4A First Round Preview: John Mraule Quadrant

With the announcement of the 5A and 4A state tournament brackets on Sunday morning, it officially became playoff time for Colorado’s two largest classifications. To continue our corner-to-corner tournament preview, here is a look at what to expect from each game in the 4A John Mraule quadrant. <em>First-round byes: No. 1 Sand Creek, No. 16 Canon City, No. 8 Montrose and No. 9 Mullen.</em> <strong>No. 32 Centaurus (13-10, 9-5 Northern) vs. No. 33 Pueblo South (11-12, 7-3 South-Central)</strong> The Warriors have been led by freshman guard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/laura-gensert/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/laura-gensert/">Laura Gensert</a></a> who average 13.7 points per game and her 43 made 3-pointers despite a deep roster. However, that deep roster could come in handy against a short bench on the Pueblo South side. Centaurus' <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/julia-mischke/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/julia-mischke/">Julia Mischke</a></a> contributes 12.6 points per game from the backcourt as well while senior Leesha Taylor-Preston leads the team with 6.7 boards per game. On the Pueblo South side, the bench may be short but the guard play is strong between senior <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jada-dupree/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jada-dupree/">Jada Dupree</a></a> and sophomore <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/chloe-keck/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/chloe-keck/">Chloe Keck</a></a>. Dupree is one of the fastest girls in Colorado and her 3 steals per game have been a big factor toward her 16.3 points per game. Keck is the Colts' sharpshooter with 9.6 points per game. The Colts roster has been entirely new outside of the two guards, so this game could come down to the experience inside that the Warriors have. <em>Other Centaurus players to watch: Natalie Kramer, Samantha Sterritt.</em> <em>Other Pueblo South players to watch: Madison Reardon, Grace Whiting, Zedra Medina.</em> <strong>No. 17 Evergreen (16-7, 9-3 Jeffco) vs. No. 48 Palisade (8-15, 7-5 Western Slope)</strong> [caption id="attachment_137732" align="alignright" width="150"] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jameson-mott/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jameson-mott/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jameson-mott-2/">Jameson Mott</a></a></a>[/caption] Evergreen has rebounded well in the 2019-2020 season after losing star center Claudia Dillon after she graduated last season. Filling part of that hole has been senior Hayley Dillon, who averages 9.5 points per game and 7.3 boards per contest. The biggest help on offense has come from freshman <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jameson-mott/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jameson-mott/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jameson-mott-2/">Jameson Mott</a></a></a> and her 11.7 points per game and 39 made 3-pointers. The Cougars aren't far removed from being back-to-back state champions in 2017 and 2018, so no matter who the girls are, the expectations will be to win in the big dance. Palisade, the last team into the field, will be looking to spring the upset behind junior center Alexis Marushack. She leads the team in scoring with 8 points per game and also grabs 6 rebounds per game. <em>Other Evergreen players to watch: Anna Cimler, <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nicole-levine/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nicole-levine/">Nicole Levine</a></a>, Avery Leinen.</em> <em>Other Palisade players to watch: Elizabeth Hawkins, Magdalena Latek.</em> <strong>No. 25 Mesa Ridge (13-9, 10-5 CS Metro) vs. No. 40 Fort Morgan (7-16, 4-12 Tri-Valley)</strong> [caption id="attachment_146123" align="alignright" width="300"] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/taleiyah-gibbs/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/taleiyah-gibbs/">Taleiyah Gibbs</a></a>[/caption] Mesa Ridge presents a solid guard and wing combo in senior <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/serin-dunne/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/serin-dunne/">Serin Dunne</a></a> and freshman <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/taleiyah-gibbs/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/taleiyah-gibbs/">Taleiyah Gibbs</a></a>. Dunne averages 16.5 points per game with 57 made 3-pointers while Gibbs chips in 11.4 points a contest and brings down 6.5 boards. The 5-foot-11 freshman in Gibbs doesn't have to take on all of the pressure down low either with junior forward Marissa Spencer contributing 8.7 points and 8.2 board per game. On the other side, the record doesn't look great for Fort Morgan, but playing in a league with the likes of Berthoud, Erie and Holy Family, all seeded No. 7 or better, you're sure to be battled tested. Seniors Lauren Keller, Destiny Pelton and Clemetina Numaralungu and Autumn Wheatley all average more than 6 points and are good for 3 rebounds or more as they will try to keep their final season alive. <em>Other Mesa Ridge players to watch: Monet Hubbard, Cierra Bowens.</em> <em>Other Fort Morgan players to watch: Emma Wolff, Allie Bauman.</em> <strong>No. 24 Cheyenne Mountain (13-10, 6-8 Pikes Peak) vs. No. 41 Thomas Jefferson (6-17, 5-4 Denver Prep)</strong> [caption id="attachment_95561" align="alignright" width="150"] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-murrell/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-murrell/">Brooke Murrell</a></a>[/caption] The Indians start with strong leadership down low in guard/forward <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/selena-vargas/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/selena-vargas/">Selena Vargas</a></a> who leads the team in scoring with 14.6 a game and brings home the most boards with 9.6 a contest. Joining her is fellow senior Katelynn Ralston and her 13.2 points and 6.2 boards per game. Plus the Indians have added a guard in freshman <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/alena-san-augustin/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/alena-san-augustin/">Alena San Augustin</a></a> who contributes 11.3 points per game. TJ responds with 6-foot-1 freshman standout <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-murrell/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-murrell/">Brooke Murrell</a></a>, who averages a double-double with 14.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. This game appears to be a battle in the paint between the veteran forwards of Cheyenne Mountain versus the newcomer from TJ in Murrell. The difference then could come down to guard play where the Spartans have Grace Stelzer and her 11.6 points per game to combat San Augustin. <em>Other Cheyenne Mountain players to watch: Taegan Steinfort, Anila Owens. </em> <em>Other TJ players to watch: Jazz Wright, Amna Ardrovic, Kira Kennedy.</em>