Making the rounds …

Making the upper rounds of Colorado’s 2022 Tournament: &nbsp; --- [player_tooltip player_id="95167" first="Lauren" last="Betts"], PGH-CO ’22 No. 1 and regarded as the top recruit nationally, including PGH, is Colorado Gatorade player of the year a second consecutive time. Averaging 17.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks, Betts who surpassed 1,500 career points, probably won’t clear 1,000 rebounds. But she’ll cap a brilliant career in Saturday’s Class 5A Championship at the Denver Coliseum against Valor Christian assured of averaging a career double-double over a whopping 95 career games. <strong>2018-19:</strong> 28 games, 12.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg <strong>2019-20:</strong> 26 games, 17.8 pg, 11.0 rpg <strong>2020-21:</strong> 17 games, 17.5 points, 11.2 rpg <strong>2021-22:</strong> 22 games, 17.1 ppg, 10.8 rpg Girls McDonald’s All-American Game selectee, the Stanford-bound Betts, also is a National Team member, and is very active and successful academically and in community service. “Lauren has always presented problems since she arrived at Grandview at 6-foot-7,” big-school semifinalist Arapahoe head coach Jerry Knafelc said. “This season, Lauren has really improved her overall game. She has developed a consistent mid-range shot, improved her free throws and, more importantly, she has improved her passing and decision-making.” &nbsp; --- It’s why you play hard all of the time – it could happen. In the quarterfinals against Chaparral, [player_tooltip player_id="210292" first="Macey" last="Huard"] (PGH-CO 2023 No. 1), daughter of former NFL quarterback Brock Huard, was guarding an inbounds play on the press against Chaparral to the right of the Valor Christian basket. The Eagles guard deflected the attempt and it somehow went off the backboard and into the goal. It will go down as perhaps the strangest basket in the history of the state tournament. &nbsp; --- Again, it’s a very top-heavy in-state game – and the final rounds have proven it. The 5A game will have Grandview ( [player_tooltip player_id="95167" first="Lauren" last="Betts"], PGH-CO 2022 No.1 and [player_tooltip player_id="117679" first="Marya" last="Hudgins"], PGH-CO No. 3 ) against Valor Christian (Raegen Beers, PGH-CO 2022 No. 2 and Huard) and the 4A final of undefeated Windsor ([player_tooltip player_id="207078" first="Olivia" last="Reed"], PGH-CO 2022 No. 21 ) against Mullen ([player_tooltip player_id="95172" first="Gracie" last="Gallegos"], PGH-CO 2022 No. 4; [player_tooltip player_id="117681" first="Kilah" last="Freelon"], PGH-CO 2022 No. 5; and [player_tooltip player_id="95170" first="Imani" last="Perez"] No. 9). Here’s how they did in the semifinals: <strong>Betts:</strong> Led all scorers with 22 points in a 65-51 victory over Highlands Ranch. As good as anyone nationally with her back to the basket. <strong>Hudgins:</strong> Right behind Betts with 21 points and her steady floor presence has been a must for the Wolves all season. <strong>Beers:</strong> Eagles lost the regular-season matchup against Grandview right after defeating Mullen, but went for 28 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 65-49 decision of Arapahoe. Moves very well after missing the past season with a knee injury. <strong>Reed:</strong> 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots as Wizards fought off Mead for a third head-to-head victory this season. <strong>Freelon:</strong> 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in a 55-25 drubbing of Green Mountain as well as the fastest player on the floor and the one who jumps the highest. <strong>Gallegos:</strong> Team-high 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and defensively was better in shutting down Rams’ [player_tooltip player_id="95215" first="Jayda" last="Maves"] (6 points on 2-of-9 shooting). <strong>Perez:</strong> Not asked to score, but was game’s top rebounder (14) in owning the paint. &nbsp;