DENVER — The 4A girls basketball Great 8 spanned the full day Saturday at the Denver Coliseum.
Go to:
- Valor Christian 67, Sand Creek 60
- Mesa Ridge 47, D’Evelyn 41
- Pueblo South 36, Elizabeth 21
- Broomfield 74, Palmer Ridge 51
Tag: D’Evelyn
-
Photos: 4A girls basketball’s Great 8 at the Denver Coliseum
-
Sand Creek overcomes D’Evelyn’s McGee en route to 4A boys semis
More photos. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com) DENVER — D’Evelyn’s Ty McGee was dominating the game against Sand Creek in the Great 8 on Saturday afternoon. McGee’s size, athleticism, skill and strength gave the Scorpions fits as D’Evelyn was in control early with an 18-8 lead.
Yet Sand Creek regrouped and showed a ton of heart in fighting back and securing a 58-51 win to reach its first final four in the program’s history.
More photos. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com) McGee finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds and had 11 third-quarter points as the Jaguars took a 47-39 lead into the final quarter. The Scorpions stymied D’Evelyn’s offense from then out with an impressive 19-4 quarter.
Jason Pasley, a 6-foot-4 junior forward who was quiet most of the game, came alive late and played tough defense on McGee. Sand Creek held a 52-51 lead with 20 seconds remaining when Pasley drained four straight free-throws to seal the victory. Pasley had nine points and 10 rebounds and was fantastic down the stretch.
Michael DeCarmo and Nick Pasley had solid games with 15 and nine points, respectively. Dylan Clark, the Scorpions’ star and an Air Force commit, scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds, and had his usual intelligent, all-around performance.
“Of course I’m biased, but I think he’s the best player in the state,” Sand Creek coach Joe Rausch said about Clark. “We put every responsibility on that kid. He leads us in assists, rebounds, points, and he’s such a great press-breaker.
“He handles the ball so much that we just wear him out game after game after game and that kid just finds another gear. He finds somewhere deep down inside to keep pushing and keep fighting.”
More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com) The story of Sand Creek’s victory was defense with an absolutely smothering last quarter.
“For four years, that’s really what we’ve tried to hang our hat on,” Rausch said. “These guys, because of our size and everything, I wasn’t really sure how good we would be defensively, but they’ve really bought into the execution of our defense and it made us a super defensive team.
“I think I have to give all the credit to those seniors,” Rausch concluded. “We’ve worked really hard and to go to three out of four Great 8’s and not make that final step would have been such a disappointment. They weren’t going to settle for that. I didn’t know we could come back on a team as good as D’Evelyn, but I knew we could give it a run and these kids weren’t going to fold.”
D’Evelyn concludes its season 20-6. Sand Creek will face Pueblo East in the final four in Boulder next week.
-
Purnell leads Mesa Ridge girls basketball to the 4A final four
More photos. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com) DENVER — Gabby Purnell is the Peyton Manning of Mesa Ridge girls basketball.
The 5-foot-5 senior point guard controls games and runs the show. Purnell worked a masterpiece against D’Evelyn in the Great 8 at the Denver Coliseum with a 9-of-11 shooting performance for 22 points as Mesa Ridge girls beat the Jaguars 47-41.
Purnell is a quick player with great ballhandling skills. She controlled the pace of the game and led a strong Grizzlies effort throughout.
“Gabby Purnell is a coach on the floor,” Mesa Ridge coach Jeff Beatty said about his point guard. “I very, very rarely call any plays. Gabby calls everything. She does it all on the floor for me. I’ll change up defenses and such, but she pretty much calls the offense out there and runs the show and gets the ball to the open player. She’s extraordinary. I can’t believe there aren’t D-I’s beating my door down to get her.”
More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.coms) Mesa Ridge looked like they were going to blowout D’Evelyn out in the third as they had a commanding 45-26 lead, but the Jaguars’ Malia Shappell led a furious late run. Shappell scored 11 second half points and 17 overall, but it wasn’t enough as the Grizzlies held on.
Mesa Ridge’s 6-foot-4 sophomore Kylee Shook only scored four points, but grabbed 10 rebounds and was a defensive presence. She was injured and out for last year’s Great 8 loss to Pueblo South, the eventual champion.
“Last year we made the final 8 and lost and that hurt us a little bit,” Beatty said. “They’ve really come together and they really share the ball. Our defense was really good today.”
D’Evelyn finished 21-5 after being the state runner-ups the past two seasons.
Mesa Ridge will play the winner of Pueblo South vs. Elizabeth in the Final Four in Boulder. The Grizzlies are now 26-0 this season.
