Season Preview: Southwestern League (5A/4A)

With the 2019-20 girls basketball season closer than you might think, let’s take a look back/forward at how things shook out and what to look forward to in each of Colorado’s conferences. Here’s a snapshot of the Southwestern League. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #3366ff;"><strong>How it all shook out in ’18-19</strong></span> One of the smaller leagues in Colorado, the Southwestern has just seven teams but it also featured one of the tightest league races in the state nonetheless. Three teams – Montrose (20-6 overall), Grand Junction (16-8) and Fruita Monument (16-9) – finished with matching 5-3 conference records at the top of the league last season. &nbsp; <span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Which playoff team advanced the farthest?</strong></span> Both Fruita Monument advanced to the second round of the Class 5A state tournament after winning their respective first-round matchups. In the 4A state tournament, however, Montrose made it all the way to the Great 8 before losing to eventual state champion Mullen. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #3366ff;"><strong>A few returning players to watch</strong></span> <strong>Leah Redding, 2021, 5-5, G/F, Grand Junction Central </strong> The top returning scorer in the league this winter, Redding was second in the league with an average of 12.6 points per game last season. Not a particularly potent threat from long range, where she shot just 19 percent in ’18-19, Redding is solid around the basket and shot 33 percent from the field. She also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals a game as a sophomore. &nbsp; <strong>Callie Allen, 2020, 6-0, PF/C, Fruita Monument</strong> The leading returner in terms of rebounding, Allen pulled down an average of 7.6 boards a night as a junior and led the league with 84 offensive rebounds. She also scored 12.4 points and had 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game without attempting a 3-pointer and shooting 37 percent from the field. &nbsp; <strong>Kennadie Minerich, 2020, 5-6, G, Montrose</strong> Voted honorable mention all-state in the CHSAA coaches polling along with 2020 teammate Ally Nichols, Minerich averaged 11.5 points, 2.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. The multi-sport athlete will lead a team that returns its top three scorers – Minerich, Nichols and Josie Eccher – following a 20-win campaign. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Mya Murdock, 2021, 5-5, G/F, Grand Junction Central</strong></span> Coming off a season in which she averaged 10.4 points, 2.6 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game, Murdock gives Grand Junction Central another potent weapon to pair with Redding and Nikki Madaris on a roster that lost just one senior to graduation. Shooting 29 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore, she could develop even more as a distance shooter this winter. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #3366ff;"><strong>A quick, early look to ’19-20</strong></span> It’s reasonable to expect another close race atop the Southwestern League this winter with all the returning talent teams like Grand Junction Central and Montrose have coming back. Fruita Monument also returns its top four scorers from last year, so expect that trio of teams to duke it out once again in ’19-20.