Class 5A girls basketball league outlooks

Rocky Mountain News

Published December 1, 2008 at 6 a.m.

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CENTENNIAL LEAGUE

Favorite: Arapahoe

Contenders: Cherry Creek, Grandview, Cherokee Trail

Key players: Amy Barczuk, Arapahoe, 5-10, Sr.; Cherelle Cropp, Smoky Hill, 5-7, Sr.; Haley Haddock, Cherry Creek, 5-8, Sr.; Diana Hentschel, Arapahoe, 5-10, Sr.; Danielle McGruder, Smoky Hill, 5-10, So.; Megan Stark, Cherry Creek, 5-8, Sr.; Amanda Wojahn, Arapahoe, 5-9, Sr.; Sullivan Ziegler, Grandview, 5-6, Jr.

Outlook: What does Arapahoe’s move to the league mean? Well, the Warriors will go from a middle-of-the-pack team in the college-preparatory Continental League to an immediate contender here. Teams such as Cherry Creek and Grandview, which likely would have been battling only one another for the league’s top 5A seed, definitely will notice the Warriors’ impact. An interesting tidbit: former Eaglecrest coach Sheryl Klosterman now is an assistant at Arapahoe. Cherokee Trail also is new to the league, as the Cougars have moved up from 4A. The league also includes 4A Mullen, a league-title candidate but not a team that factors into the 5A postseason race.

COLORADO SPRINGS METRO LEAGUE

Favorite: Air Academy

Contenders: Palmer, Pine Creek, Rampart, Doherty

Key players: Abbey Banta, Palmer, 6-0, Sr.; Kim Beard, Palmer, 5-10, Jr.; Meghan Hollenga, Air Academy, 5-10, Sr.; Anna Johnson, Liberty, 5-6, Jr.; Nicole Kinzer, Rampart, 6-0, Sr.; Jessica Maloney, Air Academy, 5-8, Sr.; Tori Nixon, Liberty, 5-10, Sr.; Shannon Rousseau, Pine Creek, 5-8, Sr.; Allie Sojourner, Pine Creek, 5-8, Sr.

Outlook: Usual suspects Air Academy and Palmer again will be the teams to beat, but it might not be just the Kadets and Terrors this season even though they have finished Nos. 1 and 2 the past two seasons (Air Academy is 33-3 in league in that span, Palmer 30-6). Rampart and Doherty each won more than 10 league games last season and Pine Creek (9-9 in league) returns three key seniors and could be a dark horse. Mitchell, Lewis-Palmer and Wasson dropped to 4A, while Fountain-Fort Carson (11-14 last season) and Liberty (7-17) moved up.

CONTINENTAL LEAGUE

Favorite: Regis Jesuit

Contenders: Highlands Ranch, ThunderRidge, Chaparral, Heritage, Douglas County

Key players: Brooke Baker, Chaparral, 6-0, Jr.; Brynn Bradley, Mountain Vista, 6-2, Sr.; Jenessa Burke, Highlands Ranch, 5-8, Sr.; Katherine Drake, Douglas County, 5-4, Jr.; Meagan Fulps, Highlands Ranch, 5-8, Sr.; Courtney Gallo, Chaparral, 5-7, Jr.; Katie Hilbig, Douglas County, 6-0, Sr.; Brooke Jelniker, ThunderRidge, 6-1, Jr.; Shae Kelley, Regis Jesuit, 6-1, Jr.; Liz Little, Heritage, 5-6, Sr.; Kim Lockridge, Heritage, 6-0, Jr.; Taylor Malloy, Rangeview, 6-1, Sr.; Samantha Martin, Chaparral, 6-2, Jr.; Candace Montoya, Rangeview, 5-1, Sr.; Rachel Messer, ThunderRidge, 5-9, Sr.; Carlie Needles, ThunderRidge, 5-5, So.; Diana Rolniak, Regis Jesuit, 6-3, Sr.; Lesley Schultz, Mountain Vista, 5-11, Sr.; Emily Stark, Highlands Ranch, 6-6, Sr.; Mariah Williams, Regis Jesuit, 5-4, Sr.; Meghan Winters, Regis Jesuit, 5-11, Sr.

Outlook: Barring a few sectors of California, this could be the most competitively league in the western portion of the country. All four semifinalists came from the league last season, and all four still are potent and begin the season ranked Nos. 1-4. The league is responsible for the previous nine state championships (six by Highlands Ranch, three by ThunderRidge), and none of them belong to the odds-on favorite this year: Regis Jesuit. Don’t forget, though, that the Raiders were the presumed team to beat last season but fell to Highlands Ranch in the regular season and in the state championship game. The Raiders had seven players sign with Division I programs and begin the season ranked No. 6 nationally by ESPN.com.

DENVER PREP LEAGUE

Favorite: Montbello

Contenders: Denver East, George Washington

Key players: Jolisa Ford, Montbello, 5-9, Jr.; Arisha Hall, Montbello, 5-6, Jr.; Tamekia Hunt, Montbello, 5-8, Sr.; Samantha Sanders, Denver East, 5-6, Jr.; Raven Taylor, Denver East, 5-9, Jr.; Maria Wagner, George Washington, 5-7, Sr.

Outlook: This could have been Denver East’s league to own once again, but with junior forward Shae Kelley’s transfer to Regis Jesuit, the Angels fell back to the pack and perhaps a bit behind Montbello. Denver East advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in school history last season, but now all five starters from that squad are gone. Montbello, which narrowly finished second to the Angels in the DPL race, returns top contributors Tamekia Hunt and Jolisa Ford. Don’t count out George Washington – Kelley’s original school – as the Patriots could work their way into the league conversation.

