The girls basketball season gets underway Tuesday, and MaxPreps has a quick look at each classification:
Class 5A
The streak is at 10 and shows no signs of halting. From 2000 to 2009, a Continental League team has captured the state basketball title. This season, the usual suspects – ThunderRidge, Highlands Ranch, Regis Jesuit and Chaparral – all appear to be right back in the mix.
Regis has the most retooling to do, as the Raiders must replace seven seniors from their title-winning squad. Megan O’Neil, a 6-foot-2 reserve post player last season who committed to Air Force last week, is the most notable returner, but the Raiders will retool fairly quickly. Highlands Ranch is in decent shape with several youthful contributors returning, and Chaparral has money players Sam Martin (Colorado State signee) and Courtney Gallo back in the mix. But ThunderRidge appears to be in the best shape, as Bill Bradley’s group will again rely on the playmaking abilities of Brooke Jelniker and Carlie Needles.
“We’re strong up front, we can pass the ball and we have good shooters,” said Jelniker, who will play at Kansas. “And we have good team chemistry which will help us the most, because if you don’t have team chemistry you’re not going to get anywhere.”
Several suitors will be attempting to break through the Continental curtain, as Monarch partially did last season by upsetting Highlands Ranch in the semifinals before losing to Regis in the title game. The Coyotes, behind Alex Evans and Alexus Johnson, are back in the fold, as well as Grand Junction Central with standout senior Amy Kame. Yearly contenders Heritage, Horizon and Legacy and Denver East (with University of Colorado-bound Shae Kelley) also appear solid.
5A players to watch
Demitra Apergis, Columbine, 5-5, Sr.; Rachel Bollinger, Horizon, 5-8, Sr.; Katherine Drake, Douglas County, 5-5, Sr.; Alex Evans, Monarch, 5-7, Sr.; Berit Eppard, Cherry Creek, 5-10, Jr.; Courntey Gallo, Chaparral, 5-7, Sr.; Patty Murphy-Geiss, Smoky Hill, 5-8, Sr.; Emma Hattman, Poudre, 5-9, Sr.; Kelly Hillick, Rampart, 5-7, Sr.; Brooke Jelniker, ThunderRidge, 6-1, Sr.; Jaynelle Johnson, George Washington, 5-3, Sr.; Alexus Johnson, Monarch, 6-0, So.; Amy Kame, Grand Junction Central, 6-0, Sr.; Shae Kelley, Denver East, 6-1, Sr.; Kim Lockridge Heritage 6-0 Sr.; Katie Louthan, Air Academy, 5-10, So.;
Sam Martin Chaparral, 6-2, Sr.; Katleyn McDaniel, Highlands Ranch, 6-1, Jr.; Lara McDouglad, Arapahoe, 5-9, Sr.; Tiana Miranda, Westminster, 5-6, Sr.; Carlie Needles, ThunderRidge, 5-7, Jr.; Quincey Noonan, Legacy, 5-10, Sr.; Megan O’Neil, Regis Jesuit, 6-2, Sr.; Adaugo Osuala, Green Mountain, 5-7, Sr.; Taylor Proctor, Sand Creek, 5-10, So.; Kelley Reeves, Ralston Valley, 5-6, Jr.; Kelly Schroeder, Coronado, 5-7, Sr.; Tierra Shumpert, Highlands Ranch, 5-10, Jr.; Raven Taylor, Denver East, 5-8, Sr.; Casey Thayer, Fairview, 5-7, Sr.; Taylor Torres, Palmer, 5-6, So.; Kristen Ward, Mountain Range, 5-7, Jr.
Class 4A
Defending champion Broomfield no longer will resemble a hurricane sweeping through the gym, but what team would after graduating three Division I players? The Eagles still will be good, though – perhaps really good – considering its bench often could outgun opponents last season, too.
The Eagles, winners of three straight titles including a narrow 49-47 decision against Mullen last season, will fall back to the pack a bit but still will be among the classification’s feared teams. Mullen looks to be right back in the hunt with marquee player Haley Thompson (Colorado State recruit) and Kirsten Hess (Northern Colorado recruit) back for their senior seasons. And, watch out for Montrose. The Indians made the final four last season and have back both players who dominated the post last season – Hanna Bowden and Kaylee Walker.
