Greeley – Air Academy girls basketball coach Ivan Chambers must have some sort of pull.
Not only did the Kadets coach have Ms. Colorado Basketball Melissa Jones of Legacy on his team, he had All-Colorado teammate Mindy Nielson of Regis.
The two were unstoppable for Chambers’ White team, combining for 50 points in an 82-62 victory over the Blue in the championship game of the Colorado All-State Games at Butler Hancock Gymnasium.
“It’s just the way it worked out,” Chambers said of his good fortune. “It was fun for me, just to have the opportunity to work with them for just a couple of days. I had a blast.”
The Nielson-Jones tandem took over a tight game early in the fourth quarter. The Blue team, coached by Monte Vista’s James Canaday, knotted the score at 57-57 then watched the dynamic duo score all but four points in a 25-3 run that put the game out of reach.
Jones, who finished with a game-high 28 points, scored 18 in the final 10 minutes.
“Our team was just so competitive, and I know we didn’t come in too cocky, but we came in confident, knowing we weren’t going to leave with anything less than first place,” said Jones, who will play next season at Baylor. “It is a privilege to play with (Mindy). She’s incredible, and she just brings everyone around her up to a whole new level.”
Nielson, bound for Brigham Young, scored 10 points in the first quarter and finished with 22. Ouray’s Erica Ficco had nine points, and Platte Valley’s Kayla Warehime and Heritage’s Andrea Swanson each had eight.
Jessica Lynch of Pagosa Springs, who will play next season at Bucknell, hit four 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 18 points. Marcie Cooley of Centauri hit three 3s and finished with 15 points.
Blue 17 16 18 11 – 62
White 25 21 8 28 – 82
Blue – Banks (Dove Creek) 2 0-0 4, Ridennoure (Rocky Ford) 0 0-0 0, Lynch (Pagosa Springs) 7 0-0 18, Scholbe (Cherry Creek) 5 2-2 13, Furney (Rye) 1 0-0 2, Brown (Limon) 2 1-2 5, Cooley (Centauri) 5 2-4 15, Drexler (Golden) 3 1-3 5. Totals 25 6-11 62.
White – Warehime (Platte Valley) 2 2-2 8, Nielson (Regis) 10 2-2 22, Brennan (Heritage) 0 0-0 0, Ficco (Ouray) 3 3-5 9, Gilstrap (Dolores) 1 1-2 3, Jones (Legacy) 11 5-7 28, Robb (Wheat Ridge) 1 2-2 4, Swanson (Heritage) 3 2-5 8. Totals 31 17-25 82.
3-pt. goals – Lynch 4, Cooley 3, Scholbe; Warehime 2, Jones. Total fouls – Blue 18; White 14. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
