GILPIN COUNTY – There are three certainties in life – death, taxes, and that the Lady Eagles basketball team will have a winning season every year. After dispatching the Dawson Mustangs on February 21 by a score of 61-18, their record stood at 16-4 (11-1 in league play). Following three more games left on the schedule, they’ll be advancing to regionals on March 7.

As it was Gilpin’s last home game of the year, the seniors were honored in a ceremony with their family members at their side.

Head Coach Katura Atherton shared some thoughts about the three athletes who will be moving on:

Makenzie Marr #5

Makenzie has been playing with the Lady Eagles basketball program since she was in eighth grade. Many of her teammates have played a lot longer, but you would never have guessed that by watching her now. She is one of our strongest defenders, someone that we often put on the other team's highest scorer to completely shut them down.

She has had a couple of standout games, including the win against Flatirons Academy, where she scored 12 points – six of those from the three-point range in the final two minutes of the game. This was the first time that Gilpin has beaten Flatirons Academy.

She had another standout game against Dayspring Christian, where she also scored 12 points and had three assists. She has a very high basketball IQ and often takes the lead in Elite Mindset discussions. Her teammates love her sense of humor and her energy that she brings to practices and games.

Annabelle Aloel #23

Annabelle has been playing with the Lady Eagles basketball program since she was in fifth grade and in our community since she was four years old (with Faith Ramsey).

Annabelle is one of the most valuable vocal leaders. She can adjust her communication style to best fit the situation and person that she is communicating with, which has been huge in character and team development. Her teammates recognize this and the thing they value the most about her is her early, effective, positive communication.

She is one of those players who plays very consistently and rarely leaves the floor because of it. She is a great athlete and can play 32 minutes of a basketball game with no sub and no change to her intensity. Her standout games this season include against Dawson, where she scored 12 points and had nine rebounds; and against Kiowa, where she scored 11 points, seven rebounds, and three steals.

Faith Ramsey #20

Faith has been playing with the Lady Eagles basketball program since she was in fifth grade and in our community since she was four years old (with Annabelle Aloel). Faith has been the starting varsity point guard and leading the varsity team since her freshman year.

She plays with more intensity, hustle, and passion than any player the coach has witnessed. She leads by example, giving her all to the program and holding her teammates to that same standard. Currently she is leading our team in almost every stat, including points, rebounds, assists, and shooting percentage.

She is one of those players who is extremely hard to guard because she can score from anywhere on the court: she can knock down three-point shots, score in the post on a defender six inches taller than her, drive into the paint, and she creates amazing scoring opportunities for her teammates.

In the game against Dawson, she scored 10 points and had 12 assists (her third double-double of the year). Her other standout games include North Park, where she scored 27 points, 12 rebounds, and five steals; Kiowa, where she scored 22 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals; and Union Colony where she scored 10 points, nine rebounds, and eight steals.

Her teammates’ favorite thing about playing with Faith is the intensity and love she brings on the court – whether that is the love of her teammates or just the true love she possesses for playing basketball.

Atherton summarized, “We have had a great season this year, not just in our win/loss record, but in our team chemistry and character development. All of our girls have grown so much both on the court and off the court. This team cares for each other and is closer than any other team I have been part of.

"We have worked a lot on developing trust and enhancing our communication and it has paid off, both in basketball and in life. A few of these girls have been playing basketball together since grade school and it has been an amazing opportunity to watch them grow into the young ladies that they have become.

"I am so excited that we have qualified for regionals and get to play at least a few more weeks because saying goodbye to our seniors and the team chemistry that they have built is going to be heartbreaking.”