The 2016 all-state football teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches across the state.

Players were placed onto the first-team, second-team and honorable mention based upon the number of votes they received. In 5A-1A, spots were reserved for linemen and one kicker/punter, while 8-man reserved spots for linemen.

CHSAA does not determine who makes or doesn’t make the team; they are created entirely from the results of the coaches’ vote.

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Class 5A

(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Dylan McCaffrey, Valor Christian

Coach of the year: Jay Madden, Pomona

Honorable mention: Jake Archuleta, Douglas County, Senior, LB/SS; Tyler Campbell, Mullen, Senior, MLB/DE; Kyante Christian, Eaglecrest, Junior, DT/OT; Austin Davis, Poudre, Senior, K/DB; Chase Dixon, Arvada West, Senior, WR/KR; Christian Elliss, Valor Christian, Senior, ATH/LB; Judd Erickson, Mountain Vista, Senior, QB; Max Gonzales, Cherokee Trail, Senior; Austin Johnson, Highlands Ranch, Sophomore, G/DT; Zeke Johnson, ThunderRidge, Senior, RB/SB; Alfred Jones, Regis Jesuit, Senior, RB; Colby Keiter, Ralston Valley, Senior, DE/TE; Nolan Laufenberg, Castle View, Senior, OT/DT; Alec Lewis, Legacy, Junior, QB; Riese Lutz, Castle View, Senior, CB/K; Ashton Mansur, Columbine, Senior, OC/DT; Jalen Mergerson, Eaglecrest, Junior, QB/CB; Ben Montgomery, Grandview, Senior, K; Tim Mullin, Columbine, Senior, LB/FB; Justin Ragland, Doherty, Senior, WR/CB; Kendryk Rankin, Fountain-Fort Carson, Senior, DT/DE; Walker Rumsey, Bear Creek, Senior, QB; Brady Russell, Fossil Ridge, Senior, LS/DE/TE; Simote Samate, Grandview, Junior, DE; Tevye Schuettpelz-Rohl, Fairview, Junior, DB/K; Alex Smith, Arapahoe, Junior, SS/WR; Tyler Smith, Mountain Range, Senior, DE/TE; Michael Thompson, Aurora Central, Sophomore, ILB/OL; Zach Thomson, Cherry Creek, Senior, OT; Barry Wesley, Bear Creek, Senior, OT/LS; Tate Wildeman, Legend, Junior, DE/TE; Jake Willemsen, Fairview, Senior, QB; Garrett Zanon, Pomona, Senior, LB.

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Class 4A

(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

Player of the year: Marcus Lindsay, Denver South

Coach of the year: Blair Hubbard, Broomfield

Honorable mention: Jack Anderson, Standley Lake, Senior, TE/DL; Joe Arps, Denver South, Senior, DE/OL/FB; Justin Barley, Chatfield, Junior, DT; EJ Barrera, Grand Junction Central, Senior, QB/SB; Garrett Betty, Broomfield, Senior, FB/LB; Adam Burtschi, Rampart, Senior, G/DT; Keion Cross, Rampart, Junior, QB/SB; Deric Cruz, Mesa Ridge, Senior, MLB/FB; Keegan Cryder, Dakota Ridge, Senior, OT/DE; Brody Csikos, Heritage, Junior, OC/G; TJ Davis, Widefield, Junior, QB/DB/ATH; Justin Dwinell, Coronado, Junior, WR/P; James Everett II, George Washington, Senior, CB/WR; Dominick Fini, Mesa Ridge, Junior, DT/OT; Zach Garrard, Cheyenne Mountain, Senior, OL/LB; Braeden Graham, Fruita Monument, Junior, RB/LB; Easton Hall, Monarch, Senior, WR/DE; Ian Helwick, Brighton, Junior, DE/TE; Nathan Higgins, Skyline, Senior, SS/RB; Sam Hoswell, Monarch, Junior, G/OT; Mason Keeler, Broomfield, Senior, QB/FS; Jake Leone, Fort Collins, Junior, TE/DE; Josh Martin, Heritage, Junior, CB/RB; Dillon Meyers, Dakota Ridge, Senior, MLB/OL; Nate Miller, Widefield, Senior, OL/LB; Jax Nourse, Grand Junction, Senior, QB/LB; Jeremiah Ratliff, Air Academy, Senior, DE/WR; Alefosio Saipaia, Sand Creek, Junior, OL/DL; Kyle Schulman, Fort Collins, Senior, DE/OL; Zack Swartwout, Loveland, Senior, DE/TE; Ivan Thomas, Mountain View, Senior, DL/K/TE; Logan Triplett, Fruita Monument, Senior, RB/DE; Caleb Vannest, Greeley West, Senior, MLB/TE; Zach Weinmaster, Loveland, Sophomore, RB/S.

