The girls basketball game of the year in Aurora thus far went to Regis Jesuit, which outlasted visiting Grandview 59-53 in a battle of unbeatens Jan. 12.
Drawing off several situations from a recent trip to New York City, the Raiders fought their way back from a five-point deficit to knock off the Wolves.
Justine Hall poured in 20 points, Diani Akigbogun 17 and Kelsi Lidge 11 — including a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter that gave Regis Jesuit the lead for good — as coach Carl Mattei’s team improved to a perfect 11-0.
Grandview got 17 points from hot-shooting junior Natalie Halbleib, while seniors Natasha Edge and Adaeze Obinnah each were credited with 11 each.
The Wolves had a 10-game winning streak snapped.
• Smoky Hill’s new head football coach is a familiar face around Aurora, as the school hired Justin Hoffman away from Gateway Jan. 14.
Hoffman spent 16 seasons with the Gateway football program, including the past six as head coach, leading the Olys to a 28-32 record and five straight appearances in the Class 5A state football playoffs.
The Buffaloes needed a new coach after the departure of John Thompson after seven seasons.
• Rangeview finished 2nd, Aurora Central 4th and Grandview 7th at the annual Rangeview Raider Classic wrestling tournament Jan. 12 at Rangeview High School.
The Raiders had one champion in 152-pounder Brandon Read and seven placers in total to finish behind only Pueblo Centennial. Aurora Central had a pair of winners in 132-pounder Dan Valdez and 170-pounder Trayvone Crosby.
Freshman 106-pounder Tanner Patterson captured the only title for a small Grandview contingent, while the rest of the team competed at the Westminster Invitational.
Placing match results can be found here.
• Smoky Hill was 7th, Cherokee Trail 8th and Eaglecrest 10th at the 22nd annual Smoky Hill Girls Swimming & Diving Invitational, held Jan. 12 at Smoky Hill.
Freshman Gaby Antunez took 5th in the 100 freestyle and 6th in the 50 free to lead the Buffaloes, who also got all three relays back in the championship finals.
Sophomore Grace Grigereit’s 4th in the 200 individual medley topped results for the Cougars and Eaglecrest senior Shelby Barner was 13th in the 100 free.
Full Smoky Hill Invitational results can be found here.
• Regis Jesuit won the Valor Invitational girls swim meet Jan. 12 at the Colorado School of Mines.
Sophomore Taylor Wilson won twice individually (50, 100 freestyles) and swam on the Raiders’ winning 400 freestyle relay team with Meggie Chase, Delaney Lanker and Lindsay Kriz. Kate Roth, Sydney Cutler, Kaylie Breslin and Amy Lenderink swam on the winning 200 medley relay team.
Full Valor Invitational results can be found here.
• Hinkley High School selected its new head football coach on Jan. 11, as the school announced that Jaron Cohen — formerly of Liberty High School in Colorado Springs — had taken the job ahead of the 2013 season. Cohen spent five seasons at Liberty
• Senior Solomon Yon’s putback before the buzzer lifted the Cherokee Trail boys basketball team to a 59-57 victory against visiting Overland Jan. 11.
Drick Bernstine didn’t shoot particularly well, but led the Cougars with 18 points, while Yon had 10 and Kennedy Littleton nine as Cherokee Trail dealt Overland just its second loss of the season.
• Larry Bridges scored 18 points in the second half — and 22 for the game — to spark the Rangeview boys basketball team to a 69-57 non-league victory at George Washington on Jan. 11.
The Raiders overcame eight 3-pointers by the Patriots as Jeremiah Paige had 14 and Tim Ealy 12 to go with 10 rebounds.
• Eaglecrest senior TreShawn Wilford scored 21 points and was a big factor defensively as the Raptors shook off the rust of a three-week hiatus to beat Grandview 46-38 in a Centennial League boys basketball opener Jan. 9.
Junior Jaisean Jackson added nine points for Eaglecrest, which held the Wolves to their season low in points despite 13 from senior Tanner Gentry.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at [email protected] or 303-750-7555
