 Like a point guard hitting an open teammate with a clever pass, there was a satisfying connection made over the May 12-14 weekend during the Colorado’s Finest Exhibition basketball event produced by Triple Crown Basketball.
Held at Regis University in Denver, the tournament brought eight 17u club programs together (six of Colorado’s best, one from Washington state and one from New Mexico) for a cause close to their hearts, as admission fees and concessions sales were directed to the Colorado Women’s Sports Fund Association. The CWSFA is active in many spaces when it comes to athletics; these proceeds help fuel the 25 $500 Opportunity Gifts for individuals and the 10 $500 grants that go to non-profit organizations also designed to help the cause of women and girls in sports. Athletes of all ages are encouraged to apply for these grants – anyone from a 4-year-old gymnast to a 65-year-old skeleton/sledder have been recipients. You can apply through the organization’s website (www.cwsfa.org) from Sept. 1-Nov. 1 for the Opportunity Gifts, and Nov. 1-Dec. 31 for the grants. Awards are announced in February, in conjunction with National Girls & Women In Sports Day. Through eight years of the program, the CWSFA has awarded more than $135,000. “We are very thankful to be hosting this event, and (for) anything that gives back to women’s sports. Regis is obviously a service institution, and we pride ourselves in serving others,” said Regis women’s head coach Molly Marrin. “It’s a beautiful combination, and we’re excited to be a part of it.” The event also offered a high-energy recruiting opportunity for a number of regional college and junior college programs: Fort Lewis: Head Coach Jason Flores, Assistant Coach Maylinn Smith Regis: Head Coach Molly Marrin, Assistant Coach Taylor Harris Western State: Head Coach Lora Westling Metro State University of Denver: Head Coach Tanya Haave, Assistant Coach David Wells UCCS: Head Coach Lynn Plett, Assistant Coach Liz Doran CCU: Head Coach Corey Laster, Assistant Coach Jon Asp Otero Junior College: Head Coach Taylor Shaffer Colorado College: Head Coach Katherine Menendez South Dakota School of Mines and Technology: Assistant Coach Hope Bonlander Johnson & Wales University: Assistant Coach John Stene Western Nebraska CC: Head Coach Chad Gibney  The BC Denver 2018 Elite wrapped up an undefeated run through the field Sunday at the Colorado’s Finest Exhibition with a 51-39 victory against the Boulder Rockies Black at Regis University in Denver.
BC Denver Elite, which allowed just 98 points in their three pool play games, outscored the Rockies 19-9 in the second quarter to take a lead it would maintain the rest of the way. BC Denver had a 56-40 edge in rebounding and held the Rockies to 4-of-23 shooting from 3-point range. Ashley Panem scored 16 points for BC Denver; Denali Pinto added 11 points and seven rebounds, and Delaynie Byrne scored 10 points. Pinto scored 21 points in her team’s win against New Mexico Select, and Byrne poured in 19 points each in wins over Boulder Rockies Silver and EJ Hoops Black. “Defense is one thing we talk about a lot, for several reasons. It gives you the best chance to win if you’re not shooting well, and we all know that happens,” said BC Denver Elite head coach Geoff Golden, who founded the club in 2010. “And in terms of recruiting, coaches want to see that you can play good defense, that you’ll get out and hustle. “We look to share the basketball — we’ve got a talented roster, and we play the best when we play together. We look to make the right basketball play. We’ve had some kids out (sick/injured), but the event was good for getting everybody in the mix and continuing to build that chemistry. We’re happy with where we are right now, but far from satisfied. There’s still a lot of work to do.” For the Boulder Rockies Black in the final game, R’Manie Pulling and Chloe Welch each scored 13 points. Camila Emsbo scored 15 points against BC Denver Select; Welch tallied 15 points vs. EJ Hoops Elite and Pulling added 15 points against Xpress Shon. Other notable efforts during the event, which took place at the Regis Fieldhouse on May 12-14: Jayda Lyon, New Mexico Elite – She scored 16 points in a tight 69-66 loss to EJ Hoops Black. Avery VanSickle, EJ Hoops Elite – She scored 19 points in an 87-61 win against Xpress Shon. Alisha Davis, EJ Hoops Elite – In that same game, Davis rang up 17 points and seven rebounds. Kiara Steen, Xpress Shon – Also in that same contest, Steen tallied 17 points and four assists. Emily Doolittle, Boulder Rockies Silver – She scored 16 points, hitting five 3-pointers, in a loss to EJ Hoops Black. Lindsey Nurmi, Xpress Shon – She scored 18 points in a 59-45 win over BC Denver Select.  In the 17 Elite Championship game at the MSNM Spring Fling, HD Basketball won every quarter against Xpress Shon Elite and finished with a 57-39 victory at the Northwest Sports Hub in Centralia, Wash.
