Season Preview: Continental League

<strong>How it all shook out in ‘19-20 </strong>Regis Jesuit went 10-0, followed by Highlands Ranch (9-1) and ThunderRidge (8-2). It’s a trio that has virtually owned the south and southeastern Denver-metropolitan area for two decades. Both Regis Jesuit and Highlands Ranch won 21 games and six of the loop’s 11 teams won at least 15. <strong>Teams –</strong> Castle View, Chaparral, Douglas County, Heritage, Highlands Ranch, Legend, Mountain Vista, Ponderosa, Regis Jesuit, Rock Canyon, ThunderRidge. <strong>Which playoff team advanced the furthest?</strong> Highlands Ranch made the 5A final four, losing to 2019 champion Cherry Creek. The Falcons also knocked off Regis Jesuit in the Sweet 16. Three others were eliminated in the second round. Ponderosa, the Continental’s lone 4A team, fell in the second round of the bracket. <strong>A few returning players to watch</strong> [caption id="attachment_230716" align="alignright" width="275"]<img class=" wp-image-230716" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/11/Payton-Bang-Chaparral-300x205.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="188" /> [player_tooltip player_id="117688" first="Payton" last="Bang"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="95182" first="Avery" last="Bang"], Chaparral, 2022, F, 6-2 The frontcourt duo of Avery and twin sister [player_tooltip player_id="117688" first="Payton" last="Bang"] is already a Division-I caliber pair and isn’t going anywhere for a couple years. Both bring height and length inside for the Wolverines, and both continue to add the their skill sets and ability to step out and stretch the floor. As a sophomore in 2019-20, Avery averaged 12.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Payton posted eight points, 5.8 rebounds. [player_tooltip player_id="116760" first="Liberty" last="Line"], Ponderosa, 2021, G, 5-7 Line is committed to Chadron State after she had a league-high 71 made 3-pointers as a junior in 2019-20. That number was also the most in all of Class 4A and third most in Colorado. First team all-conference last winter, Line averaged 16.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game to help the Mustangs post a 17-8 record. [player_tooltip player_id="95123" first="Payton" last="Muma"], Highlands Ranch, 2021, G, 5-8 The <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2020/03/payton-muma-commits-to-gonzaga-university/">Gonzaga signee</a> is the latest in a long Falcons’ high-end pipeline of talent. She can do a bit of everything, and well, on the court. Statistically, Muma averaged 15.2 points, 4.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists a night, while shooting 30 percent (42 for 141) from 3-point range, as a junior. But it’s her court awareness, basketball IQ and the intangibles she brings to Caryn Jarocki’s program that set Muma apart, something Gonzaga undoubtedly saw in her before making an official offer. [caption id="attachment_230717" align="alignright" width="231"]<img class=" wp-image-230717" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/11/Taylor-Ray-Highlands-Ranch-300x283.jpg" alt="" width="231" height="218" /> [player_tooltip player_id="95169" first="Taylor" last="Ray"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="95169" first="Taylor" last="Ray"], Highlands Ranch, 2022, G-F, 5-11 Ray’s mobility at 5-foot-11 gives her versatility and makes her an incredibly difficult cover for opposing teams. There’s that, and she also shot 35 percent (37 for 105) from 3-point range as a sophomore in 2019-20, heightening the threat she poses on the offensive end of the floor. After averaging 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, two assists, 2.5 steals and 2.2 blocks last winter, it will be exciting to see what Ray does in Season B. [player_tooltip player_id="95125" first="Avery" last="VanSickle"], Regis Jesuit, 2021, G, 5-9 A <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2020/03/avery-vansickle-commits-to-university-of-washington/">University of Washington signee</a> and the league’s top returning scorer (16.5 points), VanSickle is a scoring machines and might be the best pure shooter in all of Colorado. She shot 37 percent (62 for 169) from 3-point range last season on her way to averaging 16.