In this episode of Hoops Tracker, host Jerry Howard breaks down the start of the Colorado high school boys basketball playoffs, focusing heavily on 6A and 5A bracket seeding, key matchups, and controversy surrounding the RPI ranking system.
🔹 Final Notes
* Multiple teams in both 6A and 5A have legitimate championship paths.
* Proper bracketing is a major concern.
* The Hoops Tracker All-Star Game is set for March 21–22 at Metro State.
In the latest episode of Hoops Tracker, host Jerry Howard recaps the end of the Colorado high school girls basketball regular season and breaks down the upcoming 6A and 5A playoff brackets.
Howard highlights key championship results, including Green Mountain’s 22–1 season, Windsor’s narrow league win, Highlands Ranch capturing the Continental League, and Arapahoe winning the Centennial League. Several marquee performances are noted, including Lauren Thompson reaching 1,000 career points and standout scoring efforts from players like Kyla Hollier and Ava Grosboll.
🏀 Colorado Boys Basketball Weekly Recap (Feb. 16)
🎙️ Podcast Summary
It was a record-breaking week across Colorado high school basketball, highlighted by major career milestones and pivotal conference matchups as teams prepare for the postseason push.
Milestones & Achievements:
* Jacob David reached 1,000 career points.
* Howard Hunter (Palisade) also joined the 1,000-point club.
* Sean Palmer recorded his 400th career coaching win.
* Caleb Faye (Kent Denver) surpassed 2,000 career points, continuing a historic scoring run.
Top Team Performances:
* Denver South secured second place in the City League regular season behind Rangeview.
* Rangeview captured the City League title with a 79–74 win over Denver East.
* Cherry Creek earned the No. 1 seed in the Centennial League with a win over Grandview.
* Holy Family remained dominant in the Granite League, second only to Horizon.
* Ralston Valley avenged an earlier loss to Columbine.
* ThunderRidge stunned Mountain Vista in the always-grueling Continental League.
* Lutheran earned a key rivalry win over Lewis-Palmer.
* Prospect Ridge, Silver Creek, and Frederick added critical late-season victories.
Conference Spotlight:
The Continental League continues to show its depth, with ThunderRidge, Rock Canyon, Regis, Mountain Vista, Chaparral, and Legend trading blows in what may be the toughest conference in the state.
Looking Ahead:
With one week left in the regular season, playoff seeding and RPI rankings are under heavy scrutiny. Concerns were raised about ranking accuracy and the importance of avoiding premature heavyweight matchups before the state tournament’s later rounds.
Colorado girls basketball just delivered one of the most electric weeks of the season — and we’re heading straight into playoff mode!
🌟 HISTORY WAS MADE
* Bri Crittendon shattered the all-time Colorado scoring record (boys or girls!) with 2,936 points — and she’s chasing 3,000 before playoffs!
* Kyla Hallier (Roosevelt) is just 7 points away from 2,000 career points, putting her among Colorado’s all-time greats.
* Juliet Slater (Lutheran) hit the 1,000-point milestone.
* Coach Tim Jones (Riverdale Ridge) earned his 100th career win.
And that’s just the highlights!
League titles are being decided. Conference tournaments are boosting RPI. Rivalries are heating up. Undefeated teams are still standing. And the playoffs are ONE WEEK AWAY.
Buckle up.
For 43 years, one name has stood alone at the top of the record book: Tracy Hill — 2,934 points. A legend who built her legacy in a different era. No three-point line. A heavier boys basketball. And she did it in fewer than 100 games. Her scoring mark became untouchable, almost mythical — the kind of record that feels permanent.
Until now.
Bri Crittendon has never chased numbers. She’s chased wins, moments, and the next possession. But with every pull-up jumper, every finish through contact, and every clutch free throw, she’s moved closer to history.
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Izzy Johnson, a standout guard from Arapahoe High School, joined Hoops Tracker to discuss her basketball journey, development, and commitment to Colorado School of Mines. After a summer playing club basketball with Hardwood, where she focused on defense, energy, and skill development, Izzy elevated her role heading into high school season by improving her ball handling, finishing ability, and leadership mindset.
Now averaging around 11 points and four rebounds per game, Izzy is helping lead a deep and balanced Arapahoe team that recently captured the Nike Tournament of Champions title in Phoenix. She emphasized the team’s depth and collective contribution as key strengths, especially compared to previous seasons centered around individual stars.
Izzy committed to Colorado School of Mines, prioritizing academics and team culture during her recruiting process. She values the balance between high-level basketball and strong academics and looks forward to playing alongside her Hardwood teammate Lauren Thompson at Mines.
With Arapahoe competing in a competitive 6A field, Izzy believes several teams — including Cherry Creek, Denver East, and Broomfield — are strong contenders, but she’s confident in her team’s ability to compete at the highest level.
Boys Basketball Podcast (Week of Feb. 8, 2026)
A massive week across Colorado boys basketball as milestone achievements, rivalry battles, and league‑title races took center stage with just two weeks left before the playoffs. Coaching legends Sean Palmer and Jon Rakiecki reached historic win marks, while multiple players—Caleb Fay, Howard Hunter, Keegan Balasteri, Judah Michael—joined the 1,000‑ and 2,000‑point clubs.
