4A Second Round Preview: John Mraule Quadrant

Round one is now complete in the Class 5A and 4A girls basketball brackets, leaving 32 teams in the field still looking for the state title. We continue our preview coverage by taking a look at the second round matchups in the Class 4A John Mraule quadrant. <strong>No. 1 Sand Creek (22-1, 14-0 Pikes Peak) vs. No. 32 Centaurus (14-10, 9-5 Northern)</strong> [caption id="attachment_99183" align="alignright" width="300"] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/krystina-hagood/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/krystina-hagood/">Krystina Hagood</a></a>[/caption] The Scorpions come in as the No. 1 overall seed as they are currently on a 19-game win streak that began on Dec. 17. And this team wins by putting up points on the scoreboard as they average 72 a game, the best in Class 4A. Sand Creek has four players averaging double digits in points, none higher than junior guard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nikki-derrell/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nikki-derrell/">Nikki Derrell</a></a> and her 15 a game. She's made 54 3-pointers on the season and even when the Scorpions aren't shooting well, they are a top-20 rebounding team, led by senior <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/krystina-hagood/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/krystina-hagood/">Krystina Hagood</a></a> and her 7.7 boards a game. On the other side, Centaurus escaped the first round with a 43-33 win over Pueblo South after freshman <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/laura-gensert/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/laura-gensert/">Laura Gensert</a></a> scored 11 of her game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Gensert averages 13.8 a game to lead the Warriors, but she'll need help from the likes of <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/julia-mischke/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/julia-mischke/">Julia Mischke</a></a> if they want to keep pace with the Scorpions. Other Sand Creek players to watch: Kianna Lemons, Tiana Davis, Tamika Williams. Other Centaurus players to watch: Natalie Kramer, Leesha Taylor-Preston. <strong>No. 16 Canon City (18-4, 14-1 CS Metro) vs. No. 17 Evergreen (17-7, 9-3 Jeffco)</strong> The Tigers come in after an impressive regular season, led by senior 1,000-point scorer <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jerika-moore/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jerika-moore/">Jerika Moore</a></a>. She averages 16.7 points per game and has made 53 3-pointers on the year as she crossed the 1,000 point plateau despite missing her entire sophomore year due to injury. Fellow senior Kate Tedquist has stepped up this year as well with 13.3 points a night. Evergreen battled all year in the deep Jeffco league and advanced from the first round with a 45-31 victory over Palisade. Junior <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nicole-levine/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nicole-levine/">Nicole Levine</a></a> stepped up for 17 points with three 3-pointers and senior Hayley Dillon pulled down 12 boards. The Cougars' leading scorer in <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jameson-mott-2/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jameson-mott/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jameson-mott-2/">Jameson Mott</a></a></a> had a modest 10 points and will still be sure to be a threat in this one going toe-to-toe with Moore. Look for Evergreen to slow the pace a little bit while Canon City looks to light up the scoreboard. Other Canon City players to watch: Mady Ley, Emily Till, Jordyn Martinez. Other Evergreen players to watch: Anna Cimler, Avery Leinen. <strong>No. 8 Montrose (18-5, 6-2 Southwestern) vs. No. 25 Mesa Ridge (14-9, 10-5 CS Metro)</strong> [caption id="attachment_146126" align="alignright" width="300"] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/serin-dunne/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/serin-dunne/">Serin Dunne</a></a>[/caption] Montrose will look to control the tempo of the game as the 18-5 Indians only average 42 points per game, but the core that leads them is senior heavy. The biggest standout on offense is senior guard <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kennadie-minerich/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kennadie-minerich/">Kennadie Minerich</a></a> and her 10.1 points per game, followed by senior forward <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ally-nichols/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ally-nichols/">Ally Nichols</a></a> and her 7.6 points a night. Nichols is also the team's top rebounder with 6.3 a game, an important when trying to limit your opponent's possession and control the tempo. Mesa Ridge makes the lone trek out west after beating Fort Morgan 69-54 behind a big third quarter after they went to the break tied at 30. The Grizzlies have been a very consistent program in Colorado and have played a tough schedule this season, including a 54-47 loss to Pueblo West in which the Grizzlies entered the fourth only trailing by two. Senior <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/serin-dunne/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/serin-dunne/">Serin Dunne</a></a> and her 57 made 3-pointers and 16.5 points per game could become crucial if Montrose tries to limit their time with the ball. Look for 6-foot junior Marissa Spencer to try and step up inside as well with her 8.2 boards and 8.7 points per game. <em>Other Montrose players to watch: Josie Eccher, Caraline Burwell, Jaycie Casebolt.</em> <em>Other Mesa Ridge players to watch: <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/taleiyah-gibbs/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/taleiyah-gibbs/">Taleiyah Gibbs</a></a>, Cierra Bowens, Monet Hubbard.</em> <strong>No. 9 Mullen (16-7, 10-4 Centennial) vs. No. 24 Cheyenne Mountain (14-10, 6-8 Pikes Peak)</strong> [caption id="attachment_141998" align="alignright" width="300"] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/megan-pohs/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/megan-pohs/">Megan Pohs</a></a>[/caption] The Indians will be the first team to get a shot at trying to knock off the defending Class 4A state champions in Mullen. Cheyenne Mountain will be only the second Class 4A opponent Mullen, the other one being a 55-21 victory over Evergreen. What's made the Mustangs so dangerous is their depth and how so many different players can come out and have a night, and none of them are seniors. Junior <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/megan-pohs/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/megan-pohs/">Megan Pohs</a></a> averages 9.5 points per game and has hit 44 3-pointers out of the Mustangs' 155 total, second best in Class 4A. Meanwhile 6-foot-3 sophomore forward <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/imani-perez/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/imani-perez/">Imani Perez</a></a> is down low scoring 9.6 points a game and pulling down 7.6 boards. The Indians began their tournament with a 75-26 blowout of Thomas Jefferson in which 5-foot-10 senior Katelynn Ralston put up 27 points and 6-foot senior forward <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/selena-vargas/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/selena-vargas/">Selena Vargas</a></a> pulled down 19 boards. If those two bigs for the Indians can try to hold Perez in check down low and limit Mullen to only an outside game, Cheyenne Mountain could try to do the unthinkable. <em>Other Mullen players to watch: <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/gracie-gallegos/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/gracie-gallegos/">Gracie Gallegos</a></a>, <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/elaina-martinez/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/elaina-martinez/">Elaina Martinez</a></a>, <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/alexa-dominguez/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/alexa-dominguez/">Alexa Dominguez</a></a>.</em> <em>Other Cheyenne Mountain players to watch: <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/alena-san-augustin/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/alena-san-augustin/">Alena San Augustin</a></a>, Taegan Steinfort, Anila Owens.</em>