What Holy Family coach Ron Rossi said in the preseason is not exactly what the rest of the Class 3A field wanted to hear.
“We’ve gotten better,” said the coach of the two-time defending champion Tigers.
The Tigers’ trio of Alex Wilson, Taylor Helbig and Sarah Talamantes, as well as a bench that seemingly never ends, has put in the work since March to be ready for a field of teams that didn’t lose much to graduation.
“The experience of winning increases your basketball IQ,” Rossi said, “and they play like it and they know everybody is gunning for them. “There cannot be any slippage any time you play.”
Right out of the gate, Holy Family will host the very best the state has to offer. The Tiger Tip-Off (Thursday through Saturday) includes No. 2 Estes Park, No. 5 St. Mary’s, No. 7 Jefferson Academy, No. 8 Colorado Springs Christian and No. 9 Valley.
“It’s like a mini state tournament,” Rossi said.
Then, on Dec. 8, the Tigers travel to No. 3 Brush.
Estes Park, despite finishing fourth in the Patriot League tournament last year, peaked heading to state last season and rode now-junior Kimmie Hansen to the title game.
“She puts a lot of time in in the gym,” Estes Park coach Dave Kiser said of Hansen. “She’s not the only one to get better, but this whole team has improved.”
The list of contenders and star players is extensive. St. Mary’s guard Christina Whitelaw is the reigning Class 3A Ms. Basketball. Brush has Alicia Nichols, Eaton has Beth Cheney (sister of former 3A Ms. Basketball Alison Cheney of Platte Valley), and Buena Vista has Jeri Pikul and Alyssa Wilcoxson.
Jefferson Academy (Madison Page) is the favorite in the Frontier League. Pagosa Springs (6-foot-1 Mary Brinton) will be the team to beat in the Intermountain, and Olathe appears to be the best out west.
3A GIRLS HOOPS
3A top 10
1. Holy Family
2. Estes Park
3. Brush
4. Eaton
5. St. Mary’s
6. Buena Vista
7. Jefferson Acad.
8. C.S. Christian
9. Valley
10. Pagosa Springs
3A players to watch
Name School Ht. Yr.
Mary Brinton Pagosa Spr. 6-1 Jr.
Kimmie Hansen Estes Park 5-9 Jr.
Taylor Helbig Holy Family 5-9 Jr.
Alicia Nichols Brush 6-0 Sr.
Madison Page Jefferson Acad. 5-8 Jr.
Jeri Pikul Buena Vista 5-10 Sr.
Dallas Rohrbaugh Erie 5-6 Sr.
Sarah Talamantes Holy Family 5-8 Jr.
Christina Whitelaw St. Mary’s 5-9 Sr.
Alex Wilson Holy Family 5-9 Sr.
