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Tag: Jeffco

  • Windsor girls basketball punches its ticket to 4A state title game

    LAKEWOOD — Windsor will play for the Class 4A girls basketball state championship Sunday at the World Arena in Colorado Springs.

    The No. 3-seeded Wizards defeated No. 2 Green Mountain 70-44 on the Rams’ home court Thursday night. It’s the first girls basketball title game appearance for Windsor since the program won the 4A championship in 1994.

    “This means so much. We were so ready and excited,” Windsor junior Alexis Backhaus said. “We’ve been ready since June. We’ve been doing things since then to prepare. This is what we were meant to do this season.”

    Windsor senior Kylie Sanger (3) bring the ball down the court while being guarded by Green Mountain sophomore Jayda Maves. Sanger poured in four 3-pointers to help the Wizards to a 70-44 victory in the Class 4A state semifinal. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Windsor faces No. 4 Mullen (16-2 record) in the championship game scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. The Mustangs dominated No. 2 Holy Family 75-50 in the other semifinal.

    “Mullen is a really good team,” Windsor junior Olivia Reed said about the title game Sunday. “We are just going to do what we’ve been doing. We’ll stay together and take it on as a team.”

    The Wizards (16-1) took on the previously undefeated Rams on Green Mountain’s home court. Green Mountain led 9-8 through a sluggish first quarter for both teams offensive, but Windsor turned it on in the second quarter.

    Backhaus poured in a pair of early baskets in the third quarter. Reed powered her way inside to put Windsor up 14-11 with 4:55 left in the second quarter. Then it was senior Kylie Sanger’s turn to get going offensively with a pair of 3-pointers before the midway point of the second quarter.

    “We are super in shape,” Backhaus said of the Wizards outscoring the Rams 43-26 in the second and third quarters. “We just kept running and pushing. We kept running our offense like we do every game.”

    Backhaus (23 points), Sanger (14 points) and Reed (20 points) carried the load offensively combining for 57 points. Backhaus and Sanger poured in three 3-pointers each during the middle quarters. Reed dominated down low to help the Wizards to an eighth straight victory.

    “My teammates do a really good job of getting me good looks,” said Reed, who scored most of her points in the paint. “It was awesome.”

    Green Mountain’s lone senior — Courtney Hank (33) — played her final game of her prep career Thursday night. Hank finished with more to 1,000 points and 600 rebounds during her stellar 4-year career with the Rams. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) 

    It was a heartbreaking loss for Green Mountain (17-1). The Rams were undefeated going into the state semifinal game. Green Mountain’s last loss came a year ago when the Rams lost in the 4A state semifinal against Holy Family.

    “Windsor is on a different level for now,” Green Mountain coach Darren Pitzner said. “It’s something our next senior class and our underclassmen can emulate and shoot for. I’m excited about where Green Mountain is going.”

    The Rams have a 41-4 record over the past two seasons that included the program’s first state semifinal appearances.

    “I’m really excited about the whole Green Mountain community that they’ve got a program from our 2nd-graders all the way up to our seniors to be proud of and motivated to see what they can accomplish,” Pitzner said.

    Green Mountain graduates just one senior in Courtney Hank. Last year’s 4A Jeffco League MVP finished her career with more than 1,000 points and 600 rebounds.

    “I’ve been lucky to coach a special senior in Courtney,” Pitzner said. “She has been the foundation of the turnaround of this program and the face of this program.”

    Green Mountain senior Courtney Hank, left, and Windsor junior Olivia Reed tip things off during the Class 4A state semifinal game Thursday night at Green Mountain High School. Windsor got the road victory to set-up a showdown against Mullen in the 4A state championship game Sunday, March 21, at the World Arena in Colorado Springs. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Photos: Windsor girls basketball heads to 4A championship following win over Green Mountain

    Windsor girls basketball beat Green Mountain 70-44 in the 4A Final 4, and now heads to the championship game.

  • Green Mountain girls hoops returning to Class 4A state Final 4

    LAKEWOOD — Green Mountain’s girls basketball team found itself in a situation Tuesday night it hasn’t been all season.

