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DPS foes Denver East, Northfield one win away from facing off for 6A Colorado girls basketball title

Published

1 month ago

March 11, 2026

DPS foes Denver East, Northfield one win away from facing off for 6A Colorado girls basketball title

A simmering Denver Public Schools rivalry is two big wins away from a historic main event.

Denver East and Northfield are playing in opposite sides of the bracket of the Class 6A Final Four on Thursday. If both win, it will set up the first all-DPS championship game in the half-century since girls basketball became a sanctioned CHSAA sport.

There is no love lost between the programs, who have played a handful of physical, tense games over the last two seasons. That includes three showdowns this year and last year, over which the re-established old guard Denver East owns a 5-1 record against upstart, relatively new Northfield.

“It’s been a really competitive rivalry between the top teams in the DPS,” said Denver East head coach Carl Mattei, “and this has been brewing for the last couple of years for bragging rights in the city.”

The Angels have seen a resurgence under Mattei, who is in his fourth season on City Park Esplanade. Denver East is the last DPS girls team to win a hoops title, accomplishing the feat in 2010, and is one of only two DPS programs to do so, along with Montbello in 1997.

Mattei, who built Regis Jesuit into a powerhouse, went to eight title games and won three of them in his 18-year tenure with the Raiders. He was initially talked into applying for the Denver East job by a couple key DPS stakeholders, including Angels boys coach Rudy Carey and ex-longtime district athletic director John Andrew.

‘They don’t need to go play in the suburbs’

Mattei said he took the job because “when I looked at what Denver East could be, I thought it could be the Cherry Creek of DPS (girls basketball).” The Angels were successful under the prior coach, Dwight Berry, who led them to the 2010 title. But Denver East struggled to consistently make deep tournament runs.

“I had to get the kids to believe that they could compete with the Grandviews, the Cherry Creeks, the Regis Jesuits, the Highlands Ranches,” Mattei said. “Players in (the Denver East neighborhood) can actually stay in the city and represent our city, and be part of being the jewel of the city that is the Denver East Angels. They don’t need to go play in (the suburbs).

“That’s what Rudy and (Denver East principal) Terita Walker wanted for this program, and I think that’s where we’re at right now.”

The Angels are headlined by senior forward Mairead Hearty, a San Diego State commit who is averaging 16.9 points a game. Junior guard Grace Hall, a Division I recruit, is averaging 12.3 points. And senior sharpshooter Liana Valdez, a Western Nebraska commit who is a four-year starter like Hearty, can make teams pay from beyond the arc.

East’s Grace Hall (2) controls the ball against Valor Christian’s defense during 6A great 8 basketball game at Denver Coliseum in Denver on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Hearty, who lives a couple blocks from Denver East, is jazzed with the ascension of the program at the school she walks to. The Angels went from a first-round playoff exit in Mattei’s first season, to the Sweet 16 the next, to the Great 8 last year and now the Final Four.

“I’ve been in this neighborhood my whole life, watching games (when I was little), so I’m so excited to be in this situation with this team,” Hearty said. “I couldn’t have dreamed it up any better what we’ve been able to accomplish the last four years.”

While much of Denver East’s roster is homegrown, the Angels’ other X-factor is an import.

Sophomore Mia Avramovic is averaging almost a triple-double with 10.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.0 blocks, a swat rate which ranks second in the nation. The 6-foot-6 center moved to Colorado from Serbia, where she’s played on her country’s youth national team, before the school year began.

She’s still extremely raw, but Mattei says Avramovic “has made tremendous strides this season.”

“At home (in Serbia), she just had to be a shot blocker — she wasn’t really allowed to shoot or dribble,” Mattei said. “But she’s developed her game so much that she has offers from Oregon State and Utah. She’s been invited to the Nike Elite Camp in June. She’ll be playing with (a high-level club) this summer. All this after she came in and initially really struggled with her ball skills.”

Driving Avramovic’s development is Mattei’s coaching staff stacked with his former players.