Other formidable squads include Longmont, led by guard Jamie Katuna and center Megan Carpenter, Mesa Ridge, with lights-out scorer Kaitlyn Mileto, Centaurus (Nikki Lindow), and Conifer, who boasts perhaps the classification’s finest player in Alison Gorrell.
4A players to watch
Hanna Bowden, Montrose, 6-1, Sr.; Bre Burgesser, Broomfield, 6-2, Jr.; Megan Carpenter, Longmont, 6-1, Jr.; Ellie Carter, Pueblo East, 5-4, Sr.; Autumn Chase, Broomfield, 5-9, Sr.; Diva Chavez, Vista Ridge, 5-3, Jr.; Brandi Collins, Mesa Ridge, 5-4, Sr.; Amy Ekart, Berthoud, 5-8, Sr.; Alison Gorrell, Conifer, 5-10, Jr.; Kirsten Hess, Mullen, 6-1, Sr.; Jamie Katuna, Longmont, 5-6, Jr.; Nikki Lindow, Centaurus, 6-1, Sr.; Gabs Lucero, Fossil Ridge, 5-5, Jr.; Kaitlyn Mileto, Mesa Ridge, 5-9, Jr.; Kyra Peterson, Centaurus, 5-7, Sr.; Jordan Sibrel, Thompson Valley, 6-1, Jr.; Hayley Thompson, Mullen, 6-0, Sr.; Cara Walderman, Conifer, 5-10, Sr.; Kaylee Walker, Montrose, 5-11, Jr.
Class 3A
Now that Holy Family has broken the seal, the Tigers are aiming for the championships to keep on coming. The Tigers won their first in 2007-08 and repeated last season by edging Estes Park 48-43 in the final. Now, most are picking the Tigers as the favorite again, and with good reason considering Alex Wilson and Taylor Helbig are among those returning.
While Estes Park will still be solid and returns junior Kimmie Hansen, a handful of additional teams believe they are final-four worthy. Included are Brush, Colorado Springs Christian and St. Mary’s, which brings back standout Christina Whitelaw.
And don’t count out Jefferson Academy, Buena Vista, Gunnison and Eaton, all of which were among the final eight in the spring. Eaton went 23-4 last season and must replace a few key cogs in the lineup, but the Reds should retool quickly behind junior guard Beth Cheney.
"Our league is going to be quite difficult," Eaton coach Todd Hernandez said of the Patriot League. "Brush, Estes Park, Erie and Valley return all or most of their team from last year, so defending the league title will be an uphill climb."
Looking for a potential darkhorse to emerge? Pagosa Springs (13-7 last season) could be a team on the rise.
3A players to watch
Erin Berg, Brush, 5-11, Jr.; Morgan Broekhuis, Colorado Springs Christian 6-5, Sr.; Beth Cheney, Eaton, 5-4, Jr.; Kimmie Hansen, Estes Park, 5-9, Jr.; Taylor Helbig, Holy Family, 5-9, Jr.; Danielle Meyer, University, 5-8, Sr.; Alicia Nichols, Brush, 5-11, Sr.; Madison Page, Jefferson Academy, 5-7, Jr.; Sarah Pigg, Rye, 5-2, Jr.; Jeri Pikul, Buena Vista, 5-9, Sr.; Dallas Rohrbaugh, Erie, 5-6, Jr.; Khadijah Sayyid, Peak to Peak, 5-5, So.; Kyra Stark, Estes Park, 5-6, Jr.; Sarah Talamantes, Holy Family, 5-8, Jr.; Brianne VandeGriend, Colorado Springs Christian, 6-0, Sr.; Christina Whitelaw, St. Mary's, 5-8, Sr.; Alex Wilson, Holy Family, 5-9, Sr.
Class 2A
It could be more of the same with a dash of the unexpected in 2A. Wray has won the past two titles and participated in the last three championship games, and the Eagles, with Briana Bard back in the fold, still instill fear in opponents.
Paonia lost to Wray 46-35 in the title game in an all-Eagles battle, but these Eagles also should be right back in the mix with senior leaders Johanna Reed, Grayson Pipher and Jordan Rienks all back. After those two teams, the picture clouds up a bit.
