Mile High to Manhattan: Denver East Girls Hoops Takes On the Big Apple

Denver East players at the Rockefeller Center

When I was in high school at Savanna, Il, we played in a Christmas Tourney at Geneseo, IL. We thought it was big time, over 55 miles in the school bus, and got to stop to eat on the way back. 

When I coached girls basketball at Galesburg, IL, we played regularly in Chicago but once we played Madison West, Wis. It was over 3 1/2 hours on a charter. We had a meal catered at the University of Wisconsin Student Union. It was a long day but fun. 

Earlier in December, Denver East High School had a little bit bigger “road trip.” I guess you would say it wasn’t actually a “road trip” because they flew to New York. From Denver East HS to Christ the King HS, it is only 1,784 miles. 

Sue Bird at Christ the King

If you are a girls basketball fan, Christ the King HS should ring a bell. It has won some “Mythical National Championships” with players like Sue Bird, Chamique Hodsclaw, and Tina Charles. They have won so many New York State titles that the internet seems to have trouble keeping track of things. As near as I can tell, the school has won over 25 State titles in the largest division in the state, and Coach Bob Mackey has won around 15 of those in his time at Christ the King. It is no wonder that Mackey has been National COY on three different occasions. 

Coach Bob Mackey of Christ the King

It is considered one of the premier girls basketball schools in the nation. After hosting Denver East, Christ the King will play schools from California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. For Christmas, they will play in the prestigious Nike Tourney of Champions, that I believe this year will be in Phoenix, Az. 

Denver East is the oldest public school in the city of Denver. Its historic building is located within view of the downtown skyscrapers. It is a school of 2700 diverse students. It has had a tradition of excellence in everything, including athletics. The Denver East boys basketball team has won 12 state championships, tied with Manual High School for the most boys basketball state championships. 

Coach Carl Mattei of Denver East

Coach Carl Mattei is in his fourth year at Denver East. He coached at Regis Jesuit for 17 years. During those 17 years, his teams won three Colorado State Championships, appeared in 9 straight Final Fours, had 44 players go onto get D1 scholarships, and had three Colorado Gatorade Player’s of the Year. 

With both Coach Mattei and Coach Mackey having success on the national stage, they developed each other as a contact, which allowed their game to come about. 

The Denver East girls basketball team won a state championship in 2010. Last year’s team advanced to the Elite 8 for 6A schools (the large schools) before losing to the eventual state champion Grandview, led by Sienna Betts (6’5”) who is currently a basketball player for UCLA with her older sister, Lauren Betts (6’7”). 

Denver East players and coaches eating in Harlem.

Many of the East girls basketball players on last year’s Elite 8 team are currently on this year’s team, including Mairead Hearty (6’3”), a D1 commit that will play basketball next season for San Diego State. Other returners from last season’s varsity team include Li Valdez, Grace Hall, Cecelia Brinton, Hannah Watson, and Olivia Hanlon. Newcomers to this year’s varsity team include Mia Avramovic (6’6” sophomore foreign exchange student from Serbia), Mae Wall, Lily Bahlmann, Harper Hall, Charlotte Clarke, and Journey Gregory. Mia, as an exchange student, is staying with Sean and Karla (Emery) Hanlon. 

Their talent level is such that at recent games, they regularly have had college coaches from North Carolina, Utah, Stanford, and other schools in attendance.

Coaches- Sean Hanlon, Carl Mattei, Diani Akigbogun, Vanessa Espinoza

Besides having one of the premier girls basketball coaches in the US, in Coach Mattei, the East staff is unbelievable. Vanessa Espinoza played at Colorado State and has earned the WBCA HS Assistant COY. Diani Akigbogun was the Colorado HS POY and played for Texas. 

I asked Sean Hanlon (GHS grad and former Silver Streak player) to share the experience of their trip to New York. Sean is a volunteer assistant with Denver East, and his daughter, Olivia is a sophomore on the team. 