    The No. 2-seeded Rams were locked in a tied game midway through the fourth quarter against No. 7 Erie in the Class 4A state quarterfinal. Green Mountain (17-0 record) had won every game by double-digits this year, but the Tigers were giving the Rams their toughest test of the season.

    “Erie is so well-coached, so tough and so good at so many things,” Green Mountain coach Darren Pitzner said. “They have counters to everything. They have so many weapons.”

    Green Mountain senior Courtney Hank, right, is fouled going up for a shot Tuesday night against Erie. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Erie junior Grace Moyers converted a 3-point play with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter to tie things up 44-44, but with 3:30 left in the final quarter Green Mountain sophomore Jayda Maves hit maybe the biggest 3-pointer of her prep career to put the Rams ahead for good.

    “I just want to thank Connie (Green Mountain assistant coach Connie Ireland),” an emotional Maves said after the Rams took a 58-50 victory to advance to the 4A state semifinals for the second straight season. “She is always lifting me up and always there for me. I missed four 3s and she just said, ‘Keep shooting. We need you.’ There just are words to describe how much she means to me.”

    Maves had struggled with her shot not scoring in the second or third quarters, but the sophomore came through in crunch-time.

    “She probably takes more shots in practice than anyone else in Jeffco,” Pitzner said of Maves. “That is the result. You hit those shots that help us advance to the Final 4. I’m extremely proud of her.”

    Junior Avery Oaster (16 points) and senior Courtney Hank (12 points) both had a pair of baskets in the final three minutes to keep the Tigers (13-4) at bay. Green Mountain made seven free-throw in the final minute and held Erie to just two points in the final 2:41 of the game.

    Junior Shea Murphy (12 points) poured in a pair of free-throws for good measure in the closing seconds before the Rams celebrated another history victory during their current remarkable two-year run.

    “I think deep down that we would respond,” Oaster said of playing in a tight game for the first time this year. “I was pretty confident we would have our runs.”

    Erie senior Anna Hefner, front, and Green Mountain junior Avery Oaster battle for a loose ball during the Class 4A state quarterfinal game Tuesday night at Green Mountain High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Oaster did most of her damage offensively in the first half. The junior scored a dozen points before halftime to counter Erie’s hot shooting from outside. Moyers, junior Deb Altshuler and Genevieve Gudino combined for six 3-pointers on the night for the Tigers.

    Erie just couldn’t knock down big shots late in the fourth quarter and Green Mountain’s pressure defense forced some turnovers to allow the Rams to punch their ticket to another Final 4.

    “We just kept our composure,” Maves said. “I think that is what helped us in the fourth quarter. We just kept calm and played our game that we know how to play.”

    Green Mountain knows its state semifinal opponents will be another huge test. No. 3 Windsor (15-1) throttled No. 6 George Washington 75-35 in another quarterfinal Tuesday. A COVID-19 benefit for the Rams will be that all state semifinals will be played at the higher-seed this season instead of down at the Denver Coliseum.

    The Rams lost to Holy Family down at the Coliseum last season in the semifinals.

    “Having home-court advantage is one of the biggest things,” Maves said. “We know how Windsor just beat George Washington by 40 points. We know we are going to have to step up our game.”

    Last season was the Rams’ first trip ever to the state semifinals. To earn a return trip is something Pitzner is extremely proud of what his girls, coaching staff and Green Mountain family has achieved.

    “What they have accomplished is historic for this program,” Pitzner said of the back-to-back state semifinal appearances. “They believed the whole time that we could go back to the Final 4.”

