Class 5A and 4A girls basketballers are down to their final four, beginning tonight at the Coors Events Center.
In 5A, the survivors are four of the most accomplished programs of the past 15 years. Doherty (25-1) will take on Highlands Ranch (22-3) and, in a rematch of last season’s title game, Horizon (21-4) against three-time defending state champion ThunderRidge (21-3) follows. The four have won nine of the past 14 big-school state titles.
ThunderRidge, in its sixth consecutive final four, is as familiar with this time of the season as it is with Horizon. Last season’s Grizzlies, one of the best teams in the nation, had to scramble in the fourth quarter to get past Horizon. Revamped this season, ThunderRidge fell behind 22-6 in the first quarter before rallying to beat the Hawks in an early-season game.
“It’s about effort and who handles the atmosphere better,” Grizzlies coach Bill Bradley said.
Despite having a 69-game, in-state winning streak end, the Grizzlies are deep and aggressive. Jayna Hartig is the lone returning starter, and sister Kelly Hartig, a 6-foot-3 junior, has had big games in the middle.
Horizon, state champion in 1992-93, is making its third consecutive trip to the semifinals. Junior Hannah Tuomi has emerged as one of the state’s best players, while sophomore Nikki Trujillo and freshman Cherae Medina have stepped into starting roles.
The memories may not be as fresh, but Doherty and Highlands Ranch have plenty of playoff history as well.
The Falcons won three straight titles before ThunderRidge started its run, and two came at the expense of Doherty. “They don’t match up well with us, but we don’t match up well with them, either,” coach Caryn Jarocki said.
Guard Jaclyn Thoman runs the Falcons’ offense, and three sophomores – Alyssa Fressle, Jade Davis and Melisa Ryba – have established themselves with senior Ali Thorderson.
Taller Doherty (Emily Stockman), state champion in 1991-92 and 1994-95, has not lost to a 5A team this season. “We have the advantage inside … but their five starters are very guard-like, and that could present some problems for us,” coach Stephanie Leasure said.
In 4A, Greeley West (19-8) literally has been looking up to the competition, but 5-4 point guard Sara Hemmings and the Spartans have battled to a second consecutive final four. Next up: Mullen (23-2), “a tough matchup for us,” coach Dave Kiser said.
Mullen’s smothering defense, four-pronged scoring attack and deep bench has the Mustangs riding a 20-game winning streak. Meghan Hurley and Kathleen Majewski are the team’s leading scorers, but also watch for Jenna Erdle and Carrie Wagner.
Moffat County (25-0) and Regis (22-3) will open the slate of four games at 4 p.m. Regis’ only two in-state losses have come against 5A semifinalists. Aija Putnina is a force in the middle, and Katie Mihalco, Mindy Nielson and Mariah Williams have Regis on the verge of erasing last season’s loss in the semifinals.
No team had come within nine points of Moffat County until Harrison last weekend. Markie Workman leads the Bulldogs in scoring with more than 14 a game.
