Favorites are hard to find in Colorado 5A basketball playoffs

As the big-school final four commences in boys basketball Thursday, a favorite has yet to emerge. Very rarely are four teams so evenly matched entering the final rounds.

Will it be Highlands Ranch, led by University of Denver-bound seniors Brett Olson and Marcus Byrd, or red-hot Boulder and standout Riley Grabau in the semis at the Coors Events Center? Or how about Arapahoe (Littleton), led by senior forward Parker Semin, or two-time defending champion Regis Jesuit (Aurora) and the 6-foot-8 Ryan Winters in the other?

While each of the four boasts stars, it becomes apparent that whichever team's supporting cast is most supportive will have an edge. In the quarterfinals, Highlands Ranch's Austin Haldorson scored 18 points and is one of those x-factor players if Olson or Byrd is contained.

"I know we get a lot of the credit, but it's those other guys who make the difference," Olson said. "They make some of the little plays that go unnoticed."

MaxPreps Colorado boys basketball playoff brackets

HIGHLANDS RANCH GIRLS TEAM TO BEAT
The 5A girls semifinals, which took place in the Coors Events Center, seem easier to forecast. Highlands Ranch defeated semifinal opponent ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) 72-42 in the regular season.

Highlands Ranch, though, has stumbled in the late rounds the past two seasons and is facing one of the best players in the state in Grizzlies point guard Carlie Needles.

In the other semifinal, Regis Jesuit (Aurora) takes on Fort Collins, the lone entrant that is not a member of the Continental League. The surprising Lambkins advanced on a last-second shot by Nicole McAuliffe to trump Monarch 45-44 in the quarterfinals.

Regis is surviving despite season-ending knee injuries to its top two players (junior Katie Heckman and senior Colleen Rooney) and a roster that includes seven freshmen and two sophomores among its 11 active players. The Raiders upset Legacy 67-59 in the quarters behind 26 points from junior point guard Marquelle Dent.

"Try being a coach and having Katie out and then hearing Colleen is out for the season, lateral meniscus tear," Raiders coach Carl Mattei said. "We needed someone to step up, anyone, and everyone did. I don't even know who scored."

MaxPreps Colorado girls basketball playoff brackets

REMATCH ON TAP IN 4A
The collision course of the Broomfield and Longmont girls remains in line, as each is one win away from a rematch of last season's 4A title game (and the rubber match for this season after the teams split 1-1 in league play). First, Longmont must defeat Mesa Ridge tonight at the Coors Events Center in a matchup of two of the finest players in the state in Jamie Katuna and Kaitlyn Mileto. Four-time defending champion Broomfield takes on Air Academy.

It was forecasted that the Longmont and Broomfield boys teams also would be vying for state titles, but each fell in the quarterfinals. Second overall seed Lewis-Palmer (Monument) has taken over the favorite role (see recruiting note below) and will take on No. 3 Sterling in the semifinals Thursday at the Coors Events Center. Pueblo West and Windsor meet in the other.

DOUBLE FOUR-PEAT IN 3A?
Fort Collins' Moby Arena might feature a definite theme of the number four on Saturday night. In boys, Faith Christian (Arvada) (23-1) will be aiming for its fourth consecutive title while the Holy Family (Broomfield) girls (23-1) will be seeking the same thing.

Each is the top seed in the bracket. The smaller classifications feature a Thursday-through-Saturday format with the quarterfinals, semifinals and title game being played on successive days.

YUMA AIMS FOR PERFECTION
In 2A, held at Massari Arena in Pueblo, the Yuma boys will put a 23-0 mark on the line as the top seed. The Indians are led by senior Darko Vukasovic (17.6 points a game) and Shane Terrell (12.9). The top seed in 2A girls is Sedgwick County (Julesburg) (19-3), but the bracket of eight doesn't feature any seemingly invincible teams as all have multiple losses.

In 1A, which was moved from Northern Colorado in Greeley to Golden and then back to UNC, the Simla girls will try to keep their 23-0 season alive behind guard Jaci Digby. In boys, perennial power Caliche (Iliff) (19-4) is the top seed.

TOP PERFORMERS
* Aaron Schmidt, Windsor: The Wizards guard drilled three 3-pointers and scored 20 points in helping his surprising squad upend top-seeded Broomfield 72-58 in the quarterfinals.

* Chris Hansen, Fossil Ridge: His output of 18 points and 15 rebounds was substandard for him in an eliminating loss to Highlands Ranch, but it indicates of how good of a season the SaberCats senior had when 18 and 15 is considered an off night.

* Megan Carpenter, Longmont: The 6-foot-5 center, who will play at Oregon next season, scored 23 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the Trojans' 70-53 win against Roosevelt in the quarterfinals.

* Sade Akindele, Legacy: Despite a loss to Regis Jesuit in the quarterfinals, the senior center ended her hoops career with 19 points and 18 rebounds. She will play soccer at Regis University.

RECRUITING NEWS
A few weeks back, we hinted in this space that Lewis-Palmer center Josh Scott and Sierra forward Wesley Gordon both juniors this season, were on the wish list of the University of Colorado. Well, each has verbally committed to the Buffaloes in the past week. Scott was first, then helped persuade Gordon as well. The tandem will join CU for the 2012-2013 season. . . . Wheat Ridge first baseman Ryan Wagner committed to Tulane on Monday. Wagner, who blasted 10 home runs last season, took part in the Power Showcase International Home Run Derby in January at Chase Field in Phoenix. He finished fifth.

Paul Willis is a regular sports freelancer for The Denver Post and covered high school, college and pro sports for the Rocky Mountain News from 2000-09. You can reach him at gdpdub@aol.com.