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Class 3A

(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

Player of the year: Bryson Torres, Pueblo East

Coach of the year: Andy Watts, Pueblo East

Honorable mention: Luc Andrada, Pueblo East, Sophomore, QB/CB; Austin Bernal, Palisade, Junior, RB/SS; Caleb Brown, Palisade, Senior, OL/DL; Quindell Bryant, Mitchell, Senior, LB/TE/WR; Erick Carrillo, Fort Morgan, Senior; Robert Case, Frederick, Senior, OL/DL; Alex Cordova, Rifle, Senior; Thomas Cross, Lewis-Palmer, Senior, OL/DL; Ramone Daley, Harrison, Senior, RB/LB; Connor Gould, Rifle, Junior; Caleb Grotelueschen, Discovery Canyon, Junior, RB/SS; Patrick Haggard, Lewis-Palmer, Junior, FB/NG; Cameron Hays, Evergreen, Senior, RB/LB; Kyle Helbig, Holy Family, Sophomore, TE/DE; Dylan Holt, Vista Peak Prep, Senior, WR/CB; Cameron Hurtado, Roosevelt, Senior, QB/SS; Quintin Hyrup, Erie, Senior, SS/CB; Brock Knechtel, SIlver Creek, Senior, RB/LB; Isaac Maestas, Palisade, Senior, RB/MLB; Cory McLellan, Palmer Ridge, Junior, WR/FS; Joshua Nagao, Alameda, Junior, LB/FB; Evan Price, Evergreen, Junior, K/P; Noah Roper, Erie, Sophomore, RB/WR/SS; Ben Schlieper, Green Mountain, Senior, TE/DE; Joey Shaffer, Thompson Valley, Junior, DE/OT; Jonah Stupar, Pueblo County, Senior, OT/DT; Dacian Sullivan, Canon City, Senior, WR/DB; Dante Vigil, Sierra, Senior, OC/MLB/DT; Mark Vivoda, Pueblo East, Junior, FB/LB; Chase Walkes, Palmer Ridge, Senior, OT/G; Peyton Woolverton, Durango, Senior, QB/WR.

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Class 2A

(Lance Wendt/LanceWendt.com)

Player of the year: Jon Nuschy, La Junta

Coach of the year: Clint Buderus, La Junta

Honorable mention: Kyle Bahnsen, University, Junior, DL/OT; Mason Barrows, Alamosa, Senior, RB/CB/KR; Ian Fonseca, Arvada, Senior, QB/P/K; Deondre Gordon, Arvada, Senior, WR/CB; Jaxon Hobbs, Eaton, Senior, TE/DE; Hunter Killough, Bayfield, Junior, RB/FS; Mikinzie Klimper, Moffat County, Junior, WR/MLB; Ben Lucas, D’Evelyn, Senior, FS/FB; Alec Lucero, Florence, Senior, QB; Joe Luebbers, Bishop Machebeuf, Senior, WR/LB; Lane Mangum, Gunnison, Senior, ATH/LB; Remington McKnight, Bishop Machebeuf, Junior, OT/DT; Kye Mills, Eaton, Senior, OT/DE; Ricky Mills, Middle Park, Senior, OL/LB; Bryce Noel, Florence, Senior, LB/OL; Abraham Ontiveros, Delta, Senior, K/WR; Donovan Pacht, The Classical Academy, Junior, OL/DL; RJ Peshek, Aspen, Junior, QB/MLB; Kyle Roberts, Basalt, Senior, WR/DB; Christian Rose, Sterling, Junior, WR/DB; Lincoln Rychecky, Kent Denver, Senior, FB/MLB; Riley Smith, Platte Valley, Senior, OC/DL; Josh Stephens, Gunnison, Senior, DT/G; Wyatt Thies, Elizabeth, Senior, DE; Aaron Trujillo, Valley, Senior, RB/FS; Josh Wallin, Gunnison, Senior, QB/LB/FS; Tyler Walls, Prospect Ridge Academy, Junior, MLB/OC; Corben Wilcox, University, Senior, LB/RB.

