Regis Jesuit’s Diani Akigbogun is the 5A girls basketball player of the year. (Ray Chen/arrayphoto.com)
The 2013-14 all-state girls basketball teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues and coaches, and then a vote of coaches.
The players who received the most votes in their classification were selected as the player of the year in their class.
Those players of the year: Regis Jesuit’s Diani Akigbogun (5A), Mesa Ridge’s Gabby Purnell (4A), Holy Family’s Katie Chavez (3A), Akron’s Jordan Baer (2A) and South Baca’s Allyson Grahn (1A).
Use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.
Wild Card points help determine the postseason fields in 3A, 4A and 5A, with 4A and 5A also using them for seeding. Find a more detailed breakdown here.
Baseball’s Wild Card point standings for April 2 are below.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY — What a way for the Holy Family girls basketball team to finish its run in Class 3A.
The Tigers, who move up to 4A next school year, capped off a string of six state titles in seven seasons on Saturday with a 52-45 victory over Pagosa Springs.
The Pirates made them work for it, however. They forced an uncharacteristic seven turnovers from Holy Family in the second quarter, allowing them to increase a 14-11 lead to 23-15 by the half.
The Tigers erased that lead by the end of the third, then retook it with a Lindsey Chavez 3-pointer 20 seconds into the fourth.
“(Coach Ron) Rossi said, ‘It’s not over (at halftime),’” sophomore point guard Katie Chavez said. “We did not want to give up.”
From there, Holy Family sealed the deal at the free throw line, converting 18 of 23 tries in the final quarter to edge away.
Key at the line was Katie Chavez. The sophomore point guard scored nine of her 15 points from the stripe
For Chavez, who struggled from the line in Friday’s semifinal win over Lamar, it was vindication.
“During our shootaround (Saturday) I worked on my form,” she said.
It paid off as she finished with 15 points.
“Without one of us playing strong, we’re not the best we can be,” Chavez said.
Equally effective was her sister Lindsey, who led all scorers with 19 points, 10 coming from the line.
Defense helped turn the tide for the Tigers in the second half.
“This is the best defensive team I’ve had,” Rossi said, which is saying something for a six-time title winner.
It was Holy Family’s second straight state title.
“Our philosophy las year was, Together we are better. This year, it’s, Together we are better, Part II,” Rossi said.
Katie Chavez was part of last year’s state title team as a freshman.
“It may be even sweeter this year,” she said of winning the gold ball emblematic of the state title.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY — The Pagosa Springs girls basketball team struggled mightily to find the bottom of the net in the first half of Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal game.
Fortunately for the Pirates, according to coach Wes Lewis, their defense kept it close against Sterling.
That allowed Pagosa Springs to creep back in the third quarter and overtake the Tigers in the fourth en route to a 41-29 victory.
“I felt our defense kept us in the game,” Lewis said.
While the Pirates hit just three of 19 field goal tries through the first two quarters, they held Sterling to just 17 points to stay within striking distance, trailing by six at the half.
Then Taylor Strohecker took over.
The Pirates’ 6-2 senior post went to work underneath, scoring three quick baskets to help Pagosa Springs pull to within one.
“My mind-set was, we are not going to lose this game,” Strohecker said.
When Emily Bryant hit a jumper 35 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Pirates had their first lead since early in the first.
Back to that defense, it held Sterling to just four field goals in 20 tries in the second half.
Or, as Lewis implored his team, “Get a stop, get a score – get a stop, get a score.”
That allowed the Pirates top slowly pull away.
“We just held our composure,” said Strohecker, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.
“We had some kids step up and make plays,” said Lewis, who feels confident going eight deep in his rotation.
For the Pirates, it’s all about taking home the gold bold, symbolic of the state title. They get their chance at 4:30 Saturday evening.
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Holy Family 54, Lamar 45
The Tigers had their hands full in their quest for the school’s sixth state title in seven years.
The Savages were within four points with 1:18 remaining before Holy Family, which had struggled from the free throw line, began hitting charity shots.
Lamar stayed close when Tigers point guard Katie Chavez got in foul trouble in the second quarter. That’s when her sister Lindsey took over.
“That’s one good thing about Katie and I,” Lindsey said. “When one of us isn’t working right the other picks it up.”
The senior point guard did so to the tune of 22 points, including four crucial free throws in the final quarter.
Katie Chavez stayed out of foul trouble in the second half long enough to chip in 17.
Lamar got a solid effort from Taylor Wertz, who scored 16 points.
The style of Lamar kept the Tigers off balance.
