5 under-the-radar prospects in Colorado’s 5A postseason

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 40-team 5A bracket was unveiled Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The opening round starts Wednesday, featuring seeds 25-40. The second round is Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The higher seed will host through the Sweet 16, which is March 4. The Great 8 through the championship game is at the Denver Coliseum, running March 6-14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at a few under-the-radar prospects in the mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["967132"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699bf33a74a7f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-9 combo guard is one of the biggest reasons Severance got the last remaining first-round bye, seeded No. 24. She does everything for the Silver Knights, leading the team in points (19 PPG), rebounds (7.0), assists (2.3) and steals (2.9). She doesn't shoot from deep often but is effective from midrange to attacking the rim. She's shooting 48% from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["877909"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699bf33a74ae3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gomez does everything for Mead. While Madi Clark is the team's standout scorer, the Mavericks would be nowhere near the top 10 in the bracket without her — they're seventh. A gifted volleyball player as well, her pure athleticism is always on display. She can guard any position. She has a non-stop motor, whether that's on the glass or the fastbreak. She's averaging 15.1 points, six rebounds and 3.3 steals per game this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Addi Strojinc","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Frederick High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699bf33a74b7f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Strojinc doesn't need the ball in her hands to make a difference for the Golden Eagles, the No. 12 seed who host No. 21 Widefield in the second round on Saturday. Playing in a league with some of the best forwards and centers in the state — including Broomfield's [player_tooltip player_id='894459' first='Reece' last='Gilpatrick'] and Monarch's [player_tooltip player_id='792683' first='Sienna' last='Williams'] — Strojinc has proven to be a force in the paint herself, leading the team with nine rebounds per game. She doesn't shoot at a high volume, but she has nice touch around the rim and is shooting 41% from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1259892"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699bf33a74bca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brubaker is listed at just 5-10 or 5-11, but due to her length she's plays much taller. She's the heart of the Trojans' defense, a sturdy presence in the paint averaging two steals and a block per game. She's not asked to carry the load offensively but is a strong offensive presence under the rim. Outside of a 10-turnover performance early in the season, she takes care of the ball and shows high basketball IQ on the court. The Trojans are the 30 seed and will host No. 35 Summit in the first round on Wednesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["738732"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699bf33a74c0e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jaimes is one of the biggest reasons the Norsemen are having their best season in years. She does everything on the court, and does it well. At the heart of her game is bucket-maker not afraid to let loose. She's at her best with the ball in her hands, driving the lane to attack the rim. But she can as effectively pull up for a midrange jumper. Averaging 20 points per game, she is shooting a stellar 46% from the field this season. She's also tenacious on the glass and on defense, averaging five rebounds and four steals per game. Northglenn is the No. 26 seed and hosts No. 39 Thomas Jefferson on Wednesday in the opening round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->