Class 5A Great Eight: Game-by-Game Preview
We are narrowing down the contenders who still have a fighting chance to be crowned state champions. The teams that are left happen to be the top eight ranked teams coming into the postseason. Let’s take a look at what…
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Continue ReadingWe are narrowing down the contenders who still have a fighting chance to be crowned state champions. The teams that are left happen to be the top eight ranked teams coming into the postseason. Let’s take a look at what is in store for Friday’s matchups in Denver.
[player_tooltip player_id="95129" first="Jenna" last="Siebert"]#1 Valor Christian (24-1, 8-0 Jeffco) vs. #8 Fossil Ridge (21-4, 12-0 Front Range)
Valor is coming off of an impressive win over Rangeview, still proving that they deserve to be the top-ranked team in the state. Sophomore forward/center Raegan Beers Raegan Beers 6'3" | PF Valor Christian | 2022 State #35 Nation CO finished that game with a double-double (15 pts and 13 rebs), bringing her postseason numbers to 31 points, 22 rebounds, and four blocks. Teammate Kindyll Wetta Kindyll Wetta 5'9" | PG Valor Christian | 2021 State CO (junior guard) tallied 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals in the Sweet 16 victory. For Fossil Ridge, Sophia Hadad Sophia Hadad 5'11" | SF Fossil Ridge | 2020 State CO (senior guard/forward) led the team with 18 points and 14 rebounds in their win over Vista PEAK. Senior guard Alexis Kohler also posted a double-double, finishing with 15 points and 10 boards in that contest.
Other Eagles to watch: Jenna Siebert Jenna Siebert 5'8" | CG Valor Christian | 2021 State CO & Karissa Lukasiewicz Karissa Lukasiewicz 5'11" | SF Valor Christian | 2021 State CO
Other Sabercats to watch: Lauren Zwetwig & Allison Osthoff
[player_tooltip player_id="116763" first="Brooklyn" last="Seymour"]#2 Cherry Creek (23-2, 13-1 Centennial) vs. #7 Ralston Valley (20-5, 7-1 Jeffco)
The Cherry Creek Bruins have, without a doubt, the state’s best point guard in senior Jana Van Gytenbeek Jana Van Gytenbeek 5'7" | PG Cherry Creek | 2020 CO leading the charge towards a state title. The Stanford commit has posted back-to-back double-double postseason games so far, tallying a combined 26 points and 20 assists over two games. For the Mustangs, Brooklyn Seymour Brooklyn Seymour 5'11" | PF Ralston Valley | 2021 State CO (junior forward) is coming off of a win over Columbine, where she posted 20 points and 12 rebounds. Both teams have a plethora of talent flooding the court at any given moment, making this matchup a must-see.
Other Bruins to watch: Cali Clark Cali Clark 6'3" | PF Cherry Creek | 2020 State CO , KaCee Kyle KaCee Kyle 5'8" | CG Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO , Abby Wrede Abby Wrede 5'8" | SG Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO
Other Mustangs to watch: Saya Sabus Saya Sabus 5'9" | CG Ralston Valley | 2022 State CO , McKenna Nichols, Sydney Bevington Sydney Bevington 6'0" | PG Ralston Valley | 2021 State CO
Lila Dere
#4 Grandview (22-3, 13-1 Centennial) vs. #5 Fruita Monument (23-2, 7-1 Southwestern)
Lauren Betts Lauren Betts 6'7" | C Grandview | 2022 State #1 Nation CO (center) is Prep Girl Hoops’ top-ranked sophomore in the state. She has scored 33 points and swatted six shots over the postseason so far. Junior teammate, Addison O’Grady Addison O’Grady 6'3" | PF Grandview | 2021 State #45 Nation CO came away with 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists in their previous playoff contest for the Wolves. Fruita Monument’s Lila Dere (senior guard) is coming off of a win where she put up 20 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. Fellow senior, Callie Allen Callie Allen 6'0" | C Fruita Monument | 2020 State CO (center), finished the Sweet 16 round with 15 points, six rebounds, and three steals to help keep the Wildcats alive in the tournament.
Other Wolves to watch: Marya Hudgins Marya Hudgins 6'0" | SF Grandview | 2022 State CO & Tomia Johnson Tomia Johnson 5'6" | CG Grandview | 2020 State CO
Other Wildcats to watch: Kylie Wells & Bailey Rigsby Bailey Rigsby 5'2" | PG Fruita Monument | 2020 State CO
[player_tooltip player_id="95018" first="Jada" last="Moore"]#3 Regis Jesuit (21-4, 10-0 Continental) vs. #6 Highlands Ranch (20-5, 9-1 Continental)
The Regis Raiders will be led by an outstanding scorer in senior guard, Jada Moore Jada Moore 5'10" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2020 State CO . The Kansas State commit put up a Sweet 16 double-double, finishing with 30 points and 14 rebounds. Moore is averaging 17.6 points in her final season as a high school player, putting her career average at 10.8 points. Junior teammate Samantha Jones Samantha Jones 6'0" | SF Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO (forward) posted 11 points in their previous win, which is right around her season average of 10.9 points. Highlands Ranch is coming off of a dominant performance where they managed to hold one of the state’s top three scorers to zero points. This matchup, however, should prove to be a tougher contest for Payton Muma Payton Muma 5'9" | PG Highlands Ranch | 2021 State CO (junior guard) and her fellow Falcons.
Other Raiders to watch: Avery VanSickle Avery VanSickle 5'9" | SG Regis Jesuit | 2021 State #71 Nation CO & Madden Mchugh
Other Falcons to watch: Taylor Ray Taylor Ray 6'0" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2022 State CO , Sarah Mitchell Sarah Mitchell 5'8" | CG Highlands Ranch | 2020 State CO , Alex Pirog Alex Pirog 6'3" | C Highlands Ranch | 2022 State CO