Sports
Prep notebook: Vail Christian basketball opens season and Eagle County volleyball players earn all-state honors
Sam Bates/Courtesy photo
The Saints boys and girls basketball teams both split their season-opening games at the Vail Christian Tip Off Tournament last weekend. The boys took down Cedaredge in overtime on Friday before falling to Highland in the championship game on Saturday. The girls defeated Lake County 47-33 and lost to Cedaredge 67-18.
Vail Christian junior Rayman Romanin poured in 23 points in the season opener. Oliver Neumann added 18 points and nine rebounds and Jack O’Shaugnessy chipped in 10 points as well for the Saints, who were up by four at halftime.
The Bruins clawed back, however, taking a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter. With 16 seconds left, Neumann came off a screen and drilled a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from the wing to make it 69-68. Cedaredge guard Ian Blair missed two free throws on the next possession and Romanin was fouled on the loose ball rebound. The Saints junior went 1-for-2 to force overtime.
Romanin came through in the clutch in overtime, too. With 31.6 seconds left and the score tied 76-76, the Saints’ full-court press forced Blair into a double dribble. On the ensuing possession, Romanin floated an up-and-under right-hander from in the paint with five seconds to go for the game-winner.
Susie Irving and Eva Soto led the Saints against the Panthers in the Friday contest. Irving dropped 21 points to go along with nine rebounds and six steals, while Soto added 10 points and five boards. Irving led the way against Cedaredge as well, scoring seven. Vanessa Reyes added six in the loss.
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Both Vail Christian squads will face Nucla on Thursday night.
Eagle County volleyball players earn postseason awards
Several Eagle County volleyball players earned all-state and all-conference recognition.
Battle Mountain’s Cynthia Orona was named to the CHSAA 4A all-state second team. The outside hitter led the team in kills (330) and guided the Huskies to a 24-5 record and second-straight state tournament trip.
Eagle Valley’s Riley Weatherred was named all-state honorable mention. The junior led the Devils in kills (478) aces (42) and digs (290) in guiding the Devils to a 9-14 record.
Vail Christian had three players — Betty Bartok, Mary McClarrinon and Tenley Brasington — earn all-state honorable mention honors. Bartok was also named to the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports all-state squad, was a 2A Western Slope first-team player and was named the league’s senior of the year. McClarrinon was tagged as the 2A Western Slope player of the year, while Brasington earned league setter of the year honors and was named to the conference second team. Stella Hawkins was named all-conference honorable mention as well.
Saints coach Britney Branson claimed 2A Western Slope coach of the year honors after guiding Vail Christian to a 21-6 overall mark and 10-0 league record. It’s the second time in Branson’s three-year tenure that the Saints have gone undefeated in league play and qualified for the state tournament.