ARVADA — Ralston Valley boys basketball team is way ahead of where it was last season.
The Mustangs grabbed their third victory of the season Tuesday night with a dominating 62-29 victory over Standley Lake in the opening round of the 11th annual Ralston Valley RoundUp Tournament.
“It feels just great,” Ralston Valley senior Jordan Stratch said after the Mustangs’ 33-point victory. “Last year we had some problems. We played really good this game in the home opener.”
Ralston Valley senior Jordan Stratch (23) soars toward the basket during his game-high 24-point performance against Standley Lake. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The win matched Ralston Valley’s win total for the entire season last year when the Mustangs struggled to a 3-20 mark.
“It is kind of nice isn’t it,” second-year Ralston Valley head coach Chris Braketa said after the Mustangs ran their season record to 3-4. “They are playing hard and doing some good things. We are trying to play quicker and get out in transition.”
Standley Lake senior Jared Spencer started off the game with a 3-point play in the opening seconds to give the Gators (1-3 record) a lead, but it was clear early that Stratch would be tough for Standley Lake to cover.
The Mustangs’ lone senior scored 11 straight points early in the first half to help Ralston Valley grab a 27-13 lead at halftime.
“I didn’t think anyone on that team could guard me,” Stratch said after tying his career-high 24 points in his third year playing varsity for the Mustangs. “I was feeling it tonight.”
Ralston Valley junior Walker Brickle (30) looks for away around Standley Lake senior Alex France (22) during the first half Tuesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Stratch scored 24 points last week in a loss to Castle View.
“He (Stratch) has a ton of potential. He can shoot, drive it and post up and is a good ball handler,” Braketa said. “He’s got the potential to be a great player.”
Juniors Walker Brickle (8 points), Luke Carlston (7 points) and Caden Gigstad (7 points) helped the Mustangs move into the semifinals of the Ralston Valley RoundUp Tournament. Next up for the Mustangs will be Rampart at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, in the semifinals.
Rampart defeated Mountain Range 67-54 in the final of four games Tuesday night. Pomona and Legacy will meet in the other semifinal scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday at Ralston Valley High School.
“It is really important to win this (tournament),” Stratch said. “It will give us some confidence going into league.”
Ralston Valley junior Luke Carlston, far left, drives through traffic Tuesday night against Standley Lake. Carlston scored all of his seven points in the second quarter. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Ralston Valley hasn’t won the tournament it hosts since 2013.
Standley Lake was led by senior Chris Bowerman in the loss. Bowerman drained three 3-pointers in the third quarter on his way to a team-high 11 points. It was actually the only three field goals the Gators had in the second half. Standley Lake was limited to seven made shots on the night.
Spencer and senior Brady Rose both finished with six points each for the Gators.
“We want to hang our hats on the defensive end so we can get in transition,” Braketa said. “We have to find a way to get easy buckets. We really still don’t shoot it well from the outside.”
Ralston Valley junior Caden Gigstad (2) drives on Standley Lake senior Jared Spencer (10) as the Mustangs’ student section looks on during the first night of the 11th annual Ralston Valley RoundUp. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
DENVER — Standley Lake made school history on Saturday, winning the school’s first-ever spirit championship.
The Gators claimed the championship in the Class 4A poms division during Saturday’s state spirit finals, edging Ponderosa for the title.
It is only the third championship in any sport for the school, founded in 1988. Standley Lake also won a gymnastic championship in 2014, and a wrestling title in 2002.
Standley Lake finished with a score of 91.52. Ponderosa finished as runner-up (91.18). Wheat Ridge, the two-time defending champion, was third (90.72).
Elsewhere in Poms, Vail Christian won its eighth-consecutive state championship in 2A with a score of 82.77. Hotchkiss (80.27) was runner-up.
In 3A, University won its third Poms championship, and first since 2016. The Bulldogs had a score of 83.97. SkyView Academy (79.85) finished as runner-up.
Cherry Creek captured the 5A Poms title, the program’s seventh. The Bruins, who had a score of 95.12, last won in 2016.
Grandview (93.03) was the 5A runner-up.
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Cheer
(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com)
Erie captured its first trophy in cheer by winning the 4A championship with a score of 83.90. Thompson Valley (83.92) was second.