“It caught us off guard how physical it was,” Lindsey Chavez said.
“We found a way to keep our lead,” Holy Family coach Ron Rossi said.
That was due in part to Claudia Pena, who pulled down eight rebounds and, more importantly, helped bring the ball up the court with Katie Chavez sidelined for half the game in foul trouble.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY — This particular Lamar girls basketball team had never qualified for the Class 3A state tournament.
The seniors, in particular, knew what to expect, however. They had attended the state tournament as spectators in previous years. And they knew the history of Lamar girls basketball.
The team came in to Thursday’s state quarterfinals with a mission, which began with an easy 48-27 victory over Peak to Peak to advance to Friday’s state semifinals.
The five seniors, two of whom come off the bench and many of whom have started since they were freshmen, spent their youth playing whatever sport was in season.
“These seniors have grown up together,” Savages coach Erik Melgoza said. “They’re like sisters.”
“I think it really helps us that we’ve played so long together,” senior point guard Chelsea Vallejos said.
Vallejos was a big factor in Lamar’s ability to set the tone early and establish control. She hit a 3-pointer to give the Savages an 8-6 lead. More importantly, she was effective as Lamar’s floor general.
The Savages’ defense frustrated the Pumas in the second quarter as Peak to Peak got off only four field goal attempts in falling behind 23-12. The Savages pushed the pace in extending their lead throughout the second half.
“The kids followed the game plan,” Melgoza said, allowing him to go four deep to his bench and give his starters a bit of rest.
Vallejos, who tied for team-high scoring honors with Taylor Wertz as each scored 13, was just as effective driving to the basket as she was from the outside.
“We want to be able to drive, usually down the middle,” she said of challenging the Pumas’ taller front court.
Lamar won four consecutive state titles in the mid- to late-1990s.
“A lot of these girls were little girls when they won those,” Melgoza said.
But they look on the gym walls and take in that history.
Lamar’s likely semifinal opponent is Holy Family, which has won five of the last six 3A state titles. Vallejos said her team will take in the Tigers’ quarterfinal game with great interest.
“We’ll watch their game (at 4 p.m. against Eaton),” Vallejos said. “We’re not going to mess around.”
“I feel like these girls are prepared,” Melgoza said.
Sterling 57, Bishop Machebeuf 44
In the day’s first game, the Tigers built a 31-20 halftime lead and made it stand up, matching the Buffaloes basket for basket in the second half.
Taylor Knudson and Kylie Chavez paced the Tigers with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Maggie Smith’s 13 points were tops for Machebeuf.
Holy Family 52, Eaton 30
The Tigers opened up a close game by going on an run 8-1 in the first four minutes of the second quarter to take a 26-19 halftime lead, then outscored Eaton 17-6 in the third to pull away.
The Chavez sisters keyed the attack, with sophomore Katie scoring 18 points while Lindsey, a senior, added 15. Between them they hit six 3-pointers. Maggie Spitzer added to a balanced attack with 13 points.
The Reds had five players score between four and seven points, led by Bailey Schumacher.
Holy Family plays Lamar at 7 p.m. Friday In the semifinals. Eaton and Peak to Peak play an 8:45 a.m. consolation game.
Pagosa Springs 48, Manitou Springs 34
The Pirates took advantage of cold shooting by the Mustangs early, holding them to seven first-half points in building a 12-point advantage.
Manitou Springs briefly cut its deficit to single digits in the second half but baskets by Taylor Strobehecker and Payton Shahan helped the second-seeded Pirates begin a run down the stretch. Shelby Megyeri’s 10 points were tops for the Mustangs.
Shahan led a balanced attack with 13 points as eight Pirates got into the scoring column.
Pagosa Springs meets Sterling in Friday’s first semifinal at 4 p.m. Manitou Springs and Bishop Machebeuf meet in the consolation round at 11:45 a.m.
Valley senior Jackson Wright, top, scores back points against Monte Vista senior Simon Schaefer during the Class 3A 170-pound match Saturday night at Pepsi Center. Wright scored a 13-3 victory in helping Valley to the school’s first ever state wrestling team title. (Dennis Pleuss)
DENVER — The town of Gilcrest located on Highway 85 can be called “Valley of the Class 3A state wrestling champions.”
The Valley Vikings claimed the first team wrestling title in school history Saturday night at Pepsi Center.
“It probably won’t hit anyone on the team until we get to hold up that trophy,” Valley senior Jackson Wright said after taking a 13-3 victory at 170 pounds. “We all know we did something special here and made school history.”