-
D’Evelyn dials up third straight trip to Great 8 with win over Mead
D’Evelyn senior Brian Smith (2) locks up defensively on Mead sophomore James Maher (3) during the first half Saturday. Smith had a huge night offensively with six 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 26 points. (Dennis Pleuss) DENVER — The hard work through the years playing for D’Evelyn’s boys basketball program has paid off for senior Brian Smith.
D’Evelyn coach Troy Pachner says Smith has grow into one of the Jaguars’ key components heading into the program’s third straight trip to the Class 4A’s Great Eight.
“Brian is probably our hardest working kid throughout his whole career here,” Pachner said after his No. 1-seeded Jaguars defeated No. 4 Mead 69-46 Saturday night to advance to the state quarterfinals. “He is a guy who wasn’t even on our ‘A’ program in junior high. Now look at him, he is one of the better players in the state.”
Smith sure looked like one of the premier 3-point shooters in the state against the Mavericks (16-9). The senior buried six 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 26 points.
Mead sophomore James Maher (3) swipes at the ball as D’Evelyn junior Christian Denton (21) drives the lane Saturday night. (Dennis Pleuss) “We just try to get good shots,” Smith said. “Coach Pachner also talks about sharing the basketball and get good looks. When you are open you just have to hit them.”
The biggest 3-pointer Smith hit was right at the end of the first half. Mead had cut D’Evelyn’s lead to 32-24 just before halftime, but the Jaguars milked the time off the clock and Smith hit his third 3-pointer of the half with two seconds left.
“We’ve run those plays in practice, end of quarter plays and last-second plays,” Smith said. “I mentality prepared to get that shot off. It was uplifting for the team and really helped our run in the second half.”
D’Evelyn (20-5) kept the momentum going to start the third quarter with a 10-0 run, building its lead to 21 points.
“Their crowd was really into it. It made it difficult for us,” said Mead junior Blake Goodwin, who led the Mavericks with a dozen points in the loss. “They made shots and that is what good teams do.”
D’Evelyn junior Grant Witherspoon made his fair share of shots. Witherspoon poured in 22 points. Senior Ty McGee added a dozen points for the Jaguars.
The Jaguars’ defense was a big catalyst in the victory. Mead had issues handling D’Evelyn’s full-court pressure and trapping defense at times.
“D’Evelyn is real good in the full-court, trapping and things like that,” Mead coach Darin Reese said. “There were times we handled it really well, but the few times we didn’t they turned those directly into points. That is what really hurt us.”
What has hurt D’Evelyn the past two years is back-to-back losses in the state quarterfinals. The Jaguars were edged by Sierra in the round of eight in 2012 and fell short against Broomfield same position of the state tournament in 2011.
“We need to get over that hump,” D’Evelyn coach Troy Pachner said. “This will be our third straight year in the Elite 8. I think it’s our fifth or sixth time since we’ve been 4A. It’s time to ascend to that next step.”
Next up for the Jaguars will be No. 2 seed Sand Creek (20-5). The Scorpions knocked off Denver West 67-45 in their Sweet 16 game Saturday.
“It’s a match up as we looked at the season that we knew could happen,” Pachner said. “It will be a great game. We like our chances.”
The biggest task for D’Evelyn’s defense will be containing senior guard Dylan Clark, who will take his basketball talents to the Air Force Academy next season.
The Great 8 for 4A girls and boys state tournaments will be played Saturday, March 8, at the Denver Coliseum.
D’Evelyn senior Ty McGee, left, makes a determined drive toward the basket Saturday night during the Class 4A Sweet 16 game against Mead. The Jaguars advanced to their third straight state quarterfinal with a 69-46 victory. (Dennis Pleuss) -
D’Evelyn girls orchestrate quarterfinal berth with win against Pueblo West
D’Evelyn sophomore Lexi Reed (4) gets a pass away despite the effort of Pueblo West junior Shyanne DeVille on Saturday during the Class 4A Sweet 16 playoff game at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. (Dennis Pleuss) DENVER — A little inside muscle punched D’Evelyn’s ticket to the Class 4A girls’ basketball state quarterfinals.
Senior Mallory Seemann used some crafty post moves in the paint to score a game-high 20 points in her final game on the Jaguars’ home court Saturday night against Pueblo West in the Sweet 16 playoff game. The Jaguars rolled to a 74-50 victory.
“We just knew we had to come out and play our game,” said the 5-foot-11 Seemann. “Every team is going to come out with their best. We knew Pueblo West would come out tough. We just had to be tougher. I thought we played really well.”