Grandview won the 5A cheer championship, the program’s fourth and 12th overall spirit title. They had a score of 92.75. Cherokee Trail (90.70) was second.
Highland (69.90) won the 2A championship, it’s third in a row. Cheyenne Wells (67.13) was runner-up.
The Pinnacle won its first-ever state championship in spirit by winning 3A with a score of 72.15. Coal Ridge (68.02) was second.
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Co-Ed Cheer
(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com)
The Co-Ed division saw three first time champions in ThunderRidge (5A), Golden (4A) and Coal Ridge (2A/3A).
ThunderRidge won its first Co-Ed title with a score of 84.23. The Grizzlies’ spirit program won the 2017 Poms title. Mountain Vista (76.98) was second, and four-time defending champion Castle View (76.92) was third.
Golden won the 4A Co-Ed title with a score of 70.53. Falcon (66.52) was runner-up.
In 2A/3A, Coal Ridge won by scoring 78.05. Strasburg (71.12) was second.
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Jazz
(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com)
Mountain Vista won its third Jazz championship by notching a score of 94.80.
Chaparral finished in second at 93.47.
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Hip-Hop
(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com)
Broomfield captured the Hip-Hop title. The Eagles, who scored 88.32, now have eight spirit championships.
Monarch finished in second by a narrow margin, at 88.03.
Regis Jesuit is atop the preseason hockey rankings for the 2018-19 season.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.
JEFFERSON COUNTY — Of the nearly 50 student-athletes from Jeffco Public Schools that signed their National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, two are heading to United States service academics.
Lakewood senior Amber Boll — Class 5A gymnastics all-around state champion — is headed to the Air Force Academy. D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School senior Taylor Gustafson is headed to the United State Coast Guard Academy to continue his lacrosse career.
Boll wrapped up her final year competing on Lakewood’s gymnastics team a few weeks ago in perfect style. She scored the first perfect 10 during the state meet in 30 years while sweeping all five individual events.
“It has been an honor to represent Lakewood through gymnastics,” Boll said during the signing celebration Wednesday morning. “It’s an experience I will never forget.
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Her plans down in Colorado Springs is to continue her gymnastics career, study mechanical engineering to eventually become a pilot.
Gustafson has been a mainstay playing lacrosse at Columbine for the past three seasons, including his two goals and assist performance in last spring’s 5A state quarterfinal game. The Rebels defeated powerhouse Cherry Creek 6-5 to advance to the state semifinals.
The D’Evelyn student-athlete has one more season on the lacrosse field with Columbine before heading to New London, Conn. to play for the Coast Guard Academy.
“I’ve had the desire ever since I was young to service my country,” Gustafson said during D’Evelyn’s afternoon signing ceremony. “I was truly inspired by my grandfather.”
Gustafson’s grandfather was a marine and served in Vietnam.
Gustafson said he started the recruiting process early. As so as his freshman year he started contacting colleges. He made a visit to the Coast Guard Academy two years ago and went through a quasi-military experience over this past summer that confirmed his desire to enter the service academy.
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Jeffco’s signers on National Letter of Intent (Early Period) — Nov. 14
Lakewood High School
Simon Baumgardt, baseball, Tulane University
Amber Boll, gymnastics, Air Force Academy
Brittany Bui, softball, North Platte Community College
Hannah Hayden, volleyball, Montana State University-Billings
Brayden Roybal, baseball, Concordia University-St. Paul
Macee Thompson, volleyball, Onondaga Community College
Conifer High School
Drew Sims, softball, Colorado Mesa University
Elizabeth Betsch, softball, Otero Junior College
Evergreen High School
Brett Bokelman, baseball, Rhodes College (Memphis, TN.)
Christina Crane, women’s swimming, University of Iowa
Claudia Dillon, volleyball, University of Missouri
Claire Donlan, rowing, University of Wisconsin
Anna LaDow, squash, Cornell University
Mackenzie Obleski, volleyball, Pacific Union College (Napa Valley, CA.)
