Season Preview: 1A 5280 League

<strong>How it all shook out in 19’-20’</strong> Flatirons Academy won the conference title finishing 5-0, and 16-7 overall.  The team averaged 50.1 points per game and was tough to contain throughout the season.  They did lose in a tournament at the beginning of the season last year with three lost in a row.  They bounced back with some great wins and then close lost by 7 against Liberty Common a non-conference game.  The runner up was Shinning Mountain who ended splitting a win with Flatirons Academy. Shinning Mountain lost to the conference champs in the regular season for the title.  The next game they the two meet up ended with Shinning Mountain defeated them in the playoffs. The league only started with 5 teams, and now with the addition of new teams they are at 10 teams total to make it challenging for some teams. &nbsp; <strong>Teams</strong>-- Belleview Christian, Front Range Baptist, Beth Eden Baptist, Shining Mountain, Flatirons Academy, Denver Academy of Torah, Denver Jewish Day, Mile High Academy, Rocky Mountain Lutheran &nbsp; <strong>Which playoff team advanced the furthest?</strong> previously ranked number 5 in the class 1A state playoff bracket.  Shinning Mountain was the team that advance the furtherest last season before the cancellation of the season. <em>A few returning players to watch</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116803" first="Bryn" last="Durrill"] (5’8", G, 2021, Flatirons Academy)</strong> Durrill much like her younger sister is a very efficient player when she is on the floor.  Durrill also is a willing passer, and does well getting her hands in the passing lanes to create more possession for her team. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="145424" first="Kenlee" last="Durrill"] (5’9", G, 2023, Flatirons Academy)</strong> Younger sister of Brynn.  Kenlee has tremendous upside and shows that she can lead the team being only a sophomore.  She led her team in points, and steals per game last season.  With a great freshman debut she will look to lead her team further in the playoffs despite the season being cut short last season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116815" first="Frances" last="Hilliard"] (5’7", SG, 2021, Shining Mountain)</strong> Hilliard leading the way for Shining Mountain is on track to joining the 1,000 point club if the season had not been cut short this year.  Scoring a career in 873 points, she averaged 11.1 points per game last year.  She helped lead her team to the final 4, and hope to repeat to try to advance further. <strong>Elaizha Nelson ( 2022, Belleview Christian)</strong> Nelson scored 221 points in the 19’-20’ season as a sophomore.  She led her team last year, and with another year of experience being now an upperclassman she will try and help her team compete for the conference title despite the new additions of the team in the league.  She scored 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.2 steals per game. <strong>Brook Sutton ( 2021, Front Range Baptist)</strong> Sutton being a dual sport athlete led her team in points, and rebounds per game.  She averaged 10.6 points, and 8.2 rebounds per game.  She has been improving her stats every year as a varsity player. &nbsp; <em>Some other names to know</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116804" first="Anela" last="Dixon"] ( 2021, G, Mile High Academy)</strong> <strong>Nili Fischer (2021, Denver Academy of Torah)</strong> <strong>Bethany Long ( 2023, Belleview)</strong> <strong>Savana Kasack (5’9", W, 2021, Flatirons Academy)</strong> <em>A quick, early look to the spring,</em> Flatirons Academy has players that can score the ball in bunches, and will be tough to slow down the Durrill sister each game.  There are teams that can be in the hunt to the conference title one being Mile High Academy can be a great matchup against teams in the 1A 5280 league