D’Evelyn senior Mallory Seemann (20) works her way toward the basket during the second half Saturday. Seemann scored a game-high 20 points. (Dennis Pleuss) The third-seeded Cyclones (17-8) took an early lead midway through the first quarter. However, when D’Evelyn senior Malia Shappell banked in a long 3-pointer with 4:30 left in the first quarter the Jaguars took an 8-7 lead. No. 2 seed D’Evelyn (21-4) would never give up its lead.
“We’ve made a concretive effort the last half of the season to get better in the post, find the post and give the post touches,” D’Evelyn coach Chris Olson said. “They played really well inside and really controlled the tempo.”
The one problem the Jaguars faced was foul trouble for Seemann and Shappell (16 points) in the second quarter. With both on the bench for a time, seniors Katie Cunniff (10 points) and Emily Garnier (seven points) stepped up.
Another big contributor for the Jaguars was starting point guard Lexi Reed. The sophomore wasn’t D’Evelyn’s floor general to start the season, but Olson has cemented her into that role now.
“We’ve realized that Malia has to be that shooter and get the ball in transition,” Olson said. “Lexi is the facilitator. She is so calm and composed. She never gets too high or too low.”
Reed finished with 11 points, including a pair of second-quarter 3-pointers.
Pueblo West senior Bri Rodriguez and Haley Simental each scored 13 points for the Cyclones in the loss.
There had been some recent history between Pueblo West and D’Evelyn in the state tournament. Both advanced to the Final Four the previous two seasons.
The Jaguars defeated the Cyclones 61-51 in the 4A semifinals last year, giving D’Evelyn its second consecutive berth into the 4A title game. The Jaguars lost to Pueblo South in the championship game.
Pueblo West sophomore Olivia Leyva (24) stretches out for a rebound during the second half Saturday at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. (Dennis Pleuss) In the 2012 state tournament, Pueblo West lost in the semifinals to eventual state champion Air Academy, who handled D’Evelyn in the title game.
“We have a little unfinished business,” Olson said of the Jaguars’ opportunity to advance to a third straight 4A championship game. “Unfortunately, things get a little more difficult from here on out.”
Next up for D’Evelyn will be undefeated Mesa Ridge, No. 1 seed out of the Donald Wilson Region. Mesa Ridge (25-0) defeated Longmont 55-40 on Saturday.
Not having a top-seed doesn’t concern Seemann.
“Seeds don’t really matter now,” Seemann said. “It’s the playoffs and anything can happen. We can beat anybody if we play our best.”
The Great 8 will be played Saturday, March 8, at the Denver Coliseum.
D’Evelyn senior Malia Shappell (21) goes after a loose ball Saturday. Shappell scored 16 points in the Jaguars’ 74-50 victory over Pueblo West. (Dennis Pleuss) -
Photos: D’Evelyn survives Cañon City’s upset try in 4A girls
DENVER — D’Evelyn, a No. 2 seed, held off the upset bid from No. 7 Cañon City in a 55-47 win in the 4A girls basketball tournament’s second round.
-
Photos: D’Evelyn boys basketball holds off Falcon in 4A’s second round
DENVER — No. 1-seeded D’Evelyn had four players in double figures as the Jaguars beat Falcon 75-69.
Ty McGee had 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, Grant Witherspoon added 18 points, five boards and five assists, Brian Smith chipped in with 16 points and Nate Flack added 11 points.
-
All-state girls cross country teams for 2013 season
The 2013 all-state girls cross country teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created based upon results at the state meet.
The athletes who won championships at their classification were named runner of the year.
Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.
Class 5A
Runner of the year: Lauren Gregory, Fort Collins
First team Name School Year Lauren Gregory Fort Collins Freshman Erin McLaughlin Boulder Senior Erin Norton Grandview Senior Maya Browning Fairview Freshman Ashley Litoff Monarch Senior Isabelle Kennedy Fairview Senior Claire Green Monarch Senior Class 4A
Runner of the year: Elise Cranny, Niwot
First team Name School Year Elise Cranny Niwot Senior Katie Rainsberger Air Academy Sophomore Alison Deitsch Palmer Ridge Senior Valerie Constien Battle Mountain Senior Greta VanCalcar Palisade Sophomore Lexi Reed D’Evelyn Sophomore Riley Cooney Mountain View Junior Class 3A
Runner of the year: Eva Lou Edwards, Bayfield
First team Name School Year Eva Lou Edwards Bayfield Senior Makayla Santos Frontier Academy Senior Sydney Fesenmeyer Salida Sophomore kelsi lasota Estes park Senior Emily Bryant Pagosa Springs Senior Phoebe Powell Salida Sophomore Taylor Bancroft Frontier Academy Senior Class 2A
Runner of the year: Miriam Roberts, Lyons
First team Name School Year Miriam Roberts Lyons Senior Natalie Anderson Hotchkiss Senior Rachel Rairdon Heritage Christian Academy Sophomore Jennifer Celis Hotchkiss Senior Taylor Polson Paonnia Senior Ginger Hutton Shining Mountain Waldorf Junior -
All-state boys soccer teams for 2013 season
The 2013 all-state boys soccer teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These team were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues and coaches, and then a vote of coaches. Find more information here.
