Post Preps Insider is your daily source for news, story lines, top games and more information on Colorado high school sports — brought to you by Denver Post preps editor Kyle Newman.
Columbine girls basketball on the rise
The Class 5A Jeffco League is top-heavy this season, with No. 3 Ralston Valley, No. 8 Lakewood and upstart Dakota Ridge all bonafide playoff contenders.
But keep an eye on the program sitting just outside the league’s upper echelon — for now — as first-year Columbine head coach Greg Bolding Jr. believes he has the base to build the Rebels into a power.
Bolding took the Columbine job after leading Golden to a 22-4 record and a Great 8 appearance last season, and he brought his whole staff with him to Littleton.
“Itap a culture change, and our girls have bought in early,” said Bolding, who is also the Director of Operations for Colorado Premier. “These girls want to get better and want to compete — and I’m trying to push them to do both of those things.”
Columbine (10-3, 1-2) has already match its win total from last season thanks to the play of senior guard Jenna Lohrenz, junior center Maura Singer and sophomore power forward Quincey Baum.
Both Singer and Baum missed significant time with injuries last season, and the Rebels have also benefited from youngster guards with sophomore Ally Distler and freshman Adrienne Harnum.
“Going into the season, my concern was guard play, because we’re very, very young within our guards,” Bolding said. “We’re starting a freshman and a sophomore, and that could mean the difference between wins and losses. But our development from the start of the summer until now has been phenomenal.”
The Rebels are in action next on Wednesday at Arvada West (6-8).
Big showdowns in Class 5A boys hoops
Far Northeast (8-3) at No. 5 George Washington (10-5), 5:30 p.m.: Two of the most athletic teams in the state face off, and senior guard Sindou Cisse will be pivotal in the Warriors’ chance of pulling a Denver Public League upset.
No. 2 Chaparral (11-3) at 4A No. 10 Ponderosa (11-2), 7 p.m.: The city of Parker rivals meet in a Continental League battle amid plenty of early success, with the Wolverines’ star junior Ronnie DeGray III set to square off inside against Mustangs senior power forward Connor Hawk.
No. 1 Rock Canyon (13-0) at No. 7 Regis Jesuit (10-3), 7 p.m.: Coach Kent Grams and the Jaguars again put their undefeated record on the line against a capable Continental League foe, as the Raiders are capable of an upset with guards Jamil Safieddine and Sam Bannec.