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Class 1A

(Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)

Player of the year: Conner Martin, Strasburg

Coach of the year: Jeff Giger, Strasburg

Honorable mention: Brandon Buhr, Centauri, Junior, RB/S/WR; Toby Camp, Buena Vista, Senior, FB/LB; Cayden Camper, Rye, Sophomore, K/P; Jett County, Burlington, Senior; Luis Delgado, Manual, Senior, OL/DT; Casey Fringer, Centauri, Junior, DL/OL; Josh Gonzales, Peyton, Sophomore, RB/FS; Luke Grinnan, Burlington, Senior; Trystan Hanks, Peyton, Senior, FB/MLB; Alexander Inman, Clear Creek, Senior, OG/DL; Ty Judge, Clear Creek, Junior, QB/DB; Wade Katzdorn, Hotchkiss, Senior, RB/MLB/LB; Bryce Kullby, Front Range Christian, Senior, K/P; Tristan Laver, Crowley County, Senior, DE; Brendan Mayden, Holyoke, Senior, G/ILB; Garrett Miller, Bennett, Senior, RB/SS; Evan Munger, Front Range Christian, Senior, WR/DB; Cedric Perea, Monte Vista, Junior, OC/LB; Christian Reynolds, Cedaredge, Senior, OG/LB; Cole Rouse, Highland, Senior, QB/S/ATH; Trevor Sander, Platte Canyon, Junior; Luke Srsen, Wray, Senior, C; Chase Starman, Strasburg, Senior, WR/FS; Terren Trujillo, Rye, Senior, G/DE; Cody Venem, Rocky Ford, Senior, QB/DB; Austin Walck, Grand Valley, Senior, OT/MLB/FB; Avery Whitlock, Ellicott, Senior, OL/DL; Tory Willson, Cedaredge, Senior, DT/OL; Bradly Wright, Platte Canyon, Senior, RB/FS.

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8-man

(Kevin Saffer/MaxPreps)

Player of the year: Chad Mikelson, Sedgwick County

Coach of the year: Jerome Weers, Akron

Honorable mention: Ethan Barnes, Norwood, Senior, OC/DE; Marlon Castillo, Plateau Valley, Senior, WR/SS/SB; Bruce Cordova, West Grand, Senior, OG/ILB; Abraham Dauphinais, Justice, Junior, FB/DT; Ryan Davis, Sargent, Junior, ATH; David Flores, Granada, Senior, G/DE; Hayden Harris, Norwood, Senior, G/LB; Cade Holden, Granada, Senior, QB/S; Justin Johnson, Sargent, Senior, ATH; Jace Logan, Soroco, Sophomore, RB/DB; Issac Matson, West Grand, Senior, TE/NG; Colin Mertens, Merino, Senior, DE/OC; Tack Neugebauer, Holly, Senior, SB/HB/G; Dean Reed, Fowler, Senior, QB/DE; Jerald Romero, Justice, Senior, WR/CB; Devyn Rummel, Norwood, Senior, RB/DB.

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6-man

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Cameron Klann, Hi-Plains

Coach of the year: Garrett Smith, Cheyenne Wells

Honorable mention: Dace Ball, Cheyenne Wells, Senior; Cody Lyons, Cotopaxi, Senior; Nic Martin, North Park, Junior, TE/DE/OC; Jake McClendon, Genoa-Hugo, Senior, RB/LB; Levi Muller, Fleming, Senior, OL/DL; Adam Parachini, Weldon Valley, Senior, OL/FB/DL; Noel Pizana, North Park, Senior, RB/DB; Luke Puchino, Longmont Christian, Senior, QB/ATH; Marco Ramos, Arickaree/Woodlin, Senior; Brandon Ravenkamp, Genoa-Hugo, Senior, QB/DE; Joel Smith, Elbert, Senior, CB/QB; Peyton Uhrig, Otis, Senior.

(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

Stratton/Liberty pulled off one of the biggest comebacks of the 2016 football season on Friday night.

The Knighted Eagles trailed Cheyenne Wells 41-8 at one point in the second quarter, but scored the game’s final 41 points to rally and get a huge top-5 win in 6-man, 49-41.

“A win like this could carry a team a long way,” Stratton/Liberty coach Toby Kechter told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show. “It’s just the belief that they can do anything. They stay together as a team, don’t doubt each other or get mad at each other.”

The Knighted Eagles scored just before halftime to cut it to 41-16, and then really came out firing in the third quarter.

