Thursday's roundup: Mesa Ridge still undefeated in girls' hoops

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Mesa Ridge 57, Widefield 28

At Widefield: The 4A area’s top-ranked team remained perfect, even without their starting point guard Gabby Purnell.

And while she was getting her wisdom teeth taken out, Mesa Ridge (19-0 overall, 10 4A Metro) just kept rolling.

Ifti Dunne scored 12, while 6-foot-4 freshman Kylee Shook dominated all phases of the game with her sixth triple-double of the season.

Shook, the team's startinf center, scored 11 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 10 shots Thursday.

Mesa Ridge coach Jeff Beatty beams when he talks about his youngest player.

“We’ve never had her kind of size and length here,” Beatty said. “And on top of that (Shook) can run the floor and shares the ball extremely well.”

Tiffani Jackson scored 14 points and Sami Rudd added 11 in another convincing win for the Grizzlies.

In fact, Mesa Ridge outscored Widefield (8-11, 6-4) 30-9 in the second half, including shutting out the Gladiators in the fourth quarter.

Beatty knows he has a wealth of riches.

“We are going to be a handful for the next couple years,” he said.

St. Mary’s 38, James Irwin 17

At St.Mary’s Gabi Florek hit both St. Mary’s 3-pointers, as the Pirates coasted after a big third quarter.

St. Mary’s (14-1 overall, 10-1 Tri-Peaks East) won its fourth game in a row, after its first loss of the season against Lamar on Jan. 25.

And 6-foot-1 center Sarah Burns added 12 points for St. Mary’s.

The Pirates outscored James Irwin (5-12, 4-8) 15-0 in the third quarter.

Kateri Felix scored a team-high 10 points for the Jaguars.

Liberty 50, Lincoln 12

At Liberty: Liberty’s Amanda Dix scored 17 points, hitting 3-of-6 from deep, as the Lancers breezed to a win.

Liberty point guard Alex Rivas added nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

The Lancers (10-7) led 25-2 after the first quarter.

Coronado 49, Wasson 35

At Wasson: Junior Destiny Bays hit four 3s and scored a game-high 18, while Taryn Frazier added 16 points, as Coronado (6-13 overall, 4-6 4A Metro) pulled away in the second half to keep Wasson (2-16, 0-10) winless in league.

The Cougars led 19-17 at half, and pushed the lead from there despite shooting a dismal 2-for-11 from the free-throw line.

The Thunderbirds haven’t won a game since Dec. 14.

Sierra 75, Woodland Park 39

At Sierra: Selina Barnes scored a season-high 28 points, as Sierra (12-6 overall, 8-2 4A Metro) ran out to a 27-6 first-quarter lead.

The senior also had 10 assists and five steals to go along with it Thursday night.

Cyndie Watkins added 14 points for the Stallions.

In all, Sierra shot 48 percent from the field in the rout.

Elin Saxon scored 12 points for Woodland Park (3-16, 2-8).

WRESTLING

Discovery Canyon 54, Pine Creek 27

At Pine Creek: Discovery Canyon made another statement win, this time beating 5A defending state champ Pine Creek in a charity dual for the Colorado Springs’ Rescue Mission.

For the Thunder, their biggest surprise this season may be their smallest wrestler. In the 106-pound weight class, freshman Sam Turner continued his dominant season, pinning Pine Creek’s Tytell Williams to kick things off Thursday night.

Also for the team in purple and black, returning-state champs AJ Rees (120) and Steve Turner (132) recorded pins for Discovery Canyon.

For Pine Creek, seniors Geo Martinez and Derrik Ortiz secured pins of their own.

In all, both schools raised $800 for the charity Thursday.

Air Academy 47, Elizabeth 18

At Air Academy: In the 170-pound weight class, Air Academy’s Caleb Cuneio pinned Elizabeth’s Robert Wagner in 2 minutes, 57 seconds, as the Kadets only lost two matches that weren’t decided by forfeit.

Justin Petrash (285) and Nate Butler also recorded pins for the host team.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Wasson 79, Coronado 66

At Coronado: A day after a District-11 board voted to close Wasson, its basketball team still had some fight left.

DJ Hanes scored a season-high 32 points, as the Thunderbirds (18-1 overall, 10-0 4A Metro) held onto a 41-21 halftime lead to claim their 13th win in a row.

Dominic Garcia added 14 points for Wasson.

For Coronado (9-10, 5-5), Tre Vaughn recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

And Chandler Robinson added 12 points for the Cougars, who have fallen below .500 after consecutive losses.

Widefield 55, Mesa Ridge 38

At Mesa Ridge: Widefield’s Alan Herndon scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, as the Gladiators held on after a big first half.

Mesa Ridge tried to keep in distance, hitting five 3-pointers compared to Widefield’s two.

But the Gladiators were too much.

In the losing performance, J.J. Cates and Cain Martinez scored 11 for the Grizzlies, but it wasn’t enough to erase a 26-13 halftime deficit.

Mitchell 57, Harrison 53

At Mitchell: Aaron Cooley scored 17 and Jamal Williams added 10 points, as the Marauders (5-14 overall, 2-8 4A Metro) pulled off the upset.

Harrison (10-8, 4-6) was coming off consecutive wins before Thursday.

HOCKEY

Liberty 4, Rampart 2

At Sertich: Liberty’s Alex Mcafee scored the go-ahead goal with 1 minute, 21 seconds to go, as the Lancers (2-18) won their second game of the season.

Rampart’s Tyler Adams had tied the game at 2-apiece eight seconds prior to Mcafee’s goal in the third period.

The Rams (0-20) are winless this season.

Then, Liberty’s Anthony Kalm scored on an empty net with 13 seconds remaining.