CHSAANow

Month: January 2019

  • Boys basketball rankings: Chaparral and Holly are new No. 1 teams

    Chaparral Rock Canyon boys basketball
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Chaparral (5A) and Holly (2A) have each moved up to the No. 1 spot in their respective boys basketball rankings this week.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

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    CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

    Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Chaparral (8) 14-2 116 2 2-0
    2 Grandview (4) 11-4 105 3 2-0
    3 Mountain Vista 13-1 97 1 2-1
    4 Smoky Hill 13-2 80 6 2-0
    5 Overland 10-5 65 4 0-2
    6 Rangeview 14-2 62 7 2-0
    7 ThunderRidge 13-3 43 5 2-1
    8 Fairview 12-4 39 9 2-0
    9 Columbine 10-5 15 – 2-0
    10 Eaglecrest 9-6 11 – 1-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Rock Canyon 10, Regis Jesuit 8, Highlands Ranch 4, Arvada West 2, Ralston Valley 2, Cherry Creek 1.
    Dropped out
    Rock Canyon (8), Castle View (10).
    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Lewis-Palmer (14) 14-0 140 1 3-0
    2 Longmont 14-0 126 2 2-0
    3 Holy Family 11-2 100 3 2-0
    4 Cheyenne Mountain 12-2 95 4 2-0
    5 Pueblo West 11-4 89 5 2-0
    6 Lincoln 10-5 43 8 3-0
    7 Steamboat Springs 11-3 42 7 0-1
    8 Centaurus 9-5 34 10 1-1
    9 Greeley Central 10-4 33 6 1-2
    10 Mead 10-3 30 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Wheat Ridge 24, Harrison 8, Glenwood Springs 3, Evergreen 1, Pueblo East 1, Thomas Jefferson 1.
    Dropped out
    Wheat Ridge (9).
    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Sterling (16) 11-0 160 1 2-0
    2 Manual 9-2 136 2 2-0
    3 The Vanguard 10-2 98 6 3-0
    4 Faith Christian 10-3 81 7 2-0
    5 Kent Denver 11-1 80 3 2-1
    6 Coal Ridge 10-2 76 4 0-1
    7 Lutheran 9-3 74 5 2-1
    8 Resurrection Christian 9-4 46 9 1-1
    9 Montezuma-Cortez 10-2 27 – 1-1
    10 Colorado Springs Christian 9-2 24 – 1-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Colorado Academy 22, Alamosa 21, Delta 13, Centauri 8, DSST: Byers 6, Lamar 4, DSST: Stapleton 2, Gunnison 2.
    Dropped out
    Colorado Academy (8), Centauri (10).
    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Holly (6) 14-0 131 2 2-0
    2 Yuma (8) 10-1 128 1 1-1
    3 Highland 10-1 115 3 2-0
    4 Fowler 9-3 82 4 2-0
    5 Byers 9-3 78 6 2-1
    6 Limon 10-2 67 5 2-0
    7 Dayspring Christian 6-4 39 – 1-1
    8 Simla 7-3 34 9 1-0
    9 Heritage Christian 9-3 28 7 1-1
    10 Sanford 6-5 16 10 1-1
    Others receiving votes:
    Denver Christian 12, Peyton 10, Sargent 5, Sedgwick County 5, Mancos 4, Del Norte 3, Dolores Huerta 3, Ignacio 3, Paonia 3, Lotus School for Excellence 2, Vail Christian 2.
    Dropped out
    Denver Christian (8).
    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 De Beque (6) 12-0 110 1 2-0
    2 Cornerstone Christian (6) 11-0 104 2 1-0
    3 Sangre de Cristo 8-1 73 3 2-0
    4 Haxtun 9-2 63 7 1-0
    5 Peetz 7-3 45 4 0-1
    6 Walsh 6-3 43 8 1-0
    7 Front Range Baptist 7-3 38 6 2-1
    8 Springfield 8-3 36 10 2-0
    9 Mile High Academy 7-0 35 – 2-0
    10 Cheraw 11-2 25 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Belleview Christian 24, Pikes Peak Christian 13, Briggsdale 12, Kit Carson 11, Ouray 11, Longmont Christian 8, Evangelical Christian 5, Genoa-Hugo/Karval 3, Arickaree/Woodlin 1.
    Dropped out
    Belleview Christian (5), Ouray (9).

