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Grand Valley girls top 3A Western Slope with win over Roaring Fork

Grand Valley's Jaycee Pittman drives the lane against Roaring Fork defender Katie Grijalva in regular season action in February.
Ray K. Erku/Post Independent

Grand Valley junior Jaycee Pittman drained six shots from downtown for 32 points and the Cardinals checked off their 14th win of the season.

And with that, Head coach Scott Parker returns to the postseason well above .500.

On Friday, Grand Valley girls basketball finished the regular season as the top team in the 3A Western Slope League after beating Roaring Fork Valley at home 57-40.



The win came after Grand Valley suffered two losses in a row. On Feb. 11, the Cardinals lost 28-27 to North Fork and, on Feb. 16, 52-50 to Moffat County.

Kaylae Medina rises for a layup against Roaring Fork Valley on Friday.
Ray K. Erku/Post Independent

“We’re feeling good,” Parker said. “We dropped a couple of close ones this week. But you gotta go through those, and the girls bounced right back tonight and played very well.”



The Rams kept things tight in the first quarter, however, going on  6-1 run. Pittman hit a bucket after the foul and, making the freethrow, put the Cardinals up 13-9. Senior AbbyRose Parker then drained two 3-pointers to start the second quarter, giving the Cardinals a 21-12 lead.

The Rams (6-13, 4-10) would make one more effective push at Grand Valley’s lead. Roaring Fork sophomore Carley Crownhart, who ended the game with 13 points, scored a layup early in the third quarter to pull her team within 6 points, 28-22.

“I have a really super young team, so I’m super excited for them,” Roaring Fork head coach Juan Quintero said. “I mean, every game we’ve been competitive.

“We kind of lose control of the game and go down a couple minutes and one quarter, but all season they played super hard. I’m super proud of them.”

But, in the end, Pittman sealed Roaring Fork’s fate by hitting another three 3-pointers to close out the game.

Game action between Grand Valley and Roaring Fork girls basketball programs Friday.
Ray K. Erku/Post Independent

“Jaycee is a great player,” Coach Parker said. “She’s been finding her shot from the arc, especially here the last few weeks. She’s been doing a lot for us.”

In addition to Pittman’s 32 points, AbbyRose Parker scored 10, Chloe Willians 6 and Kaylae Medina 5. Taylor Pittman and Chloe Gronewollder combined for 4 points.

For Roaring Fork, in addition to Crownhart leading the Rams with 13 points, Katie Grijalva and Lelaney Garasni were good for 7 apiece.

Last season, the Cardinals made it to the Final Four but were stopped short by Platte Valley 52-33.

“I love last year’s team,” Coach Parker said. “I think this year’s team, we’re better defensively, and that’s the biggest difference.”

Now that the Cardinals (14-5, 13-1) have solidified the top spot on the 3A Western Slope, they host a playoff bout Tuesday.


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