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The 2013 all-state girls basketball teams, sorted by classification.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A |

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Class 5A

Diani Akigbogun, the Class 5A player of the year, .

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Class 4A

Mikala Gordon. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

Every time you looked up, Mikala Gordon was there. Rebounding in the paint, diving after a loose ball, pushing the possession in transition.

The senior was the best player on the court in the Class 4A state championship game. And that game was merely a showcase of her season.

“She simply dominated the state championship game — rebounding, shooting, defending,” said D’Evelyn coach Chris Olson, whose team lost to Gordon and Pueblo South in that game. “Her will to win was unmatched by any other player I saw this year. Her physical presence is intimidating.”

Gordon, the 4A girls basketball player of the year, averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.7 assists this season.

“She was dominant in our league and through the state playoffs,” said Pueblo County coach Mark Villegas.

— Ryan Casey, The Denver Post

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Class 3A

Lindsey Chavez. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

It’s become a Chavez family affair at Holy Family.

A year after her older sister Megan’s team was stunned in the regional finals, Lindsey and freshman Katie vowed to return the Tigers to prominence.

They did just that.

“She’s a pretty special player,” said Rossi, whose team is going to be tough again in 2013-14. “She has put in a lot of time to become the player she is.”

Lindsey Chavez, a junior, helped lead the Ron Rossi-coached Tigers to their fifth state championship in six years. She averaged only 13 points, but her quick hands helped her average nearly four steals.

In the Tigers’ double-overtime victory over St. Mary’s in the state title game, LindseyChavez had 22 points, four steals and three assists.

— Jon E. Yunt, The Denver Post

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Class 2A

Ally Vasquez.

Let’s face it, Akron had a wealth of riches.

Coach Rick Agan couldn’t just roll the ball out and watch his undefeated team do its thing, but it was darn close.

The Rams (27-0) cruised to their second consecutive Class 2A girls state title and senior Ally Vasquez played a starring role.

She led the Rams with averages of 16 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists. She grabbed 33 rebounds in the Rams’ three state tournament games.

Two other Rams, Jordan Baer and Sidney Merrill, also merited consideration, could have won this award. But Agan was adamant about Vasquez’s merits.

“She just had a spectacular year,” he said.

Vasquez has at least five college offers to continue her playing career and is still trying to decide.

— Jon E. Yunt, The Denver Post

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Class 1A

Tai Nittler

“There is no doubt in my mind,” Kim coach Justin Winfrod said. “I may be a little bit biased, but Tai’s the best.”

His prized prot茅g茅 — Tai Nittler — is the latest in a great line of players to earn this award from the tiny southeastern Colorado school.

Kim, with a listed enrollment of 26 students, has hung its athletic hat on the success of its girls basketball team that this year went all the way to the state title game with just seven players.

Naturally the numbers might seem a bit inflated, but that is because playing smart basketball is a must when your bench sometimes had more coaches than players.

Nittler averaged 19.7 points, seven assists, 8.7 rebounds and 3.9 steals for the Mustangs, who lost 41-40 to Wiley in the state title game.

— Jon E. Yunt, The Denver Post