LAKEWOOD — Three-pointers rained down at the Gold Crown Field House on Monday night.
A total of 37 3-pointers were made during the inaugural boys Jeffco High School Senior Basketball Game put on by the Gold Crown Foundation, Jeffco Public Schools and 1stBank.
“Nobody guarded at all,” Arvada West coach Jeff Parriott said with a laugh. “I thought both of the teams shot the heck out of the ball.”
Pomona’s Ryan Marquez pulls up for a jumper over Golden’s Jack Moore (7). (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
After 40 minutes of a furious pace that didn’t feature much defense … the Blue team coached by Parriott came away with a 136-126 victory.
“I was just kind of feeling my shot early,” said Lakewood senior Jordan Sandoval, who poured in five 3-pointers on his way to 23 points and being named the MVP for the Blue team. “Coach (Parriott) told me to ‘do you’. I said thank you and that is what I did.”
Littleton senior Jason Levy was unbelievable in the fourth quarter as the Blue squad pushed its lead to 20+ points. Levy finished with 26 points, including six 3-pointers. He scored 16 points in the final 10 minutes.
Not to be out done, Golden senior Adam Thistlewood nearly brought the White squad all the way back in the final six minutes.
“We were up 22, then suddenly it’s down to eight points. I was worried about substitutions and making sure everyone gets their time in the game,” Parriott said of the final quarter. “Thistlewood took over.”
The future Drake University player poured in 19 points in the fourth quarter on his way to a game-high 31 points and being named the White squad MVP.
A-West’s Isaiah Brewer, right, tries to get a shot over Chatfield’s Keland Rumsey. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“It was a blast,” said Thistlewood, who helped the Demons to a Class 4A Final 4 appearance his junior season and a 4A Jeffco League title this season. “Seeing all the seniors and playing with and against these guys the past four years … it was great to get out here.”
The White team has a good balance of scoring with Standley Lake’s Garrett Martin, Jefferson’s Nehemiah Baustian and Columbine’s Mat Bergeman all pouring in 14 points each. Chatfield’s Keland Rumsey poured in 13 points and Golden’s Jack Moore also hit double-digit points with a dozen.
Besides Levy and Sandoval, the Blue squad was led in scoring by Valor’s Jeremy Randle (18 points), Bear Creek’s Manuel Perez (13 points), Arvada West’s James Pelon (12 points) and Bear Creek’s Jovan Dodig (11 points).
“It was terrific. What a great opportunity for these kids to come out and play in probably the last game of their career,” Parriott said. “They can showcase their talent a little bit and play with some guys who they played against. Unbelievable experience for these guys.”
The White team was coached by longtime Evergreen coach Scott Haebe. Nearly every Jeffco League boys basketball coach was in attendance to watch the inaugural Jeffco all-star game that featured the top seniors from the 5A and 4A Jeffco League and Jeffco schools.
“It was definitely fun with all the competition out here,” Sandoval said. “Getting this together and celebrate these players were really fun.”
Evergreen senior Bridger Tenney, right, pulls up for a jumper during the 2018 Jeffco High School Senior Basketball Games on Monday night at Gold Crown Field House. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Legend boys basketball coach Kevin Boley won the 400th game of his career on Saturday night.
Boley’s Titans beat Ralston Valley 56-44 to open the season 2-0 and give their coach the milestone. Boley is now 400-208 in his 19-year career.
Boley started his career as an assistant at Littleton in 1987 under Ron Vlasin — his high school coach; Boley is a 1986 graduate of Littleton — before becoming the head coach at Jefferson from 1991-94. From there, he went on to spend five years as the coach at Montrose.
(Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
He then spent nine very successful seasons at Broomfield, including a Class 4A title in 2004 and four Final 4 appearances. He was 178-50 at Broomfield.
Boley moved to Legend prior to the 2008-09 season, and has gone 144-79 as the school’s only boys basketball coach.
Boley is now in his 10th season at Legend, and also moved into the athletic director’s role four years ago.