    Green Mountain sophomore Jayda Maves spots up for a 3-pointer in front of the Erie bench. Makes hit a pair of key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help lift the Rams to a 58-50 victory and a spot in the Class 4A state tournament semifinals. Green Mountain will host Windsor on Thursday night with a spot in the 4A championship game on the line. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Video: Jeffco wrestling teams take 7 individual state titles

    While the venue was different this year for the 2021 state wrestling championships, Jeffco wrestling teams from Columbine, Chatfield and Pomona came home from Pueblo with a load of first-place medals along with the Class 5A boys wrestling team title. Columbine seniors Jack Forbes (195 pounds) and Zach Schraeder (285 pounds) both repeated as state champions. Chatfield senior Jacob Badger (182 pounds) finished off a perfect 23-0 record by winning his first state title.
    Pomona needed to rally in the place matches to overcome Ponderosa for the Class 5A team title. The Panthers claimed its third straight team title, fifth in six years and eight team title since 2000. Pomona had four individual state champions with sophomore Jakob Romero (120 pounds), junior Elijah Olguin (126 pounds), junior Daniel Cardenas (145 pounds) and senior Franklin Cruz (220 pounds). Cruz claimed his third state championship title. Cardenas also won his third and has a chance to join the elite 4-time state championship club next year. Cardenas would actually be the first Pomona wrestler to become a 4-time state champion.
    Jefferson had three state placers in the Class 3A state tournament. Juniors Daniel Soto (113 pounds) and Angelo Lozado (126 pound) both took fourth place. Senior Alberto Zelaya battled his way to a third-place finish at 170 points.
    Video by Jeffco Public Schools multimedia specialist Jack Maher.

  • 5A boys wrestling: Pomona captures third-straight championship

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    PUEBLO — Down 12 points heading into the placing matches on Saturday night, Pomona roared back to win yet another state wrestling championship.

    The Panthers had 12 wrestlers place, including four individual champions, as they won a third-straight Class 5A championship, and eighth overall.

    Winning titles for Pomona were:

    • Jakob Romero, at 120 pounds
    • Elijah Olguin, at 126 pounds
    • Daniel Cardenas, at 145 pounds
    • Franklin Cruz, at 220 pounds

    Also placing were:

    • Mark Cardenas, fifth at 106 pounds
    • Jeramiah Steele, third at 113
    • Josiah Parsons, third at 132
    • Gage Bernall, third at 160
    • Jacob Judd, third at 170
    • Roman Cruz, sixth at 182
    • Justin Cullen, fifth at 195
    • Jose Rosales, fifth at heavyweight

    Heading into the final round of the event, Pomona trailed Ponderosa’s 155 points to their 143. But the Panthers’ depth quickly helped them close the gap.

    Wrestling two weight classes at a time in the final session, Pomona shrunk the lead to 155-150 after two weight classes. After four, they jumped into the lead at 157-155.

    They never trailed again.

    A key match came in the 120-pound bracket when Pomona’s Romero beat Ponderosa’s Jett Strickenberger 7-5 thanks to a late takedown. His win, coupled with the fifth-place finish by Cullen at 195, expanded the lead to 163-155.

    They two teams also had a head-to-head championship matchup in 126, where Pomona’s Elijah Olguin beat Ponderosa’s Jacob Bostelman with a 3-0 decision.

    Pomona, which ended with 180 team points, has now finished either first or second at the tournament in each of the past seven years.

    Ponderosa ended up having 10 wrestlers place, and finished the event with 159 team points, which earned them the runner-up trophy.

    The night was headlined by Monarch’s Vince Cornella becoming the 29th four-time champion, as he won the 138-pound division.

    Pomona’s Daniel Cardenas positioned himself to potentially join that club next season with his third state championship. Cardenas, a junior, won the 145-pound division with a 13-3 major decision against Ponderosa’s Jaron Mahler.

    It was a night for multiple-time champions.

    Three others also won a third championship: Regis Jesuit senior Antonio Segura, who captured 152 pounds; Pomona senior Franklin Cruz, who won at 220 pounds; and Brighton senior Kenny Sailas, who won at 113.

    Additionally, Columbine teammates Jack Forbes and Zach Schraeder are now two-time champions. Forbes won his second title at 195, while Schraeder won at heavyweight.

    In terms of the team race, Monarch (65 points), Chaparral (53) and Brighton (52.5) also finished among the top-5.