Valley’s version of the Fab Five — Ruben Lucero (126), Omar Sotelo (138), Macoy Flanagan (145), Brendan Gonzales (160) and Wright (170) — all reached the championship bouts in their respective weight classes. The Vikings racked up 154 points to hold off Centauri (137.5), Brush (117) and Monte Vista (103.5) for the team title.
Centauri senior Jason Buhr became a two-time state wrestling champion with a 17-2 technical fall against Middle Park senior Adam Visconti on Saturday night. Centauri finished second in the team standing behind Valley. (Dennis Pleuss)
“It’s amazing. Everyone has been working so hard for it,” Lucero said after winning at 126. “It’s so cool. I can’t even put it into words.”
Lucero officially wrapped up the team title with a 6-3 victory over Florence senior Jake Yslas. The only way the Vikings could have lost the team title is if all five Valley wrestlers lost and all three of Centauri’s finalist pinned their opponents.
Lucero, Wright and Gonzales came away with individual titles in the historic night for Valley.
“I think people will start to realize that Valley produces some pretty good wrestlers,” Wright said. “Coach (Mike Caciari) is a great coach.”
Also making history Saturday night was Holy Family junior Joseph Prieto. A 4-0 victory over Sotelo at 132 gave Holy Family its first individual state wrestling champion in school history.
The cafeteria at Holy Family doubles at the wrestling room and the program’s only mat is one given by Bishop Machebeuf.
“It’s feels good. I know now it’s just another win. I’m going to have to keep doing it next year,” Prieto said. “It’s cool to make school history.”
Centauri did manage a pair of individual state champions in senior Jason Buhr (152) and junior Jareb Aziz (195). Both are now two-time state champions after claiming titles last year.
Buhr had one of the most dominating performances in the 3A championship bouts with a 17-2 technical fall over Middle Park senior Adam Visconti.
“I just hoped for the win, but I’m glad it ended that way and I could get a tech,” Buhr said. “We came in ranked third as a team. We are happy with second right now.”
Monte Vista senior Diondre Garcia also became a two-time state champion with a 2-0 victory over Alamosa freshman Isaiah DeLaCerda at 106. It was even more special with his cousin, sophomore Jose Duran, claiming the 113 title for Monte Vista.
“It’s a great feeling,” Garcia said. “I dropped down so my cousin could win a state title too. It’s great that we can both celebrate.”
Olathe senior Trenton Piatt celebrates after winning the 120-pound Class 3A state title Saturday night. Piatt finished the season with an undefeated 35-0 record. (Dennis Pleuss)
Dolores Huerta senior Jared Mestas grabbed his second state title that eluded him as a junior. He placed fourth last year after winning the 126 title as a sophomore. Huerta edged Holy Family junior Julian Prieto, Joseph’s twin brother, 6-5 in the 132 match.
One of the most intriguing championship bouts in any classifications Saturday was the 3A 120 match. Returning state champion Conrad Cole from Brush faced undefeated Trenton Piatt of Olathe.
Piatt had an early takedown and near-fall to take a 5-0 lead. That would all he would need to finish on top of the podium.
Pagosa Springs senior Creede Wylie completed his wild three-day ride with a heavyweight championship title to conclude the tournament. Wylie came in as the top seed last year at 285, but didn’t place.
Wylie pinned Centauri sophomore Devon Chacon at the 1:33 mark in the first period to finish his high school career with a state championship.
His journey to the championship match wasn’t easy this year. He had to squeak out a 5-4 first-round match Thursday.
“It’s such a long three days,” Wylie said. “This is a great way to end it.”
Regis Jesuit remains atop the girls basketball ranking in 5A this week. (Mark Adams)
Poudre, winner of its past five games, has joined this week’s CHSAANow.com 5A girls basketball ranking.
The Impalas are now 16-5 and are ranked No. 10.
Regis Jesuit continued to lead the ranking, as the Raiders have all season long. In fact, the top-6 all stayed the same this week, including No. 2 Grandview, No. 3 Lakewood, No. 4 Mountain Vista, No. 5 Fossil Ridge and No. 6 Cherry Creek.
Highlands Ranch moved up to No. 7 from No. 9 and Rock Canyon from No. 10 to No. 8. ThunderRidge dropped one place to ninth.
Each of the other four No. 1 teams stayed put, too. Those are Broomfield (4A), Holy Family (3A), Lutheran (2A) and Caliche (1A).
With the regular season ending this weekend, these will serve as the final rankings of the season.
