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Tag: Jeffco

  • No. 11 Ralston Valley volleyball springs to 3-1 win over Lakewood

    ARVADA — There was no break Tuesday for Lakewood and Ralston Valley girls volleyball teams despite Jeffco Public Schools being on Spring Break this week.

    The Tigers hit the road to face the Mustangs — No. 11 in this week’s CHSAANow.com Class 5A volleyball rankings — in a key early 5A Jeffco League match-up. Ralston Valley remained undefeated on the season with a 3-1 victory over Lakewood (3-2, 1-1 in league).

    “We weren’t really worried about it too much,” Ralston Valley senior Taylor Scherff said of playing a conference game during Jeffco’s Spring Break. “It has been a weird year and we’ve adapted over our club seasons. We are just really grateful to come in here, play our game and play together.”

    Ralston Valley senior Taylor Scherff (4) hit the ball past Lakewood junior Naomi Fanchi (10) and senior Morgan Steck (9) during the Class 5A Jeffco League match Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    It was a bit of a rough start for the Mustangs (6-0, 2-0). The Tigers came out strong take a 25-21 victory in the opening set. Lakewood seniors Morgan Steck and Jada Hall led the way for Lakewood.

    The Tigers do have a couple of quality non-league victories under their belts already this season. Lakewood grabbed victories over Highlands Ranch and Broomfield, teams both ranked in the top-15 of the CHSAANow.com Class 5A rankings this week.

    “This team plays really well when their backs are up against the wall,” Ralston Valley coach Ashley Ahlman said. “The first set going the way it did wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for us. It kind of gave us a wake-up call.”

    It was all Ralston Valley in the final three sets. The Mustangs took a trio of 25-17 victories to stay undefeated on the season.

    While Scherff did a lot of damage offensively with her spikes from the outside, seniors Jamie Dorczuk, Zoe Grolnic and Gabi Coombs, along with juniors Morgan McChesney, Jordan Wisner and Emerson Reinke all played big roles in the win.

    “We’ve got a pretty talented team with it comes to a spread-out offense,” Ahlman said. “We’ve got a phenomenal setter (Reinke) that can put the ball in anyone’s hands. We’ve been focusing on playing for each other. This is the first time that we have really seen that happen. I’m more proud of that then anything.”

    Ralston Valley senior Morgan McChesney (3) attempts to put down a kill on Lakewood junior Naomi Fanchi (10) and sophomore Sydney Kitzmiller (8) during Tuesday’s match at Ralston Valley High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Ralston Valley is attempting to end Valor Christian’s dominance in 5A Jeffco since the Eagles joined the conference for the 2018 season. Valor has won back-to-back league titles in 2018 and 2019, along with winning the 5A state title in 2018 and being state runner-up in 2019.

    “Valor has been the reigning champs of this league, but we feel like we are ready,” Scherff said.

    Valor (1-1, 0-1) already has a league loss on the season with Chatfield (1-1, 1-0) defeating the Eagles in a conference opener last week. Ralston Valley has three games next week, including a huge showdown a home against the Chargers next Thursday.

    “It’s been awhile since we’ve competed for that league title,” Ahlman said. “We kind of think it’s someone else’s turn. We are pretty excited about the opportunity.”

    The Tigers are back on the court when they host Dakota Ridge in a conference game Tuesday, April 6, next week.

    The playoff format during this year’s Season C girls volleyball season that was moved from its normal Fall season slot will feature the league champion in each conference getting an automatic bid to the 24-team regional playoffs.

    The rest of the field will be determined by RPI seeding criteria. The eight regional champions will advance to the single-eliminate state tournament scheduled for May 10 and 11.

    Lakewood junior Haven Hill-Schmick (3) tries to put down a spike between Ralston Valley juniors Jordan Wisner (7) and Morgan McChesney (3). The Mustangs lost the opening set 25-21, but rallied with a trio of 25-17 set victories to take a 3-1 win over their Class 5A Jeffco League rival. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Video: Jeffco Preps With Pleuss (April)

    Jeffco Preps With Pleuss is a monthly roundup of Jeffco prep highlights hosted by Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ sports information director. The Season B sports wrapped up in March. The highlight of the winter season in Jeffco was without question girls and boys wrestling. Chatfield and Pomona were dominate in the first CHSAA sanctioned girls wrestling state tournament. The Chargers won the team title and the Panthers grabbed a pair of individual titles. On the boys side, Pomona captured yet another Class 5A state team championship. Pomona, Chatfield and Columbine all grabbed individual state titles to finish off the wrestling season. Evergreen’s girls swim team won its third straight Class 3A state team championship. Green Mountain’s girls basketball team made another Class 4A state semifinal appearance.

