 8.5 rebounds, and all-state teammate Micayla Isenbart averaged 9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists. In all, Kit Carson returns its four leading scorers. … Fleming, which lost to Kit Carson in the title game, has two of its three leading scorers back: Alli Keisel averaged 14.4 points and eight rebounds, and Jenna Lengfelder averaged 10.6 points. … Antonito bears watching. The Trojans won 23 games and return Erykah Tallman (15.6 points, 14.8 rebounds as a junior) and Joslyn Garcia (14.8 points). … Kim/Branson brings back its entire roster from a team that just missed reaching the state tournament. … Briggsdale's Jodel Erickson averaged 13.9 points and eight rebounds as a junior as the Falcons won 20 games and made the state field.
Returning all-state players: Jodel Erickson, Sr., Briggsdale (2nd team); Tess Hornung, Jr., Kit Carson (1st team); Micayla Isenbart, Sr., Kit Carson (1st team); Erykah Tallman, Sr., Antonito (2nd team); Ashley Yergert, Sr., Kim/Branson (2nd team).