  • Girls basketball rankings: Colorado Springs Christian moves up to No. 1 in 3A

    Colorado Springs Christian Lamar girls basketball
    (Katie Pickrell/CHSAANow.com)

    Colorado Springs Christian has moved up to the No. 1 spot in this week’s Class 3A girls basketball poll.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.

    Complete rankings are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Girls Basketball Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    First-place votes are in parentheses.

    Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Regis Jesuit (6) 13-1 105 1 2-1
    2 Highlands Ranch (5) 14-1 103 2 3-0
    3 Grandview 12-3 85 3 2-0
    4 Cherry Creek 10-4 77 4 2-1
    5 Fossil Ridge 12-1 70 5 2-0
    6 Valor Christian 13-2 52 6 2-0
    7 Horizon 12-4 40 7 1-1
    8 Ralston Valley 10-4 20 9 2-0
    9 Broomfield 12-3 17 10 2-0
    10 Vista Peak 14-1 16 8 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Legend 9, Mountain Vista 3, Windsor 3, Fountain-Fort Carson 2, Monarch 2, Rangeview 1.
    Dropped out
    None.
    Class 4A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Air Academy (16) 12-0 178 1 2-0
    2 Pueblo South (2) 13-1 157 2 2-0
    3 Pueblo West 13-2 134 3 2-0
    4 Evergreen 11-2 106 5 3-0
    5 Mullen 9-6 89 4 1-1
    6 Greeley Central 13-1 74 7 3-0
    7 Holy Family 7-5 68 6 1-1
    8 Montrose 14-2 47 8 1-1
    9 Berthoud 11-2 44 9 0-1
    10 Mesa Ridge 10-3 29 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Ponderosa 17, D’Evelyn 10, Pueblo East 9, Skyline 8, Green Mountain 4, Sierra 4, Eagle Valley 3, Thomas Jefferson 3, Denver West 1, Discovery Canyon 1, Niwot 1, Pueblo County 1, Skyview 1, Thompson Valley 1.
    Dropped out
    Ponderosa (10).
    Class 3A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Colorado Springs Christian (5) 11-0 95 2 2-0
    2 St. Mary’s (5) 11-0 91 1 3-0
    3 Pagosa Springs 10-2 73 4 3-0
    4 Delta 10-1 67 5 2-0
    5 Centauri 10-2 59 3 1-1
    6 Eaton 12-1 57 6 2-0
    7 The Academy 10-1 31 9 2-0
    8 Grand Valley 9-2 21 7 2-1
    9 Platte Valley 9-2 14 – 2-0
    10 Moffat County 10-3 12 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    SkyView Academy 11, Lutheran 10, Cedaredge 4, Alamosa 3, Resurrection Christian 2.
    Dropped out
    Lutheran (8), Cedaredge (10).
    Class 2A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Del Norte (8) 11-0 97 1 2-0
    2 Limon (2) 11-1 84 2 2-0
    3 Swink 10-1 72 3 2-0
    4 Wray 9-2 71 4 2-0
    5 Heritage Christian 11-0 55 6 1-0
    6 Yuma 8-3 50 5 1-1
    7 Simla 9-1 35 7 1-0
    8 Meeker 11-1 31 9 3-0
    9 Rye 12-1 29 8 2-0
    10 Soroco 11-2 15 – 2-0
    Others receiving votes:
    Peyton 6, Holyoke 1, Hotchkiss 1, Sanford 1.
    Dropped out
    Holyoke (10).
    Class 1A
    RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW
    1 Kit Carson (14) 9-0 141 1 0-0
    2 Briggsdale 12-0 121 2 2-0
    3 South Baca 10-0 111 3 2-0
    4 Haxtun 10-1 89 5 1-0
    5 Sangre de Cristo 9-1 88 4 2-0
    6 Genoa-Hugo/Karval 11-1 74 6 3-0
    7 Fleming 9-2 49 7 1-0
    8 De Beque 9-3 27 8 1-1
    9 Wiley 9-3 26 – 2-0
    10 Cotopaxi 10-2 24 10 1-1
    Others receiving votes:
    North Park 14, Kim/Branson 10, Sierra Grande 10, Longmont Christian 8, Cheraw 7, Hanover 5, Springfield 5, Lone Star 4, Shining Mountain Waldorf 4, Belleview Christian 3, McClave 3, Merino 2.
    Dropped out
    North Park (9).

