Caliche girls basketball sitting on the bubble
A tough schedule may lead to more losses for a team like Caliche girls basketball, but it can also be a boon come tournament time. With just one game left in the regular season, the Buffaloes own a 10-8 record, but sit at No. 22 in CHSAA’S Selection & Seeding Index for Class 2A. Each of the eight district tournament winners will earn an automatic bid to the state tournament, and the final 24 spots will be filled according to CHSAA’S ranking system. If the Buffaloes don’t defeat Briggsdale on Saturday, they may have a tougher path to get into the tournament. A win at the end of their district tournament, however, would dispel any doubt. Over the last couple of weeks, the Buffaloes felt the sting of the strength of their schedule, when 1A’s No. 10 Prairie — according to the Colorado Preps Coaches and Media rankings — No. 6 Idalia and 3A’s No. 8 Yuma all handed them losses. Despite the nicks that those setbacks left in Caliche’s armor, the Buffaloes showed their strength through each. They only lost by two points to Prairie, by eight points to Idalia and by five points to Yuma. A year ago, this squad only won seven games and lost 14.
The Buffaloes’ two upperclassmen have no doubt provided the offensive boon that they lacked in the past, with senior Karsyn Huss averaging 14 points per game and junior Ava Hernandez adding another 11.1 points. All of the girls, collectively, have been rebounding the ball well, securing a total of 27.2 boards per game.
They’d have to pull off quite the upset over Briggsdale on Saturday, as the 14-2 Falcons sit at No. 4 in the 1A Coaches and Media rankings, but if the last few weeks have proven anything, it’s that this herd of Buffaloes can compete with anybody.