Colorado high school girls basketball standouts at season's midpoint

Across all five classifications there are six undefeated teams remaining of the field. But some of the biggest and the best teams out there are the ones who have been dealt a loss at some point of the season.

Despite those losses, there are players on several teams who are competing at a high level. Whether it's a Class 5A team in the Denver Metro area or a 1A or 2A team that has to deal with mountain passes on their road trips, there are enjoyable players to watch in every corner of the state.

Just like on the boys side, St. Mary's (Colorado Springs) leads the state in scoring as a team with 73.5 points per game. With numbers like that, the Pirates are a favorite to come away with yet another 3A state title.

With just about a month left in the regular season, here are some players to watch in each classification as well as some teams that have been a surprise with their success.

Class 5A
Mid-season standouts
* Jana Van Gytenbeek, Sr./Cali Clark, Sr., Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.): When looking at standout players in 5A, the conversation has to start with the dynamic duo of the defending state champion. While the Bruins are deep as a whole, Van Gytenbeek and Clark provide a solid balance between guard play and inside strength. Van Gytenbeek averages 16.2 points and 6.5 assists per game, while Clark adds 13.2 points and 11 rebounds.
* Izzy Munson, Sr., Fairview (Boulder): The leading scorer in 5A, Munson has been a nightmare for opponents to defend this season. The Knights are 5-1 when she scores at least 20 points. She averages 24.4 points per game and has gone over the 30-point mark twice this year.
* Avery Vansickle, Jr., Regis Jesuit (Aurora): Graduating a player the caliber of Fran Belibi doesn't hurt as much as long as Vansickle is around. One of the more versatile guards in 5A – along with Van Gytenbeek – the junior for the Raiders averages 18.3 points per game to go with 2.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds. She started the season in style by scoring 26 points against defending 4A champion Mullen (Denver) on Dec. 10.
* Kindyll Wetta, Jr./Raegan Beers, So., Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch): Another standout duo in 5A, Wetta and Beers have their sights set on cementing Valor's place in the 5A title picture. After ACL tears in both knees her freshman and sophomore seasons, Wetta is playing at a level that earned an scholarship offer from the University of Colorado. She's averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 steals per game. Beers is almost a walking double-double with 14.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Surprise teams: Although Fountain-Fort Carson had a solid season a year ago, going 18-6, the Trojans' 11-game winning streak to start the season has them right back in the Colorado Springs Metro League title picture. Thornton has nearly matched its win total from last season when it went 13-10. At 10-2 on Jan. 20, the Trojans are outscoring their opponents by nearly 17 points per game. Chaparral (Parker) looks to contend in the Continental League after jumping out to a 11-2 start. Sophomore Avery Bang leads the Wolverines with 10.2 points per game.

Class 4A
Mid-season standouts
* Hannah Simental, Sr., Pueblo West: The Cyclones' senior guard has been a fixture in the lineup since her freshman season. She's hoping she can replicate the feat of her brother, David, and claim a state title in her senior season. At 17 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, she's one of the best guards to watch this season.
* Kylee Blacksten, Sr., Air Academy (US Air Force Academy): A stat line doesn't do justice to how important Blacksten is to the Kadets' success. She averages 16.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, but she can do it all. She can post up, shoot from the outside, handle the ball, pass and play defense. She is a walking matchup nightmare.
* Amyah Moore, Jr., Harrison (Colorado Springs): Even when Widefield can't quite pull out a win, Moore is figuring out a way to get to the hoop. In seven of her last nine games, she has broken the 20-point mark. She leads 4A in scoring and is fourth in the state, regardless of classification.
* Mia Trevino, So., Denver West: Trevino might be the most balanced player in the 4A field this season. Her 16.5 points per game are 15th in the class, but she balances out her effort on offense by leading the state with 7.3 steals per game.
Surprise teams: It's hard to say that Green Mountain (Lakewood) is a true surprise team after going 18-7 last year, but the Rams look good so far this year. Led by freshman Jayda Maves (11.3 points per game) the Rams are eying a 4A Jeffco League title. Sand Creek (Colorado Springs) is turning some heads down south as it's the Scorpions, not the Air Academy Kadets, that appear to be the team to beat in the Pikes Peak Athletic Conference. Erie had a commendable season a year ago by going 16-10, but this season's version of the Tigers is on the hunt after going undefeated in league play.

