Season Preview: Western Slope League (3A)

<p style="font-weight: 400">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 Western Slope League.</p> &nbsp; <p style="font-weight: 400"><span style="color: #3366ff;font-size: 14pt"><strong>How it all shook out in ’18-19</strong></span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400">Delta pulled out the league championship last season, ending the campaign with a sterling 9-0 league record and a 23-2 overall mark. Moffat County gave the Panthers are run for their money, however, losing only 49-43 in the teams’ head-to-head matchup during the conference season.</p> &nbsp; <p style="font-weight: 400"><span style="color: #3366ff;font-size: 14pt"><strong>Which playoff team advanced the farthest?</strong></span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400">A half dozen teams from the Western Slope reached the 3A state tournament but it was league champion Delta that made it deepest into the bracket. The Panthers advanced all the way to the Great 8 at the No. 4 overall seed before eventually falling 53-45 to No. 5 Eaton.</p> &nbsp; <p style="font-weight: 400"><span style="color: #3366ff;font-size: 14pt"><strong>A few returning players to watch</strong></span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Taylor Wiescamp, 2021, 6-0, C, Coal Ridge</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400">A force in the conference as a sophomore last winter, Wiescamp averaged 12.4 points and 9.8 rebounds. Also adding 1.3 blocks a night, she finished the season with seven double-doubles and shot 41 percent from the field.</p> &nbsp; <p style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Halle Hamilton, 2022, 5-6, PG/SG, Moffat County</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400">Third in the league with 11.6 points per game as a freshman last season, Hamilton got herself off to an excellent start to her prep career. She also averaged 2.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 3.2 steals, setting up what could be a very intriguing sophomore campaign.</p> &nbsp; <p style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Kammie Henderson, 2021, 5-7, G, Cedaredge</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400">A multi-sport athlete at Cedaredge, Henderson had a breakout season with the Bruins basketball team last winter. As a sophomore, she averaged 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game and the team finished the season with an 18-6 record.</p> &nbsp; <p style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Sara Geddes, 2020, 6-0, C, Delta</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400">The leading scorer for last year’s conference champs, Geddes was a key component on last year’s 23-2 squad. Another talented multi-sport athlete at her school, she averaged 10.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 steals for the Panthers basketball team.</p> &nbsp; <p style="font-weight: 400"><span style="color: #3366ff;font-size: 14pt"><strong>A quick, early look to ’19-20</strong></span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400">The Delta girls had an amazing season last winter and many of them are back in the mix. Returning seven of their top eight scorers from last year’s 23-2 season, the Panthers have to be the early favorites to repeat as conference champions. However, Cedaredge, Moffat County and Coal Ridge all have some intriguing pieces returning to the mix. Grand Valley also graduated just one senior from last year’s roster that posted a 17-7 record.</p>