DENVER – The end of the basketball seasons didn’t come without its reward for southwest Colorado athletes.
With Colorado High School Activities Association announcing its all-state squads earlier this week, the Four Corners region earned their share of honorees to celebrate their hardwood accomplishments. Three Dove Creek student-athletes, along with one apiece from Montezuma-Cortez and Mancos, landed on their respective classification’s honorable mention all-state squad.
Panthers senior Tay Wheat led his team in scoring and assists as part of a 17-7 season, runner-up finish in the Intermountain League, and appearance in the 4A postseason. Wheat made it on to the state’s honor roll for the second time in basketball, joining his honorable mention nod from his junior season. The dynamic guard served as a catalyst for the run-and-gun Panthers, providing his highest scoring season in his last campaign with the orange-and-black.
Dove Creek landed a pair of seniors in their trio of honorees, with Ralynn Hickman and Sheldon Gardner joining junior Taylor Hampton as the Bulldog representatives.
Hickman and Hampton led the ‘Dogs to the postseason in their first year playing in the 2A classification, earning an 18-6 record and runner-up finish in the San Juan Basin League. The duo finished one-two on the team in scoring and rebounding, with Hickman operating from the perimeter and Hampton dominating in the post.
Gardner averaged nearly a double-double for the Bulldogs, as part of a season in which the Bulldogs took second in the SJBL with a 16-8 overall record. Much like the girls team, the DC boys qualified for the 2A postseason in their maiden season in the larger division.
Mancos freshman Tinsley Aspromonte took the league by storm in her first high school season, leading the Bluejays in scoring and ranking among the top performers in the SJBL. She also paced the young Bluejays in steals to help the team earn fourth in the league standings with a 7-13 record.
