Northridge’s girls basketball team is clearly on the rise.
But, the Grizzlies might be nowhere near the peak of that ascension, and that is just fine with Clementine Darnell, Samantha Jackson and the rest of the team’s 12-player varsity roster.
For the second time in less than a week, Northridge defeated a longtime crosstown rival when it dominated Greeley Central 58-23 on the Grizzlies’ home court Tuesday.
Northridge entered play on Thursday with a 6-4 record, going 3-0 since returning from winter break a week ago and surviving a tough-as-nails early season schedule.
As pleased as they are with how they are playing right now, Darnell said she and her teammates hope this isn’t even close to the level they will be at a month from now when the regular season wraps up and the playoffs commence.
“You can see how much potential we have, as a team, with each win that we’ve gotten,” said Darnell, a sharpshooting junior guard and one of the team’s three captains. “We’ve improved so much since the beginning of the season. … I’m hoping we go a straight 14-0 in these next games. And, I hope we just keep pushing the level of intensity that we’re at currently. I think we’re at a great level, but I think we can get even higher.”
Greeley Central's Mayra Flores (0) attempts to steal the ball from Northridge's Soleil Asifiwe (5) as she drives the ball down the court during a girls basketball game between Northridge and Greeley Central at Northridge High School in Greeley on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Entering a road game Thursday night against Mountain View (2-9), Northridge was the 13th-ranked team in 5A, according to CHSAA’s Selection and Seeding Index, which will help determine the 40-team postseason field in about a month.
The Grizzlies are focused on establishing themselves as one of the state’s top teams in the entire classification.
For now, they’re somewhat content declaring themselves the top big-school girls hoops program in the city, between them and their rivals Greeley Central and Greeley West.
Greeley Central's Kate Lahman (13) attempts to pass the ball while surrounded during a girls basketball game between Northridge and Greeley Central at Northridge High School in Greeley on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)This past Thursday, Northridge defeated Greeley West 57-24, a near carbon copy of its win Tuesday against the Wildcats.
“We want to be the top team in Greeley,” said Jackson, a junior guard. “That’s a big priority, but it’s not our biggest priority. We just want to win. But, beating our rivals, and beating them by a lot, is something we always want to do.”
The Grizzlies will face Greeley Central again, on the road, on Feb. 13, in the wanning weeks of the regular season.
Northridge's Samantha Jackson (14) puts up a shot while driving towards the basket during a girls basketball game between Northridge and Greeley Central at Northridge High School in Greeley on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)By that point, the rising team could have even more momentum, with a postseason run in its crosshairs.
Darnell (10.6 points per game) and Jackson (4.0 ppg) are two of five players on Northridge’s squad averaging at least four points per game.
That may not be particularly noteworthy on some squads, but it is on this Grizzlies squad.
Standout junior Sophia Carbajal accounts for much of the team’s offense.
Northridge's Sophia Carbajal (0) puts up a shot during a girls basketball game between Northridge and Greeley Central at Northridge High School in Greeley on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Averaging 21.9 points, 14.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 2.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game, Carbajal scores 48% of Northridge’s average point total per game in addition to grabbing 40% of the team’s average rebounding total. She’s the leading rebounder and third-leading scorer in 5A.
As the rest of the roster gains experience and confidence, Darnell said she and her teammates have made a concerted effort to produce at a high level in order to keep opposing defenses honest and take some of the pressure off of Carbajal.
“We used to be very reliant on Sophia, because she’s such an incredibly skilled player,” said Darnell, who is the team’s second-leading scorer and top outside shooter. “But, as we’ve all built confidence in ourselves — and (Carbajal) has also pushed us to become better players — we’ve had to step up our games to take some of the pressure off her, so she’s not having five defenders on her all the time.”
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