“They had the momentum the whole first half, and we got it back and our guys started believing and it just snowballed after that,” Kechter said. “There wasn’t no stopping us.”

The game, Kechter said, was a “tail of two halves. I mean, we couldn’t do anything right the first half, and they couldn’t do nothing wrong. Then it switched the other way in the second half.”

Stratton/Liberty tied the game up at 41 with a safety in the fourth quarter. It then held Cheyenne Wells and got the ball back.

“We were just going to try and kick a field goal to win, but we snuck her in on a fullback dive, and we got the win,” Kechter said. “It was pretty exciting.”

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3A: (4) Pueblo East 24, Durango 20

Josh Tellez scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute of the game to help the Eagles avoid an upset.

Pueblo East led 10-0 at halftime, and pushed it to 17-0 with 6:56 to play in the third quarter.

Durango then went on a tear and rallied to take the 20-17 lead by scoring 20 unanswered points. Its last score came with 3:02 to play, but then Pueblo East had a clutch drive to go take the lead and secure the win.

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4A: Monarch 24, (10) Skyline 13

(Josh Watt/CHSAANow.com)

The Coyotes handed the Falcons their first loss of the season after jumping out to a 17-0 halftime lead.

Skyline did cut it to 17-7 early in the third quarter, but Monarch responded to go back up by 17 points.

“We had quite a few offensive snaps,” Monarch coach Phil Bravo told the Scoreboard Show. “When we know we can do that, we’re going to keep someone’s offense frustrated and off the field.”

Monarch moved to 3-3 with the win, while Skyline is now 5-1.

“We’ve been talking about it all week long, about … playing a team that just doesn’t know how to lose. They really haven’t,” Bravo said. “At 5-0, I mean, they just don’t understand what that loss column is all about. And a team that doesn’t know how to lose refuses to lose.

“All in all, we played really well against a good football team,” Bravo said.

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5A: (7) Regis Jesuit 36, Legacy 8

Regis Jesuit scored the game’s final 29 points en route to a 36-9 win over Legacy.

The seventh-ranked Raiders, now 5-1, had a monster second half to come back to beat the Lightning, who dropped to 4-2.

Legacy had leads of 3-0 and 9-7 in the first half, with the second lead holding up at halftime.

But Regis Jesuit came out firing in the second half, including an early TD which game the Raiders a 15-9 lead, as well as a long interception return that pushed it to 22-9.

With the win, Regis moved to 1-0 in the new Mt. Antero Conference.

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6-man: Hi-Plains/Flagler 82, (7) Arickaree/Woodlin 16

The Patriots ran out to a hot start, and never really looked back in an upset performance that made a few dents in the record book.

Hi-Plains/Flagler led 48-16 after the first quarter. The 48 points were the fourth-most in a single quarter, and the 64 combined points were the second-most in a quarter by two teams.

At halftime, it was 64-16. The 64 points were tied for the sixth-most in a half by one team.

In the end, the Patriots cruised to the 82-16 win.

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Notables

• After an 0-3 start, 2A No. 10 Sterling won its third game in a row, beating Platte Valley 27-18. “They bounced back nice off the bye and we were able to take that week to get back to the basics, get back to some fundamentals, and just back to believing in ball again,” coach Rob Busmente told the Scoreboard Show. “The kids have responded really well.”
• Holyoke upset 1A No. 6 Limon, 21-14.
• In 8-man, No. 2 Sedgwick County rolled past No. 8 Haxtun, 56-6.
• Another top-10 showdown in 8-man turned out to be pretty one-sided as No. 6 Akron beat No. 4 Merino 45-0.
• In 3A, Evergreen is now 4-2 after beating Skyview 33-7. “I was very happy with the defense. We played physical,” coach Rob Molholm told the Scoreboard Show. “The defense played very consistent tonight, and very aggressive.”
• Defending 1A champion Buena Vista has responded to a two-game losing streak with two straight wins. The Demons beat Colorado Springs Christian 34-29. “We gave away a few games, and now that should be far away from them,” Buena Vista coach Matt Flavin told the Scoreboard Show. “With this younger team, they just need to go out there and play and enjoy it and have fun. That’s kind of what we pushed this week.”
• West Grand beat Plateau Valley 30-6, giving Chris Brown his state-leading 311th career win.
• Kent Denver and coach Scott Yates (308 wins) play Ridge View Academy on Saturday.
• 5A’s Cherry Creek, now 3-3, answered a few doubters about their No. 10 ranking with a dominant 42-7 win over Fossil Ridge (now 4-2).

