Wild Colorado girls basketball season just getting started

If the opening week of the season is any indication, it could be a wild one in girls basketball.

Top-ranked Regis Jesuit (Aurora) not only dropped in-state game, but did so to a Monarch (Louisville) squad that began the season just outside the top 10 of the CHSAANow.com poll. Holy Family (Broomfield), which has won six of the past seven 3A titles, has started 1-1 in its ascension to 4A.

So far, the message is that it might not be an easy thing to repeat as champs. Mesa Ridge (Colorado Springs) in 4A, Lutheran (Parker) (2A; moved to 3A) and Norwood (1A) are hoping to disprove that notion. With the season just getting underway, here's a look at 10 key questions on the girls side.

1. Can Regis Jesuit, winners of two straight 5A crowns and nationally ranked last season, remain a top-flight contender?

The Raiders graduated a bevy of Division I athletes, but that's usually the case. Talent remains, including the perimeter-savvy Jess Lewis, but Regis needs to mesh into a unit. Seven of last season's 10 varsity players are gone, as are eight of their 10 JV players.

"With only five of 20 coming back, you have to get the chemistry with the new kids," Raiders coach Carl Mattei said. "If we don't all put it together, we're not going to be that good of a team because we don't have the depth anymore."

2. If it's not going to be Regis Jesuit in 5A, then who is the heir apparent to the crown?

Grandview (Aurora) and talented sophomore Michaela Onyenwere could be right there, as could last season's runner-up Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins). Each squad graduated marquee players but has some firepower remaining in the arsenal. Highlands Ranch, with junior center Blaire Braxton, is always in the mix under veteran coach Caryn Jarocki, and don't count out Monarch after the Coyotes handled Regis 58-45 on the Raiders' home floor. But the biggest contender could be a 5A newcomer, which we'll discuss in the next question.

3. How will perennial powers Broomfield and Holy Family do now that each has jumped up one classification?

Broomfield went 27-1 in 4A last season, with the lone loss a narrow decision to Mesa Ridge in the championship game. Voters are so impressed with the Eagles, who return Colorado State-bound Callie Kaiser, that they anointed them a preseason No. 2 in 5A even though it's their first season there.

As for Holy Family, all-everything junior guard Katie Chavez is back in the fold, but the Tigers didn't get as much love in the polls at No. 7 in their first season in 4A. The Tigers were humbled by 5A No. 10 ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) in their second game, but still will compete.

4. Mesa Ridge went 28-0 last season. Does Broomfield's ascension to 5A clear the way for the Grizzlies to march to another title?

Despite the return of 6-foot-4 double-double machine Kylee Shook, voters aren't convinced. Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) was labeled a preseason No. 1, while Pueblo West and Sand Creek (Colorado Springs) grabbed the Nos. 2 and 3 spots, respectively, before Mesa Ridge checked in at No. 4. Why is that? Probably because Mesa Ridge lost its Nos. 2 through 6 leading scorers from last season. Shook shook off the snub with a triple-double (12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks) in the Grizzlies opener against Douglas County (Castle Rock) and sophomore Britanie Olsen added 14 points.

5. Why were Valor Christian, Pueblo South and Sand Creek ranked ahead of Mesa Ridge?

Two of the three have new head coaches, so that is a difficult question. But on the court, Valor returns its top two scorers from last season's 23-4 squad in Kendall Bradbury and Caroline Bryan. Jessika Caldwell has replaced Sherryl Klosterman as the Eagles' coach.

Pueblo South won it all two seasons ago and coach Shannan Lane still has a stacked squad. Sand Creek no longer has Jamie Carey on the bench as Frank Haist has taken over as coach, but the Scorpions return key juniors Liah Davis and Oliana Squires. Also keep an eye on No. 5 Pueblo West, which boasts scoring machine Haley Simental, and the Cyclones will take on Mesa Ridge in a key early-season battle Friday night.

6. With the 3A title vacant now that Holy Family is in 4A, who are the top contenders?

Lutheran would like nothing more than to capture successive titles in two separate classifications, and the Lions return their top four scorers from last season's 24-1 2A title team. They begin the season at No. 3, trailing Sterling and 2013 runner-up Pagosa Springs.

Sterling returns all but one player from last season's 22.5 squad, including top scorers Jenna Knudson and Kylie Chavez. Pagosa Springs, which ran the table last season before losing to Holy Family in the title game, returns top scorer Payton Shahan. The lengthy list of potential contenders includes Manitou Springs, Eaton and St. Mary's (Colorado Springs).

7. With the 2A title vacant now that Lutheran is in 3A, is there a favorite?

Absolutely. All signs point to Yuma, which finished second in the state last season despite a roster composed of 11 sophomores and one junior. All those sophomores, naturally, give the Indians a junior-heavy roster, including leading scorer Logan Hixon. The Indians went 25-2 last season, with losses to Akron and Lutheran.

8. Which other teams qualify as contenders in 2A?

Akron won the previous two titles before Lutheran took over, and the Rams always seem to be in the mix. Hoehne, Caliche (Iliff) and Peyton also have the look of ultra-solid squads. Hoehne and Peyton were in the state tournament last season, and Caliche absorbed a narrow 38-34 loss to Norwood in the 1A title game before moving up. The Buffaloes return Shayln Johnson (16.7 points a game) from a 24-2 squad. Hoehne's Cydney Kreutzer boasted the same scoring average as a junior, and Peyton returns second-leading scorer Victoria Goodman.

9. What are Norwood's chances of repeating in 1A?

The Mavericks return leading scorer Jordan Williams (16.9), but will be without No. 2 scorer Lucia Vlkova, who was a one-year exchange student from Slovakia. Nonetheless, the Mavericks are ranked No. 3 after a 25-1 season. Briggsdale earned the top spot, a Falcons squad that went 19-6 last season and returns talented junior Darian Hale. Idalia checks in at No. 2 after returning its eight top scorers from a 21-3 squad.

10. Who are some of the other players across the state that could ascend to an all-state, or possibly and All-Colorado level?

Lakewood guard Mackenzie Forrest averaged 19.4 points a game last season and will have the Tigers competing again. Kent Denver (Englewood) standout Maya Love averaged 19.7 points as a sophomore and is on the rise. Also check out Courtney Smith (Legacy (Broomfield)), Cassidy Budge (Rampart (Colorado Springs)), Jonnae Richardson (Denver East), Jordan Baer (Akron) and Chandler Babi (Bennett), all top-10 scorers among returning players. Of note, Byers' Taylor Dodge started the season with a 35-point performance in a 65-64 loss to Faith Christian (Arvada).