  • Columbine boys basketball gets last-second defensive stop to defeat Valor

    LITTLETON — Columbine junior Luke O’Brien carried the Rebels offensively, but it was the defensive help by Justin Lohrenz that sealed the boys basketball victory Saturday night.

    Valor Christian had the ball with 14.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter with Columbine leading 51-50. Valor junior Cole Bott beat O’Brien off the drill on a drive in the lane, but Lohrenz came off his man to provide some help-side defense. Bott lost control of the ball with the Rebels’ defensive end on the football field sliding over and O’Brien providing pressure from behind.

    Columbine junior Luke O’Brien (0) and Valor junior Cole Bott (12) combined for 41 points during Saturday night’s 5A Jeffco League game. The Rebels held on for a 51-50 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “He (Bott) had made tough shots all game. I’m just glad he didn’t make that last one,” Lohrenz said after the Rebels held on to a 1-point victory in the Class 5A Jeffco League home opener for Columbine (10-5, 1-0 in 5A Jeffco). “I just had to make sure my hands were straight up and in was in good position. I didn’t want to foul him.”

    O’Brien was fouled with 1.6 second left. The University of Colorado-commit scored 24 points, but missed the front-end of the 1-and-1 from the free-throw line. Valor sophomore AJ Kula had one final heave from half court, but the shot went over the backboard as the buzzer sounded.

    “We knew it was going to be a tough night,” Columbine coach Clay Thielking said. “Valor is a really good team with a deceptive record and a really good coach. We had our hands full. They threw the first punch and we didn’t respond until the second quarter. It was wild, but we found a way.”

    Valor (4-11, 0-1) grabbed an early double-digit lead in the first quarter and led 18-8 after eight minutes. However, the Eagles went cold in the second quarter scoring just five points as the Rebels took a 25-23 lead at halftime.

    “It was kind of a bizarre game for us offensively. As a group we’ve struggled to find offense consistently,” Valor coach Troy Pachner said. “We are dangerous. Our record isn’t who we are, but it is what it is.”

    Bott finished with 17 points and Kula added 10 points for Valor in what was the Eagles’ fifth loss in their last six games.

    Columbine senior Logan DeArment (10) gets off a shot before Valor junior Cole Bott (12) get block the shot during the first half Saturday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “That’s a really good team,” O’Brien said of Valor. “It’s a team that is going to be really good in (5A) Jeffco. We underestimated them a lot.”

    O’Brien got the Rebels going scoring 22 points in the second and third quarters. He was the lone player to finish in double-digit points for Columbine.

    “I just had to attack,” O’Brien said of him taking over in the second and third quarters. “(Valor’s) defense is good, but I felt I could dribble drive and get in there.”

    The Rebels have won four straight, but welcome a bit of a break. Columbine returns to the court 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. The Rebels host Pomona in another 5A Jeffco League game.

    “It’s nice to have a little bit of a break to gather the team back in,” Lohrenz said. “We’ll go through our stuff and fix some things.”

    Valor has a big home conference game against Ralston Valley (11-4, 1-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23. The Mustangs are on a nine-game winning streak after defeating Chatfield on Saturday afternoon in their league opener.

    The Eagles have played a tough non-league schedule and Pachner is encouraged Valor can make some noise in its first year in the 5A Jeffco League.

    “Columbine is a good team. The top team in our league I think,” Pachner said. “We came into their place and had a shot to win it. That’s all you can ask for.”

    Columbine senior Cameron Dean (22) swings the ball out of the reach of Valor freshman Micah Leslie (24) during the Class 5A Jeffco League opener Saturday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Eagle Valley wrestling wins the tough Mel Smith Husky Invite

    (Alan Versaw/CHSAANow.com)

    FLORENCE — According to rankings going in, the Mel Smith Husky Invitational probably should have been Pagosa Springs’ show. Don’t tell Eagle Valley wrestling that, though.

