D’Evelyn sophomore Lexi Reed (4) gets a pass away despite the effort of Pueblo West junior Shyanne DeVille on Saturday during the Class 4A Sweet 16 playoff game at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. (Dennis Pleuss)
DENVER — A little inside muscle punched D’Evelyn’s ticket to the Class 4A girls’ basketball state quarterfinals.
Senior Mallory Seemann used some crafty post moves in the paint to score a game-high 20 points in her final game on the Jaguars’ home court Saturday night against Pueblo West in the Sweet 16 playoff game. The Jaguars rolled to a 74-50 victory.
“We just knew we had to come out and play our game,” said the 5-foot-11 Seemann. “Every team is going to come out with their best. We knew Pueblo West would come out tough. We just had to be tougher. I thought we played really well.”
D’Evelyn senior Mallory Seemann (20) works her way toward the basket during the second half Saturday. Seemann scored a game-high 20 points. (Dennis Pleuss)
The third-seeded Cyclones (17-8) took an early lead midway through the first quarter. However, when D’Evelyn senior Malia Shappell banked in a long 3-pointer with 4:30 left in the first quarter the Jaguars took an 8-7 lead. No. 2 seed D’Evelyn (21-4) would never give up its lead.
“We’ve made a concretive effort the last half of the season to get better in the post, find the post and give the post touches,” D’Evelyn coach Chris Olson said. “They played really well inside and really controlled the tempo.”
The one problem the Jaguars faced was foul trouble for Seemann and Shappell (16 points) in the second quarter. With both on the bench for a time, seniors Katie Cunniff (10 points) and Emily Garnier (seven points) stepped up.
Another big contributor for the Jaguars was starting point guard Lexi Reed. The sophomore wasn’t D’Evelyn’s floor general to start the season, but Olson has cemented her into that role now.
“We’ve realized that Malia has to be that shooter and get the ball in transition,” Olson said. “Lexi is the facilitator. She is so calm and composed. She never gets too high or too low.”
Reed finished with 11 points, including a pair of second-quarter 3-pointers.
Pueblo West senior Bri Rodriguez and Haley Simental each scored 13 points for the Cyclones in the loss.
There had been some recent history between Pueblo West and D’Evelyn in the state tournament. Both advanced to the Final Four the previous two seasons.
The Jaguars defeated the Cyclones 61-51 in the 4A semifinals last year, giving D’Evelyn its second consecutive berth into the 4A title game. The Jaguars lost to Pueblo South in the championship game.
Pueblo West sophomore Olivia Leyva (24) stretches out for a rebound during the second half Saturday at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. (Dennis Pleuss)
In the 2012 state tournament, Pueblo West lost in the semifinals to eventual state champion Air Academy, who handled D’Evelyn in the title game.
“We have a little unfinished business,” Olson said of the Jaguars’ opportunity to advance to a third straight 4A championship game. “Unfortunately, things get a little more difficult from here on out.”
Next up for D’Evelyn will be undefeated Mesa Ridge, No. 1 seed out of the Donald Wilson Region. Mesa Ridge (25-0) defeated Longmont 55-40 on Saturday.
Not having a top-seed doesn’t concern Seemann.
“Seeds don’t really matter now,” Seemann said. “It’s the playoffs and anything can happen. We can beat anybody if we play our best.”
The Great 8 will be played Saturday, March 8, at the Denver Coliseum.
D’Evelyn senior Malia Shappell (21) goes after a loose ball Saturday. Shappell scored 16 points in the Jaguars’ 74-50 victory over Pueblo West. (Dennis Pleuss)