That includes Diani Akigbogun, a two-time Ms. Colorado Basketball for Mattei at Regis Jesuit who is his lead assistant; Celena Miller, who played for Mattei’s club team and then at DU, and is a rising R&B star under the stage name Lady Los; Vanessa Espinoza, who played for Mattei at Douglas County before going on to CSU; and Alisha Godette, who played club for Mattei and later at Arizona State.

BOULDER, CO – MARCH 15: Diani Akigbogun jumps up for the pass for Regis Jesuit in the second half. The Regis Jesuit Raiders take on the Fossil Ridge Sabercats in the Colorado 5A High School State Basketball Championships at the Coors Events Center on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder on March 15, 2014. (Kathryn Scott Osler The Denver Post)

“Forget the state — I’ve got the best staff in the country,” Mattei said. “It’s incredible what I have as coaches and how they are working to develop our talent.”

With those familiar faces behind Mattei on the bench, he’ll take on an old foe in Thursday’s Final Four to set up a possible shot against Northfield in the title.

Mattei and Highlands Ranch boss Caryn Jarocki, the state’s all-time winningest girls coach, developed a rivalry when Mattei was at Regis Jesuit. The Raiders and the Falcons met in the title game three times, with Highlands Ranch winning in 2008 and ’11 and Regis Jesuit triumphing in 2013.

Denver East and Highlands Ranch played earlier this season, a 51-49 win by the Angels on Dec. 9. Both teams had key players injured in that game, including Hearty. Mattei believes his team’s tough out-of-state schedule, which included trips to New York and California, has prepared the Angels for the rematch.

“We have to keep an eye on (Falcons leading scorer) Kimora Banks-Thomas, because she can light it up from anywhere,” Mattei said. “And we can’t get into a run-and-gun game with them. We play two different types of basketball, and when we beat them at their place, we tried to control tempo.”

Northfield a program on the rise

Meanwhile, Northfield faces top-seeded Cherokee Trail. The Nighthawks are trying to get back to the championship after losing in the Class 5A title game to Roosevelt two years ago.

Northfield High School’s Madison Bethel (20) passes the ball across the court during the class 5A Colorado High School girls state championship game at the Denver Coliseum in Denver on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Northfield High School played Roosevelt High School for the state title. (Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Denver Post)

Northfield’s heart and soul is junior guard Madison Bethel, the daughter of head coach Sydney Price. The Nighthawks also feature a trio of transfers who have accelerated their status as a Class 6A force despite the program only being eight years old. Junior forward Delaney Dennis transferred from Denver East prior to last school year, while junior twin guards London Taylor and Paris Taylor transferred from Cherry Creek before this school year. The Taylors were granted immediate eligibility by CHSAA.

London Taylor is the team’s leading scorer with 14.6 points per game, while Bethel, Dennis and Paris Taylor are also averaging double figures. Price declined an interview request for this story, saying she wanted to “remain focused on the game plan during this pivotal and important time.”

Cherokee Trail head coach Tammi Statewright says her Cougars “have to be able to handle the physicality of the DPS way of play” as CT vies to make its first title game.

“I feel like (the Centennial League) is pretty physical, but in a different way,” Statewright said. “We got to be able to handle Northfield’s ball pressure because they’re tough, they’re strong. If we don’t handle that well, we’re not going to make it through.”

Northfield takes on Cherokee Trail on Thursday at 5:45 p.m. at the Denver Coliseum, with Denver East and Highlands Ranch following at 7:15 p.m.

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Historic 84-year-old Bonnie Brae gas station in Denver officially listed for sale by family

Published

10 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Historic 84-year-old Bonnie Brae gas station in Denver officially listed for sale by family

DENVER — After 84 years of pumping gas and cleaning windshields, the family-owned Bonnie Brae Conoco in Denver is officially up for sale.

Located at the corner of University and Exposition, the station has been a staple in the neighborhood for generations. Owner Ken Wilson believes it could be the only remaining full-service, family-owned gas station in the city.

