DENVER — It’s going to be a nice all-Jeffco semifinal at the Jungle Jam Tournament.
D’Evelyn (Class 5A/4A Jeffco) and Arvada West (Class 6A Jeffco) will square off in a semifinal of the girls basketball annual tournament at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.
“It will be a good match-up,” D’Evelyn coach Chris Olson said of facing A-West on Friday. “We played in the tournament championship game last year. It was a really good game. We want to be tested and keep that iron in the fire. Keep getting better.”
The co-host Jaguars (3-1 record) took care of business with a 58-30 win over Summit (0-2) in the first quarterfinal Wednesday night at D’Evelyn. A-West (3-0) dominated Heritage 59-23 in the nightcap.
“We are going to have our hands full on Friday,” A-West coach Brady Meeks said. “That will be our first real test. We better bring it for all 32 minutes.”
The Jaguars had a fourth-quarter rally to take a 54-49 victory over the Wildcats last year in the tournament title game. D’Evelyn had a 27-1 record last year with its lone loss in the 4A state title game against Holy Family.
“I’m excited for the challenge,” A-West junior guard Saylor Swanson said.
The annual Jungle Jam Tournament co-hosted by D’Evelyn and Littleton features A-West, Summit, Heritage, Longmont, Northfield, Sand Creek, along with the host Jaguars and Lions this year.
Littleton and Northfield will face off in the other semifinal at Littleton High School on Friday with the winner advancing to the title game against the winner of A-West/D’Evelyn on Saturday at D’Evelyn.
“It is really good to face A-West early in the year,” D’Evelyn senior Peyton Marvel said. “We know they can shoot and they are fast. It is a great game before we get into league play and deeper in our season.”
D’Evelyn 58, Summit 30
D’Evelyn seniors Peyton Marvel (21 points) and Macy Scheer (16 points) paced the Jaguars in the victory over the Tigers (0-2).
The Jaguars had an 8-0 run to end the first half to extend their lead to 36-19 at halftime. Marvel and Scheer combined for 24 points in the first half.
Olson admitted he is still working on getting his rotation set with some of his multiple-sport athletes just getting back on the hardwood.
“It is just kind of that balance. We are replacing two really good players and trying to figure out who will get those minutes,” Olson said. “It is just part of how it goes. We have some familiar faces, but we’ve got some new people too.”
Junior Ellie McMann is the third returning starter for the last year’s 4A state runner-up, but she is coming off a knee injury suffered this summer.
Seniors Megan Schonberger and Ingrid Dalla will be key in keeping the Jaguars’ fast-paced play going. Freshman Colleen Monahan fits the bill to become a major piece to Olson’s game-plan this season.
“She (Monahan) can hit shots. She can play defense,” Marvel said of the freshman. “Once we get her out of her shell I think she is going to be a very big asset.”
One thing D’Evelyn won’t have this season is an undefeated regular season. The Jaguars lost to Rock Canyon last week.
“I think having that loss showed us the reality of things,” Marvel said of the loss to Rock Canyon. “We will lose, but it isn’t bad that we lose. I think it will be a very valuable lesson for us to have.”