Season Recap: East Metro Athletic Conference

Though it ended a bit prematurely, the 2019-20 season is in the books. Now that there’s some distance between the end of Colorado’s latest prep campaign and today, we’ll take a look back at what transpired in each of our state’s conferences. Here’s a snapshot of this winter’s action in the East Metro.   Who won the league in ’19-20? It was a rare season in which three teams – Rangeview, Vista PEAK and Thornton – all finished in a three-way tie at the top with matching 9-1 conference records. Rangeview’s only league loss was to Thornton, Vista PEAK’s only league loss was the Rangeview and Thornton’s only league loss was the Vista PEAK. Three other teams – Prairie View, Brighton and Westminster – finished with 6-4 conference records. In the postseason, both Rangeview and Vista PEAK reached the Sweet 16 round of the Class 5A state tournament.   Five players who shined this winter [player_tooltip player_id="95075" first="Shamahra" last="Henderson"][player_tooltip player_id="95075" first="Shamahra" last="Henderson"], 2020, 5-8, SF, Thornton Henderson led the league, and at one point the entire state, in scoring. Her 20.8 points per game ended up as the seventh highest scoring average in Colorado, regardless of the classification. Fittingly, Henderson was named EMAC player of the year and was voted all-state honorable mention in the CHSAA coaches poll. Not only was Henderson a scoring sensation, the senior also averaged a double-double with 12.9 rebounds and filled the stat sheet on a nightly basis with 4.3 steals, 3.9 assists and 2.4 blocks. The ultra-athletic small forward shot 32 percent (29 for 90) from 3-point range and will play basketball at Cowley College next year.   Jay Jones Jay Jones, 2020, 5-4, CG, Adams City Jones shined the brightest on an Adams City team that went 10-13 this season, leading the Eagles in scoring with 12.4 points per game. The senior multi-sport athlete also averaged 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals a night while shooting 25 percent (55 for 218) from behind the 3-point arc.   [player_tooltip player_id="95094" first="Kaya" last="Evans"][player_tooltip player_id="95094" first="Kaya" last="Evans"], 2020, 5-8, SG, Vista PEAK The Bison’s top perimeter threat this winter, Evans shot 34 percent 46 for 137) from long range while helping Vista PEAK reach the Sweet 16 along with talented teammates like [player_tooltip player_id="95072" first="Seairra" last="Hughes"], Mikayla Jones and [player_tooltip player_id="95171" first="Mikenzie" last="Jones"]. A four-year varsity player, Evans finishes her high school career at Vista PEAK with 1,129 points and a career average of 2.4 steals per game. Evans is still uncommitted but is reportedly in conversations with several schools.   [player_tooltip player_id="116777" first="Brianna" last="Linnear"][player_tooltip player_id="116777" first="Brianna" last="Linnear"], 2021, 5-8, CG, Rangeview Rangeview’s on-floor leader, Linnear is an aggressive player at both ends of the floor and sparked the Raiders with her energy and determination. The junior was also a key playmaker for her team this winter, averaging 13.4 points, four assists, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals a night and driving a talented group that includes up-and-coming studs like [player_tooltip player_id="95175" first="Ny’Era" last="West"], [player_tooltip player_id="145559" first="Genesis" last="Sweetwine"], [player_tooltip player_id="145558" first="Grace" last="Solarin"] and Amya Winfrey. With all those players returning next season, Rangeview should be an early pick to at least be back in the Sweet 16.   [player_tooltip player_id="116795" first="Nikki" last="Antonopoulos"][player_tooltip player_id="116795" first="Nikki" last="Antonopoulos"], 2021, 5-6, SG, Brighton Antonopoulos led the Bulldogs in scoring with 10.9 points per game and was a threat from the perimeter at all times. The junior guard shot 30 percent (59 for 196) from 3-point range and also averaged 2.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals while playing in all 25 of Brighton’s games. A tough player who continues to improve, Antonopoulos will be a team leader for a squad that returns the bulk of its starting lineup for the 2020-21 season.   How did the all-conference lists shake out? [player_tooltip player_id="117715" first="Marina" last="Boltz"]First team [player_tooltip player_id="116795" first="Nikki" last="Antonopoulos"], Brighton [player_tooltip player_id="117715" first="Marina" last="Boltz"], Westminster [player_tooltip player_id="118721" first="Amanda" last="Byrnes"], Brighton [player_tooltip player_id="116789" first="Monique" last="Delatorre"], Thornton [player_tooltip player_id="95094" first="Kaya" last="Evans"], Vista PEAK Jay Jones, Adams City Mikayla Jones Mikayla Jones, Vista PEAK [player_tooltip player_id="95171" first="Mikenzie" last="Jones"], Vista PEAK [player_tooltip player_id="95075" first="Shamahra" last="Henderson"], Thornton [player_tooltip player_id="95072" first="Seairra" last="Hughes"], Vista PEAK [player_tooltip player_id="116777" first="Brianna" last="Linnear"], Rangeview [player_tooltip player_id="95175" first="Ny’Era" last="West"], Rangeview Second team Tori Hendricks Tori Hendricks, Brighton Mai Le Waters, Brighton [player_tooltip player_id="145401" first="Aryannah" last="McClain"], Aurora Central [player_tooltip player_id="116764" first="Zana’e" last="Hodges"], Aurora Central Taniah Knox, Gateway Lilianna Ortega, Prairie View [player_tooltip player_id="145390" first="Jada" last="Parsons"]Madelyn Schmidt, Prairie View Dakota Abeyta, Prairie View [player_tooltip player_id="145559" first="Genesis" last="Sweetwine"], Rangeview [player_tooltip player_id="145558" first="Grace" last="Solarin"], Rangeview [player_tooltip player_id="115822" first="Valerie" last="Gallegos"], Westminster [player_tooltip player_id="145390" first="Jada" last="Parsons"], Westminster