BASKETBALL

FROM PAGE 24 another Je co League game. VanSickle nished with 13 points and sophomore Rylie Beers had a nice game o the bench for the Eagles with 9 points.

“We just had to bring grit into that last quarter,” Huard said. “We were all tired. We just had to bring all the competitiveness we had left in us and toughness to make it through.”

Columbine (6-10, 1-2) never led in the game, but they hung tough against a Valor squad who hasn’t lost to an in-state program this season.

“Our whole focus coming into this game was us,” Columbine coach Greg Bolding Jr. said. “We knew we had a big task ahead, but we didn’t focus on them. We wanted to clean up the mistakes we’ve been making.” e Rebels handled Valor’s fullcourt pressure for most of the game. Columbine junior Emily Allison led the way with 24 points, including buzzer beater to end the rst half.

“She (Allison) has been our rock for our team,” Bolding said. “She has kind of carried our team on and o the court. Her leadership has been unbelievable.”

Ogden — the pitcher on Columbine’s softball state championship team this past Fall — scored 10 points as the Rebels gave the No. 1 ranked team in the state a good early league test.

“I don’t think this is a moral victory. It’s an opportunity for us to say we are better than our record it,” Bolding said. “We have a big task ahead of us on Friday. Hopefully we can build o of this game and have some success against Chat eld.”

Chat eld handed Columbine a 5348 loss to end the week.

Valor took sole possession of rst place in 6A Je co on Jan. 20. e Eagles defeated No. 8 Ralston Valley 54-30 on the road. e Mustangs (10-4, 2-1) are actually lead by the coach that handed Caldwell her last league loss nearly ve years ago.

Amy Bahl is in her rst year at Ralston Valley, back in the prep ranks after taking some time away from high school coaching.

“I’m so glad she is back coaching again,” Caldwell said of Bahl. “It’s so fun to have another female presence and another mom. We share a lot of similarities having three kids and both of us having played (college) at a high level.”

Caldwell and Bahl also share having won state multiple state championships as coaches. Caldwell has three with Valor winning 4A titles in 2015 and 2016 to go along with Valor’s 5A title in 2021. Bahl won her back-to-back 4A titles with Evergreen in 2017 and 2018.

Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.