  • D’Evelyn boys soccer scores late in shutout win over Conifer

    D’Evelyn senior Dominic Miceli (11) tries to get past Conifer sophomore Grant Kirklin (18) during the first half Friday at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Jaguars pulled out a 1-0 victory against the Lobos. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    LAKEWOOD — Goals have been hard to come by for D’Evelyn and Conifer boys soccer teams through the first two weeks into the season.

    The Jaguars and Lobos had combined for two goals in five games — all losses — for the two Class 4A Jeffco League teams. While scoring continued to be an issue Friday night at Lakewood Memorial Field for D’Evelyn and Conifer, one team did pick up its first victory of the season.

    D’Evelyn junior Ben Simpson scored the lone goal Friday at Lakewood Memorial Field. Simpson’s goal in the 74th minute gave the Jaguars their first victory of the season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    D’Evelyn junior Ben Simpson was just able to get a shot over Conifer goalie Trace Avery in the 74th minute to give the Jaguars a 1-0 victory.

    “We haven’t got off to the best start, so yes,” Simpson answered when asked if it was a must-win against Conifer.

    Senior James Musarra picked up the assist on the goal giving a nice feed to Simpson to score the game-winning goal. D’Evelyn had several scoring chances, including a shot that cross the goal-line just a split-second after the horn sounded to signal the end of the first half.

    “In a 10-game regular season every game is a must-win. We made it difficult,” D’Evelyn coach Paul Moline said. “Conifer has some dangerous players on its team. They got in a couple of times, but I think in the second half the key was winning the 50-50 balls.”

    D’Evelyn (1-2-0, 1-2-0 in league) already has a shutout loss against Evergreen and a 2-1 overtime loss to Golden. The Jaguars actually hurt themselves with a pair of own-goals in the 2-0 loss to Evergreen.

    Conifer sophomore Grant Kirklin (18) battles with D’Evelyn sophomore Ryan Leoni (8) during the Class 4A Jeffco League game Friday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    However, D’Evelyn can all put that behind them heading into Spring Break.

    “This will keep us positive over break,” Simpson said. “We can move forward after this week. It’s one game at a time. We have to stay healthy and stay confident.”

    The Jaguars’ next game isn’t until Tuesday, April 6, back at Lakewood Memorial Field against Littleton. D’Evelyn could still get into the conference mix and a postseason spot if the Jaguars go on a run after Spring Break.

    “I think there is a lot of parity in this league. I don’t think there is that one team,” Moline said. “I think anybody can beat anybody at any given moment. I think it is open. You have to be ready to play in every game.”

    It will be an extremely busy final two weeks of the season with teams trying to get in all its regular-season game by Saturday, April 17.

    “A lot of this is a gut check,” Moline said of the season. “You’ve got to come out and be ready to work. You can’t slack off. You have to outwork teams.”

    Conifer (0-3-0, 0-3-0) will look to work its way to its first victory of the season on Monday, April 5, when the Lobos host Arvada on the Lobos’ home field.

    Conifer freshman Will Hislop attempt to get his foot on the ball during the Class 4A Jeffco League game Friday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. D’Evelyn scored late to take a 1-0 victory over the Lobos. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Photos: Valor Christian boys soccer shuts out Chatfield

    Jaden Claycamp scored a goal and assisted on another as Valor Christian boys soccer beat Chatfield 3-0 on Friday.

  • Photos: Standley Lake boys soccer beats Wheat Ridge

    Kellen Bundgaard scored a goal and had two assists as Standley Lake boys soccer beat Wheat Ridge 5-0 on Friday.

  • Photos: No. 15 D’Evelyn boys soccer edges Conifer

    Ben Simpson scored the game’s lone goal as Class 4A No. 15 D’Evelyn boys soccer beat Conifer 1-0 on Friday.

  • Jeffco seniors shine as Jeffco High School Senior Basketball Games return

    LAKEWOOD — It was one final time to play basketball with your friends and even some old foes on the hardwood Thursday night at the Gold Crown Fieldhouse.

    “Getting to play with my teammates (McKenna Nichols and Brooklyn Seymour) one more time and play with people who have been competitors for four years was nice,” Ralston Valley senior Sydney Bevington said after the conclusion of the girls’ Jeffco High School Senior Basketball game. “We needed redemption from that last game. It felt good to get out there one last time.”