The players who received the most votes in their classification were selected as the player of the year in their class.
Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.
Class 5A
Player of the year: Kevin del Mazo, Smoky Hill
First Team Name School Year Pos. Nick Bannister Pine Creek Junior M Ben Bartlett Rock Canyon Senior M Javier Castruita Boulder Senior M Kevin del Mazo Smoky Hill Junior M Mason Doulliard Boulder Senior F Zach Fronapfel Fort Collins Junior M Aaron Haefner Pine Creek Senior M Jason Kagie Cherry Creek Senior M Josh Krackle Rock Canyon Senior M Zach Lokay Fairview Senior D David Meyer Pine Creek Senior GK William Murphy George Washington Senior M Ben Overholt Chatfield Junior F Walter Prince Smoky Hill Junior F Hector Rodriguez Poudre Senior F Jake Smith Grandview Senior M Klinton Spencer Liberty Senior F/M Nicholas Verfaillie Denver East Senior M Second Team Name School Year Pos. Mubarak Abdulai Palmer Senior F Chase Breslaw Heritage Junior F Peter Hendricks Ralston Valley Junior M/F Henry Huettel Boulder Senior GK Jeff Ingell Highlands Ranch Senior D Marcus Krause Doherty Junior M Colton Ladyga Smoky Hill Junior D Dalton Lundberg Heritage Junior M Alexander Makic Ralston Valley Senior D Wesley Padgett Fruita Monument Senior F Jorge Rangel Grandview Junior M Brandon Reich Rampart Senior F John Schaffer Highlands Ranch Senior M Roberto Velasquez Highlands Ranch Junior M Nick Vergara Eaglecrest Junior D Kyle Vigil Mountain Vista Senior F Class 4A
Player of the year: Roberto Diaz, Battle Mountain
First Team Name School Year Pos. Danny Bautista Denver North Senior F Antonio Chairez-Salazar Greeley Central Senior GK Austen Dewing Air Academy Junior F Roberto Diaz Battle Mountain Senior M Griffin Dorsey Evergreen Freshman F D’Angelo Escobar Skyview Junior F Erich Frey Cheyenne mountain Senior GK Ben Gibble Broomfield Senior M Alex Granados Air Academy Senior M Cameron Guzman Silver Creek Junior F John Herd Cheyenne mountain Senior M AJ Hutchison Greeley Central Senior D David Louthan Air Academy Senior D David Mcdermed Cheyenne Mountain Senior M/F Connor Metzger Broomfield Sophomore F Porter Milner Broomfield Sophomore M Alexis Robles Battle Mountain Senior F Danny Witt Niwot Senior F Alex Wormer Evergreen Senior D Second Team Name School Year Pos. Chad Caruth Pueblo Centennial Senior M Brendan Clark Valor Christian Sophomore M Austin Dewing Air Academy Senior F Nate Flack D’Evelyn Junior M Matt Hornbecker Evergreen Senior GK Christian McBee Greeley Central Senior D Jaydon Moreschini Pueblo West Senior F Max Ortiz Summit Senior M Brandon Osorio Battle Mountain Senior M Jason Pocalyko Longmont Senior M Johnny Sims Air Academy Senior D John Sims Air Academy Senior M Vijah Singh Montrose Senior F Eric Spangler Centaurus Sophomore D Cruz Valdez Skyline Junior F Grant Webster Niwot Senior M Peter White Steamboat Springs Senior M/F Class 3A
Player of the year: Ethan Coit, Salida
First Team Name School Year Pos. Brooks Benson Kent Denver Senior D Ethan Coit Salida Senior M Joseph Colarelli Fountain Valley Senior M Cameron Doody Faith Christian Senior D Clark Gebhart Colorado Academy Senior D Titus Grant The Classical Academy Freshman M Ulises Gutierrez Bruce Randolph Senior F Robby Jacobs The Classical Academy Sophomore F James Larivee The Classical Academy Senior M Sawyer Lincoln Manitou Springs Sophomore M/F JJ Myers Colorado Academy Senior F Andrew Peck The Classical Academy Senior M Conner Stephens C.S. Christian Senior D Jack Thomas Colorado Academy Senior GK Robert White Colorado Academy Senior M -
All-state softball teams for 2013 season
Haley Smith is the 5A softball player of the year. (Pam Wagner) The 2013 all-state softball teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These team were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues and coaches, and then a vote of coaches. Find more information here.
