Season Preview: Continental League
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How it all shook out in ‘19-20 Regis Jesuit went 10-0, followed by Highlands Ranch (9-1) and ThunderRidge (8-2). It’s a trio that has virtually owned the south and southeastern Denver-metropolitan area for two decades. Both Regis Jesuit and Highlands…
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Continue ReadingHow it all shook out in ‘19-20
Regis Jesuit went 10-0, followed by Highlands Ranch (9-1) and ThunderRidge (8-2). It’s a trio that has virtually owned the south and southeastern Denver-metropolitan area for two decades.
Both Regis Jesuit and Highlands Ranch won 21 games and six of the loop’s 11 teams won at least 15.
Teams – Castle View, Chaparral, Douglas County, Heritage, Highlands Ranch, Legend, Mountain Vista, Ponderosa, Regis Jesuit, Rock Canyon, ThunderRidge.
Which playoff team advanced the furthest?
Highlands Ranch made the 5A final four, losing to 2019 champion Cherry Creek. The Falcons also knocked off Regis Jesuit in the Sweet 16. Three others were eliminated in the second round. Ponderosa, the Continental’s lone 4A team, fell in the second round of the bracket.
A few returning players to watch
Avery Bang Avery Bang 6'1" | PF Chaparral | 2022 State CO , Chaparral, 2022, F, 6-2
The frontcourt duo of Avery and twin sister Payton Bang Payton Bang 6'1" | PF Chaparral | 2022 State CO is already a Division-I caliber pair and isn’t going anywhere for a couple years. Both bring height and length inside for the Wolverines, and both continue to add the their skill sets and ability to step out and stretch the floor. As a sophomore in 2019-20, Avery averaged 12.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Payton posted eight points, 5.8 rebounds.
Liberty Line Liberty Line 5'7" | SG Ponderosa | 2021 State CO , Ponderosa, 2021, G, 5-7
Line is committed to Chadron State after she had a league-high 71 made 3-pointers as a junior in 2019-20. That number was also the most in all of Class 4A and third most in Colorado. First team all-conference last winter, Line averaged 16.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game to help the Mustangs post a 17-8 record.
Payton Muma Payton Muma 5'9" | PG Highlands Ranch | 2021 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2021, G, 5-8
The Gonzaga signee is the latest in a long Falcons’ high-end pipeline of talent. She can do a bit of everything, and well, on the court. Statistically, Muma averaged 15.2 points, 4.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists a night, while shooting 30 percent (42 for 141) from 3-point range, as a junior. But it’s her court awareness, basketball IQ and the intangibles she brings to Caryn Jarocki’s program that set Muma apart, something Gonzaga undoubtedly saw in her before making an official offer.
Taylor Ray Taylor Ray 6'0" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2022 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2022, G-F, 5-11
Ray’s mobility at 5-foot-11 gives her versatility and makes her an incredibly difficult cover for opposing teams. There’s that, and she also shot 35 percent (37 for 105) from 3-point range as a sophomore in 2019-20, heightening the threat she poses on the offensive end of the floor. After averaging 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, two assists, 2.5 steals and 2.2 blocks last winter, it will be exciting to see what Ray does in Season B.
Avery VanSickle Avery VanSickle 5'9" | SG Regis Jesuit | 2021 State #71 Nation CO , Regis Jesuit, 2021, G, 5-9
A University of Washington signee and the league’s top returning scorer (16.5 points), VanSickle is a scoring machines and might be the best pure shooter in all of Colorado. She shot 37 percent (62 for 169) from 3-point range last season on her way to averaging 16.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals a night. Jada Moore Jada Moore 5'10" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2020 State CO has graduated and is at Kansas State, so VanSickle appears to be poised for an absolutely monster campaign now that its her turn to lead yet another talented roster at Regis Jesuit.