Under Boley, Legend has made the Class 5A state tournament every year since 2011, including and at least the Sweet 16 round ever year since 2012. The Titans have gone to Great 8 twice, and also have a trip to the 2013 Final 4.
A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights from November with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features state gymnastics action where Jeffco schools continued its dominance. Chatfield and Columbine football rolled to playoff opening victories. Chatfield, Pomona, Wheat Ridge, Columbine and Bear Creek spirit squads all won Jeffco League titles at the conference championships. Several Jeffco schools had student-athletes sign their National Letter of Intent during the early signing period that began Nov. 8. We also look back at the legacy left by Arvada West pitching great Roy Halladay.
Lakewood seniors Kira and Camilla will go against each other on the basketball court in college with both attending different Ivy League schools. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — The Emsbo twins — Camilla and Kira — are going their separate ways.
Lakewood High School’s 6-foot-4 identical twins made their separation official Wednesday morning during the start of early National Letter of Intent signing period. Both are headed to Ivy League schools. Kira having decided on Princeton University and Camilla signing with Yale University.
“I think it was important for me to separate from my sister,” Camilla said with a smile. “It will be a tough transition, but I think it’s really important for our growth.”
Camilla gave her verbal commitment to Yale in early October, a few months after Kira made her decision on Princeton. Both carry GPAs of 4.8 in Lakewood’s IB program.
While the twins have gone against each other in practice for years, they will get a chance to face each other for the first time and at least twice a year during their time at the Ivy League programs.
Lakewood girls basketball coach Chris Poisson, middle, talks about the Emsbo twins — Kira and Camilla. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“It going to be the best and worst two days of our lives I think,” Camilla said of facing Kira on the basketball court. “Our parents are already freaking out about it. We play hard against each other in practice. It won’t be any different. There is a good possibility one or both of us foul out, but it will definitely be fun games for sure.”
Unfortunately, the next time both are on the basketball court will be in college. Kira discovered through a recent MRI on her knee that she has a torn ACL that she suffered this summer playing club basketball.
Kira has surgery scheduled to repair her torn ACL on Tuesday, Nov. 14. It will be a 6 to 9 month recovery, so she will be ready for the start of her freshman year at Princeton. Kira missed time her junior year during Lakewood’s first girls basketball state title appearance last season with an arm injury she suffered early in the season.
“I was kind of hoping this would be my year since I missed time last year and wasn’t that big of a presence on the floor,” Kira said. “But it gives me the opportunity to work on the leadership side of things and give support in other ways.”
Lakewood girls basketball coach Chris Poisson said the Tigers will make the most of the devastating injury as Lakewood attempts to make another long playoff run.
Camilla Emsbo won’t have her sister Kira on the court his season. Kira will undergo surgery Nov. 14 to repair a torn ACL. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Your heart breaks for her,” Poisson said of Lakewood’s ‘honorary assistant coach’. “She had a great summer. She was on a mission. I was pretty excited. We’ll put a positive light on it and be the best we can.”
Camilla, who averaged nearly 20 points per game and almost nine rebounds, will have to carry a heavy load again when the season begins in December for the Tigers.
“It’s brutal,” Camilla said of Kira’s torn ACL that will prevent her from playing. “She is one of the most positive and optimistic people I’ve ever met. She isn’t letting it get her down.”
Looking beyond high school, the Emsbo twins believe their selected university are a perfect fit.
“I was originally was going to wait longer then I did, but it got halfway through the summer and I wasn’t going to change my mind,” Kira said about verbally committing to Princeton in June. “This was what I want academically. I love the coaches. I love the school. It was the prefect place for me.”
Camilla is just as excited about heading to Yale.
“Obviously, academics are a huge priority for me,” Camilla said. “I think the Ivy League is where you get that perfect balance of academics and athletics.”
It’s the first time Poisson has had a player, let alone two players, sign with Division I programs.
