Season Preview: Colorado Springs Metro League (4A)

With the 2019-20 girls basketball season right around the corner, 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 ­­­­4A Colorado Springs Metro League. &nbsp; <span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>How it all shook out in ’18-19</strong></span> Four teams in the CS Metro (4A version) won 17 or more total games, and 11 or more games in league play, last winter. It was eventually Mesa Ridge that pulled ahead, with a 15-1 record to edge The Classical Academy by three games for the league title. The third-place Canon City girls were the only group to beat Mesa Ridge during the CS Metro schedule in ’18-19. &nbsp; <span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Which playoff team advanced the farthest?</strong></span> Three of the league’s top teams – Mesa Ridge, The Classical Academy and Canon City – reached the Sweet 16 in the state tournament. Somewhat surprisingly, however, none of them advanced any deeper into the bracket. &nbsp; <span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>A few returning players to watch</strong></span> <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/serin-dunne/">Serin Dunne</a>, 2020, 5-7, G, Mesa Ridge</strong> Currently ranked as PGH Colorado’s No. 7 2020 player, Dunne was 10^th in the state scoring an average of 20.6 points as a junior. She shot 42 percent (59 for 139) from long range last winter and will certainly be a player to watch for league MVP this winter. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/amyah-moore/">Amyah Moore</a>, 2021, 5-7, G, Harrison</strong> What a sophomore campaign it was for Moore, who was 15^th in the entire state in scoring last season with an average of 19.7 points per game. Along with 2020 <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/diamond-moore/">Diamond Moore</a>, who was a double-double machine in ’18-19, the upcoming season should be another big one for <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/amyah-moore/">Amyah Moore</a>. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/dnae-wilson/">D’nae Wilson</a>, 2021, 5-4, PG, Sierra</strong> Don’t let her height fool you, Wilson is one of the best players in the state. She scored 16.5 points as a junior and is one of the toughest on-ball defenders around. With the ball in her hands, she knows what to do with it, too. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jerika-moore/">Jerika Moore</a>, 2020, 5-7, SG/SF, Canon City</strong> Sixth in the league in scoring last season, Moore is also undersized playing the two-three combo spot but still managed to grave five rebounds a game. The Tigers have a strong one-two combo returning in Moore and fellow senior Kate Tedquist after winning 17 games in ’18-19. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/liliani-krause/">Liliani Krause</a>, 2021, 5-9, SF, Widefield</strong> Widefield went 10-15 last season in large part because it senior group. Smack in the middle of all that was sophomore <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/liliani-krause/">Liliani Krause</a>, who averaged 10 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. Now that Krause is a junior, she and other returning players like Erika Warner (2020) will try to do one better. &nbsp; <span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>A quick, early look to ’19-20</strong></span> Mesa Ridge won the league title last season and brings back several of the players that made that happen, including Dunne. But the CS Metro is so laden with talent that a breakout season from a player or two, or an unfortunate injury, could turn the league upside down. Mesa Ridge is the favorite but don’t count out any of last year’s top four, or even a dark horse team breaking through.