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More coverage

• 2A No. 1 La Junta continued its recent tear, this time beating No. 4 Manitou Springs.
• A big matchup in 4A, and No. 6 Broomfield went on the road and shut out No. 3 Loveland.
• Weld Central, now 6-0 and owner of the state’s longest winning streak, is emerging as a title contender in Class 2A.
• Conifer rallied from down 17 points to beat Green Mountain.
• Highlights and a photo gallery from Regis Jesuit’s win over Legacy.
• A list of top-10 scores from Friday night, as well as Saturday’s top-10 schedule.
• A full breakdown of all scores from Friday, and Saturday’s full schedule.
• Replay the night through our live coverage.

(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The 2015 all-state girls track and field teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created based upon results at the state meet.

Athletes of the year were selected based upon the number of team points they produced at the state meet. This means that they received the full amount of team points from individual events they participated in, as well as one-fourth of the total points earned by the team in relays they participated in.

Finally, in order to be considered for athlete of the year, they must first have made the all-state team by winning in a championship.

Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

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Class 5A

Athlete of the year: Shayna Yon, Cherokee Trail
Coach of the year: Chris Faust, Cherokee Trail

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Class 4A

Athlete of the year: Nicole Montgomery, Lewis-Palmer
Coach of the year: Maurice Henriques, Niwot

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Class 3A

Athlete of the year: Kayla Pinnt, Moffat County
Coach of the year: Kaelie Jelden, Eaton

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Class 2A

Athlete of the year: Jenna Anderson, Lyons
Coach of the year: Brian Mitchem, Paonia

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Class 1A

Athlete of the year: Ginger Hutton, Shining Mountain
Coach of the year: Joe Packard, Heritage Christian

(Brock Laue/CHSAANow)

LAKEWOOD — In track, one relay leg can make a difference.

On Friday at the state track and field championships at Jefferson County Stadium, Nicole Montgomery was the difference between ninth place and a state meet record.

The Lewis-Palmer senior, a sprint dynamo, got the baton for the 400 anchor leg of the 800-meter medley relay and took the Rangers from last to first in the Class 4A championship finals. They were ninth, but ended up winning with a classification record of 1:45.06, inching past Harrison’s 1:45.38 at the state meet in 2014. Montgomery split 53 seconds.

“I’m definitely overjoyed right now,” she said. “It was just such a fun race. I’ve never had a group of girls that I’ve wanted to run for so much.”

Montgomery, the two-time defending 4A champion in the 400-meter dash and a one-time champ in the 200, has tasted plenty of individual success. But, she wanted to share it with her teammates.

“It’s definitely a lot more special,” she said, when asked how the relay title compared to her other crowns. “This group of girls deserved it. Last year I was pulled out of the medley, because my coach wanted me to focus on the 400. It was so much fun for me to be a part of that.”

Maddi Smith, Emily Roma, and Laura Still were part of the winning medley relay for Lewis-Palmer. Thompson Valley was the runner-up in 1:46.74.

On the first day of championship finals for sprint relays, records were shattered.

Springfield boys broke the 1A state meet record in the 800-meter relay with a 1:33.25. Plateau Valley girls set a new 1A best in the 800 medley relay with a 1:53.90.

In 2A, Cedaredge girls blew past the classification record in the 400 relay with a 49.71, the first 2A team to ever run sub-50 seconds. Paonia had a 2A best time of 1:45.03 in the 800 relay.

No relay records were broken in 3A on Friday, but in 5A, Denver East and Mountain Range both shattered the 800 medley state meet record. The East Angels won the crown in 1:43.31 and the Mustangs were the runner-up in 1:43.74.

Oh, and another one of those special talents, Ally Watt of Pine Creek, helped the Eagles defend their 800 relay crown in 5A with a sizzling 1:38.03, clear of Cherokee Trail’s 1:39.94.

Fountain-Fort Carson boys won the 5A 800 relay in 1:26.82, the first of what could be three relay championships over the weekend. The Trojans are favorites in the 400 relay and co-favorites with Smoky Hill in the 1,600 relay on Saturday.

Valor Christian boys cruised 1:26.31 to earn the 4A crown in the 800 relay, another standout performance, and Niwot girls posted a new 4A state meet record in the same event with a 1:41.13.

Relays didn’t exactly disappoint on the second day of the track and field state championships.