“Some people wouldn’t know what to do if we stopped doing this,” Wilson said.

Mike Castellucci

Wilson started working at the station when he was 12 years old. His family has owned the business through the decades, keeping photos from the 1940s through the 1970s.

“So many memories. I love coming to work. When I come here I feel like my dad never left,” Wilson said.

Wilson noted that his father died 14 years ago.

► Watch Mike Castellucci’s report in the player below:

Historic Bonnie Brae Conoco gas station in Denver officially listed for sale

The station was previously known for a sign that read “not for sale.” Now, the sign has changed to indicate the property is on the market.

“We’re just looking to the future. It’s a great property. It’s been good to us. We love the neighborhood. I love coming to work. So it’s not like I’m dying to sell this. We think it’s a very valuable property,” Wilson said.

Customer Ali Halberson noticed the Conoco sign went from "not for sale" to "for sale"

Today, employee Claude Espinoza is changing out winter tires for summer tires.

“I get it. Only so long you can run a family business,” Espinoza said.

Customers like Ali Halberson, who spent $100 to fill her car, are feeling the impact of changing times.

“I was really empty,” Halberson said.

While Halberson thinks current gas prices are “terrible,” customers in the neighborhood do not want to pay the price of watching the Wilson family’s station disappear. Other gas stations that used to operate across the street and next door are long gone, leaving the Bonnie Brae Conoco as a final remnant of a bygone era.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Mike Castellucci

Denver7’s Mike Castellucci covers stories that have an impact in all of Colorado’s communities, but specializes in reporting on community connections. If you’d like to get in touch with Mike, fill out the form below to send him an email.

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First Time at Denver Fashion Week? Read This Before Tickets Sell Out – 303 Magazine

Published

22 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

First Time at Denver Fashion Week? Read This Before Tickets Sell Out – 303 Magazine

Denver Fashion Week has become one of the city’s most buzzed-about events – but if you’ve never been, it’s easy to feel unsure about what to expect.

The good news: it’s far more accessible (and fun) than you think – and that’s exactly why people keep coming back.

Your first Fashion Week experience doesn’t have to happen in New York or Paris. It’s happening right here at Denver Fashion Week.

Seats are limited, and the most popular nights go quickly—especially VIP. Get your tickets HERE

Here’s how to navigate your first Denver Fashion Week like a pro.

What’s the vibe?

Forget the intimidating, ultra-elite energy of New York or Paris. Denver Fashion Week strikes a balance between elevated and inclusive. Think high-energy, visually immersive, and social.
You’re not sitting quietly—you’re part of the atmosphere.

You’ll see a mix of:

Designers, models, local creatives, and stylists
Influencers, press, brands, sponsors, and photographers
Fashion, beauty, art, and music lovers dressed to be seen

The energy builds as the night goes on — from pre-show cocktails to the moment the lights dim and the runway comes alive. It’s part fashion show, part social scene, and part cultural experience.

What to wear?

The most common question: What do I wear?

The short answer — there are no strict rules. But this is your moment to show up intentionally styled.

Think of it as: elevated self-expression.

Go-To Outfit Ideas:

Elevated Streetwear
Oversized blazer, cargos or tailored pants, heels or sleek sneakers. Effortlessly cool and on-trend.

Minimal Chic
Slip dress, neutral tones, sleek bun, gold jewelry. Clean, understated and polished.

Bold Statement Look
Metallics, textures, statement outerwear or dramatic silhouettes. Perfect for turning heads.

If you’re debating between playing it safe or going bold – lean bold. This is one of the few nights in Denver where more fashion-forward always works.

What is the timeline of the night?

Arrive early to avoid the line and find parking
Grab a cocktail, take photos, mingle, shop
Runway show begins
Ask where the after party is!

What is the VIP Lounge Experience?

Experience Fashion at the Highest Level

If you’re looking to turn your night into something unforgettable, the VIP experience is where Denver Fashion Week truly comes alive.

