Columbine girls hoops dance into 6A Sweet 16

LITTLETON — Columbine’s girls basketball team had its dancing shoes ready to go Saturday afternoon.

The Rebels got out to a quick start in the round of 32 state playoff game with a 13-0 run to begin against No. 20-seeded Monarch. No. 13-seeded Columbine eventually rolled to a 76-58 victory to advance to the Sweet 16 next week.

“We had a whole week of practice that got us all ready to play,” said Columbine junior Taylor Speir, who scored 10 of her team-high 24 points in the first quarter. “We just wanted it really badly.”

Columbine suffered a first-round playoff loss to Arapahoe a year ago.

Speir and fellow junior Jordyn Washington combined to score 22 of 27 first-quarter points for the Rebels (18-6 record). While Speir did most of her damage on transition layups, Washington had the hot hand from long distance with four 3-pointers in the first quarter.

“It really doesn’t surprise me when she (Washington) is hitting 3s,” Columbine coach Keegan Bell said of Washington. “She is in the gym day-after-day. Every morning before school she is in the gym. She puts in the extra work. It is nice to see that hard work pay off in the game.”

Washington finished with 20 points. Junior Mason Abraham also got dialed in from 3-point range for the Rebels. Abraham had four 3-pointers on her way to 18 points.

Juniore Brynleigh Schmitz also added 8 points for Columbine in the victory.

Columbine never trailed in the wire-to-wire win. However, Monarch sophomore Sienna Williams was a load to handle. The 6-foot-3 sophomore had a career-high 33 points to keep the Coyotes (15-9) within reach until the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

“She (Williams) is a great player. She really got going in the end there,” Bell said of Williams scoring her career high. “Any time we seemed to be able to take a bigger lead she would make a play. She is one heck of a player.”

Monarch freshman Charlotte Weiss was also dangerous making five 3-pointers on her way to a 16-point game.

“Even when teams go on a run we try to stay calm and relaxed,” Speir said. “That team bond has helped us do that. We don’t give in to runs.”

Columbine’s aggressive defense, ten 3-pointers and balanced scoring was enough to advance the Rebels into the Sweet 16.

“I think Colorado basketball is really good. There is no easy game,” Bell said as the Rebels advance to the Sweet 16 to face likely Cherry Creek. “I like our team. Hopefully we can keep this run going a little bit longer.”

Columbine will face the winner of No. 36 Rangeview/No. 4 Cherry Creek, which was scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Saturday.