Day 1 - Thursday, December 11

After arriving on Wednesday evening (and enjoying some NY style pizza at Napoli’s Pizzeria with the team), the team started the day early. We drove the two 12 passenger vans (one with the players one with parents and other family and friends) to a nearby subway station. Coach Carl wanted the girls to experience the subway system and getting around the city that way. We then walked to the World Trade Center memorial site, along with the NYC firemen’s memorial. Some of the NYC firemen were putting up a Christmas tree by their memorial. We grabbed a pic with a couple of them. Then we walked out to see the Statue of Liberty  very cool!

After grabbing lunch together, we headed back to the hotel for a short rest before driving to St. Francis Prep for our first game in NYC. 

Jumped out to a nice lead (20-2) but then let them back in it. Ended up winning the game by ten. 

We then watch the first half of the boys’ game before getting a team dinner at a tasty Greek restaurant.

Sean Hanlon in Times Square

Day 2 - Friday, December 12

Got the team up early again, and drove the vans to another subway station. Took the subway to Rockefeller, got some great pics while walking around visiting cool stores and seeing St. Patrick’s Church, did some street dancing with the team, and then went to Canal Street. The players were given time to shop and barter with the street vendors. 

We then returned to the hotel for a short rest before driving to Archbishop Molloy for our second game. We played great! Much better focus and energy. Won by 20. 

Some of the players from our next opponent, #19 ranked team in the country, Christ the King, along with the top ranked senior in the country, Olivia Vukosa) were in the gym to scout us.

Denver East players celebrating win!

Day 3 - December 13

Let the gals sleep in a little before our 1 pm matchup against #19 in the country, Christ the King. Took the team to Utopia Bagels for a great pre-game meal. 

Arrived at the historic Christ the King School at 11:45. Met legendary coach, Bob Mackey, before the game. 

Game was a battle! Limited the top ranked senior in the country, Olivia Kukosa, (6’5” 230 lbs who will play next season for UCONN) to 11-12 points. Down just 3 at half, and even up 1 point in the fourth quarter before losing by 11. 

Super proud of the team. 

That game was the final game that legendary head girls basketball coach, Bob Mackey, would serve as head coach. He coached Sue Bird and other pros at Christ the King high school over his four decades of coaching. He will continue to serve as the school’s AD and will also sit on the bench of the girls basketball team the remainder of the season. Very nice ceremony honoring Coach Mackey at the end of our game, with some former players, including current WNBA player, 6’4” Tina Charles. 

That night, the team took the subway to Times Square to cap off the day. We hung out at Times Swuare for about 4 hours, including dinner.

Coach Bob Mackey, Coach Carl Mattei

Day 4 - December 14

No game. 

We took the team to a breakfast followed by a trip to Harlem. We planned to visit Rucker Park - steeped in basketball history, street ball legends and amazing games over the years. But didn’t make it over there due to heavy snow. We had lunch at a famous soul food restaurant called Amy Ruth’s. 

Our flight home scheduled for Sunday night was canceled. We scrambled and extended our hotel rooms and rental vans an extra day and fortunately managed to get on a flight back (out of Newark airport) late Monday night. Didn’t get home until after 1:30 a.m. 

What an amazing trip and experience for the team! Go East! And long live hoops!

Olivia Hanlon 

Olivia Hanlon shared some of her experience as a player…

We had a lot of fun just being in New York and playing good teams. We all grew as players and as a team. We got to eat a lot of really good food and see so many amazing places.

The first team we played had much less size than us and we got up 20-2 but then let them back in the game but we still won.

The second game we played another team without much size and maintained our lead the whole game and played well on defense and worked well together on offense.

The third game was against the number 19 ranked team in the country and a 3 ranked player in her class. We played hard and we were down one at half. In the second half they took over and we lost by 11.

In New York, we went to Rockefeller Center and Times Square. We went to Harlem and Queens, we also saw the Statue of Liberty.  We had a lot of fun and it was a good team bonding trip.

Thank you to the Hanlon’s for sharing some of this wonderful experience!! Obviously playing in NYC in 2025 is a much cooler experience than playing in Geneseo, IL in 1969!!

Oh, I almost forgot… Denver East will be traveling to San Francisco for games over the ML King weekend later this season!!