6A Girls Basketball: Cherokee Trail and Cherry Creek advance
The 2024 6A girls state basketball tournament started last week and four district clubs were part of the 32-team field. There are two remaining.
Cherokee Trail, the number 1 seed in the tournament, went 2-0 last week, securing a place in the quarterfinal round which will be played on Feb. 29 at the Denver Coliseum. The Cougars began with No. 32 Fountain-Fort Carson at home last Tuesday. CT got a big 69-28 win, paced by junior Madeline Gibbs’ 16-point performance, with two other players in double-figures. Then on Feb. 23, the Cougars took down No. 16 Highlands Ranch by a score of 54-30. Cherokee Trail remained perfect at home and improved to 23-2 on the season. Next, the Cougars will be at the Coliseum on Thursday for a Great 8 contest with No. 9 Mullen. Opening tip is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Second-seeded Cherry Creek also advanced to the Great 8 with wins over No. 31 Rangeview and No. 15 Arapahoe. On Tuesday, the Bruins were led by junior Sophia Baal’s 13 points in the 61-29 win over the Raiders. Victory was tempered, however, as junior star Tianna Chambers suffered a season-ending leg injury after scoring 8 points in the contest. Then, in Friday’s round two game, junior A’neya Chambers picked up the slack and scored 15 points on the way to a 44-28 victory over the Warriors. The Bruins (21-4) will take on No. 7 Regis Jesuit for a 7 p.m. quarterfinal contest at the coliseum on Feb. 29.
No. 8 and defending State Champion Grandview went 1-1 last week with a first round tourney win over No. 25 Chatfield, but fell to No. 9 Mullen in round two last Friday. The Wolves finish the season at 14-11.
Finally, Eaglecrest, seeded 26th was defeated in the first round by Regis on Feb. 23. The Raptors finish the 23-24 campaign at 12-12.
See the 6A girls bracket here.
6A Boys Basketball: Smoky Hill and Eaglecrest are in the Great 8
The 2024 6A boys state tourney was also in full swing this past week, and the district qualified four clubs for the 32-team field.
The No. 7 Smoky Hill Buffaloes got a 66-57 victory over No. 26 Horizon in the first round last Wednesday. The Buffs were led by sophomore Carter Basquez, senior Ray Gasaway, and junior Lorenzo Contreras, all of whom scored in double figures. Then on Saturday, the Buffs defeated No. 10 Regis Jesuit 70-61 in overtime. Smoky persevered through a very tough, hotly contested ballgame in front of a full house. Junior Damian Dirden, senior Kevin Sylla, and junior Kaylan Graham led the way for Smoky, all scoring in double figures. Next, the Buffs (19-6) will take on No. 2 Mountain Vista in the quarterfinals at the Coliseum on Feb. 29. Opening tip-off is slated for 8:30 p.m.
Eaglecrest, seeded 8th overall, punched their ticket to the Great 8 with a victory over No. 25 Castle View last Wednesday. The final score was 59-49. Raptors junior LaDavian King led all scorers with 25 points in the win. On Feb. 24, EHS defeated No. 9 Ralston Valley 53-49 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Raptors had a balanced scoring attack led by freshman Kris Coleman’s 13 points and got another 12 from senior Sir Devin Roberts. Next, EHS heads to the coliseum on Feb. 29 for a date with overall No. 1 seed Fruita Monument. Opening tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.
Thirteenth-seeded Cherry Creek got a first-round 45-42 win over No. 20 Fossil Ridge on Feb. 21. But the Bruins fell at No. 4 ThunderRidge 45-42 on Saturday. Creek ends the 23-24 season at 14-11 overall.
The No. 16 Overland Trailblazers ended their season last Wednesday losing at home to No. 17 Broomfield. The Blazers finish at 14-10.
See the complete 6A boys bracket here.
5A State Ice Hockey: Cherry Creek is in the quarterfinals
The Cherry Creek High School consortium team will play its first tournament game on Feb. 27. The third-seeded Bruins (11-4-4) drew a first-round bye and will play No. 6 Mountain Vista on Tuesday evening at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch. Opening face-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
See the complete 5A bracket here.
Unified Regional Basketball: Smoky Hill excels
The Smoky Hill Unified Basketball clubs participated in the High School Unified Basketball Tournament on Feb. 23 at the Gold Crown Foundation in Lakewood. The Buffs had two teams competing. Team White went 2-0 with wins over Arapahoe and Legend to win the regional title in their division. Team Green lost to Legend, but defeated Horizon to take third in their division. Both teams will compete in the state tournament on Mar. 15.
5A Girls Swim and Dive: All-State teams announced
The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) released the names of the All-State Swimming and Diving Teams for 2024 on Feb. 20. The teams were compiled based on results of the State Swimming and Diving Championships held in February at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center. The Cherry Creek Bruins won their fourth straight 5A State Championship.
Bruins Head Coach Karin Olmstead Dinsdale was awarded Coach of the Year, and Creek senior Charlotte Wilson was named Swimmer of the Year.
First Team:
Charlotte Wilson, senior - Cherry Creek
Sydney Fernstrom, freshman - Cherry Creek
Jenna Fernstrom, junior - Cherry Creek
Ana Loveridge, junior - Cherry Creek
Ava Ross, junior - Cherry Creek
Alana Maxey, senior - Cherry Creek
Madison Williams, sophomore – Cherry Creek
Second Team:
Ruthie Spiegel, junior – Cherry Creek
Posted 2/26/2024.
