D’Evelyn players celebrate after the Jaguars defeated Valor Christian 67-63 Thursday night in Highlands Ranch. (Dennis Pleuss)
HIGHLANDS RANCH — No doubt about it, the girls basketball Class 4A Jeffco League title still goes through D’Evelyn.
The Jaguars, three-time defending conference champion, went on the road Thursday night and knocked off Valor Christian 67-63.
“I love playing Valor. They are such a good team,” said D’Evelyn senior Morgan Ducklow, who finished with 15 points for the Jaguars (12-4, 8-0 4A Jeffco). “It’s fun to compete against them. I just love it.”
The Eagles, No. 1 in CHSAANow.com 4A girls rankings since the preseason poll was released in late November, found themselves trailing 60-42 with just under seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Valor showed its capability, roaring back to get within two points in the final seconds.
“I looked up once and the lead was 18 points, but I knew it wasn’t good,” D’Evelyn coach Chris Olson said. “That’s a time when a team like that with so much talent and skill just pin their ears back and go.”
Valor Christian senior Makenna Roth (21) posts up D’Evelyn junior Kayla Walden (20) during the first half Thursday night. (Dennis Pleuss)
Junior Madison McCoy made a trio of free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining to cut D’Evelyn’s lead to 65-63. Valor outscored the Jaguars 19-5 in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. However, D’Evelyn junior Aubrey Sotolongo made a pair of free throws with 5.7 seconds left to clinch the victory.
“I knew with five seconds left that would seal the game for us,” said Sotolongo, who poured in a team-high 24 points. “Those free throws felt amazing to help my team out.”
Sotolongo was the game-changer in the second quarter when D’Evelyn turned a 21-17 deficit after the first quarter into a double-digit lead at halftime. The junior guard scored 14 points in the second quarter to give the Jaguars a 39-29 lead at halftime.
“It was amazing,” Ducklow said of Sotolongo’s play in the second quarter. “We just wanted to keep feeding her the ball. She couldn’t miss.”
Ducklow stepped up into a scoring role in the third quarter with a pair of 3-pointers to extend the lead. Junior Lexi Reed pitched in 11 points for the Jaguars, including a pair of key free throws in the final minute.
“Those three (Sotolongo, Reed and Ducklow) have been taking turns game-by-game,” Olson said of his leading scorers. “Tonight they took turns during the game. That’s tough to guard.”
Valor senior Kendall Bradbury was tough for D’Evelyn to handle. She finished with 24 points. Senior Makenna Roth pitched in 12 points in the loss. Juniors Heidi Hammond (13 points) and McCoy (11 points) also reached double-figures for Valor.
The Eagles were without their second-leading scorer. Senior Caroline Bryan didn’t play due to an injury.
Valor (14-2, 7-1) continues its stretch of four straight home conference games Saturday, Jan. 31. The Eagles host Golden at 7 p.m. Next week Valor hosts Littleton and Conifer.
It’s been a bit of a homecoming for Valor this season. After playing two years as an independent the Eagles were placed back in the 4A Jeffco League, a conference where Valor had previously played in.
Riding an eight-game winning streak, D’Evelyn has a one-game lead for Valor in the conference standings. The two will likely meet again during the final week of the regular season when the top four teams in 4A Jeffco play to determine the league champion.
“We want to keep fighting, keep it up and win another league (title),” Ducklow said.
The Jaguars return home to face Arvada at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
D’Evelyn coach Chris Olson, left, greets D’Evelyn junior Aubrey Sotolongo as she comes to the bench during the fourth quarter Thursday night. Sotolongo scored 24 points as the Jaguars knocked off Class 4A’s top-ranked Valor Christian Eagles 67-63. (Dennis Pleuss)
D’Evelyn senior Morgan Ducklow (24) tries to get around Valor Christian junior Heidi Hammond (12) on a drive to the basket Thursday night in Highlands Ranch. (Dennis Pleuss)