Quarterfinals participants Sanford, Burlington and Meeker could easily be back, but a few teams who missed out on state believe this is the year. Included are Las Animas and Rocky Ford, which is guided by senior Amber Lowther. The Meloneers have been beset by key injuries the past two seasons, which hampered them severely when the postseason rolled around.
"The 2A winners are often the teams that can stay healthy and injury free," Rocky Ford coach Cody Ridennoure said. "The last two years we found that out the hard way."
A host of additional teams could mark their mark in a wide-open field, including Kiowa, which boasts good height along the front line, Marissa Smith-led Holyoke, with others on the cusp, such as Simla, Hoehne, Merino, Fowler, Sangre de Cristo, Hayden and Akron.
2A players to watch
Briana Bard, Wray, 5-7, Sr.; Merrily Brast, Evangelical Christian, 5-5, Sr.; Taylor Castillo, Kiowa, 6-2, Sr.; Brianna Euken, Pikes Peak Christian, 5-6, Sr.; Kayla Gabehart, Kiowa, 5-9, Sr.; Karly Lidroth-Yates, Colorado Springs School, 5-9, Sr.; Amber Lowther, Rocky Ford, 5-10, Sr.; Erin Mast, Resurrection Christian, 5-8, Sr.; Alex Ochoa, Fountain Valley, 5-11, Jr.; Johanna Reed, Paonia, 5-3, Sr.; Grayson Pipher, Paonia, 5-9, Sr.; Jordan Rienks, Paonia, 5-10, Sr.; Marissa Smith, Holyoke, 5-7, Sr.; Jessi Tubbs, Calhan, 6-0, Jr.; Brittany Weber, Burlington, 5-9, Sr.
Class A
Last season, Kim advanced to its first title game and played heated rival McClave. McClave nipped the Mustangs 39-38, but while McClave graduated key players – as did many of the top teams in the classification – Kim returns seven seniors.
“They realize it’s a now-or-never deal,” Kim coach Curt Lewis said.
Among the returners is all-state power forward Haley Sheldon, who has controlled the post in each of her first three seasons. She is among the finest players in a classification that includes Jordan May (Stratton), Jessica Noble (Otis), Anna Kuhns (McClave) and Jenna Vandenbark (Fleming), all of whom figure to have her respective team in the mix for state.
Also in that category is Bay’lee Purdy of Deer Trail. Last season, Purdy averaged 18 points a game and tallied the sixth-most points in state history for the Eagles (25-2).
Count on Fleming, Hi-Plains and Elbert (with the do-it-all Jamie Stewart) also to be among the top teams in the classification.
1A players to watch
Lisa Bixler, Jim Elliot, 5-6, Sr.; Beth Cooper, Hi-Plains, 5-6, Sr.; Samantha Cure, Idalia, 5-8, Sr.; Stepahnie Ficco, Ouray, 5-7, Sr.; Shelby Goodrich, Kim, 5-7, Sr.; Kaitlyn Hanson, North Park, 5-4, Sr.; Darean Hunt, Woodlin, 5-3, Jr.; Catherine Jimenez, Holy Trinity, 5-7, Sr.; Cassia Kent, Kit Carson, 5-9, Jr.; Kelsey Koester, Caliche, 5-5, Sr.; Anna Kuhns, McClave, 5-7, Sr.; Danielle Lewis, Kim, 5-6, Sr.; Jordan May, Stratton, 5-10, Sr.; Whitney McCaffrey, Hi-Plains, 5-11, Sr.; LaRona Mondt, Briggsdale, 5-9, Sr.; Jessica Noble, Otis, 5-8, So.; Jaden Noe, Springfield, 5-10, Sr.; Kayla Pribble, Dove Creek, 5-9, Sr.; Bay'lee Purdy, Deer Trail, 5-7, So.; Haley Sheldon, Kim, 6-0, Sr.; Sadie Smelker, Stratton, 5-10, Sr.; Jamie Stewart, Elbert, 5-10, Sr.; Karlee Stuart, McClave, 5-8, Jr.; Jenna Vandenbark, Fleming, 5-11, Jr.