The players who received the most votes in their classification were selected as the player of the year in their class.
Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.
Class 5A
Player of the year: Haley Smith, Legacy
First Team Name School Year Pos. Breanna Corell Douglas County Senior P Haley Donaldson Fossil Ridge Senior SS Rachelle Foos Dakota Ridge Senior P Sierra Galbreath Ralston Valley Senior SS Carleigh Garcia Brighton Senior OF Janelle Gardner Legend Senior P Tes Hass Loveland Junior OF Rachel Johnson Mountain Vista Senior 1B Tayler Mashburn Eaglecrest Sophomore UT RiAnna May Standley Lake Senior CF Lauren Paige Rock Canyon Senior P/1B Carly Perry Columbine Junior SS Melissa Rahrich Brighton Senior P/3B Brianna Sanville Arvada West Senior 3B Haley Smith Legacy Junior P Emily Supercynski Grandview Junior SS Second Team Name School Year Pos. Autumn Anderson Fort Collins Sophomore P Lauren Buckley Eaglecrest Junior OF Steph Cardona Legend Senior OF Emma Cheshire Doherty Senior C Aspen Eubanks Legacy Senior UT Alyssa Geist Legacy Junior OF Melissa Heronema Standley Lake Senior SS/3B Anuhea Iida Douglas County Senior C Jenna Jordan Fossil Ridge Senior C Robyn Leighton Legend Senior C Kenya Lindstrom Denver East Junior P Kayla Michel Brighton Junior C/1B Rhiannon Parry Standley Lake Senior P Taylar Saul Highlands Ranch Senior UT Sloane Stewartson Rock Canyon Freshman C Dani Valerio Dakota Ridge Junior CF Allie Vigil Arvada West Senior 1B Jasmime Wessel Horizon Junior C/SS Class 4A
Player of the year: Jessica Salbato, Wheat Ridge
First Team Name School Year Pos. Analece Apodaca Wheat Ridge Junior UT Carrie Clarke Erie Senior P Alex Dufour Frederick Junior SS Gabriela Garcia Mullen Junior C Allison Heitsman D’Evelyn Senior 3B/1B Kelsey Laughlin Pueblo East Senior SS Tiffany Maul Erie Junior C Katie Orona Pueblo East Senior P Ally Power Ponderosa Junior P Jessica Salbato Wheat Ridge Senior P Rio Sanchez Erie Freshman P/3B Kelee Suggs Woodland Park Senior SS McKenzie Surface Discovery Canyon Junior P/1B Sonoma Toot Erie Senior 2B/SS Ann Marie Torres Wheat Ridge Sophomore SS Second Team Name School Year Pos. Corey Aragon Pueblo Central Senior P/ UT Kendall Baker Berthoud Junior IF Kailee Clark Discovery Canyon Senior SS Yesina Garza Pueblo East Senior 3B/OF Allyson Grywusiewicz Thomas Jefferson Senior P/1B Sissy Hall Pueblo South Junior CF Madie Kilcrease Roosevelt Senior SS/OF Jaelyn Minich Pueblo East Senior 1B/3B Christina Nelson Wheat Ridge Junior 2B Cameryn Porter D’Evelyn Senior SS Emma Speer Rifle Senior SS Cheyenne Talmadge Pueblo East Junior 2B Mallorie Trichell Woodland Park Senior 1B Kenzie Villareal Berthoud Senior UT Stevie Wadsworth Roosevelt Senior P Class 3A
Player of the year: Danni Klein, Strasburg
First Team Name School Year Pos. Bridgette Hutton Valley Junior P/SS Danni Klein Strasburg Senior P/2B/SS Logan Losh Strasburg Senior P/1B Trinity Harrington Valley Senior P Alexandra Jaros Holy Family Junior CF Dallas Magnusson Sterling Junior P Grace Peterson Holy Family Senior 2B Chelsea Vallejos Lamar Senior OF Jenna Knudson Sterling Sophomore INF Brittany Driscoll Basalt Senior P/OF/3B Jayla Jarnigan Eaton Senior OF Whittney Oquist La Junta Senior P/UT Megan Martinez Rocky Ford Senior SS/1B Tess Cartin Holy Family Senior C Vic Wilson Strasburg Senior C/UT