Pueblo County highlights first round for Pueblo squads

Four Pueblo teams entered the Class 4A playoffs Tuesday, but only one survived in No. 30 Pueblo County. No. 33 Pueblo South, No. 42 Pueblo East and No. 45 Pueblo Central all went on the road and lost, but they weren't without a couple standouts from each one. Meanwhile, Pueblo County needed a fourth-quarter comeback at home against No. 35 Standley Lake to stay alive. Gators senior guard Lexi Stout lived up to her name by grabbing five boards and scoring five points in the first half as Standley Lake took a 16-12 lead into halftime. Stout hit a couple more buckets in the third, including one of a breakaway steal, her third of the gamd. She would finish with 11. Pueblo County senior <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/erin-mauro/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/erin-mauro/">Erin Mauro</a></a> made sure she wasn't turning her jersey though as the guard came to life in the fourth quarter. Mauro hit her first 3-pointer of the game to tie it at 29 with just over three minutes left. The South-Central league's second best rebounder in Mauro went to work on the glass as well, showing she's probably the toughest girl in Pueblo. Those boards and the tough defense the entire Hornets team rests it's hat on held the Gators to only one more bucket in the final three minutes as senior Brennah Guerrero hit a couple free throws to put County up for the first time all game at the 1:47 mark, and then took a charge on the other end a few possessions later to seal the deal. Hornets junior Rose Weimer also had a big second half scoring eight of her 10 points while Mauro led the way with 15. <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/delaney-heutson/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/delaney-heutson/">Delaney Huetson</a></a> finished with 9 points and 14 rebounds for the Gators. Moving on to Pueblo South, it'll be the first time in three years that the Colts won't be playing in the state title game after falling to Centaurus 43-33. Warriors freshman guard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/laura-gensert/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/laura-gensert/">Laura Gensert</a></a> hit three 3-pointers in her playoff debute and finished with 16 points to pace Centaurus. The Colts had a 27-21 lead going into the fourth thanks to some 3-pointers from <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jada-dupree/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jada-dupree/">Jada Dupree</a></a> and Abby Raio, but the Warriors outscored them 22-5 in the final frame, including 11 of Gensert's 16. The game of the night was Pueblo East and Palmer Ridge where the Eagles, like their rival Pueblo South, held a lead going into the fourth quarter. A 12-8 advantage in the final frame was enough for the Bears to escape with the 38-36 win though, led by <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/eden-bonser/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/eden-bonser/">Eden Bonser</a></a>'s 17 points, five of which came in the fourth. For Pueblo East, senior Jaylene Escajeda led the way with 11 points while sophomore <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/harlie-medrano/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/harlie-medrano/">Harlie Medrano</a></a> chipped in nine. Pueblo Central also saw its season end with a 66-31 loss to Greeley Central. Senior Abby Gridley had 14 points and six rebounds in the Wildcats' loss. Up next for Pueblo County will be a rematch with No. 3 Green Mountain as the Rams eliminated the Hornets in the second round last year. The two met at Pueblo County's home tournament earlier this season in December where Green Mountain won 53-29.