HD Basketball rumbled to the finish by outscoring the Xpress, 18-9, in the fourth quarter. Jennifer Johnson had 12 points for HD Basketball; Marissa Cortes added 10 points and Ashley Shurtleff chipped in with eight rebounds. Caitlin Yenne had 11 points for the Xpress; Erika Brumfield and Lindsey Nurmi each scored 10 points, and Brumfield also had nine rebounds.  In the 15u Elite Championship game at the MSNM Spring Fling, the Eastern Washington Elite Swarm broke it open against the VK Basketball squad by scoring 19 points in the third quarter to claim a 63-40 victory at the Northwest Sports Hub in Centralia, Wash.
Cheyenne Parker had 16 points, and Hope Grenz added 14 points as the Swarm shot 60 percent from the field overall and secured a 48-24 lead after three quarters. Makenna Gardner scored 13 points for VK Basketball; Marin Lenz closed with 10 points.  In the 13u Championship game at the MSNM Spring Fling, Isabella Lund hit a late-3-pointer to send the 90TEN Johnson squad to a 40-39 victory over Xpress Torrey at the Northwest Sports Hub in Centralia, Wash.
The Xpress had a 24-15 lead at halftime, but 90TEN put up 16 points in the fourth quarter to finish off the comeback. Lily McCauley scored 13 points for 90TEN; Lund finished with eight points. For the Xpress, Drea Brumfield scored 15 points, hitting three 3-pointers, and Lexi Roberts and Kyla McCallum each added eight points. Roberts had hit a 3-pointer to put the Xpress up, 39-37, just before Lund sank the game-winner.  In the 17 Prime Championship game at the MSNM Spring Fling, Team Seveer grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and shot a solid 20-for-28 from the free-throw line to nail down a 57-49 victory versus the Roots at the Northwest Sports Hub in Centralia, Wash.
Shasta Parker had 14 points for Team Seveer; Bianca Shaw scored 12 points and Mia Finnie added 11 points. Team Seveer had a nine-point lead after three quarters and held up well as the Roots made a late push and scored 18 points in the final quarter. Macie Elliott had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Roots, while Madeline Jacobson scored nine points.  In the 15u Prime Championship game at the MSNM Spring Fling, the Titans held Xpress Dan to just two points in the first quarter and used solid defense in the last quarter to secure a 49-39 victory at the Northwest Sports Hub in Centralia, Wash.
Xpress Dan did score 17 points in the second quarter to get back in the game, but the Titans closed the door by outscoring the Xpress, 14-7, in the fourth quarter. Tomekia Whitman scored 23 points for the Titans; Sydney Zeiler added nine points. Tehani Henry scored 15 points for the Xpress, and Madison Mencke came through with 13 points.  The pool of girls basketball coaches, parents and players is certainly dialed into the high school season these days, with teams looking forward to those momentous league showdowns and then, ideally, a nice long run through the playoffs.
While looking forward, the club season is also appearing on the horizon – the place you put your recently refined skills on display, at just the right events to keep you on the radar of college coaches. A generation of high-achieving, devoted young women has relied upon the MSNM tournament series to highlight what players have learned and elevate their profile for the next level. Here’s just a quick-hitter list of reasons your team should get involved with the MSNM Spring Fling, set for April 29-30 in Centralia, Wash. • After a quick breather from the high school season, it’s time to get back on the floor for the 2nd weekend of the NCAA viewing period. • All the action happens at the sparkling Northwest Sports Hub – eight courts, one site, an easy 90-minute drive from Seattle or Portland. • With NCAA Certification pending, we historically draw college programs looking for talent to build their future rosters. • Divisions: 17u Elite and Prime, 15u Elite and Prime, 13u D. • Professional staff with scorekeepers, shot and game clock, NFHS rules, stats by GameChanger. Priced aggressively at $495, the MSNM Spring Fling is a test for your roster, and an answer for getting your athletes on the proper stage. Click HERE for event details; you can always reach tournament director John Casale at (970) 672-0583 or john@triplecrownsports.com |
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