Season Recap: Jefferson County League (5A)

The end of the girls’ basketball season in Colorado was premature due to the advance of the coronavirus — which is a shame. Yet while the finality wasn’t much of a finality at all, perhaps it’s good to remember that the accomplishments of many players and teams across the state are no less significant. So as we continue our coverage on how the leagues from across the state shaped up, let’s take a look at the 5A Jefferson County League. <strong>Who won league in ’19-20?</strong> Valor Christian wasn’t tested much en route to their second straight league crown. The Eagles finished 8-0 and more than doubled up teams on the scoreboard, outscoring the teams 571-246 in conference play. They’re now 16-0 in the 5A Jeffco League since joining the conference last year. Ralston Valley, meanwhile, finished 7-1 followed by Lakewood (6-2), Columbine (5-3) and Chatfield (4-4). Valor Christian eventually earned the top seed in the 5A postseason bracket and moved into the Final Four before falling to Grandview. Ralston Valley beat Columbine in the Sweet 16, then lost to the state’s other finalist, Cherry Creek. Lakewood, Chatfield and, other league member, Arvada West, lost in the second round. Elsewhere in the conference, Dakota Ridge lost in the opening round, while Bear Creek and Pomona didn’t qualify for the state postseason. <strong>Five players who shined this winter</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95168" first="Raegan" last="Beers"], 2022, PF/C, Valor Christian</strong> [caption id="attachment_132640" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="95168" first="Raegan" last="Beers"][/caption]The sophomore has the makeup of a player going on to bigger and brighter basketball stages. You can place your safe bets on that like you can rely on another double-double coming out this shining sophomore. Beers, who averaged 15.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.6 assists per game this past year, is the second-ranked sophomore in the state behind Grandview’s [player_tooltip player_id="95167" first="Lauren" last="Betts"] per Prep Girls Hoops. She was also named to PGH’s All-Sophomore first team. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95126" first="Sydney" last="Bevington"], 2021, PG, Ralston Valley</strong> Bevington is a do-it-all point guard as she averaged 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.8 steals in her junior campaign. She shot 44 percent and was the league's most dangerous player at the line, where she went 139 for 172 (81 percent). [caption id="attachment_145639" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="95126" first="Sydney" last="Bevington"][/caption]Bevington is the fourth-ranked junior in the state and could be headed for big time in the college ranks. The second, third and fifth ranked players on the state’s junior list all recently committed to D-I programs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95173" first="Grace" last="Talbot"], 2022, PG, Chatfield</strong> Talbot was the league’s leading scoring leader with 19.2 points through 25 games. Frankly, she could burn you from anywhere. The sophomore, ranked seventh overall in the state’s 2022 class, hit 68 3s and near 45 percent of her shots from inside the perimeter. At the line, she was hitting 81 percent — going 100 for 124. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="115781" first="Nadia" last="Trevizo-Medina"], 2020, PG, Lakewood</strong> The 48^th-ranked senior in the state averaged 15.9 points and helped lead the Tigers into the second round of the 5A postseason. In the season-ending loss to Cherokee Trail, Trevizo-Medina kept Lakewood close to the final buzzer and finished with a game-high 24 points. The senior’s competitive drive and leadership makes her a valuable prospect if she decides to play at the ne [caption id="attachment_132609" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="95173" first="Grace" last="Talbot"][/caption]xt level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95124" first="Kindyll" last="Wetta"], 2021, PG/SG, Valor Christian</strong> The University of Colorado scored big with the commitment of Wetta. The junior averaged 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 4.3 steals as the Eagles grabbed the state’s top seed and moved all the way to the Final Four. For context purposes, Wetta would probably shoot more and rack up bigger stats at just about any other program in the state. But with an elite cast around her, she’s a mature player who instead does a bit of everything on both ends of the floor. Like this: Her 117 steals were 38 more than any other player in the league. Talbot was second with 79. <strong>Who was voted all-conference in ’19-20</strong> <strong>First team</strong> [caption id="attachment_145778" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="115781" first="Nadia" last="Trevizo-Medina"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="95173" first="Grace" last="Talbot"], Chatfield [player_tooltip player_id="95124" first="Kindyll" last="Wetta"], Valor Christian [player_tooltip player_id="95168" first="Raegan" last="Beers"], Valor Christian [player_tooltip player_id="95129" first="Jenna" last="Siebert"], Valor Christian [player_tooltip player_id="117697" first="Jessica" last="Bollwahn"], Columbine [player_tooltip player_id="95078" first="Quincey" last="Baum"], Columbine [player_tooltip player_id="115781" first="Nadia" last="Trevizo-Medina"], Lakewood [player_tooltip player_id="115786" first="Aaliyah" last="Sabala"], Lakewood [player_tooltip player_id="95126" first="Sydney" last="Bevington"], Ralston Valley [player_tooltip player_id="117682" first="Saya" last="Sabus"], Ralston Valley <strong>Second team</strong> [caption id="attachment_132636" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="95124" first="Kindyll" last="Wetta"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="134233" first="Calaiya" last="Vickles"], Arvada West [player_tooltip player_id="117723" first="Jasmyn" last="Williams"], Arvada West [player_tooltip player_id="145406" first="Amanda" last="Neff"], Arvada West [player_tooltip player_id="116767" first="Karissa" last="Lukasiewicz"], Valor Christian [player_tooltip player_id="95136" first="Sydney" last="McKibbon"], Valor Christian Mikayla Kneebone, Bear Creek [player_tooltip player_id="145395" first="Adrienne" last="Harnum"], Columbine [player_tooltip player_id="116780" first="Mariah" last="Ramos"], Lakewood [player_tooltip player_id="116763" first="Brooklyn" last="Seymour"], Ralston Valley Elizabeth Schweiker, Ralston Valley