Mead, Holy Family among teams chasing glory
If there really is a timetable for how long it’s acceptable to wish someone a “Happy New Year” — comedian Larry David gives it three days from the ball drop on his HBO show “Curb Your Enthusiasm” — consider this New Year’s-themed piece something of a buzzer-beater.
Two local girls basketball programs sit atop their respective classifications at the start 2024, with 5A Mead and 4A Holy Family both at No. 1 in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Selection & Seeding Index, which is the main tool in determining postseason seeding.
If that makes the Mavericks and Tigers “Tier 1”, Erie (6A No. 4), Frederick (5A No. 10) and Peak to Peak (4A No. 6), the other current top-10 teams from the Boulder, Broomfield and Longmont areas, shouldn’t be considered too far behind.
With all that in mind and more, here are four things to watch out for in girls basketball:
So far, so good
Coach Ron Rossi’s Holy Family teams are always excellent defensively, and this group is no different. Rossi called Julia Hodell the best defender he’d ever coached during the Tigers’ title run last year, and to no surprise, she is leading that unit this winter, currently averaging six steals per game. Offensively, Hodell isn’t a volume shooter but is efficient. She is averaging 7.6 points on 66% shooting. Meanwhile, Essynce Contreraz has carried over her offensive spark from last winter, currently leading the Tigers in scoring at 12.4 ppg while shooting 43% from behind the arc.
Much like last season, the Tigers (8-0) have been dominant through the first month of the season, outscoring teams by an average of 33 points per game.
conference play. At this point in the season, it seems the league title is once again up for grabs. Silver Creek (7-1 record)
holds the early edge as the No. 5 team in CHSAA’S 5A Index, but No. 15 Longmont (7-2), No. 8 Mead (62) and 4A’s No. 10 Holy Family (6-2) don’t lag too far behind.
What is this, football?
When one thinks of
basketball, tackling isn’t generally part of the picture. One local athlete, who hung up his shoulder pads to lace up his basketball sneakers, has proven he’s not afraid to put his body on the line for the good of the team. Skyline senior Rah Carson,
who arguably was the Falcons’ best player on the field this fall, has taken on a flair for the dramatic through his first seven games on the hardwood as he’s taken a state-most 15 charges. Sometimes, it hurts to be a good teammate.