    The Devils came to prove something. And, after 31 hours of wrestling, they had made a few new believers.

    “We’ve had a tough time at this tournament in years past. We knew coming into this tournament we had to wrestle at our best, ” remarked head coach Luke Cross.

    And that’s exactly what the Red Devils did.

    Although Eagle Valley didn’t end up with even one individual title, but they came together as a team, placed in half of the weight classes, and kept piling up points until the rest of the 30 teams at the tournament were in the rear-view mirror.

    That’s not to say the Devils had no special efforts.

    In particular, Cross singled out the effort of 182-pounder Davis Ward: “He just really stepped it up. He’s overcome a lot of adversity in his life, and he got third place today. … The kids kind of rallied around that and we all wrestled better with his leadership.”

    How much better? Eagle Valley logged three second-place finishes, two thirds, and two fourths.

    The seconds went to Matthew Medina at 106, Lucas Comroe at 132, and Noah Baldwin at 152. The Devils did not bring wrestlers in two weight classes, but every wrestler they did bring contributed to the overall winning point total of 168 points.

    Hot on Eagle Valley’s heels were the teams from Eaton and Pagosa Springs.

    Like Eagle Valley, both Pagosa and Eaton found it difficult to win weight classes. Eaton got their lone individual title on the last match of the evening, courtesy of a late flurry that gave Jeremy Murano the title at 285 pounds.

    Pagosa’s Cameron Lucero wrestled perhaps the most entertaining final of the entire evening, going back and forth with Clay Yarnell of Olathe before getting the pin at 3:06. Though both are from the western slope, Lucero had not met Yarnell until this evening. Lucero offered, “I knew he was good on top.”

    But Lucero gave Yarnell very little opportunity to show any of that. On the other hand, Lucero took some opportunities that might have left a lesser wrestler on his back. In the end, though, it was Yarnell who ended up on his back.

    Lucero smiled about it after it was over, “If you don’t take chances, you don’t win.”

    Valley led all schools with three individual titles on the weekend — Isaiah Rios at 138, Colin Brown at 152, and Jaziah Whaley at 160. As sharp as the Vikings were in the middle weights, however, they simply didn’t have enough wrestlers with them to make a serious run at the title. They will, however, undoubtedly be heard from at state.

    The only other team with multiple individual title winners was Elizabeth with two. Kris Kramer took the crown at 113 pounds and Abe Leonard pinned his way through the bracket at 195.

    Other individual title winners included Brady Hankin of Woodland Park at 106, Ethan Andrade of Lamar at 120, Zach Loft of Sterling at 126, James Ruona of Canon City at 132, Wyatt Pfau of Brush at 170, Nathan Johns of The Classical Academy at 182, and Eli Smith of Salida at 220.

    Tim Yount’s rankings generally held true, but there were bits and pieces of new ground turned over.

    Ethan Andrade of Lamar dropped down from 126 to beat 120 No. 1 Isaiah Gamez of La Junta. Isaiah Rios jumped all the way up from No. 5 at 138 to win the title over previous No. 1 Dylan Yancey of Eaton. Most impressive of all, Colin Brown of Valley was ranked No. 14 at 145 before taking the crown at 152.

    But the disruption there, significant as it is, probably still doesn’t eclipse the disruption brought by the rise of Eagle Valley as a certifiable 3A team contender.

    (Alan Versaw/CHSAANow.com)

  • Photos: Mays scores 26 as Coronado boys basketball gets rare win over Rampart

    COLORADO SPRINGS — Ladarius Mays scored 26 points to help Coronado boys basketball beat Rampart 74-61, its first win over the Rams in 15 years.

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  • Discovery Canyon, Longmont and Valley join wrestling rankings

    Below are this week’s wrestling rankings from On The Mat.

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    On The Mat Wrestling Rankings

    Tim Yount of On The Mat provides weekly wrestling rankings for teams and individuals in all weight classes. To see individual rankings, you can subscribe to On The Mat’s full rankings.