JEFFERSON COUNTY LEAGUE

Favorite: Lakewood

Contenders: Green Mountain, Arvada West, Dakota Ridge, Columbine, Ralston Valley

Key players: Kelsey Anderson, Arvada West, 5-6, Sr.; Chrissy Armstrong, Chatfield, Jr.; Janelle Baal, Dakota Ridge, Sr.; Lindsey Boyd, Standley Lake, 5-5, Jr.; Theresa Clark, Lakewood, 5-6, Sr.; Randee Hayes, Columbine, 6-0, Sr.; Erica Hicks, Lakewood, 5-10, Sr.; Kirsten Johnson, Ralston Valley, 5-10, Sr.; Mikey Kenney, Arvada West, 5-10, Sr.; Kristina Kules, Chatfield, Sr.; Liz Malik, Arvada West, 6 -0, Sr.; Brittany Mesch, Standley Lake, 5-10, Sr.; Olivia Moschetti, Ralston Valley, 5-7, Sr.; Chelsea O’Brien, Chatfield, 6-0, Sr.; Adaugo Osuala, Green Mountain, 5-8, Jr.; Katie Rosa, Lakewood, 6-2, Sr.; Danielle Stephan, Green Mountain, 6-1, Sr., Dilan Sutliff, Chatfield, 5-8, Sr.

Outlook: Lakewood returns All-Colorado guard Erica Hicks and three others who saw significant time last season, so the Tigers are the early pick in a league that is anything but a sure thing. Green Mountain, behind steals master Adaugo Osuala, is on the rise, as is Arvada West. Dakota Ridge lost its four college-bound seniors from last season, but the Eagles would like to skip start-over mode and immediately rejoin the fray. Columbine is trying to rise above its second-tier contender status, and might have the chance with a senior-based squad. Ralston Valley moves up from 4A.

FRONT RANGE LEAGUE

Favorite: Horizon

Contenders: Legacy, Monarch, Loveland, Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain

Key players: Tiani Cole, Poudre, 5-7, Sr.; Jordan Connelly, Rocky Mountain, 5-9, Sr.; Jenny Johnson, Rocky Mountain, 5-8, Sr.; Quincey King, Loveland, 5-4, Sr.; Brenna Malcolm-Peck, Horizon, 6-1, Sr.; Meagan Malcolm-Peck, Horizon, 6-1, Sr.; Lindy McDaniel, Loveland, 6-0, Sr.; Cherae Medina, Horizon, 5-7, Sr.; Carlie Moreland, Legacy, 6-1, Jr.; Quincey Noonan, Legacy, 5-10, Jr.; Candace Sauceda, Thornton, 5-6, Sr.; Casey Thayer, Fairview, 5-6, Jr.; Candace Townley, Thornton, 5-6, Sr.; Cassie Weber, Fairview, 5-6, Sr.; Emily Wood, Monarch, 5-7, Sr.

Outlook: After last season’s disappointing exit in the Sweet 16, Horizon will be amped to atone. University of Colorado-bound twins Brenna and Meagan Malcolm-Peck provide an imposing duo for the Hawks, who will be guided by point guard Cherae Medina. Junior-heavy Legacy has a new coach in Jamie Carey, a former Horizon and University of Texas standout. The Lightning should be in the mix, along with Emily Wood-led Monarch and feisty Loveland. Carey is a former pupil of Horizon coach Greg Hahn, currently in his second year of his second stint with the team. Former Centennial League squads Boulder and Fairview join the league, as does Mountain Range, which moved up from 4A.

SKYLINE LEAGUE

Favorite: Brighton

Contenders: Westminster, Adams City, Hinkley

Key players: Olivia Cherry, Aurora Central, 5-4, So.; Michelle Glaze, Brighton, 5-8, Sr.; Sabrina Jones, Aurora Central, 5-4, Jr.; Ashley Lliteras, Brighton, 5-11, Sr.; Tiana Miranda, Westminster, 5-5, Jr.; Mariah Palacio, 5-3, Jr.

Outlook: Brighton swept through the league’s nine teams last season, and the Bulldogs (19-5 overall) have many top contributors back. That bodes well for the Bulldogs, as does the notion that none of the league’s remaining 5A teams posted better than a 6-17 mark last season. Not only that, but the league’s top three 4A teams, Centaurus, Mountain Range and Cherokee Trail all have vacated the league. Ranum and Westminster have combined – now it is the Westminster Wolves – under coach Melissa Garcia. Aurora Central will try to build a foundation under new coach Eric Dow.

SOUTHWESTERN LEAGUE

Favorite: Grand Junction Central

Contenders: Durango, Fruita Monument, Grand Junction

Key players: Fawn Brady, Grand Junction, 5-10, So.; Katerina Garcia, Durango, 5-5, Sr.; Sarah Hensley, Fruita Monument, 5-7, Jr.; Lisa Hughes, Grand Junction, 6-0, Sr.; Amy Kame, Grand Junction Central, 5-11, Jr.; Mary McGee, Fruita Monument, 5-10, Sr.; Neely Surmeier, Durango, 5-11, Jr.

Outlook: Grand Junction Central, behind new coach Todd Dixon and multidimensional junior Amy Kame, will be attempting to not only win the league, but make a decent run in the state playoffs. Durango and four-year starting point guard Katerina Garcia are thinking similarly, as both teams will look to hold off upstart squads Grand Junction and Fruita Monument. Grand Junction lost starting center Emily Stark, a 6-foot-6 senior who moved to the metro area and will play for Highlands Ranch. The league also includes 4A squads Montrose and Montezuma-Cortez.

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