Season Preview: Intermountain League

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 Intermountain League. &nbsp; <span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>How it all shook out in ’18-19</strong></span> This race came down to a home-and-away series between Pagosa Springs and Alamosa. In that series, Pagosa Springs won both games by exactly the same score, 45-30. Between those two contests, four different Pagosa Springs players – Adelyn Dozier (2021), Taylor Lewis (2020), Devin Wilson (2019) and Hailey Griego (2020) – scored in double figures. &nbsp; <span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Which playoff team advanced the farthest?</strong></span> Alamosa reached the 3A Great 8 before falling to two-time defending champion St. Mary’s. It was league champion Pagosa Springs, however, that advanced to the Final 4. Once there, Pagosa Springs fell to eventual runner-up Colorado Springs Christian and went on to place fourth, losing 49-47 to Eaton in the third-place game. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #3366ff;"><strong>A few returning players to watch</strong></span> <strong>Hailey Griego, 2020, 5-9, P, Pagosa Springs</strong> As a junior last season, Griego was second in the league in scoring with an average of 12.5 points per game. The 5-foot-9 post also averaged 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, and was voted to the CHSAA 3A all-state second team. Teagan Stretton (2020) and Elsa Lindner (2020) will be other Pagosa Springs players to watch. &nbsp; <strong>Lilly Lavier, 2020, 5-5, G, Alamosa</strong> Alamosa’s two-way driver last winter, Lavier averaged 11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game. The author of a 21-point game against Bayfield on Jan. 26 in which she was 10 for 14 from the floor, Lavier was voted all-state honorable mention in Class 3A. It would also be wise to keep an eye on the younger Lavier, Emily, this season. &nbsp; <strong>Courtney Hamilton, 2021, 5-10, F, Centauri</strong> At 8.8 points and 6.3 rebounds, Hamilton’s is one of the top post presences in the Intermountain League. Still developing as a scorer, she can do a bit of everything and had three double-doubles last season including a game against Monte Vista in which she had 24 points and 22 rebounds. Fellow 2021 Brenna McDaniel was right alongside Hamilton with 8.2 points per game. &nbsp; <span style="color: #3366ff; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>A quick, early look to ’19-20</strong></span> After posting a 22-4 record and winning the league, plus making a playoff run to finish fourth overall, Pagosa Springs graduated just one player. With just about everybody returning, the Pirates are preseason favorites to repeat as league champs.