Columbine High School
Gavin Olson, men’s swimming, University of Minnesota
Libby Spangler, women’s soccer, Minnesota State University
Alea Tooley, women’s lacrosse, University of Denver
Maura Singer, women’s basketball, University of Colorado
Taylor Juran, women’s swimming, University of Idaho
Melaini Jamison, women’s soccer, Wayne State College
Lexi Porter, women’s soccer, Colorado College
Tessa Barton, women’s soccer, University of Colorado
Erin Harnum, women’s swimming, Washington State University
Ralston Valley High School
Madison DeHerrera, women’s soccer, Southern Utah University
Sydney Eye, women’s golf, Metro State University
Nicholas Fox, men’s swimming, University of Florida
Calvin Hunt, baseball, University of Arkansas-Little Rock
AJ Jergensen, baseball, University of San Diego
Zach Lingk, baseball, North Park University
Shelby Nichols, women’s basketball, Colorado School of Mines
Sarah Piper, women’s soccer, Duke University
Abriana Trujillo, softball, Colorado School of Mines
Otto Jones, baseball, Washburn University
Sydney Stewart, softball, Trinidad State College
D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School
Laryssa Hamblen, women’s soccer, Brown University
Shiloh Miller, women’s soccer, Rice University
Isabella Scaturro, women’s soccer, University of Alabama
Taylor Gustafson, men’s lacrosse, United States Coast Guard Academy
Dakota Ridge High School
Logan Triplett, women’s lacrosse, University of Tampa
Sydney Daniels, women’s basketball, Regis University
Olivia Dampier, softball, Metro State University of Denver
Green Mountain High School
Rylie Haussler, women’s soccer, University of Houston
Shelby Ransom, women’s soccer, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Pomona High School
Brooke Weins, women’s gymnastics, University of Oklahoma
Jefferson Academy
Mira Houck, women’s soccer, Metro State University of Denver
Kristen Capan, women’s soccer, Colorado Mesa University
Standley Lake High School
Kelsey Clements, women’s soccer, Presentation College, Aberdeen, SD
Ceceila Elliott, softball, Otero Junior College
Brianna Ynostroza, softball, York College
Golden High School
Elizabeth Henshaw, women’s soccer, Culver-Stockton College (MO)
Katie Dunson, softball, Lamar Community College
The 2018 all-state gymnastics teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created based upon results at the state meet. The following criteria was used:
Athletes who won an event or finished in the top five in the all-around, and/or finished in the top two of an individual event, were named to the first team.
Athletes who finished fifth-10th in the all-around, and/or finished third-fifth in an individual event were named to the second team.
The athletes who won all-around championships in their classification were named gymnast of the year.
Coaches who led their teams teams to championships were named coaches of the year.
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Class 5A
Gymnast of the year: Amber Boll, Lakewood Coach of the year: Tracy Boychuk, Pomona
First Team
Name
School
Amber Boll
Lakewood
Samantha Demoss
Overland
Elena Reiffin
Overland
Tori Sayers
Arvada West
Mia Tims
Pomona
Brooke Weins
Pomona
Second Team
Name
School
Julia Butler
Pomona
Alexia Dellinger
Rocky Mountain
Aaliyah Jamison
Overland
Darcy Jew
Broomfield
Kalise Newson
Pomona
Melanie Roberts
Broomfield
Payton Roberts
Arvada West
Carly Schnabel
Lakewood
Delenn Steffes
Overland
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Class 4A
Gymnast of the year: Emily Graham, Green Mountain Coach of the year: Marisa Purcell, Niwot
Arvada West High School took first in the coed cheer division at the Jeffco Spirit Invite on Nov. 6 at Ralston Valley High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — The Jeffco League held its spirit (dance and cheer) conference championships Nov. 1 and Nov. 6 at Ralston Valley High School.
Here is a list of winners:
Class 5A Cheer: Ralston Valley
Class 5A Pom: Dakota Ridge
Coed Cheer: Arvada West
Hip Hop: Chatfield
Jazz: Valor Christian
Class 4A Cheer: Wheat Ridge
Class 4A Pom: Standley Lake
JV Cheer: Ralston Valley
JV Pom: Standley Lake
JV Hip Hop: Pomona
Freshman Cheer: Ralston Valley
Spirit squads from across the state will compete at the CHSAA Spirit State Championships Dec. 7 and 8 at the Denver Coliseum.
COLORADO SPRINGS — Jeffco cross country teams and individuals competed at the state championships Oct. 27 at Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs.
Dakota Ridge’s boys where the highlight for Jeffco with the Eagles winning the Class 5A boys team title.