    Columbine senior Adrienne Harnum tries to get a shot up over Littleton senior Avery Bergscheider during the Jeffco HS Senior Basketball Games on Thursday night at Gold Crown Fieldhouse. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Bevington didn’t what her final memory of her stellar prep basketball career be Ralston Valley’s Class 5A state quarterfinal loss to Highland Ranch on March 16. The versatile Mustang led the White squad to a 70-58 victory.

    Bevington scored a game-high 24 points. Green Mountain’s Courtney Hank, Columbine’s Adrienne Harnum and Nichols each had 10 points in the victory that was coached by Green Mountain’s girls basketball coach Darren Pitzner.

    Golden senior Erika Dowell had a huge final quarter for the White team. The Demon scored all of her seven points in the final quarter.

    It wasn’t an easy victory for the White squad that had a solid height advantage on the Blue squad. The White led 28-13 early in the second quarter, but the Blue team coached by Arvada West’s girls basketball coach Brady Meeks chipped away at the lead to keep within striking distance.

    “The White team was good. They definitely had the height,” Arvada West senior Alexis Folks said. “I think we did a good job battling with them.”

    Folks led the Blue squad with 12 points, all on 3-pointers. She was the only player in double-digits for the Blue team, but the squad had 10 different players score as they tried to rally from the double-digit first-half deficit.

    “It was great having the team come together even a lot didn’t know each other,” Folks said. “We came together and worked hard.”

    Littleton senior Avery Bergscheider goes up against Columbine senior Adrienne Harnum (10) and Ralston Valley senior Brooklyn Seymour (15) on Thursday night at the Gold Crown Fieldhouse. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    The White team buckled down defensively in the final minutes holding the Blue scoreless for the final two minutes after the White’s lead was trimmed to 63-58 with 2 minutes to play.

    “They knocked down a lot of 3-pointers and then we kind of stopped playing defense,” Bevington said. “We figured it out and got the win.”

    Bevington and Folks were named the MVPs of the game.

    “It was a great experience. Especially being able to play with my teammate (A-West senior Madison Manson) one last time and to have (Meeks) coach us one last time,” Folks said. “It was really fun and a great experience.”

    The annual senior basketball games that have been put on by the Gold Crown Foundation since 2018 was canceled last season right as the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown all sports around the world.

    The crowd was limited this year and everyone inside the Gold Crown Fieldhouse wore masks, but being back on the court was the most important thing for these seniors to close out their high school careers.

    “It was the best four years of my life playing with my teammates,” said Bevington, who will continue her basketball career at Santa Clara University. “My coaches and teammates were always there for me. I’m headed off, but I’ll be back. I’m maintain those friendships for the rest of my life.”

    Green Mountain senior Courtney Hank is able to split Chatfield seniors Madison Shepard and Keyana Sande (14) during the Jeffco HS Senior Basketball Games hosted by the Gold Crown Foundation on Thursday night. The White squad took a 70-58 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Dunks and 3-pointers reign in Jeffco HS Senior Basketball game

    LAKEWOOD — Valor Christian senior Amondo Miller’s final dunk finished off a fun night Thursday at the Gold Crown Fieldhouse.

    The Blue squad took a 130-124 victory in the boys’ Jeffco High School Senior Basketball Game. The annual game featuring the top seniors in the Class 5A and 4A Jeffco Leagues didn’t take place last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    While dunks and optional defense was in full force, the 3-point shooting was particularly sharp by the co-MVPs. Columbine senior Garrett Rogers and Wheat Ridge senior Westin Miller poured in seven 3-pointers each to lead both of their teams in scoring.

    Valor senior Amondo Miller goes up for a dunk Thursday night. Miller had 25 points for in the Blue’s 130-124 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “I was just shooting and having a good time,” said Rogers, who had a game-high 29 points. “I appreciate Gold Crown for putting this on. It was amazing.”

    The Blue squad actually trailed 97-91 heading into the final 10-minute quarter. However, the Blue team scored 39 points in the final quarter to win going away. Green Mountain senior Austin Peterson got hot from 3-point range hitting a trio from long range in the final quarter.

    Valor’s Miller and AJ Kula combined for 14 points in the final quarter and Rogers canned a pair of 3-pointers for good measure to pull out the come-from-behind victory.

    “It was just really fun playing with all the guys. You play them during league and you know them because of club,” Rogers said. “It is always a great time getting out there and playing together.”