VIP access is available to First + Second Runway Seat ticket holders, giving you a front-row connection to every moment on the runway.

VIP Perks Include:

Priority seating with premium runway views
Exclusive check-in experience
Elevated atmosphere among Denver’s fashion insiders
Exclusive access to the VIP Lounge
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres (while supplies last)
Elevated photo opportunities of every look
Networking alongside press, influencers, celebrities, and fashion insiders
Exclusive VIP discounts at select pop-up vendors
An up-close experience of cutting-edge runway production
Access to the VIP cash bar

Why does seating matters?

First and second Row: premium, closest to the action, elevated photo opportunities of every look, and gain VIP lounge access.
General Admission: relaxed, and enjoy a state-of-the-art fashion show production.

Does Denver Fashion Week support the community?

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month this May, Denver Fashion Week has announced Ardent Grove, a Colorado-based nonprofit mental health clinic, as its official community partner for the Spring 2026 shows

Where will Denver Fashion Week be held?

For Spring 2026, Denver Fashion Week will once again transform the luxurious Furniture Row Showroom into a fully immersive runway environment. Known for its expansive layouts, modern architecture, and refined aesthetic, the space offers a setting rarely seen in traditional fashion venues.

Instead of conventional warehouses or hotel ballrooms, the runway unfolds inside a curated interior design landscape — where elevated home décor meets cutting-edge fashion.

Is it worth it?

Denver Fashion Week is more than a runway — it’s a full experience blending fashion, culture, and community.
If you love fashion, creativity, or just want a unique night out in Denver, absolutely.

And once you go, you’ll get it.

Where to stay?

Elevate your Denver Fashion Week experience with our hotel partner, Vīb Hotel. Enjoy 35% off during DFW when you book directly and stay just minutes from the action in style and comfort.

Where to buy tickets?

Seats are limited, and the most popular nights go quickly—especially VIP.

Get your tickets HERE or below

SUSTAINABLE Spring ’26 Presented by Furniture Row

When: Fri, May 1, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Furniture Row Showroom – 5445 Bannock St, Denver
Cost: $30+
The Lowdown:

This show honors designers committed to ethical production, eco-conscious materials and slow fashion principles. From upcycled textiles to responsible sourcing and transparent manufacturing, this runway proves that sustainability and high design can coexist beautifully.

SOCIETY Spring ’26 Presented by Furniture Row

When: Saturday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Furniture Row Showroom – 5445 Bannock St, Denver
Cost: $30+
The Lowdown:

Denver Fashion Week’s most elevated and couture-driven evening. This showcase highlights avant-garde collections, luxury craftsmanship and bold artistic expression. It’s a celebration of high fashion — where visionary design and dramatic silhouettes command the runway.

Family Day: YOUTH + MOMMY & ME Spring ’26 Presented by Furniture Row

When: Sunday, May 3, 3:00 p.m.
Where: Furniture Row Showroom – 5445 Bannock St, Denver
Cost: $30+
The Lowdown:

A heartwarming and high-energy experience celebrates the next generation of fashion. Featuring youth designers, young models and coordinated parent-child looks, this daytime runway brings together families, creativity and community in a joyful celebration of style at every.

STREETWEAR & SNEAKERS Spring ’26 Presented by Furniture Row

When: Tuesday, May 5, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Furniture Row Showroom – 5445 Bannock St, Denver
Cost: $30+
The Lowdown:

Streetwear & Sneakers taps into culture, edge and urban influence. This show highlights bold graphics, statement footwear, layered styling and trend-driven collections rooted in music, art and street culture. Expect high-impact energy and looks that define what’s next in everyday fashion.

MAXIMALISM Spring ’26 Presented by Furniture Row

When: Wednesday, May 6, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Furniture Row Showroom – 5445 Bannock St, Denver
Cost: $30+
The Lowdown:

Maximalism Night embraces fearless self-expression. Designers will showcase vibrant color stories, dramatic textures, exaggerated silhouettes and unapologetic styling. It’s a runway dedicated to more — more volume, more detail, more personality.

