Sweet 16 set for girls hoops... more thoughts from CET crew (3/2/09)

Marty Cesario:     A couple of five seeds took out a pair of 4's. Otherwise, it seems nothing too shocking occurred in the first week of the ladies 5A tournament. Am I right with that? Give us some thoughts now that the Sweet 16 has been settled?

Brian Roth:     So, the week of the Sweet 16 and the Great 8 is here and there are no surprises in the 5A girls state tournament. Sure, the two Fort Collins schools (Fort Collins and Rocky Mountain) were the only underdogs advancing, but they were both 5 seeds knocking off 4 seeds. Am I surprised about only 2 so-called upsets? No. Not sure if anyone is. I hate to say it, but this week will have few surprises again. Regis and Highlands Ranch will have no problems getting to the Final 4 in Boulder. Pencil them in. All of the 1's and 2's should make it to the Great 8. However, that is where things could get interesting. Arapahoe will give Horizon everything they want and more if they meet up on Friday in the Great 8. The Hawks are strugging just a bit heading into this week. And do not overlook Monarch. The Coyotes have played a tough schedule this season and could possibly oust ThunderRidge in the Great 8. Those are the two key match-ups that I will be watching.

Cesario:     Ah. Brian says the Coyotes might put some ugly on the Kadets and Grizzlies en route to the Final 4. Because they impressed me so much in giving Horizon their only loss, I was kinda looking forward to seeing the Legacy squad again. Seems like a "sweet" match-up with the Chaparral ladies. Winner gets Regis, though -- who just blasted their way into this week with a 59 point W. Ooof.

Cory Lopez:     I'm a little more impressed with the Rocky and Collins upsets because it puts 5 Front Range League schools into the "Sweet 16." The only other conference with 5 is the dominant Continental. Something has got to give this week. I'm looking forward to a Legacy vs. Chaparral, and more likely, the Legacy vs. Regis battle. Lightning coach Jamie Carey's girls upset Horizon in their season finale and are one of the the hottest teams in the tournament. Monarch can beat ThunderRidge. Could their be 3 Front Range League teams in the "Final 4?" (Legacy, Monarch and Horizon.) You bet! The stars have to align but it's very possible. The only Continental team with its ticket punched, the three-time defending champs, Highlands Ranch. I still say Ranch is a lock for the title.

Mary Kay Mauro:     How about that Front Range? Sure pushing it's way into the top level where the state elite Continental League has lived this decade. Kudos to GW for getting past an always competitive Dakota Ridge to join East as the two Denver reps (2nd year in a row Denver Prep League has two teams make Sweet 16). It seems Denver's streak will end in this round . . . although, D. East could prove a somewhat difficult matchup for ThunderRidge. Otherwise, Grandview-Heritage is a great matchup (the Eagles will soar), and probably the best head-to-head game will be our feature, Chaparral vs. Legacy . . . the Lightning are peaking at the right time . . . huge confidence boost to knock off cross I-25 rival and formally unbeaten Horizon to end regular season play. A potential sleeper game could be Horizon-Ft. Collins since these two rattle each other in the Front Range. Overall, nice statewide representation with GJ Central taking on a tough Arapahoe team destined to make more noise in the tournament; and, Air Academy, the Colorado Springs representative, with a solid win over previously ranked Columbine. Then there is Ranch, in tournament mode: setting 'em up and taking them down . . . one at a time!