    To subscribe via PayPal, choose your subscription option on this page click on the corresponding PayPal button. To subscribe by mail or fax and pay by personal check, click here for a printable subscription form. Email Tim Yount at tim@onthematrankings.com with questions.

    To purchase individual weeks of the rankings (as opposed to the entire season), you will need to use the printable subscription form and pay by check. The season ranking subscriptions are offered at a discounted rate.

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    Class 2A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Wray 1
    2 Rocky Ford 4
    3 Cedaredge 3
    4 Paonia 2
    5 Highland 6
    6 John Mall 5
    7 Crowley County 8
    8 County Line 7
    9 Centauri 9
    10 Hotchkiss 10
    Dropped out
    None.
    Class 3A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Alamosa 1
    2 Pagosa Springs 2
    3 Jefferson 3
    4 Eaton 4
    5 Berthoud 5
    6 Lamar 6
    7 Eagle Valley 7
    8 Woodland Park 8
    9 Brush 9
    10 Valley –
    Dropped out
    Fort Morgan (10).
    Class 4A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Windsor 1
    2 Pueblo East 2
    3 Pueblo County 3
    4 Grand Junction Central 4
    5 Broomfield 5
    6 Pueblo Centennial 6
    7 Pueblo South 8
    8 Discovery Canyon –
    9 Cheyenne Mountain 10
    10 Longmont –
    Dropped out
    Thompson Valley (7), Discovery Canyon (9).
    Class 5A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Pomona 1
    2 Grand Junction 2
    3 Grandview 3
    4 Ponderosa 4
    5 Brighton 6
    6 Monarch 5
    7 Rocky Mountain 7
    8 Eaglecrest 8
    9 Arvada West 9
    10 Castle View 10
    Dropped out
    None.

  • Photos: Sienknecht scores 25 as Manitou Springs girls basketball tops Salida

    SALIDA — Caileen Sienknecht scored 25 points to help Manitou Springs girls basketball get a 51-47 win over Salida on Friday.

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  • Ralston Valley boys hoops wins 9th straight with victory over Chatfield

    ARVADA — What a different a year makes.

    Ralston Valley’s boys basketball team had a 3-20 record last season and finished last in the Class 5A Jeffco League with a 0-14 mark. Fast-forward this season, the Mustangs won their ninth straight game Saturday afternoon with a 76-69 home victory over Chatfield in both teams’ conference opener.

    “I think it’s just experience, honestly,” Ralston Valley junior Luke Carlston said of the turnaround from last year’s 20-loss season. “The sophomores got to get experience last year and this year we only have one senior in Jordan (Stratch) and really look up to him.”

    Ralston Valley junior Caden Gigstad (2) hit three 3-pointers to help the Mustangs to victory over Chatfield (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    The juniors led the way for the Mustangs (11-4, 1-0 in 5A Jeffco) in the league opener. Carlston (23 points), Caleb Rillos (19 points), Walker Brickle (11 points) and Caden Gigstad (nine points) — all juniors — combined for 62 points.

    Stratch came off the bench to pitch in a dozen.

    “Ralston Valley is a good team. They have a lot of pieces,” Chatfield senior Luke Carlson admitted. “They are big. They have a lot of shooters. It’s a tough team.”

    Carlson led the way for the Chargers (6-10, 0-1) with a game-high 26 points. Chatfield actually led 24-21 after the first quarter, but Ralston Valley dominated the second quarter outscoring the Chargers 19-3.

    The only basket for Chatfield in the second quarter with a 3-pointer by sophomore Dylan Carter, who finished with 19 points in the loss.

    “(Ralston Valley) switched up its defense and that messed with our minds I guess,” Carlson said of the second quarter. “We just lost our energy. Take out the second quarter and we’re right in it.”

    Chatfield senior Christian Holmes, middle, takes the up strong against Ralston Valley juniors Walker Brickle, left, and Luke Carlston during the second half Saturday afternoon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Carlston poured in a dozen points in the third quarter as Ralston Valley extended its lead to 20 points. The 6-foot-3 forward was aggressive driving to the basket.

