When Tammi Statewright was fired for the first time in her life, it was perhaps the best thing for her coaching career.
Statewright coached at Gateway for nine seasons, but was given a pink slip after going 4-18 in 2017-18. When that happened, she was ready to be done with coaching. Some within her circle encouraged her to apply for the Cherokee Trail job, but the listing had closed.
Then, the listing reopened.
“Sometimes you don’t know what’s best for you,” Statewright said. “So getting fired at Gateway, it was a blessing in disguise. I was devastated because I loved that community and I love those kids. I was heartbroken, and I was just going to be a mom and do my own thing.”
The Cougar faithful should be glad it didn’t pan out that way.
Since Statewright took the job eight years ago, Cherokee Trail has emerged as a perennial Class 6A contender. That included a first-ever Final Four berth two seasons ago. This season, the top-seeded Cougars return to the Denver Coliseaum on Thursday for a showdown against Northfield.
Statewright, a 1990 Montbello graduate, has a team capable of raising its first banner.
Cherokee Trail is headlined by Wichita State commit Aaliyah Broadus, a senior guard who can score at all three levels. Broadus’ surrounding cast is dangerous, too, with senior guard Karson Chaney (CSU-Pueblo), freshman guard Chloe Cain, sophomore guard Milania Gutierrez and senior guard Hannah Hazim (Bethany College).
Broadus and Chaney were on the floor two years ago when Cherokee Trail was up at halftime against Valor Christian in the Final Four, only for the Eagles to emerge with a 71-59 victory en route to winning the state title.
“We were up in that game and then we decided to start taking a bunch of hero shots and wanting to be superstars, and it cost us,” Statewright said. “So I think this group is a little bit more understanding of not caring about (individual stats), and only caring about the win at the end.
“This team can overcome obstacles better with each other than teams I’ve had in the past. We know how to rely on the team aspect, as opposed to one person trying to carry us.”
In addition to No. 1 Cherokee Trail aiming for program history, here are more storylines and players to watch at the 2026 CHSAA Class 6A and Class 5A Final Four on Thursday and Friday at the Denver Coliseum. The Class 4A Final Four pairings will be decided during Wednesday’s Great 8, which is also at the Coliseum.
Chaparral’s Takeover Dude. The Wolverines have an array of weapons, but there might not be a better pure scorer in the state than Christian Williams. The junior guard already holds offers from Stanford, CSU, and Cal, with surely more to come. He has 1,397 career points with still a full season left, and has improved drastically in his defense, passing and rebounding.
Rock Canyon’s due. This is the Jaguars’ third Final Four in Kent Grams’ 14 seasons as head coach, but will this be the time the Jaguars finally break through to the championship? They’ll have to avenge recent defeats to Chaparral (last year’s Sweet 16, this year in a game that decided the Continental League champion) to get there. Junior forward Jacob David will be critical.
Ralston Valley’s dynamic duo. The Mustangs won their first and only crown behind all-time preps great Nick Fazekas, who went on to star at Nevada and then play professionally. To get back to the mountaintop, the Mustangs will need big performances by the senior trio of Caiden Braketa, Zeke Andrews and Frank Psaute. All three average double digits.
Rangeview’s stout defense. The Raiders have several scorers who can dominate, and they can pile up buckets in transition and the half-court. But what has really set Rangeview apart is its commitment to defense. The lanky, athletic Raiders (who have six players who are 6-foot-3 or taller) completely shut down Cherry Creek in the Great 8 by allowing only 12 first-half points.
Coaching icons on center stage. Two of the most renowned coaches in Colorado high school girls basketball history face off in Thursday night’s Final Four when Highlands Ranch’s Caryn Jarocki takes on Denver East’s Carl Mattei. The two had many great showdowns in the first decade of this century when Mattei was at Regis Jesuit and Jarocki’s Falcons were mid-dynasty.
Northfield’s mother-daughter duo. are coached by Sydney Price, whose daughter Madison Bethel has been a program pillar for three seasons. Their only in-state losses came to DPS rival Denver East (twice), which they avenged with a 61-59 win over the Angels in the district tournament. Watch out for junior guard London Taylor (14.6 points, 4.6 steals per game).
