After losing in the Great 8 as the top-ranked team in last season’s Class 5A state tournament, girls basketball returns its entire starting lineup, plus some.
But even with an abundance of skill and experience — and even with the state’s all-time winningest girls coach in Caryn Jarocki, who recently notched her 600th career victory — the Falcons aren’t taking anything for granted.
“From last year, we learned we can’t underestimate anyone,” senior point guard Tommi Olson said. “Every time we step out on the court there’s a chance to lose, and we have to want it more than they do. We have to always play with the energy, determination and discipline this program has become known for.”
After all, it was the Falcons’ basketball legacy that prompted Olson to move to Highlands Ranch from Worland, Wyoming, prior to her freshman year. The senior, who’ll play college ball at the University of Wyoming, remains the centerpiece of a varied Falcons’ attack.
“We rely on always playing team basketball, and sometimes other teams’ style of play can be beaten even if they’re better athletes as long as we play better team ball,” Jarocki said. “That’s what we work on and preach — make the next pass, everybody contributes, and you never know when it’s going to be someone’s big night.”
In addition to Olson, the starting cast for the No. 3 Falcons (5-1) is rounded out by junior power forward Autum Watts, senior guard Courtney Humbarger, junior shooting guard Tori Beck and junior shooting guard Jamie Bain.
Watts leads the team in scoring (14.5 points) and holds an array of Division I offers including New Mexico, CSU and DU, while Humbarger (11.7 points per game, Western State commit) is the Falcons’ other key senior leader. Highlands Ranch increases its depth with the return of junior power forward Kasey Neubert in January, a starter from last season who’s been rehabilitating from an ACL tear. Freshman point guard Payton Muma (already offered by DU) comes off the bench.
The Falcons already endured a tough learning lesson this season when they built up an early 13-point lead over La Jolla Country Day in the semifinals of the prestigious La Jolla Tournament to open the season — only to eventually lose by two points.
“As soon as they started hitting their shots, it felt like we gave up a little bit during their first half run,” Watts said. “Now we know any team is capable of returning at any moment, and we can’t give up our focus on either end of the court. … I feel confident about our team because we’ve been playing with each other in high school and club for so long that our chemistry is unbreakable.”
