Grand Junction, Glenwood add western flare to Colorado girls playoff brackets

When assessing the contenders in the highest classifications of girls basketball, sometimes it seems like the Continental Divide blocks the view of everyone from the metro area.

There couldn't possibly be a team from out west that could be a factor in the bracket, could there?

Well, it remains to be seen this season. But there are a few teams – notably Grand Junction in Class 5A and Glenwood Springs in 4A – that have the absolute potential to crash the party.

Starting in 5A, Grand Junction (21-2) earned a No. 3 seed and will take on No. 6 Monarch (Louisville) on Friday night in one of the most compelling round-of-32 games. Fifteen-year Tigers coach Sam Provenza knows his team has somewhat of a mystery quality because it hasn't faced many teams from the Front Range.

But any advantage associated with that isn't as pronounced as it used to be, he believes.

"With the internet and everything, I think everybody is pretty familiar with anybody else," Provenza said. "And if not, they can quickly find out about anyone else. We're kind of doing the same thing. I'm sure cyberspace was pretty full when the brackets came out."

The Tigers' only losses were to perennial 5A power ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch)  and 4A Southwestern League rival Montrose. Junior guard Sydni Brandon (13 points a game) has led a balanced cast of players on a team that has embraced the sum-of-its-parts concept.

"I think we get a little bit overlooked, but at the same time, we're playing more teams on the Eastern Slope and people are starting to see us a little more than they have in the past," Provenza said.

MaxPreps Colorado Class 5A state tournament brackets

Tuesday's opening round offered little in the way of upsets, as the only lower seed to win was No. 9 Loveland, which knocked off No. 8 Chaparral (Parker) 77-65 in the Kaye Garms Region. That will lead to a straight-up bracket heading into Friday.

Grand Junction is among several teams aiming to crack the list of top-flight contenders, a group highlighted by top seeds Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins), Regis Jesuit (Aurora), Grandview (Aurora) and Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village).

And don't forget Highlands Ranch, lurking as a No. 3 seed along with city rival Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch), Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) and Provenza's Tigers. The bracket has more of a wide-open feel than any in recent memory, so it's the type of season where a No. 5 or 6 seed could find its way to the deeper rounds.

In Class 4A, all eyes immediately shift to the only unbeaten teams in the fray. Both Broomfield and Mesa Ridge (Colorado Springs) are 23-0 and prohibitive favorites, but few realize that Glenwood Springs almost shared that distinction.

The Demons (22-1) have endured one loss, a 62-53 decision to Mesa Ridge on Feb. 15. It was even closer than it sounded, as the teams were tied 47-47 entering the fourth. Glenwood Springs had to foul late in the fourth as Mesa Ridge went into a stall, which gave the Grizzlies some late separation.

The point to be taken is, the Demons, who were anointed the final No. 2 seed (No. 8 overall in the bracket) are legit. Senior point guard Delaney Gaddis scored 31 against Mesa Ridge and averages team-bests of 14.9 points, 5.2 assists and 5.3 steals.

She is complemented by juniors Madi Spence, who averages a double-double (13.5 points, 10.4 rebounds) and Jordan DeCrow, who chips in 10.6 points a game.

"In general, I just like the effort of our girls and being able to believe," Glenwood Springs coach Jacky Gaddis said. "With being on the Western Slope and the other side of the mountain, there aren't a lot of opportunities for tournament play or some of the things that side of the mountain has to offer.

"A lot of times, the best part of what we have to offer is that these kids, they just believe that they can play with anyone. And of course, I believe that we did prove that."

The Demons are in line to face Broomfield in the quarterfinals if each team progresses without a hiccup. Naturally, Glenwood Springs would rather see that matchup deeper in the tournament, but the Demons understand that they would have to face the Eagles at some point anyway.

Gaddis doesn't necessarily subscribe to the theory that being something of an unknown has pronounced advantages or disadvantages.

"It's sports. I don't care if it's professional, college or high school sports," Gaddis said. "Stats don't provide the whole picture, nor does watching just one game. . . . And it's really no one's fault that not many teams see us. There's no blame, it's just the reality of it all."

While Broomfield and standout guard Callie Kaiser and Mesa Ridge and center Kylee Shook have commanded the most attention, don't forget that Sand Creek (Colorado Springs) and Pueblo South also garnered No. 1 seeds.

Sand Creek coach Jamie Carey and Pueblo South's Shannan Lane both have been part of championship weekend as a player and a coach (Carey at Horizon as a player, Legacy as a coach; Lane at Pueblo South for both).

Glenwood Springs is joined by fellow No. 2 seeds D'Evelyn (Denver) (the state runner-up last season), Elizabeth and Oregon-bound Tatum Neubert, and Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch). Fellow Western Slope power Montrose (16-8), which played Glenwood Springs to within four points, checks in as a No. 6.

Like 5A, the 4A bracket contained few surprises in Tuesday's opening round. No. 9 seeds Erie and Rifle defeated No. 8s, but no other road teams were victorious.

MaxPreps Colorado Class 4A state tournament brackets