The agony of defeat still is fresh in the mind of Troy Geiser.

The Sangre de Cristo girls basketball coach vividly remembers his team's painful 49-48 loss to eventual champion Limon in the semifinals at the Class 2A state tournament last year.

"I was very proud of the way my girls competed in that game, but the loss hurt," said Geiser, in his second year directing the Thunderbirds.

Sangre de Cristo will get an opportunity to erase that disappointment at the 2A events begins today at the Colorado State Fair Events Center.

The top-seeded Thunderbirds begin their quest for the gold ball when they meet No. 8 seed Paonia.

"Last year, we got our feet wet at the state tournament, and this year, the girls know what to expect and they shouldn't be bothered by the bright lights," Geiser said. "We just need to get out there and play our game."

The Thunderbirds are led by 6-foot junior Brittany Brown, who averages 14 points and nine rebounds.

The biggest roadblock for Sangre de Cristo once again is Limon. The Badgers are the No. 2 seed and face Swink in the quarterfinals.

Limon has won 2A titles in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. What's more, the Badgers have a superb 73-2 record during the past three seasons. Limon had its 55-game winning streak snapped earlier this season when it lost in double overtime to Simla.

"We're playing good right now," said Limon coach Mark Brown, in his 15th season. "We're starting to play all four quarters, which is important at this time of the season."

Amanda Brown, the coach's daughter, is the catalyst for Limon. The senior pours in 13 points and grabs seven boards a game.

Plateau Valley is the No. 3 seed and sports an impressive 22-1 record.

"This is really exciting for us," said Plateau Valley coach Toni Gunther, whose team collides with Holyoke in the quarterfinals. "We have come a long way in a few years, and we're really looking forward to the state tournament."

Simla, the No. 4 seed, and No. 5 seed Wray tangle in the quarterfinals. A year ago, Simla made its first appearance at state since winning three consecutive 2A titles from 1996-98. The Cubs placed third in 2006 and could surprise teams this week.

Team-by-team capsules

Holyoke (15-8)

• The Dragons advanced to the state championship last season before getting upended by Limon. The Dragons, coached by Arlan Scholl, will rely on junior twin sisters Victoria Timm (21 points, nine rebounds) and Vanessa Timm (nine points) to power their offense. Seniors Danielle Olofson and Kristin Williamson are each scoring eight points a contest. The Dragons have good size up front; Olofson is the shortest starting player, at 5-foot-7.

Limon (21-2)

• The powerhouse Badgers are back to try to claim state supremacy. Coach Mark Brown brings a stellar lineup to Pueblo, led by his daughter Amanda Brown. She is averaging 13 points and seven rebounds a game. Fellow senior Whitney Liggett (11 points) also is a scoring threat. The biggest factor for Limon might be its state experience.

Paonia (13-10)

• The Eagles return to state for the first time since 2001, when they failed to place. It will not be easy this time, either, as they play top-seeded Sangre de Cristo in the opening round. Brianne Ridgeway, a 5-10 senior, paces Paonia with nine points an outing. Casey Simpson, Jami Reed and Johanna Reed each average seven points a game.

Plateau Valley (22-1)

• Plateau Valley has a glossy record and a No. 3 seed. If this Western Slope school advances, it likely will depend on Tarina Schuman and Jami Smith, who each pour in 14 points a game. Plateau Valley might have one of the tallest starting lineups with the 5-11 Schuman, and Kaitlynn Foss and Chambry Bruton, both 5-7.

Sangre de Cristo (21-1)

• Last season, the Thunderbirds saw their state championship dreams ended by Limon in the semifinals. The top-seeded Thunderbirds are paced by 6-foot junior Brittany Brown, who averages 14 points and nine rebounds a contest. Junior Michelle Escheman chips in 11 points to help with the scoring load.

Simla (20-3)

• Coach Al Snyder is in his 23rd season with the Cubs. Simla, which finished third at state last season, is led offensively by 5-11 junior Raelynn Snyder (17 points) and 5-11 senior Kelsey Tucker (seven points). Snyder and Tucker provide the strength across the front in a solid starting lineup.

Swink (17-6)

• The Lions are best known for their volleyball prowess, but they advanced to state with a last-second 50-49 win against Sargent in regionals. First-year coach Mark Henson brings a well-balanced lineup to state, led by senior guard Leah Ramsey, who averages 11 points. Elena Lopez (eight points, eight rebounds), Kelsey Miller (eight points, seven rebounds) and Dani Graham (eight points) also are key contributors.

Wray (20-3)

• The Eagles are flying high. Wray, which beat fellow qualifier Holyoke three times this season, is paced by Stacey Post (14 points) and Erin Neumann (13). The tallest player in the Eagles lineup is 5-10 senior Danielle Reed.

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