Expect more of the same Saturday as more individuals and relays will be crowned and team champions will be decided. The meet begins at 9:30 am with the 100-meter hurdle finals for every classification.

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Other notable performances:

• Palmer Ridge boys won 4A in the 1,600 prelims with a blistering 3:17.36. The Bears are looking poised to defend their team championship.
• Rylee Anderson, a freshman at Silver Creek, won the 4A high jump with a mark of 5-05.
• Sangre de Cristo’s Jenna McKinley broke the 1A state record in the shot put with a 41-8.5 and earned her first state championship.
• Merino’s Jorden Jole won a thrilling 800-meter race in 2A in 1:58.64 over Evan Anderson of Resurrection Christian (1:58.85).
• Burlington’s Ellie Berry (128-03) and Miryah Jones (127-02) placed first and second in the 2A discus.
• Ben Butler of Skyview Academy, the 3A cross country champion last fall, won his first title on the track with the 3,200 crown in 9:25. Butler is a junior.
• Eaton excelled in the 3A field events in winning the boys discus (Garrett Coalson, 163-03) and the girls shot put (Tarynn Sieg, 43-05.25).
• Marcelo Laguera of Pomona won the 5A 3,200 in 9:24, his first state championship in track. He won 5A cross country last fall.
• Shayna Yon (first, 18-09.25) and Sydnee Larkin (second, 18-02.75), a Cherokee Trail tandem, dominated the 5A long jump.

The 2014-15 girls basketball players of the year, by class. From left: Jordan Baer, Akron (2A); Kendall Bradbury, Valor Christian (4A); Callie Kaiser, Broomfield (5A); Payton Shahan, Pagosa Springs (3A); Jordan Williams, Norwood (1A). (Photos by Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com; Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com; Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com; Tim Visser/MaxPreps)

The 2014-15 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 then a week-long vote of coaches.

A specific player of the year vote was held in each class, as was a vote for coach of the year.

Use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

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Class 5A

Player of the year: Callie Kaiser, Broomfield

Coach of the year: Mike Croell, Broomfield

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Class 4A

Player of the year: Kendall Bradbury, Valor Christian

Coach of the year: Jessika Caldwell, Valor Christian

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Class 3A

Player of the year: Payton Shahan, Pagosa Springs

Coach of the year: Wes Lewis, Pagosa Springs

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Class 2A

Player of the year: Jordan Baer, Akron

Coach of the year: Alan Baer, Akron

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Class 1A

Player of the year: Jordan Williams, Norwood

Coach of the year: Sara Crawford, Kit Carson

LOVELAND — Every team has state championship aspirations. After a 7-12 record a season ago, the Flagler girls basketball players didn’t know if a title was realistic though.

“At the start of this season, I told them I thought they could be in the state tournament and maybe even win it,” Panther coach Gary Elrick said. “Every one of them looked at me like I’m crazy.”

After upsetting No. 1 seed Norwood (21-2), the defending Class 1A champions, on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Alexis Schults on Thursday morning at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, its hard not to believe. The win sent the No. 8 seeded Flagler (18-6) into the Final 4.

“Adrenaline is going through me,” Schults said.

The Mavericks scored the game’s first basket, but the Panthers clawed to a 10-2 lead early. They pumped the margin up to double digits soon after and led 27-16 at halftime, despite 14 points by senior wing Jordan Williams, the lone 1A participant in The Show, the annual Colorado hoops all-star event.

Flagler smothered her teammates, though, holding them to 1-of-7 from the field. Schults, all of 5-foot-2, was an aggressive, dynamic force using her quickness and shot-making to score 13 points in the first two quarters.

More than anything, the Panthers, making their first state tournament appearance since 2007, embraced the bright lights while Norwood seemed rattled with the weight of back-to-back titles on the line.

The Mavericks had more turnovers (20) than points (16) at the break. But, Norwood made adjustments and made a run in closing the deficit to 39-33 headed into the fourth.

In a wild last two minutes of regulation, the Mavericks found a way to tie it up and force overtime at 48 all after Macie Magallon made a pair at the line with 7.4 seconds left. Flagler didn’t get a shot off before the buzzer.

In extra time, Williams scored all eight of Norwood’s points and the title favorites led 56-54, but she fouled out with 19 seconds to go. Elizabeth Grimes calmly knocked down both free throws to force another tie. Norwood was called for traveling the next possession, Flagler got the ball back, and Schults sent the Panthers into the Final 4.