    Wheat Ridge senior Westin Miller watches the ball after releasing a 3-pointer Thursday night. Miller had seven 3-pointers on his way to MVP honors for the White squad. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Wheat Ridge’s Miller started the game off with a 3-pointer in the opening seconds. The Farmer has being getting ready for the upcoming high school baseball season, but getting one last chance on the hardwood with fellow Wheat Ridge teammate Dominic Cross was special.

    “It was awesome. I got to play one more basketball game,” said Miller, who has signed to play baseball next school year at Regis University. “I’ve been practicing baseball, so it was nice to get back out on the court. Most of us are competitors, but when it comes to this they are your teammates now.”

    There were more than 40 3-pointers made in the game. Almost every time down the court it was either a bomb from long range or a driving dunk.

    “It was a good shooting night for both of us,” Miller said of him and Rogers combining for 14 3-pointers. “I had no idea who he was at first, but he was ripping every shot he took.”

    Green Mountain senior Austin Peterson tries to beat Evergreen senior Griffin Lauritano (13) off the dribble Thursday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Lakewood’s Michael Bennett, Dakota Ridge’s Gino Corridori, Bear Creek’s Liam Franks, Evergreen’s Griffin Lauritano and Jared Stiller, Cross along with Westin Miller were all in double-digits for the White squad coached by Evergreen’s boys basketball coach Jeff Dolan.

    Rogers and Amondo Miller combined for over 50 points. Ralston Valley’s Blake Butvidas, D’Evelyn’s Luke Kjellsen, Kula and Peterson all reach double-digit points for the victorious Blue team.

    It marked the end of the prep basketball season in Jeffco that had its challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “It shows how much we have progressed through this tough time,” Rogers said of having the game return to close out the basketball season.

    Columbine senior Garrett Rogers was the leading scorer pouring in 29 points, including seven 3-pointers, during the boys’ Jeffco High School Senior Basketball Game on Thursday night at the Gold Crown Fieldhouse. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Wheat Ridge boys soccer impressive in win versus No. 7 Alameda International

    Wheat Ridge sophomore Marco Neswadi (3) tries to cut off Alameda senior Jose Martinez’s path toward the goal as the snow falls Tuesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    LAKEWOOD — Alameda International was actually the last high school boys soccer team to play at historic Lakewood Memorial Field … that was 507 days ago.

    The Pirates suffered a 2-0 loss in the opening round of the Class 4A boys soccer state tournament back on Nov. 2, 2019. The loss marked the end of an outstanding 14-2 record for Alameda. Little did anyone know then that the COVID-19 pandemic would leave Lakewood Memorial nearly dormant until Tuesday night.

    “We all cherished that first step,” Wheat Ridge senior Jace Sandler said about returning to Lakewood Memorial Field. “It feels good to be back out here. This is our home. We love it.”

    Alameda sophomore Jair Perez, left, and Wheat Ridge junior Kevin Estacuy fight for the ball during the Class 4A Jeffco League game Tuesday night. The Farmers won 5-2. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Wheat Ridge faced off against Alameda — No. 7 in this week’s Class 4A CHSAANow.com rankings — in a 4A Jeffco League match. The night belonged to Sandler, who scored four goals and an assist in the Farmers’ 5-2 victory over the Pirates (3-1, 2-1 in league)

    “It’s been awhile,” Sandler said when asked if he had ever scored four goals in a single game. “It was a lots of fun. Anytime you get to go out there with your team and have success. I’m not putting in those goals without the center-mid giving me that perfect pass on my foot.”

    Sandler scored goals on breakaways in the 13th and 39th minutes of the first half, giving the Farmers (2-0-1, 2-0-1) a 2-0 lead at the break.

    Alameda senior Jose Martinez got the Pirates right back in the game with a hard shot that was deflected into the goal in the 43th minute. However, Sandler answered with a nifty turn in front of Alameda’s goal to create some space and complete his hat-trick in the 44th minute.

    “He is just a stud,” Wheat Ridge coach Nate Flack said of Sandler. “The coolest thing about Jace is he is such a team player. He loves this family and loves his team. He is the first guy out and last one to leave. I’m glad he got reward tonight with some goals.”

    Alameda responded with a direct free-kick goal by senior Jonathan Serrano in the 50th minute to make it a 3-2 game.

    Wheat Ridge freshman Alden Reeves (17) looks to advance the ball up the field Tuesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    It was Sandler again giving the Farmers back the 2-goal lead, but this time with an assist. The senior slid a pass over to senior Jack Francis in the 62nd minute. Sandler finished off the scoring with his fourth goal in the 65th minute on a tight angle shot.