Some other names to know
Hana Belibi Hana Belibi 6'0" | SF Regis Jesuit | 2024 State CO , Regis Jesuit, 2024, F, 5-11
Samantha Jones Samantha Jones 6'0" | SF Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO , Regis Jesuit, 2021, F, 6-0
Kinzie Whitehead Kinzie Whitehead 5'10" | SF Legend | 2022 State CO , Legend, 2022, F, 5-10
Alex Pirog Alex Pirog 6'3" | C Highlands Ranch | 2022 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2022, PF, 6-2
Jordan Jones Jordan Jones 6'0" | CG Regis Jesuit | 2022 CO , Regis Jesuit, 2022, CG, 6-0
Makena Vetter, Rock Canyon, 2021, G-F, 5-8
Leaya McKinney, Castle View, 2021, PF-C, 6-0
Tia Slade Tia Slade 5'11" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2021 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2021, SF, 5-11
Riley Smith, Chaparral, 2022, SG, 5-11
Rielley McNeill Rielley McNeill 5'8" | CG Castle View | 2023 State CO , Castle View, 2023, CG, 5-8
Isabella Newbold, Douglas County, 2022, SF, 5-8
Keegan Armetta Keegan Armetta 5'7" | PG Chaparral | 2023 State CO , Chaparral, 2023, PG, 5-7
Annabelle Kirchner Annabelle Kirchner 5'7" | SG Legend | 2023 State CO , Legend, 2023, SG, 5-7
Emily Thomas Emily Thomas 5'10" | SG Arapahoe | 2023 State CO , Regis Jesuit, 2023, CG, 5-10
Chelsea Groves Chelsea Groves 6'0" | C Highlands Ranch | 2021 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2021, C, 6-0
Gemma Gibbs Gemma Gibbs 5'4" | PG Legend | 2023 State CO , Legend, 2023, PG, 5-4
Gianna Principato Gianna Principato 5'7" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2021 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2021, SF, 5-7
Kaitlin Kyle Kaitlin Kyle 5'11" | SF Ponderosa | 2022 State CO , Ponderosa, 2022, SF, 5-11
Emily Hovasse Emily Hovasse 5'6" | CG Highlands Ranch | 2022 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2022, CG, 5-6
Abigail Tennyson Abigail Tennyson 5'8" | CG Legend | 2023 State CO , Legend, 2023, CG, 5-8
Kaci Hudson Kaci Hudson 5'6" | SG Chaparral | 2023 State CO , Chaparral, 2023, SG, 5-6
Shyla Tummala Shyla Tummala 5'9" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2022 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2022, SF, 5-9
Kayli Spall Kayli Spall 5'4" | CG Ponderosa | 2023 State CO , Ponderosa, 2023, CG, 5-4
Katie Johanning Katie Johanning 5'10" | PG Highlands Ranch | 2023 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2023, PG, 5-9
Amiya Robinson Amiya Robinson 5'9" | PF Mountain Vista | 2021 State CO , Mountain Vista, 2021, PF, 5-9
Maddie Groth Maddie Groth 6'0" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2023 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2023, SF, 6-0
Savitri Jackson Savitri Jackson 5'5" | CG Regis Jesuit | 2023 State CO , Regis Jesuit, 2023, CG, 5-5
Cassidey Keiser Cassidey Keiser 5'8" | CG Highlands Ranch | 2023 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2023, CG, 5-8
Lucina Rivera Lucina Rivera 5'2" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2023 State CO , Regis Jesuit, 2023, PG, 5-2
Bailey Williamson, Highlands Ranch, 2023, PF, 6-0
Adrianna Baker, ThunderRidge, 2022, F, 5-10
Bailey Williamson Bailey Williamson 5'7" | PF Highlands Ranch | 2023 State CO , Highlands Ranch, 2023, CG, 5-7
A quick, early look to Season B
Not surprisingly, Regis Jesuit and Highlands Ranch figure to be front-runners in a 10-team 5A group that will be among big schools’ best and should contend with the Centennial League for top honors. And 4A Ponderosa’s 5A schedule always prepares the Mustangs for the postseason.