ARVADA — Friday at Indian Tree Golf Course was moving day of sorts for Class 5A and 4A Jeffco League boys golfers.
In the fourth of six scheduled Jeffco League tournaments, golfers made moves to position themselves for the final stretch that will determine individual and team titles.
Lakewood junior Max Lange, defending 5A Jeffco individual medalist, got himself in the mix to repeat as the conference champion. Lange shot the best round of the day with a 2-under-par, 68. The junior moved into seventh place for the individual medalist title.
Ralston Valley junior Gage Messingham and Lakewood senior Ryan Liao are leading the pack with Arvada West senior Tyler Tyson currently in third place. Ralston Valley senior Jack Larson, Columbine senior Drex Duffy and Ralston Valley senior Trey Kirschner are also still in the mix for the conference title. The top six golfers in 5A are separated by just 1-stroke when it comes to their 9-hole average.
Ralston Valley does have a sizable 47-shot lead in the team standings over second-place Lakewood.
In 4A, Conifer senior Dakota Dolph and Littleton junior Emmett Loomis tied for the individual title at Indian Tree. Both shot 5-over-par rounds of 75. Dolph and Green Mountain senior Oliver Gibbons are title atop of overall individual standings with a 9-hole average of 37.83.
The team race for the league title is just as tight. Evergreen and Green Mountain are tied with 1,310 total shots through the first four league tournaments.
The final two Jeffco League tournaments are scheduled for the Broadlands (Wednesday, Sept. 9) and West Woods Golf Course (Monday, Sept. 14). However, the possible winter storm that is forecasting from 5 to 8 inches of snow in the Denver Metro Area on Tuesday could cancel the tournament at Broadlands. If that becomes the case the individual and team titles will be decided at West Woods on Sept. 14.
Pomona junior Maggie Geise tossed a no-hitter with nine strikeout in three innings Friday against Northglenn. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Pomona softball couldn’t have asked for a better start to its 2020 season.
The Panthers opened with a complete-game 15-0 victory with the offensive and defensive both doing its share against Northglenn.
Pomona junior pitcher Maggie Geise was nearly perfect. Geise struck out nine batters in three innings pitched. The only baserunner that reached for the Norse was sophomore Nayelli Mora on a throwing error in the second inning.
“I just like to stay in my zone, throw and play my game,” said Geise after striking out the side in all three innings.
Pomona senior J’Lysaa Martinez, left, successfully steals third base before Northglenn junior Anissa Galarza can put down the tag. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Pomona’s bats did their part cranking out 16 hits in three innings. Senior Kendall Hufford did her fair share of damage. Hufford had a single and double, driving in four runs during the Panthers’ 10-run first inning.
“I thought it was really fun,” Hufford said of the Panthers’ first inning where they sent 14 batters to the plate. “I’m excited because I didn’t think we would play this well. I’m super excited about how the season is going to go.”
Hufford singled in the second inning and the Panthers plated a pair of runs on the hit after an error by Northglenn. Pomona senior J’Lyssa Martinez ended the game in the bottom of the third inning with her third hit of the game with an RBI single that induced the 15-run rule after three innings.
“You’ve got to put the ball in play and run hard,” Pomona coach Jim Biddle said of Pomona’s offense. “You have to put pressure on the opposing team. If we can continue to do that then we should be OK.”
Biddle is also confident in Geise. She had a 7-4 record with a 3.44 ERA last season.
“Good experience and a good solid mental focus. Nothing rattles her,” Biddle said of Geise. “She moves the ball around, changes speeds and keeps batters off-balanced. We are expecting a lot out of her this year.”
Pomona plays five non-league games in the span of nine days to start preparing for the always tough Class 5A Jeffco League. Columbine is the defending 5A Jeffco League and 5A state champion, but without ace pitcher Korbe Otis this season the door is open a little bit more for someone to step up to win the conference.
“It’s a tough league. One of the toughest in 5A,” Hufford said of 5A Jeffco. “We have a pretty good shot from what I saw today, but it will be tough. We will work hard toward it. There are big opportunities for us.”
5A Jeffco teams Columbine, Chatfield and Ralston Valley all made the CHSAANow.com preseason Top-10. Lakewood, Arvada West, Valor Christian and Pomona also received votes.
“There are no easy games in our league,” Biddle said. “Any team can win this league. That is how it’s always been and this year is no exception.”