Class 3A
Mid-season standouts
* Josephine Howery, Sr./Seneca Hackley, Sr., St. Mary's: The Pirates senior duo looks stronger than ever as the Pirates chase a third straight state championship. Howery's 21.8 points per game is top in the class. Hackley adds 15.4 points and four steals per game to the mix.
* Emily Lavier, Jr., Alamosa: Just a day after the record for made 3-pointers in a game fell, Lavier decided it was her time. She went 12-for-17 from behind the arc in the Mean Moose's win against Monte Vista on Jan. 18. That game wasn't an aberration as Lavier has been held to less than double digits in scoring just once this year.
* Aryanna Perez, So., The Academy (Westminster): The Wildcats went into the week of Jan. 20 undefeated, and Perez is a big reason why. She averages 17 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game. She scored a career-high 27 points in a 64-47 win over Dawson School (Lafayette) on Dec. 14. (See video below)

Class 2A
Mid-season standouts
* Abi Snyder, Jr., Rocky Ford: The Meloneers are having a fantastic season, and Snyder is a big factor in their success. The junior is averaging 19 points, six rebounds and 5.2 steals per game. She also ranks third in 2A in 3-pointers made at this point of the season. Rocky Ford is one of three undefeated teams in the class. As long as Snyder is playing at a high level, that should continue to be the case.
* Kristin Vieselmeyer, So., Holyoke: The 6-foot sophomore is having herself a solid year through 10 games. With 14.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, she averages a double-double for the season and has six double-doubles to her name already this year.
* Bailee Clarkson, Jr., Akron: The Rams returned from the winter break with a tough loss to Yuma, but since then Clarkson's production has kicked up a notch. Since the loss she is averaging just less than 13 points per game as Akron looks to content in 2A's District 2.
Surprise teams: Rocky Ford wasn't on anyone's radar heading into the season, but past the midway point the Meloneers might just be the team to beat in 2A. Just down the road, however, Rye is looking like a sound team on both sides of the ball. The Thunderbolts average 53 points per game with sophomore Sophie Adamson accounting for 15.8 of those herself. Defensively, there might not be anyone better, as Rye gives up fewer than 21 points per game to its opponents. Heritage Christian (Fort Collins) is also impressing teams as it remains undefeated.

Class 1A
Mid-season standouts
* Kylie Krise, So., Briggsdale: The sophomore is putting out notice that she plans to be a dominant player in Colorado for the foreseeable future. Averaging 19.9 points per game, she is the leading scorer in 1A. She scored a career-high 25 points in a win over Prairie on Dec. 14. She also pulls down 7.6 rebounds per game.
* Delaney Eskew, Sr., South Baca: A top-10 scorer in the class, Eskew doesn't see many shot opportunities she doesn't like. She has proven herself as one of the deadliest shooters from the outside, connecting on 43 percent of her 3-pointers.
* Shandiin Tallman, Sr., Antonito: The Trojans still have some work to do to get themselves in position to compete in the postseason, but they'd be much worse off without Tallman. She averages 15.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. She's also shown off good hands defensively with 5.1 steals per game.
Surprise teams: There was a sense that Lone Star (Otis) was going to be good in 2019-20, but maybe not undefeated in late-January good. Sophomore Alivia Weathers leads the team with 11.6 points per game. After finishing last season at 13-11, Merino has just one loss to its name this year. Sophomore Taysa Conger leads the Rams with 13.1 points per game.