Season Recap: Continental League (5A/4A)

With the season ending early, there was some great competition between some of the top teams in 5A. The Continental League is packed with collegiate-level players, some who have committed and some who still have to finish their high school careers. Let’s take a look at some of those Continental League teams and players that battled it out in 2019-20. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18pt;color: #3366ff"><strong>Who won the league in ’19-20?</strong></span> Regis Jesuit and Highlands Ranch started off the season attending a tournament out of state playing against some of the top teams in the country. The first time the two teams met on Feb. 18 at Highlands Ranch, it was an intense game that was all about the defense. In a low scoring-game, 37-35 in overtime, Regis Jesuit took the win and dealt the Falcons their second loss to an in-state opponent. Highlands Ranch finished the season at 21-6 overall, 9-1 in league. Three of those losses came against team that were in a tournament out of state and two came against Cherry Creek. Regis Jesuit finished its season with a 21-5 record, and went 10-0 in league play to win the Continental. The Raiders lost four games against teams that are out of state and their only loss came from a league team Highlands Ranch in a Great 8 battle. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18pt;color: #3366ff"><strong>Five players who shined this winter </strong></span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95018" first="Jada" last="Moore"], 2020, G, Regis Jesuit </strong> [caption id="attachment_96446" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="95018" first="Jada" last="Moore"][/caption]Moore is a versatile guard who is committed to K-State and can create her own shot, and is a savvy player with the ball. She averaged 17.6 points per, 8.8 rebounds per game, 3.0 assists and 3.4 steals per game. The senior scored a season-high 30 points against Broom field while shooting 14 for 19 (74 percent) from the field. Just this year alone, Moore managed to score a total of 439 points on 178-for-371 (48 percent) shooting from the field and is efficient and loves to create plays not only for herself but for her team as well.  She has joined the 1,000-point club with 1,137 and 507 rebounds in her career. &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_95242" align="alignleft" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="95125" first="Avery" last="VanSickle"][/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95125" first="Avery" last="VanSickle"], 2021, G, Regis Jesuit </strong> Committed to the University of Washington, VanSickle averaged 16.5 points, 2.5 assists, 2.1 steals and 3.7 rebounds per game. VanSickle is one of the top shooters in the state and is ranked No. 5-ranked payer in PGH Colorado’s rankings. She can shoot in a variety of ways, creating her own shot. Vansickle shot 37 percent from the 3-point line, going 62 for 169 and has already joined the 1,000-point club as a junior. She went 39 for 50 (78 recent) at the free-throw line on the year. Vansickle is a player that you have to know where she is at all times on the floor because of her ability to stretch the defense. She has another year to produce even more and she will look to lead the Raiders to a state title next winter. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="115792" first="Heidi" last="Haze"], 2020, G, ThunderRidge</strong> Haze is a fierce competitor that does not back down to any challenges she faces. She can knock down shots from behind the 3-point line, stretching the defense. Haze can create scoring opportunities whether it’s for a shot or getting to the rim. She averaged 12.9 points and 2.7 steals for the Grizzlies helping her team finish with a 17-7 record, and third in league. Just shy of joining the 1,000-point club with 836 points in her high school career and shooting 152 for 431 (35 percent) from behind the arc. She shot 40 percent from the 3-point line throughout the 2019-20 season, going 54 for 135. Haze scored a season high in points with 23 against Bear Creek, and was one point shy of matching that against Mountain Vista. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95123" first="Payton" last="Muma"], 2021, G, Highlands Ranch</strong> Muma is a smooth, savvy player who gets to her spots on the court where she is efficient early and often. She is a great floor general with a high basketball IQ. The recent Gonzaga University commit loves to create scoring opportunities for her teammates. She is as clutch as they come knocking down clutch free throws in the Great 8 game against Regis Jesuit. Muma averaged 15.2 points per game, 4.1 assists and three steals per game. She has one more year in high school to continue adding to her game, shooting the ball 156 for 380 (41 percent) from the field. Scoring a season high in points with 29 against Douglass County. Muma put up 410 points on the season and currently is sitting at 748 for her career with her having one more year left she is on target to hit 1,000 points for her career. &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_136812" align="alignright" width="300"] MacKenzie Gamble[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95099" first="Mackenzie" last="Gamble"], 2020, G, Mountain Vista</strong> Gamble has great court awareness on both ends of the floor.  Wherever the ball is on the floor, she is around getting in the passing lanes for steals or anticipating passes. Gamble led Mountain Vista in scoring with 10.2 points per game on 91-for-234 (39 percent) shooting from the field. She also averaged 3.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Gamble dropped a season high in the Golden Eagles’ last game with 19 points against Prairie View, shooting 8 for 14 (57 percent) the field to help her team win 80-45. Gamble was 150 points shy of hitting 1,000, showing relentless effort on the defensive end and at one point getting her hands on seven steals in back-to-back games. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18pt;color: #3366ff"><strong>Who was all conference in ’19-20?</strong></span> <strong>First Team</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="95123" first="Payton" last="Muma"], Highlands Ranch [player_tooltip player_id="95018" first="Jada" last="Moore"], Regis Jesuit [player_tooltip player_id="95125" first="Avery" last="VanSickle"], Regis Jesuit [player_tooltip player_id="95099" first="Mackenzie" last="Gamble"], Mountain Vista [player_tooltip player_id="116760" first="Liberty" last="Line"], Ponderosa [player_tooltip player_id="115792" first="Heidi" last="Haze"], ThunderRidge [player_tooltip player_id="95169" first="Taylor" last="Ray"], Highlands Ranch [player_tooltip player_id="95182" first="Avery" last="Bang"], Chaparral [player_tooltip player_id="115817" first="Katherine" last="Higgins"], Ponderosa [player_tooltip player_id="117680" first="Kinzie" last="Whitehead"], Legend <strong>Second team</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="115800" first="Lindsey" last="Anhalt"], ThunderRidge [player_tooltip player_id="117688" first="Payton" last="Bang"], Chaparral [player_tooltip player_id="115761" first="Amy" last="Holland"], Mountain Vista [player_tooltip player_id="115763" first="Sarah" last="Mitchell"], Highlands Ranch [player_tooltip player_id="115796" first="Ella" last="Cooley"], Castle View [player_tooltip player_id="115784" first="Halle" last="Hamilton"], Rock Canyon [player_tooltip player_id="95179" first="Alex" last="Pirog"], Highlands Ranch Jessica Formento, Chaparral Taylor Griffin, Douglas County Makena Vetter, Rock Canyon Leaya Mckinney, Castle View [player_tooltip player_id="116818" first="Samantha" last="Jones"], Regis Jesuit &nbsp;