    “He (Carlston) is a tough match-up,” Ralston Valley coach Chris Braketa said. “With Luke you just have to let him go and let him be him. When he is locked in he is a tough, tough guard and he gets after it rebounding wise.”

    Chatfield did make it interesting in the fourth quarter. Carlson scored a dozen points in the final seven minutes to give the Chargers a chance at a remarkable comeback.

    Ralston Valley’s lead got trimmed down to five points in the final minute, but Rillos and Carlston both made free throws late to preserve the victory.

    “The second quarter was big to get a good margin ahead,” Carlston said. “Chatfield is a great program. It was great to hold them at bay in the end.”

    Ralston Valley senior Jordan Stratch (23) attempts to work out of a trap by Chatfield’s Nate Jacobson (13) and Luke Carlson (23) on Saturday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    The win started a run of eight conference games over the next four weeks for Ralston Valley. Last year the eight league teams each had home-and-home match-ups against each conference opponent to make for a 14-game league schedule.

    This season its just a one go-around for an eight-game league schedule with the addition of Valor Christian into the 5A Jeffco League.

    “It is kind of weird not having the league games earlier,” Braketa said of the new format. “It’s different, but we just have to stay focused. We’ve got to work, work, work.”

    Ralston Valley is on the road against Valor Christian at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23.

    Chatfield is trying to get some traction after dropping five straight games. Injuries have hurt the Chargers. The latest is senior Connor Vernon suffering a wrist injury.

    “We still have a long ways to go,” Carlson said.

    The Chargers have a shot at ending the losing streak when they host Pomona at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23.

    Ralston Valley junior Luke Carlston (32) had a team-high 23 points in the Mustangs’ ninth straight victory Saturday afternoon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Cheyenne Mountain girls basketball gaining confidence amidst unexpected coaching change

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Tray Paillette wasn’t planning on taking over the girls basketball program in December, but when things got hectic he was more than willing to standup and take charge.

    Ben Sherman had the team playing with its opponents’ level early in the season, but he had to unexpectedly step away from the program due to a personal conflict.

    So Paillette was the man that athletic director Kris Roberts called on to fill the void.

    “Given the less than idea timing, he’s done an admirable job to rally the girls and bring some positivity to the program,” Roberts said. “I was happy to see the energy that the team played with as they battled with the No. 1 team in the state on Wednesday.”

    The transition had to be fast considering that the Indians (4-9 overall, 1-4 Pikes Peak Athletic Conference) were already knee-deep in regular season play.

    Paillette no time to install new systems from scratch and figure out which players he felt the most comfortable relying on. He had to jump into the moving car, find out what gear it was in and get moving.

    “It was a little chaotic at first,” Paillette said. “I just kept reminding the girls that we were here for one thing and one thing only and that’s to play basketball. We got tighter as a group which I’ve really enjoyed.”

    And the team is already starting to show signs of improvement. They hosted Class 4A No. 1-ranked Air Academy on Wednesday and fought to the final buzzer. The 50-43 defeat might be another tick at the loss column, but Paillette hopes that the confidence his team played with will carry over into the rest of their regular season schedule.

    “Hopefully it gives us the right amount of confidence. I don’t want it to give us too much, but enough to put things in perspective that we can hang with anybody. Sure we’ll take a loss here or there, but we have to understand that this is a stepping stone and we have to get right back to work tomorrow.”

    Entering Wednesday’s game, Katelynn Ralston led Cheyenne Mountain in scoring with 15 points per game. At 10 points a game, Summer Levis is the only other player in the roster averaging in double-figures.

    The pressure of taking over a team mid-year and trying to get it to improve isn’t too much for Paillette and if Wednesday’s result is any indication, he’s enjoying the unexpected challenge in front of him.

    “It wasn’t too much considering I was here last year so we just kept things going,” he said. “We made practices a little more intense but other than that there wasn’t too much pressure.”

    Next up for the girls is a trip to Lewis-Palmer next Wednesday.

  • Photos: Chaparral girls basketball tops cross-town rival Ponderosa

    PARKER — Chaparral girls basketball jumped out to a nine-point lead after the first quarter and held on to beat rival Ponderosa 54-29.

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