Columbine girls basketball keeps positive momentum going

LITTLETON — Columbine’s girls basketball team showed Friday night just how dangerous it could be heading into the Class 6A state tournament next week.

The Rebels had five players reach double-digits, scored 28 points in the fourth quarter and drained 11 3-pointers in a 79-64 home victory over Arvada West. 

“That was good for us to get our flow going before playoffs,” said Columbine senior Emily Allison, who cashed four 3-pointers in the second half on the way to 18 points on the night. “It was just a good overall team win.”

Columbine (15-8, 7-3 in 6A Jeffco League) will likely be on the road for the opening round of the state tournament Tuesday, Feb. 20, but the Rebels definitely have momentum on their side heading into the postseason.

“I love our momentum right now,” Columbine coach Keegan Bell said. “Our theme this year has been ‘get busy’. Hopefully we can get busy the rest of the way.”

Columbine was coming off perhaps the biggest win for its first-year coach. The Rebels upset Ralston Valley on Wednesday night on the Mustangs’ home court 48-44 in overtime. The Rebels didn’t want to lose any of that momentum facing A-West (12-11, 2-8).

“After the big win on Wednesday we wanted to keep it going today,” Allison said of the overtime victory at Ralston Valley earlier in the week. 

The Rebels had a nearly a 20-point lead in the first half against the Wildcats, but A-West used a 17-4 run in the third quarter to cut Columbine’s lead to 43-42 when sophomore Aubri Cespedes drained a 3-pointer with 3 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

“We just knew we had to pick it up defensively,” Allison said of the Wildcats cutting the Rebels’ lead down to a single point. “I think we did a good job of responding.”

Allison hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final minutes of the third quarter to swing the momentum back to the Rebels. 

Besides Allison reaching double-digit points, sophomores Jordyn Washington (18 points), Kortny Brock (15 points), Taylor Speir (11 points) and Mason Abraham (11 points) also had great nights offensively to help the Rebels go over 70 points for the fifth time this season.

“I think we have a lot of offensive threats,” Bell said. “They have really grown in the confidence and grown in the way they are playing.”

A-West struggled in league playing only getting a pair of wins over Lakewood. The Wildcats were also without junior Sara Walker due to a hand injury. 

Juniors Avery Harrison (21 points), Saylor Swanson (15), along with senior Malorie Byrne (11 points) kept the Wildcats in the game. A-West was very impressive from the free-throw line on the night going 22-for-24, but it wasn’t enough to upset Columbine on Senior Night.

“Senior Night can always be hit or miss,” Bell said. “I’m just glad we got out of here with a W and some good feelings.”

Bell designed a play to get senior Ellie Wright a look at a 3-pointer on the first offensive possession and Wright drained it. Another senior — Tate Schooler — brought everyone off the bench when she made a layup for the Rebels’ final bucket of the game.

“We all work hard and are all ready for playoffs now,” Allison said.

Heading into Friday’s action, it appeared Columbine and A-West would both be on the road for the opening round of the 32-team 6A state tournament that begins Tuesday, Feb. 20. Columbine was No. 19 in the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index, while A-West was No. 29. The top-16 seeds will host first-round games.

CHSAA is scheduled to release the state tournament brackets Sunday, Feb. 18.