PARKER — For those wondering whether Sendy Valles’ prowess in Class 3A would transfer to the 5A level, we have the answer.
Yes, yes, yes.
The former Roosevelt girls basketball standout transferred to Highlands Ranch this season, and after sitting out the first half of the season as per the transfer rule, made her first appearance Friday in the No. 2 Falcons’ 62-40 whitewash of No. 3 Chaparral.
The 6-foot senior forward registered game-bests of 25 points and 14 rebounds, and her 17 first-half points matched that of the host Wolverines.
“I knew I could do it at this level, I just had to prove it to everyone else,” said Valles, who will play at Northern Arizona next season. “I think I did that tonight. We worked really well as a team, and my teammates found me in the open court.”
Valles scored off the break, in the post and from the perimeter while Katelyn McDaniel pitched in 18 points and 12 boards for the Falcons (9-3), who now might have nudged into front-runner status with Valles in the fold.
“She makes a little bit of a difference for them,” Chaparral coach Tony Speights said. “We see them again in a few weeks and we’ll make the necessary adjustments.”
The meeting between the Continental League foes was considered a nonleague game, with the league tilt slated for Jan. 26 at Highlands Ranch. Unfortunately for Chaparral (7-3), standout center Sam Martin likely will still be shelved.
Martin has missed the entire season while recuperating from a knee injury and is projected to return in February. Without her 6-foot-2 presence in the block, Chaparral was outrebounded 46-19. Melissa Ray led the Wolverines with 12 points.
Valles transferred partly to play with best friend and new teammate Tierra Shumpert and partly “because it’s senior year and I wanted to play 5A basketball and get ready for college.”
Whatever the case, the Falcons just gave the 5A circuit something new to chew on.
“As the season goes on, we’ll get better,” Valles said of the Falcons’ front line . “K-Mac is a great post and with Shanti (Smith) included, we could be unstoppable for the rest of the season.”
Highlands Ranch 15 20 12 15 — 62
Chaparral 7 10 9 14 — 40
Highlands Ranch — Li. Heap 2 0-0 5, McDaniel 6 6-6 18, Smith 2 1-2 5, Shumpert 2 2-4 7, Valles 11 2-3 25, Mallon 0 1-2 1, Flournoy 0 0-0 0, Baker 0 0-0 0, Neuhaus 0 0-0 0, Floyd 0 1-2 1, La. Heap 0 0-0 0, Yates 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 13-19 62.
Chaparral — Shapard 2 4-6 8, Baker 0 3-4 3, Ray 5 2-2 12, Gallo 2 0-0 4, Laboda 3 0-1 7, Pavlich 1 0-0 3, C. Martin 0 2-2 2, Longwell 0 0-0 0, Hartman 0 0-2 0, Heitmeier 0 0-0 0, Bacovcin 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 12-19 40.
3-point goals — Li. Heap, Shumpert, Valles; Laboda, Pavlich. Fouled out — Shepard.