OUTERWEAR + ATHLEISURE Spring ’26 Presented by Furniture Row

When: Thursday, May 7, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Furniture Row Showroom – 5445 Bannock St, Denver
Cost: $30+
The Lowdown:

New for Spring 2026, Outerwear & Athleisure celebrates Colorado’s unique intersection of performance and polish. This show highlights technical innovation, structured outerwear, luxury sportswear and contemporary layering designed for movement and style.

ADAPTIVE Spring ’26 Presented by Furniture Row

When: Friday, May 8, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Furniture Row Showroom – 5445 Bannock St, Denver
Cost: $30+
The Lowdown:

Denver Fashion Week, in partnership with Guided By Humanity, invites you to a defining moment of the season, The Adaptive Runway Show, which spotlights inclusive design created for individuals of all abilities.

SWIM & RESORT WEAR Spring ’26 Presented by Furniture Row

When: Saturday, May 9 7:00 p.m.
Where: Furniture Row Showroom – 5445 Bannock St, Denver
Cost: $30+
The Lowdown:

Back by demand, Swimsuit & Resort Wear delivers high-energy glamour and vacation-ready style. Designers will present bold swim silhouettes, sculptural one-pieces, vibrant prints and flowing resort looks that set the tone for Summer 2026. It’s an evening of color, confidence and destination-inspired drama.

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Timberwolves to open NBA Playoffs at Denver Nuggets Saturday

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

Timberwolves to open NBA Playoffs at Denver Nuggets Saturday

Kevin Garnett returns to Target Center for Timberwolves’ finale

Former Minnesota Timberwolves’ legend Kevin Garnett returned to Target Center Sunday night for the first time in eight years. He was escorted, along with his two daughters, to their courtside seats by owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. He walked out to a standing ovation from fans, and a video tribute.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Denver Nuggets to open the Western Conference Playoffs.

It’ll mark the third time in four seasons the two teams have met in the NBA Playoffs.

Timberwolves vs Nuggets playoff series

What we know:

The Nuggets rested several of their starters against the San Antonio Spurs Sunday night, but still got a 128-118 win to earn the No. 3 seed for the Western Conference Playoffs. The L.A. Lakers fell to the No. 4 spot despite beating the Utah Jazz 131-107 Sunday night.

The Timberwolves had already earned the No. 6 seed in the West last week. They got a 136-132 win over the Houston Rockets, and in Sunday’s regular season finale, beat the New Orleans Pelicans 132-126 to finish the season 49-33.

The Timberwolves probably would’ve preferred to have the Lakers get the No. 3 seed, with star guard Luka Doncic dealing with a hamstring injury. Guard Austin Reaves is also dealing with an oblique injury.

The Timberwolves and Nuggets will play a best-of-seven series, with games 3 and 4 at Target Center, as as well as a game 6, if necessary.

Timberwolves rivalry with Nuggets

Why you should care:

The two teams enter the Western Conference Playoffs with quite the rivalry. The Nuggets went 3-1 this year against the Timberwolves in the regular season.

Last year, the Timberwolves swept the regular season 4-0, then the two teams didn’t meet in the playoffs. Minnesota got to its second straight Western Conference Finals, and the Nuggets got eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Timberwolves and Nuggets went seven games in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals, and in Game 7, Minnesota came back from a 20-point deficit to win and advance to its first Western Conference Finals in 20 years.

In 2023, the Nuggets beat the Timberwolves in the first round on the way to winning the NBA title. Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels both missed that series due to injuries.

In 2017, the Timberwolves ended a 13-year playoff drought, needing overtime to beat the Nuggets in a play-in game, 112-106.

Game 1 set for Saturday

What’s next:

The Timberwolves will travel to Denver and face the Nuggets in Game 1 of their playoff series at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime.

Minnesota TimberwolvesSports

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