“My Dad (Joe Poisson, a longtime girls basketball coach at Arvada High School) always talked about that,” said Poisson about how his late father never coached a future DI player. “I got two and from the same family. Are you kidding? I’ve been lucky and blessed. You don’t take it for granted because it doesn’t come around very often.”
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List of Jeffco-area signers
Columbine High School
Kerstin Layman, volleyball, Colorado Mesa University
Maeve Hungerford, women’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Melaine Lopez, softball, Trinidad State Jr. College
Nick Darrow, men’s lacrosse, Mercer University
Brock Harmon, men’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Gavin Beilman, men’s lacrosse, Westminster College
Robert Miner, men’s lacrosse, Belmont Abbey College
Gabe Mein, men’s lacrosse, University of Utah
Maddie Samuelson, women’s soccer, Hastings College
Conifer High School
Madeleine Foster, track/cross country, Western State
Nick Williams, men’s lacrosse, Hofstra
Kyle Butler, men’s lacrosse, Adams State
Cole Hollander, men’s lacrosse, Rhodes
Isabel Arnold, soccer, LeTourneau
D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School
Peyton Wright, volleyball, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Kendra Cerrone, volleyball, West Texas A&M
Abbey Selin, women’s swimming, University of Wyoming
Angi Reed, women’s basketball, Oregon Tech
Evergreen High School
Lauryn Jeans, women’s soccer, Claremont McKenna College
Tomah Whitney, cross country, Western State
Jack Patterson, baseball, Washburn University
Ben Muscatello, baseball, William Jewell College
Lauren Vilims, women’s swimming, University of Northern Iowa
Golden High School
Abby Garnett, women’s basketball, University of Ohio
Adam Thistlewood, men’s basketball, Drake University
Liam Johnson, men’s soccer, University of Denver
Megan Feiner, softball, Fort Hays State
Marrissa Malmgren, women’s lacrosse, Upper Iowa
Brennan Grass, men’s lacrosse, Adams State
Brad Banks, baseball, Kansas Wesleyan
Quinn Cusack, women’s soccer, Culver-Stockton
Green Mountain High School
Brook Thompson, women’s lacrosse, Westminster College
Emily Sammon, volleyball, Bethel University
JD Wadleigh II, baseball, South Mountain Community College
Jefferson High School
Marissa Gallegos, women’s wrestling, Grays Harbor College
Lakewood High School
Jack Castiglia, men’s golf, University of Northern Colorado
Gabe Dinette, wrestling, Stanford University
Ileana Dinette, diving, University of Denver
Camilla Emsbo, women’s basketball, Yale University
Kira Emsbo, women’s basketball, Princeton University
Avery Hughes, volleyball, University of Ottawa
Hayden Still, wrestling, Oregon State University
Audrey Woodhouse, women’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Ralston Valley High School
Anna Austin, swimming, University of Idaho
Haley Bass, softball, Dodge City Community College
Gianna Browdy, softball, Dodge City Community College
Delaynie Byrne, women’s basketball, University of Minnesota
Samuel Cowling, swimming, Southwestern Oregon CC
Isabelle Davenport, swimming, University of South Dakota
Ashley Drye, volleyball, Colorado Christian University
Giselle Eiche, volleyball, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Ian Klava, baseball, Puget Sound University
Luke Leisenring, baseball, Arizona State University
Mikeila Ruotsala, soccer, Oregon Tech
Samantha Van Sickle, women’s basketball, Colorado School of Mines
Jordan Winchester, lacrosse, Regis University
Mackenzie Winchester, lacrosse, Regis University
Elizabeth Wompey, swimming, Youngstown State University
Standley Lake High School
Garrett Martin, baseball, McLennan Community College
Elliot McNeave, baseball, Western Nebraska Community College
AURORA — The Classification and League Organizing Committee met Tuesday, and chief among their decisions was setting enrollment splits for the 2018-20 two-year cycle.
Those enrollment cutoffs are listed below, save for football, which has its classifications set by the football committee. Those splits will be posted within the next 10 days. This information is also available on this page.