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals a night. [player_tooltip player_id="95018" first="Jada" last="Moore"] has graduated and is at Kansas State, so VanSickle appears to be poised for an absolutely monster campaign now that its her turn to lead yet another talented roster at Regis Jesuit. <strong>Some other names to know</strong> [caption id="attachment_230718" align="alignright" width="245"]<img class=" wp-image-230718" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/11/Kinzie-Whitehead.jpg" alt="" width="245" height="184" /> [player_tooltip player_id="117680" first="Kinzie" last="Whitehead"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="216647" first="Hannah" last="Belibi"], Regis Jesuit, 2024, F, 5-11 [player_tooltip player_id="116818" first="Samantha" last="Jones"], Regis Jesuit, 2021, F, 6-0 [player_tooltip player_id="117680" first="Kinzie" last="Whitehead"], Legend, 2022, F, 5-10 [player_tooltip player_id="95179" first="Alex" last="Pirog"], Highlands Ranch, 2022, PF, 6-2 [player_tooltip player_id="207077" first="Jordan" last="Jones"], Regis Jesuit, 2022, CG, 6-0 Makena Vetter, Rock Canyon, 2021, G-F, 5-8 [caption id="attachment_230720" align="alignright" width="248"]<img class="wp-image-230720" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/11/Keegan-Armetta-Chaparral-300x236.jpg" alt="" width="248" height="195" /> [player_tooltip player_id="95230" first="Keegan" last="Armetta"][/caption]Leaya McKinney, Castle View, 2021, PF-C, 6-0 [player_tooltip player_id="95139" first="Tia" last="Slade"], Highlands Ranch, 2021, SF, 5-11 Riley Smith, Chaparral, 2022, SG, 5-11 [player_tooltip player_id="95239" first="Rielley" last="McNeill"], Castle View, 2023, CG, 5-8 Isabella Newbold, Douglas County, 2022, SF, 5-8 [player_tooltip player_id="95230" first="Keegan" last="Armetta"], Chaparral, 2023, PG, 5-7 [player_tooltip player_id="210355" first="Annabelle" last="Kirchner"], Legend, 2023, SG, 5-7 [player_tooltip player_id="95228" first="Emily" last="Thomas"], Regis Jesuit, 2023, CG, 5-10 [caption id="attachment_195027" align="alignright" width="268"]<img class=" wp-image-195027" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Amiya-Robinson-Mountain-Vista2-300x222.jpg" alt="" width="268" height="198" /> [player_tooltip player_id="116801" first="Amiya" last="Robinson"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="116775" first="Chelsea" last="Groves"], Highlands Ranch, 2021, C, 6-0 [player_tooltip player_id="145422" first="Gemma" last="Gibbs"], Legend, 2023, PG, 5-4 [player_tooltip player_id="116783" first="Gianna" last="Principato"], Highlands Ranch, 2021, SF, 5-7 [player_tooltip player_id="207085" first="Kaitlin" last="Kyle"], Ponderosa, 2022, SF, 5-11 [player_tooltip player_id="117699" first="Emily" last="Hovasse"], Highlands Ranch, 2022, CG, 5-6 [player_tooltip player_id="145434" first="Abigail" last="Tennyson"], Legend, 2023, CG, 5-8 [player_tooltip player_id="210357" first="Kaci" last="Hudson"], Chaparral, 2023, SG, 5-6 [caption id="attachment_186785" align="alignright" width="246"]<img class=" wp-image-186785" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/DA8C0FB6-3A3A-477A-89A3-64DA57494707.jpeg" alt="" width="246" height="164" /> [player_tooltip player_id="95179" first="Alex" last="Pirog"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="117705" first="Shyla" last="Tummala"], Highlands Ranch, 2022, SF, 5-9 [player_tooltip player_id="95229" first="Kayli" last="Spall"], Ponderosa, 2023, CG, 5-4 [player_tooltip player_id="95212" first="Katie" last="Johanning"], Highlands Ranch, 2023, PG, 5-9 [player_tooltip player_id="116801" first="Amiya" last="Robinson"], Mountain Vista, 2021, PF, 5-9 [player_tooltip player_id="95217" first="Maddie" last="Groth"], Highlands Ranch, 2023, SF, 6-0 [player_tooltip player_id="95216" first="Savitri" last="Jackson"], Regis Jesuit, 2023, CG, 5-5 [player_tooltip player_id="95214" first="Cassidey" last="Keiser"], Highlands Ranch, 2023, CG, 5-8 [player_tooltip player_id="210340" first="Lucina" last="Rivera"], Regis Jesuit, 2023, PG, 5-2 [player_tooltip player_id="145437" first="Bailey" last="Williamson"], Highlands Ranch, 2023, PF, 6-0 Adrianna Baker, ThunderRidge, 2022, F, 5-10 [player_tooltip player_id="145438" first="Brandy" last="Williamson"], Highlands Ranch, 2023, CG, 5-7 <strong>A quick, early look to Season B</strong> Not surprisingly, Regis Jesuit and Highlands Ranch figure to be front-runners in a 10-team 5A group that will be among big schools’ best and should contend with the Centennial League for top honors. And 4A Ponderosa’s 5A schedule always prepares the Mustangs for the postseason. &nbsp;