    Wheat Ridge remained undefeated with Evergreen and Golden in 4A Jeffco. The Farmers’ lone blemish was a 1-1 tie against Littleton over the weekend.

    “We were just really antsy and the guys have been working really hard,” Flack said. “We just focus on what we can control. You can’t the regulations or the weather. We can just control coming out and working.”

    The Farmers hadn’t won a conference game since the Fall 2017 season, but already have two league wins under their belt.

    “You look at this league and there are a lot of great opponents. A lot of great coaches,” Flack said. “We know what we have here is special. They are a tight family and group of kids. We are excited to keep working and going after it.”

    Wheat Ridge is scheduled to face Standley Lake in another league game Friday, March 26, at the North Area Athletic Complex before Spring Break.

    “League is wide open. We are looking to take it,” Sandler said. “We’ll go forward from here. Each game is a worthy game. It’s one game at a time. We want league for sure.”

    Alameda is still in the thick of the conference race despite the loss. The Pirates return to action against Golden on Friday night at the NAAC.

    Alameda senior Jonathan Serrano (19) puts his foot into one during the first half Tuesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. It was the first boys soccer game at LMF in 507 days. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • No. 10 Arvada West boys soccer shuts out Bear Creek in 5A Jeffco action

    LAKEWOOD — Arvada West’s boys soccer team continues to show off its multiple scoring options and impenetrable defense.

    The Wildcats — No. 10 in this week’s CHSAANow.com Class 5A boys soccer rankings — took a 4-0 victory over previously undefeated Bear Creek on Monday at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood.

    “This was a super huge game for us,” A-West senior goalie Jacoby Landskov said about the late Monday afternoon win over the Bears. “It felt super nice to come out strong and beat a really good team.”

    Arvada West senior goalie Jacoby Landskov is able to just keep the ball out of the goal in the first half Monday. Landskov picked up his third shutout victory of the season in the Wildcats’ 4-0 win over Bear Creek. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    The shutout victory was A-West’s third in as many games. The Wildcats (3-0, 2-0 in 5A Jeffco League) have outscored their opponents 11-0 through the first three games.

    Landskov has been in net for all three of the Wildcats’ victories. His best save of the game against Bear Creek (2-1, 2-1) came in the first half when Landskov was just able to keep a spinning shot out of the net when the game was scoreless.

    “That’s the goal,” Landskov said of the Wildcats not allowing a goal all season. “We made a bet. The guys said, ‘Jacoby, we’ll pay you $50 if you don’t give up a goal the entire year.’ We are on a roll right now and it’s not just me. Our defense is playing really well right now. They are making my job easy.”

    A-West junior Dylan Richards broke the ice in the 31st minute with a direct free-kick that skipped in front of Bear Creek junior goalie Garrett Nelson and into the back of the net. The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

    It was Nelson’s first goal of the season. He became the seventh different goal-scorer for A-West this season and it was the first of two goals on the day on direct free-kicks.

    Bear Creek sophomore Anthony Montoya (17) races down the field with Arvada West sophomore Josh White (11) during the first half Monday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “We work on set pieces a lot in practice,” A-West senior captain Kyler Tate said. “We might have got a little lucky on that first goal. We try to score a lot of goals on those set pieces.”

    Tate made it a 2-0 lead in the 52nd minute. His goal came off another set piece, a direct free-kick from 27 yards out. It was the second goal of the season for Tate. Senior captain Noah Kanagy picked up his third goal on the season with a strong run before sliding a shot past Nelson to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

    “I think we definitely have a deeper team then we did last year,” Tate said. “We are trying to get everyone involved.”

    The Wildcats put the game away with a penalty kick goal by senior Karl Pankratz, his first goal of the season, to make it a 4-0 lead. Pankratz became the eighth different player to put one in the back of the net on the season for A-West.

    “Other teams should be afraid,” Landskov said. “Our entire team can score. It’s not about locking up one player. We’ve got nine other guys out there that can score.”

    A-West is hoping to erase the memories of having a stellar regular season, but falling short in the postseason. The Wildcats were the No. 4 seed in the 5A state tournament in the Fall of 2019, but lost to Rocky Mountain in the second round. In 2018, A-West suffered a tough 1-0 loss to eventual state champion Arapahoe in the second round.

    “Definitely a third straight league title is the goal,” Tate said. “We’ve come up a little short (in the playoffs) over the past two years. We think we can do it this year and go all the way.”

    Bear Creek senior Kye Quinonez (4) and Arvada West sophomore Luke Schultz (14) battle for a loose ball during the Class 5A Jeffco League game Monday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)