A breakdown of each school’s reported Oct. 2017 enrollment, which is used to place programs into classifications, is available here.
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Enrollment cutoffs
Team Sports (except football)
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1392
up
4A
619
1391
3A
272
618
2A
88
271
1A
1
87
Cross Country
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1520
up
4A
788
1519
3A
304
787
2A
1
303
Boys Golf
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1520
up
4A
677
1519
3A
1
676
Girls Golf
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1590
up
4A
870
1589
3A
1
869
Gymnastics
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1698
up
4A
1
1697
Boys Swimming
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1622
up
4A
1
1621
Girls Swimming
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1765
up
4A
1160
1764
3A
1
1159
Boys Tennis
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1397
up
4A
1
1396
Girls Tennis
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1650
up
4A
1075
1649
3A
1
1074
Track
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1514
up
4A
788
1513
3A
298
787
2A
94
297
1A
1
93
Wrestling
Class
Bottom
Top
5A
1654
up
4A
955
1653
3A
304
954
2A
1
303
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Re-classification of schools
Three schools asked to reclassify according to bylaw 1500.21, which allows schools to move down a class if they meet a number of factors, such as socio-economics, geography, competitive history and enrollment trend.
Greeley Central was approved to reclassify. This means their team sports will compete in 4A, and representatives of the school said it was their intention to play up to 4A in sports, such as wrestling, where the reclassification would put them in 3A.
Montezuma-Cortez’s reclassification from 4A to 3A was also approved. Likewise, school reps said they would commit to playing up to 3A in any sports where the reclassification would put them in 2A.
Skyline’s reclassification from 5A to 4A was approved.
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Program playdowns
The following schools had their program playdown requests approved. These programs will not be eligible to compete in the postseason, per bylaw 1500.27.
Arvada football from 3A to 2A.
Boulder softball from 5A to 4A.
Calhan football from 1A to 8-man.
Cripple-Creek Victor from 8-man to 6-man.
Dolores Huerta from 1A to 8-man.
Jefferson from 2A to 1A.
Loveland boys and girls soccer from 5A to 4A.
Mead boys soccer from 4A to 3A.
Pinnacle football from 2A to 1A.
Rangeview boys lacrosse from 5A to 4A.
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New schools approved as members
The committee approved seven new schools for initial probationary membership into CHSAA. They are:
Denver School of Science & Tech – Byers, which is in Denver’s Wash Park neighborhood.
KIPP Northeast, located in northeast Denver.
Loveland Classical School, in Loveland.
Riverdale Ridge, in Brighton.
Strive Prep Rise, in northeast Denver.
Strive Prep Smart, in southwest Denver.
Thomas MacLaren, in Colorado Springs.
KIPP Northeast and Strive Prep Rise are housed in the same building and are planning to co-op, so they will play 4A. DSST-Byers, Riverdale Ridge and Strive Prep Smart will likely be 3A. Loveland Classical and Thomas MacLaren will likely be 2A,
Riverdale Ridge will most likely play 2A football, as well.
Another school, Windsor Charter, was not accepted because the CLOC members felt the school was not yet ready to become a member for a variety of reasons.
With these new schools, CHSAA will have 361 member schools in 2018-19.
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Stargate School granted full membership
One new school has joined CHSAA as a full member, moving off probationary status: Stargate School, which is located in Thornton.
Three others up for review for full membership were left on probationary status:
DSST-College View was left on because it has had multiple CHSAA violations dealing with eligibility.
Golden View Classical Academy and Victory Prep Academy were both left on probationary status because no one from the school attended the CLOC meeting.
DENVER — Chatfield junior Christian Holmes wasn’t even fully aware of the historical significance of his state victory at No. 1 singles at the Class 5A boys tennis state championship finals Saturday morning.
Holmes knew his 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Fairview senior Tom Melville made the junior the first Chatfield boys tennis player to ever win a state singles title, but it went much deeper. The victory marked the first time Jeffco Public Schools had claimed the No. 1 singles boys tennis state championship in the largest school classification since 1996.
