Roster Dive: A deep look at Pueblo West
Many factors go into making a championship team who they are. For No. 2-ranked Pueblo West High School, according to the latest CHSAAnow.com coaches/media poll, a roster that goes nine deep in it’s rotation has been a big key. Here…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMany factors go into making a championship team who they are.
For No. 2-ranked Pueblo West High School, according to the latest CHSAAnow.com coaches/media poll, a roster that goes nine deep in it’s rotation has been a big key.
Here is a look at what the Cyclones throw at opponents, player by player.
Pueblo West’s Hannah Simental takes a 3-pointer against Windsor on Jan. 4, 2020.Senior, Point Guard, Hannah Simental
Simental needs no introduction as she is one of the best players to ball in Jerr Kersey Gymnasium at Pueblo West.
A week ago, the University of Northern Colorado commit scored her 1,500th career point on a 3-pointer, which also happened to be the 200th deep ball made in her career.
The senior is scoring 16.4 points to lead the Cyclones and is also one of the top defenders, as seen by having a team-high 2.5 steals per game.
Senior, Forward, Jorden Ross
Ross is one of many post players the Cyclones possess that can either start a game or come off the bench and give some consistent minutes.
Ross has the ability to go up strong through contact down low and shoots 72 percent from the free throw line, helping her get to the 5.5 points per game she averages.
Senior, Forward, Taylor Dabovich
Pueblo West’s Taylor Dabovich, left, gets up a shot against Windsor on Jan. 4, 2020.Dabovich could most likely be an every-game starter for any other team in Pueblo, but with the Cyclones depth, they can use her for matchups to start or come off the bench when needed.
The senior averages three boards a game for the Cyclones and presents a tough challenge on offense with her work down low or her ability to step back to the elbows and hit a jumper.
Senior, Guard, Maya Sanchez
Pueblo West’s Maya Sanchez takes a 3-pointer against Windsor on Jan. 4, 2020Simental may have the steal lead, but Sanchez is the leader in causing havoc for the Cyclones defense.
Sanchez has the speed to stay with any opponent’s guards and isn’t afraid to get in tight and mix it up for a steal.
Offensively, she scores 6.3 points per game and is a threat alongside Simental from deep as Sanchez has knocked down the second most 3-pointers on the team with 18.
Senior, Center, Shae Gallery
Standing at 5-foot-11, Gallery is the tallest player on the Cyclones roster and uses that frame to grab 3.3 boards and 5 points per game.
Being a standout on the Cyclones’ volleyball team has helped Gallery on the defensive end to be able to stay up straight in the paint and force team into turnovers down low.
Junior, Guard, Marissa Leyva
Leyva comes off the bench and doesn’t skip a beat from the Cyclones starters, averaging 4.7 points per game and 2.3 assists a night, good for second on the squad.
The junior has shown her offensive prowess in spurts, showing she has the ability to step up when her number is called, including a 10-point performance against rival Pueblo South in a 58-21 win on Jan. 23.
Plus it helps to be efficient and Leyva does that the best shooting 60 percent from the field to lead Pueblo West.
Junior, Forward, Shayla Padilla
Speaking of that Pueblo South game, Simental said she felt bad for the Colts’ Jada Dupree, the South-Central League leading scorer, because she had Padilla guarding her all night.
And Simental was right as Dupree only produced four points in the game as Padilla’s toughness is unquestioned for the Cyclones’ squad.
Her 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game both rank second on the team and she isn’t afraid to step back and take a 3-pointer every once in a while. Not to mention, she finished tied for eighth in the state high jump last spring as a sophomore.
Sophomore, Forward, Gabby Louther
Pueblo West’s Gabby Louther, left, shoots a layup against Windsor on Jan. 4, 2020No one grinds on the Cyclones’ team more than Louther as she leads the team in rebounding (6.4), assists (2.7) and is second in scoring with 6.8 a game.
Louther has proven she can knock down any shot on offense and doesn’t mind fighting down low for a layup.
Defensively, she has the right mix of height and speed to guard any player the opponents might throw at her.
After Simental graduates this year, Louther could become the next leading star for the Cyclones’ program.
Sophomore, Guard, Kate Gallery
Despite being only one inch shorter than her older sister in Shae Gallery, Kate plays her game more at the top of the key.
Her nine made 3-pointers is evidence of that as she chips in 3.6 points per game for the No. 2 Cyclones.
And defensively, her size causes problems for opposing guards as Kate has also shown to be pretty quick on her feet.