On the court, chaos hit the Centennial League as Overland stunned both Grandview and Cherokee Trail, blowing the title race wide open. In 5A, Stanley Lake and Green Mountain set up a championship collision, while Rock Canyon edged Mountain Vista in a top‑four showdown. Across the state, rivalry atmospheres delivered—from Prairie View vs. Brighton to Silver Creek vs. Longmont—showcasing the intensity of February basketball.
Looking ahead, the schedule is loaded with league‑defining matchups, highlighted by Broomfield–Holy Family, Valor–Ralston Valley, Prospect Ridge–Kent Denver, and a historic night expected at Riverdale Ridge as Brie Crittenden closes in on a 40‑year Colorado scoring record.
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GIRLS HOOPS (FEB 8, 2026)
Colorado girls basketball is entering a historic stretch with multiple records on the verge of falling. Ariana Akey and Lucy Thompson shined at the Pro Bowl, with Akey earning MVP honors and Thompson widely praised as the top receiver at the event. Kenley Asp continues her all‑time statistical climb, trailing only Abby Weiner in career production. Sienna Williams hit 1,000 points, Courtney Steinkamp dropped 41, and Taylor Alcares set the Fort Collins three‑point record.
The biggest storyline: Bree Crittenden is expected to break Colorado’s all‑time scoring record Saturday at Riverdale Ridge, a mark untouched for more than 40 years. Kyla Hallier is also projected to surpass 2,000 career points this week.
Across the state, rivalry games, league‑title battles, and playoff‑shaping matchups filled the schedule. Upsets included Aurora Central edging Stanley Lake by one. Top teams like Valor, Erie, Windsor, Green Mountain, and Cherokee Trail strengthened their postseason positioning. A massive week ahead features Holy Family vs. Broomfield, Windsor vs. Fort Collins for the Northern crown, and Crittenden’s historic chase.
A massive week across Colorado boys basketball as milestone achievements, rivalry battles, and league‑title races took center stage with just two weeks left before the playoffs. Coaching legends Sean Palmer and Jon Rakiecki reached historic win marks, while multiple players—Caleb Fay, Howard Hunter, Keegen Balistreri, Judah Michael—joined the 1,000‑ and 2,000‑point clubs.
On the court, chaos hit the Centennial League as Overland stunned both Grandview and Cherokee Trail, blowing the title race wide open. In 5A, Stanley Lake and Green Mountain set up a championship collision, while Rock Canyon edged Mountain Vista in a top‑four showdown. Across the state, rivalry atmospheres delivered—from Prairie View vs. Brighton to Silver Creek vs. Longmont—showcasing the intensity of February basketball.
Looking ahead, the schedule is loaded with league‑defining matchups, highlighted by Broomfield–Holy Family, Valor–Ralston Valley, Prospect Ridge–Kent Denver, and a historic night expected at Riverdale Ridge as Bri Crittendon closes in on a 40‑year Colorado scoring record.
Veteran Fairview High School coach Tom McCartney shared stories from his decades-long career in Colorado athletics, including a remarkable and little-known stint as an emergency head basketball coach in the 1990s. Stepping in midseason during a 20-game losing streak, McCartney leaned on guidance from his father, Hall of Fame coach Bill McCartney, to inspire an unlikely upset victory over Cherry Creek. The interview also traced McCartney’s journey from Michigan to Colorado, his playing and coaching roots, his long tenure as Fairview’s football coach, and his reflections on leadership, mentorship, and adapting to a new generation of athletes.
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Colorado high school basketball delivered an electric week packed with rivalry games, milestone moments, and playoff-shaping results. Standout athletes hit historic marks, including Jetwell and Madden Smiley reaching the 1,500-point club, while Dayesun Collier caught fire with six three-pointers in a single game. On the national stage, Ariana Akey (Mountain Vista) and Lucy Thompson (Legend) earned Pro Bowl selections, placing Colorado talent in the national spotlight.
League races tightened across the state as powerhouse programs like Arvada West, Grandview, Rangeview, and Mountain Vista continued asserting dominance, while surprise contenders such as Evergreen and Lewis-Palmer shook up expectations. Packed gyms, last-second finishes, and statement wins defined the week, setting the stage for a pivotal stretch run with rivalry week and league championships looming.
Colorado girls basketball delivered a blockbuster week packed with historic performances, national recognition, major college commitments, and statement wins across every league. Headlining the news, Ariana Akey and Lucy Thompson earned national Pro Bowl selections in flag football—placing Colorado on the national stage with only 32 athletes chosen nationwide.
On the hardwood, milestones piled up: multiple players crossed the 1,000-point mark, school records fell in rebounding and blocks, and Kinley Asp erupted for 48 points, vaulting into Colorado’s all-time scoring top ten. League races tightened as powerhouse programs like Lutheran, Denver East, Broomfield, Valor Christian, and Mead surged toward playoff positioning.
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