“She’s so explosive that she can change a game around in 20 seconds,” Elrick said. “Good players want the ball at the end and she took a nice shot.”

Schults led the Panthers with 24 points. Jade Hasz went 16-of-18 at the line and scored 18 points. Flagler was money on freebies, going 25-of-32.

The Panthers move on to the state semifinals Friday.

Williams led all scorers with 34 points in the loss for Norwood. The Mavericks will have to settle for the consolation bracket the rest of the way.

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(3) Sangre de Cristo 52 (6) Plateau Valley 38

The Thunderbirds improved to 23-1 with an easy win over the Cowgirls as they led 12-6 after one and 22-14 at the break. Abbey Stagner led Sangre de Cristo with 16 points. Allie Beiriger chipped in 10.

Sangre de Cristo will be making their first Final 4 appearance since 2010 when they face Kit Carson at 7 p.m. on Friday.

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(4) Idalia 41 (5) Eads 31

Idalia improved to 19-2 after a comfortable win over the Eagles (17-7). Susana Herrera led all scorers with 15 points as the Wolves held every Eads player to single digits.

Idalia also reached the Final 4 last year, placing fourth after dropping the third place game to Dove Creek.

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(2) Kit Carson 50 (7) Prairie 35

In a game Prairie never led, the Wildcats’ sister tandem of senior Aurelia (13 points) and freshman Micayla Isenbart (24) applied constant pressure on the Mustangs with Aurelia’s work in the post and Micayla’s versatility as a 6-foot-1 guard.

Kit Carson improved to 23-0 with the victory. They had reached three of the last four state tournaments, but this is the first time in the stretch they’ve made the Final 4.

Ralston Valley is ranked No. 8 in Class 5A this week. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

Three days after upsetting then-No. 7 Lakewood, Ralston Valley girls basketball finds itself ranked in CHSAANow.com’s Class 5A poll.

The Mustangs beat Lakewood 69-41 on Friday. Monday, they are ranked No. 8.

Also joining — or in their case, returning to — the poll was Grand Junction (No. 9).

ThunderRidge stayed in 5A’s top spot, and is now a unanimous pick with all 17 first-place votes.

Broomfield (No. 2), Highlands Ranch (No. 3), Grandview (No. 4), Monarch (No. 5) and Horizon (No. 6) also remained in their respective rankings.

Denver East bumped up one spot to No. 7, while Lakewood fell three places to No. 10.

Elsewhere, there’s a new No. 1 team in the 2A ranking. Peyton shot up from No. 5 to the top spot this week after taking down former No. 1 Yuma 65-45 on Saturday. The Panthers are 8-0.

Each of the three other No. 1 teams remained the same: Valor Christian (4A), Sterling (3A) and Kit Carson (1A).

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

Complete rankings are below.

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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.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

Denver East and Mountain Range have entered the Class 5A girls basketball rankings from CHSAANow.com this week.

The Angels are ranked No. 8, while the Mustangs are No. 9.

ThunderRidge remained atop the 5A poll, with Broomfield jumping up to No. 2. Highlands Ranch stayed at No. 3, with Gradview dropping to No. 4. Monarch rounds out the top five.

Each of the other No. 1 teams also stayed put: Valor Christian (4A), Sterling (3A), Yuma (2A) and Kit Carson (1A).

Newcomers to 4A include No. 6 Evergreen (9-1) and No. 10 Glenwood Springs (8-2). The 2A poll added Sanford at No. 10, while 1A added Genoa-Hugo (No. 7) and Plateau Valley (No. 10).

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

Complete rankings are below.

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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.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

The 2014 football league and classification alignment, as set by the football committee, and approved by CLOC and the legislative council.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A | 8-man | 6-man

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Class 5A

* – Denotes playing up

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Class 4A

** – Denotes playing down
# – Must qualify in the 5A playoffs

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Class 3A

* – Denotes playing up
** – Denotes playing down

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Class 2A

* – Denotes playing up
** – Denotes playing down
# – Must qualify in 3A playoffs

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Class 1A

* – Denotes playing up
** – Denotes playing down
# – Must qualify in 2A playoffs

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8-man

* – Denotes playing up
** – Denotes playing down

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6-man

** – Denotes playing down

The 2014 all-state girls track and field teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created based upon results at the state meet.

Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

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Class 5A

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Class 4A

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Class 3A

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Class 2A

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Class 1A