For Mustangs, finally a Final Four

In sports, it is always delightful to score a “first.”

While the Ralston Valley girls basketball team has reached the Class 5A state playoffs on several occasions, this is the first time in program history the Mustangs have reached the Final Four. The team reached this new height with the March 4, 74-58, Great Eight victory over Broomfield at the Denver Coliseum.

The playoffs began with Ralston Valley’s 73-55 victory over Loveland, followed by a 56-31 victory over Doherty. The Mustangs, of coach Jeff Gomer, improved their glittering record to 23-3 with a revenge victory against Broomfield, thus pay back after losing to the Eagles, 62-55, in the regular season.

Youth is playing a huge role for Ralston Valley, which had lost its other two games to Lakewood (60-47) and ThunderRidge (56-46). After all, the Mustangs only have one senior, Hannah Weber, on the varsity for the second season in a row. She has averaged 12.2 points and has come through with 62 steals.

“I’m so proud of our team and it feels so great to get to the Final Four,” said Weber, who wants to play soccer in college, not basketball. “The key was to go out with the good intentions. I’ve kept my head, be a good leader on the court and not to get down on my teammates in a game.

“It’s been hard for me at times, but I just want to dig in and keep it going,” said the 6-foot Weber in an earlier interview this season. “We have improved so much and that’s a good thing.”

Weber has had some extra practice being a leader this season. Lately, she’s been coaching a five-year-old team from Highlands Ranch on the weekends.

Following Weber are four juniors, three sophomores and one freshman.

Junior Ashley Van Sickle has been leading Ralston Valley in points, assists and steals. She, too, is more than pleased the Mustangs have been able to advance in the playoffs, helped considerably by her 16.1 points per game.

“This is the first time that we have made the Final Four and we only have our one senior,” said Van Sickle, who also has accounted for 151 assists, 131 rebounds, and 113 steals. “I’m so excited. I’m a junior and a team captain. We want to move on and keep playing our steady game. All the girls have gone overboard to play hard this season.

“We are a close team and love each other,” said Van Sickle, recently. “Our offense clicks because of that closeness. We are all competitive and we just want to do our best. I’ve been playing with girls on our team since sixth grade and we are just clicking.”

Gomer is certainly pleased with the progress that has been made by his girls and that they are moving on in the playoffs. After that narrow win over Broomfield he had a smile on his face.

“We got the heat up and it was a nice mix as we played our guts out,” said Gomer. “We were able to get the balls into the hole and I’m delight with the poise. We were able to get control and we got the job done.

“We just want to stay healthy, that’s for sure,” Gomer said.

Gomer feels that a huge key for his team is that the young players are stepping up and certainly playing for one another. The girls are unselfish, and any could come through with a 20-point night.

The other three juniors on varsity are Makela Shaklee (5-foot-8-inch), Chloe Gillach (5-foot-6) and Sarah Bevington (6-foot). The sophomores are Samantha Van Sickle (6-foot), Abby Wright (5-foot-7) and Alesia Capley. The lone freshman on the varsity is Shelby Nichols (6-foot-1).

Bevington is third on the team in scoring with a 12.2 average. She has also chipped in with 160 rebounds, 43 steals, 40 assists and 24 blocked shots. For college she wants to play soccer at Baylor.

“She is just as competitive as all get out,” said Gomer. “She is our best defensive player and she just doesn’t give in.”

Shaklee and Gillach or not far behind in the statistical department for the Mustangs. Shaklee averages 8.4 points a game, has pulled down 101 rebounds, has 62 blocked shots, 62 steals and 59 assists. Gillach, scoring 7.7 points a game, has come through with 59 steals and 42 assists.

Now, it’s on to the state semifinals, March 10, where Ralston Valley plays Highlands Ranch. The winner there, will face either Grandview or Thunder Ridge in the finals.

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