Pomona junior Ashlynn Hendrix prepares to take off from second base during the Panthers’ 15-0 victory over Northglenn on Friday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
GOLDEN — Arvada West senior Tyler Tyson had a record-breaking performance in the Jeffco League boys golf tournament opener Monday, Aug. 10.
Tyson fired an 8-under-par, 63 at Applewood Golf Course to break to school record at A-West for lowest round at a tournament. The Wildcats’ top golfer had nine birdies. His lone blemish was a bogey on No. 9.
“My putter,” Tyson said of what allowed him to go so low. “I putted well. I had 25 putts I think. Good wedges too. I made everything. It was fun.”
Conifer senior Dakota Dolph fired an even-par, 71 on Monday at Applewood Golf Course to win the individual Class 4A Jeffco title in the first of six conference tournaments this boys golf season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Tyson finished the best round of the day with a birdie putt on the 18th hole. He finished four strokes ahead of Ralston Valley junior Gage Messingham (4-under-par, 67). Ralston Valley cruised to the team title with Messingham, along with seniors Jack Larson (3-under-par 68) and Trey Kirschner (2-under-par 69) also finishing in red numbers.
“It gives me a pad because this is a scary little (conference) this year,” Tyson said of getting out to a sizable lead in the race for the Class 5A Jeffco League individual medalist title.
A number of the top 5A Jeffco golfers from last year have returned. Defending medalist champion — Lakewood junior Max Lange — is back, but missed the conference opener because he was in California for a tournament.
Lakewood senior Ryan Liao placed fifth Monday with a strong 1-under-par, 70. Liao has been one of the state’s top golfers finished in the top-4 at the state tournament the past two years.
“It’s nice to be back,” Lakewood coach Alan Gonzales said before the first group teed off at 8 a.m. “It’s nice to be out here. Just happy to have the opportunity to be out here and another chance to prove ourselves.”
Lakewood senior Ryan Liao is one of the top state contenders in Class 5A this season after back-to-back top-4 finishes at state the past two years. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The Tigers want to redeem themselves after failing to qualify as a team to the 5A state tournament. Lange and Liao both went to state last year, but they were the lone Tigers to advance to the two-day state tournament.
“It was good to be there with two quality individuals, but we are more than that,” Gonzales said. “We know we can do better. It’s unfinished business.”
Liao finished tied for third last year at state after placing fourth as a sophomore. Lakewood was also in the team race in 2018 finishing second.
“We want to be right there again,” Gonzales said of Lakewood in the mix for a 5A team title. “It’s more of an expectation than a goal. We should be contending.”
Liao’s goal is to cap off his remarkable prep career with his first individual state crown.
“Senior year, I’m looking to win it,” Liao said. “I’m looking to break that streak. Hopefully not take second this year. I want to skip over that spot and take first.”
It’s the last go-around for Liao who has already established himself as one of the top Jeffco golfers over the past few decades.
“Ryan is right up there,” Gonzales said of the handful of top-notch golfers that have come through Lakewood over the last several years. “He is a special player. A special kid. He is determined on the golf course.”
Green Mountain senior Oliver Gibbons eyes his tee shot on No. 2 at Applewood Golf Course. Gibbons shot a 1-over-par, 72 to finish second in the 4A Jeffco individual standings. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
On the 4A side Monday at Applewood Golf Course, Conifer senior Dakota Dolph’s even-par, 71 just edged Green Mountain senior Oliver Gibbons by a stroke to win the opening 4A Jeffco tournament.
The Rams did win the team title with Gibbons, fellow senior Jack Policaro and sophomore Jon Lord shooting rounds in the 70s to take a 21-stroke led on Evergreen for the race to the 4A Jeffco League team title.
The next Jeffco League tournament is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 17, at Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton.
Ralston Valley boys golf won the first 5A Jeffco League meet on Monday, in an event held at Applewood Golf Course. The Mustangs shot 276 overall, ahead of second-place Columbine (291).
When the CHSAA boys basketball record book got updated two weeks ago, it provided a reminder of some memorable performances that fans saw throughout the year. It also provided fitting ends for some of the best basketball players to come through the state.
There were top performances from both individual players and overall teams that stand out for years down the road.
There were standout defensive numbers combined with plenty of offensive output that makes the last boys basketball season one to remember.
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Mancos’ Caden Showalter ended his career as one of the most efficient players in state history. At the conclusion of this last year, he totaled 58 career double-doubles, besting Colorado Springs Christian’s Sam Howard by five.