Denver East’s Serbian X-factor. The Angels are back in the Final Four for the first time in 16 years, largely thanks to senior forward Mairead Hearty (16.9 points) and junior guard Grace Hall (12.3). But don’t overlook the importance of 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Mia Avramovic, who came to the U.S. this season and has played for
Falcons’ scoring sophomores. Highlands Ranch is young, with only one senior, guard Kniyah Dumas, making an impact. The Falcons will lean on sophomore sensations (17.2 points per game) and Jayda Rogers (10.0). Plus, for Jarocki’s Falcons to control the paint, freshman post Kennedi Toliver is going to have to play beyond her years.
Motivation by Miller. Lewis-Palmer will go as far as can take them. The Rangers’ catalyst is averaging 17.8 points per game plus 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals. He dropped 17 points in the upset over top-seeded Palisade in the Great 8. Surrounding Miller are sophomore guard Devin VanderMeer (10.8 points) and senior forward Bryce Lowe.
Silver Creek’s run. The Raptors lost three straight games in mid-January, and it appeared the train was going off the tracks. But retiring head coach Bob Banning straightened out Silver Creek, which won 13 of its last 14 games, including upsets over Eagle Valley in the Sweet 16 and Mesa Ridge in the Great 8. The Raptors’ linchpin is senior guard Luke Schmeeckle (18.7 points).
Lutheran’s sideline legend. There’s no doubt that Lions head coach Josh Adams could still lace ’em up and take any kid in this tournament to school. The Colorado prep hoops icon, best known for his to capture the 2012 state title for Chaparral, leads an athletic and versatile team headlined by 6-foot-9 forward Kade Speckman (Indiana State).
Windsor’s repeat chances. Giving the Wizards a No. 11 seed for this tournament felt like a flaw in the computer calculations from the very beginning. The defending champions upset Regis Groff in the Sweet 16 and then Severance in the Great 8, if you believe the seeding. Senior guard Madden Smiley, a Wyoming commit, can put this team on his shoulders this weekend.
Lutheran’s dominance. No one’s come close to touching the Lions in the playoffs, as Lutheran’s won every game by at least 20 points. Since losing to Green Mountain in overtime on Dec. 18, the Lions have ripped off 19 straight wins. Senior guard is the primary scorer at 14.6 points per game, while junior center Isla Koffmann controls the glass (8.2 rebounds).
Standley Lake’s phenom freshman. Where did these girls come from? The Gators, making their first Final Four appearance, are led by 23.9 points per game. Fellow freshmen Chloe Miller and Ireland Kassatly are also key. Standley Lake is coached by first-year boss Enoch Miller, who led Roosevelt to consecutive Class 5A titles in 2023 and ’24.
Green Mountain’s supporting cast. With leading scorer Kantyn Pearson the rest of the Rams stepped up in the Great 8, paced by the junior duo of Grace Herrig and Addie Evans. Those two will again need to come up big, while fellow juniors Ella Cockrum and Cadyn Cavanaugh must also elevate their play to keep the program’s hopes of a first title alive.
Montrose’s depth. As the demonstrated in their Great 8 victory over Air Academy, they are a sum-of-their-parts type of team. One of two undefeated girls teams left this season, along with Class 2A Simla, balanced Montrose has three players averaging double-digit scoring in senior forward Mayce Oberg, senior guard Maggie Legg and freshman guard Landree Johnson.
Final Four Schedule
Thursday
5A Girls: No. 2 Green Mountain vs. No. 3 Montrose, 11 a.m.
5A Boys: No. 8 Lewis-Palmer vs. No. 13 Silver Creek, 12:45 p.m.
5A Girls: No. 1 Lutheran vs. No. 5 Standley Lake, 2:15 p.m.
5A Boys: No. 10 Lutheran vs. No. 11 Windsor, 4 p.m.
6A Girls: No. 1 Northfield vs. No. 5 Cherokee Trail, 5:45
6A Girls: No. 6 Denver East vs. No. 7 Highlands Ranch, 7:15 p.m.
岹
4A Boys/Girls Games: Matchups TBD based off Wednesday’s Great 8
6A Boys: No. 1 Chaparral vs. No. 5 Rock Canyon, 5:45 p.m.
6A Boys: No. 2 Ralston Valley vs. No. 3 Rangeview, 7:15 p.m.