Christian Holmes brought home the first Class 5A No. 1 singles title to Jeffco since 1996. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“I didn’t even know that,” Holmes said when told that info after talking to a swarm of media after his 3-set victory at Gates Tennis Center.
According to Colorado High School Activities Association records, Wheat Ridge’s Bryan Knepper won at No. 1 singles in 1996. Before that Chris Jenkins, also from Wheat Ridge, brought home the prized No. 1 singles title in 1990 and Jefferson’s Jeff Cathrall won in 1984.
Knepper, Jenkins, Cathrall and now Holmes are in fact the only Jeffco boys tennis players to ever win the top singles spot in the largest classification since the CHSAA began holding the state tournament back in 1927.
Ralston Valley’s Vinny Fallico claimed the No. 1 single crown back in 2004, but that was in the Class 4A tournament.
“I think Jeffco isn’t a powerhouse in tennis. We are a powerhouse in a lot of other sports, but not in tennis,” Holmes said. “It’s definitely big to bring it back to Jeffco and Chatfield. It feels super good.”
Christian Holmes can serve up back-to-back No. 1 singles title next year. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Chatfield actually finished sixth in the 5A team standings, mainly from the 17 team points Holmes racked up. The Chargers’ No. 2 double team of Eli Yeagley and Luke Carlson accounted for one team point with a playback victory.
It was a huge step up for Holmes at the state tournament. He has been playing in the No. 1 singles position since his freshman year. In 2015 he lost in the state quarterfinals as the lone freshman in the No. 1 singles draw. Last year, Holmes lost a 3-set match also in the quarterfinals.
Neither player who beat Holmes the past two years at state advanced to the No. 1 singles final, so Holmes didn’t even have a chance at a playback match to have a chance to place in the top-4.
However, Holmes does have a shot to become the first Jeffco boys tennis player to win back-to-back No. 1 singles titles ever. Wisely, Holmes isn’t thinking too far ahead to 2018.
“I try not to thing ahead. Even on the match-point I try not to think about how I’m going to shake his hand,” Holmes said. “I’m just in the moment. We’ll see next year.”
Christian Holmes had never placed in the top-4 in the No. 1 singles position at the Class 5A state tournament until his title victory Saturday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — Denver West football was victorious for the first time this season late Thursday afternoon at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood.
Jefferson’s Ben Alvear (1) closes in on Denver West QB Ramiro Barrazza. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The Cowboys (1-5, 1-1 in Class 2A Flatirons League) got a 35-16 road and conference victory against Jefferson (0-6, 0-2). Denver West quarterback Ramiro Barrazza rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another in the first half.
The Saints had a 8-7 lead in the first quarter, but Denver West scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns to take a 21-8 lead into the locker room.
Jefferson is still seeking its first win of the year. The Saints took a forfeit victory over KIPP Denver Collegiate during the 2015 season, but haven’t won a game on the field since 2013 when Jefferson finished with an 8-3 record and qualified for the 2A state tournament.
“It’s a statement win because we kind of had our backs to the wall and we knew that if we let another game slip, it would really hurt our season,” Longmont linebacker Austin Hassler told BoCoPreps.com.
Now, though, Longmont looks to have figured things out.
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Notables
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
5A No. 8 Columbine moved to 4-1 following a 48-28 win over Denver East. Logan Dearment threw two touchdown passes for the Rebels. Columbine now has nine touchdown passes through five games — the most they’ve had at this point in a season in at least a decade.
5A No. 2 Eaglecrest cruised to a 42-7 win over Bear Creek. The Raptors are 5-0.
5A No. 9 Grandview beat Cherokee Trail 40-13. The Wolves are 3-2.
2A No. 8 Faith Christian beat Jefferson 46-8. Faith is now 4-1.
5A No. 7 Fairview is 5-0 following its 27-16 win over Arapahoe.