A few other players broke into the top 10 of the same category. Pomona’s Trevor Baskin ended with 38 to finish 10th with Mile High Academy’s Blake Essex coming in for a tie at eighth with 40.
Vanguard’s Dominique Clifford finished fifth in career double-doubles with 43. He had 24 this last season which is second most in a single season. The University of Colorado commit’s career was capped with several notable spots in the record book.
He finished third in career rebounds in the state tournament (109), fifth in career triple-doubles (3), sixth in rebounds in a single state tournament (51) and second in triple-doubles for a year (2).
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From a percentage standpoint, no one had a better free throw shooting year than DSST: Byers’ Kyrie Thomas. He made his way to the line 84 times and sank 79 shots to shoot 94.048 percent, the best season for anyone with at least 50 attempts.
He also knocked down 30 consecutive free throws during the season, the fourth longest streak in state history.
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(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Conifer’s Landon Wallace will always hold a place in state history as one of the top all-time assists men. He cracked the top five in career assists with 697 and dished out 239 in 2019-20 alone, fifth most in a single year.
In 2018-19, he dished out 256 which is the second most in state history.
From a team standpoint, Resurrection Christian made its mark as one of the most unselfish teams on record. The Cougars recorded 569 assists this year, No. 3 on the all-time list. Denver East (550) and Highland (533) also cracked into the top 10 of the category.
Peaking of Highland, Tate Bessire had another season in which he finished top 10 in a single season in steals with 128. He finished his career with 392, which is second most all-time.
Sterling and Mead turned in some of the best long-range shooting seasons on record. The Tigers set a state record for most 3-pointers made by a team in a single season at 272. That tops Eagle Calley’s 2017-18 mark of 268. Mead ended the season with a respectable 237 made 3-pointers, fifth most all-time.
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Notables
Loveland’s Austin Bierhaus recorded 13 blocks in a Dec. 20 win over Northridge. It’s tied for fifth most in a game by a single player. He finished with 162 for the season which is No. 4 in the category. The team overall had 201 blocks, eighth most all-time for a team.
Lutheran’s Baye Fall scored 456 points last season which is seventh most for a freshman.
Longmont Christian’s Kyle Saunders recorded 144 steals, fourth most in a single season for any player.
Sheridan’s David Marquez III ended his career as one of the most efficient 3-point shooters in state history. His 48.052 career percentage from behind the arc is No. 9 in the category. He shot 56.923 percent from long range last year for the seventh best season on record.
Chaparral guard Kobe Sanders was never shy about firing up shots. His 613 career 3-point attempts are 10th most in state history.
Dawson’s Riley Burridge and Peak to Peak’s Garrett Shriver each attempted 21 3-pointers in a game this last year, tied for third most. In all, Burridge fired up 265 shots from long range, the sixth most in a single season. He made 97 of them, tying him for No. 8 in a single season with Rye’s Bryan Ribaudo and Fossil Ridge’s Braxton Bertolette.
Sedgwick County ended the years as the toughest team to ever score against in Colorado history. The Cougars gave up just 34 points per game, the best points against average of all-time.
Highland attempted 1,804 field goals last year, more than any other team in state history. It made 852 of them which is also more than any team before it. The Huskies scored a total of 2,155 points, seventh most for a single team, and averaged 86.2 per game, second most all-time.
Jeffco Stadium and North Area Athletic Complex turned on its lights last week to recognize the Colorado High Schools Activities Association’s state track meet and honor the Class of 2020 and student-athletes across the state.
Jeffco Stadium would have hosted all-classifications of the state track meet May 21-23. NAAC’s soccer and football fields would have hosted girls soccer, along with boys and girls lacrosse games this spring.
LAKEWOOD — Jeffco Stadium and the North Area Athletic Complex will turn on their stadium lights this week.
Jeffco Stadium (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Jeffco Stadium (6th Ave. and Kipling St., Lakewood) would have hosted the three-day, all-classification state track meets starting Thursday, May 21. The spring sports season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 61-year-old stadium will turn on its stadium lights at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 21-23) to honor the state track meet, graduating Class of 2020 and student-athletes who missed out on the spring athletics season.
The North Area Athletic Complex (HWY 93 and 64th Pkwy., Arvada) will also join the statewide Be The Light campaign by turning on its lights at 8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday (May 21 and 22).