  • Ralston Valley girls hoops downs ThunderRidge to advance to Great 8

    ARVADA — Ball movement Thursday night was a key to advancing Ralston Valley into the quarterfinals of the Class 5A girls state tournament.

    It took a little while for the No. 5-seeded Mustangs to hit their stride against No. 21 ThunderRidge in the Sweet 16 game at Ralston Valley High School. The Mustangs (14-2 record) held just a 8-6 lead after the first quarter, but turned things around to take an eventual 57-29 win.

    “I feel like we were slow out of the start,” Ralston Valley junior Saya Sabus said. “Then we just turned it on and it was go, go, go from there.”

    Ralston Valley senior Brooklyn Seymour (14) goes up between ThunderRidge senior Angel Makoski (5) and freshman Halle Hanchett (11) during the Class 5A round of 16 game Thursday night at Ralston Valley High School (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Ralston Valley went on a 13-0 run to start the second quarter and held the Grizzlies (8-7) scoreless for more than 8 minutes from the end of the first quarter until ThunderRidge freshman Alexis Baker scored and was fouled with 1:20 left in the second quarter.

    Senior Sydney Bevington and Sabus poured in six points each in the second quarter for the Mustangs. Senior McKenna Nichols and freshman Hannah Somorin both hit a 3-pointer each to help Ralston Valley take a 26-9 lead at halftime.

    “When our post start touching the ball and we can go inside-out against the zone the shots are easier,” Ralston Valley coach Jeff Gomer said of how the Mustangs attacked ThunderRidge’s zone defense after the first quarter. “Once we realized we could use our posts it’s amazing how it changed.”

    What hasn’t changed over the past four years for Ralston Valley is where Bevington continues to do her damage offensive. The senior has more that 1,200 points career points and isn’t afraid to pull up with the old-school mid-range jumper.

    “She (Bevington) has so much confidence in that mid-range shot,” Gomer said. “People say, ‘Why not have her step out to the 3 with her?’ She is just dead-eye with the 15 to 12-footer. Even on the break she’ll put up for a 10-footer. She shoots it well. It works.”

    Bevington scored a game-high 21 points, shooting 10-for-16 from the field against the Grizzlies.

    Ralston Valley freshman Sophia Sabus takes a 3-pointer during the second half Thursday night against ThunderRidge. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “That’s how I’ve always played with driving and the mid-range shots,” Bevington said. “It’s always open with the offense we run. It’s been successful so I’ve been keeping it that way.”

    ThunderRidge couldn’t get much going offensively with Ralston Valley using pressure defense through the first three quarters to keep the Grizzlies from getting into a rhythm offensively.

    “I think with our defensive pressure and size we were able to get traps in the corners,” Bevington said. “I think that helped swing the momentum with forcing those turnovers.”

    Ralston Valley advances into the Great 8 for the third time over the past four years. The Mustangs hit the road to face No. 4 Highlands Ranch on Monday in the 5A state quarterfinals. The impending snowstorm predicted to hit Colorado from Friday night through Sunday moved all Great 8 basketball playoff games from Saturday to Monday, March 15.

    “We sure would like to take another step here,” said Gomer, who guided the Mustangs to the state quarterfinals last year where Cherry Creek ended Ralston Valley’s season. “Highlands Ranch is hard to play against. We’ll watch some film, get them on the floor, roll the ball out there and see what happens.”

    Ralston Valley has won 12 straight games. The Falcons (13-2) have won 9 straight games.

    “We just have to go out and play our best,” Sabus said. “That’s it.”

    Ralston Valley freshman Hannah Somorin (23) applies defensive pressure Thursday night during the Mustangs’ 57-29 victory in the Class 5A state Sweet 16 game against ThunderRidge. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Video: Wrestling history made in Pueblo

    The first CHSAA sanctioned girls wrestling state tournament took place Thursday, March 11, at Southwest Motors Events Center in Pueblo. Chatfield racked up 91 team points to take the state team title. The Chargers’ team — Janessa George, Journey Ruiz, SaVannah Cosme, Taylor Miess and Isabel Garcia — all placed in the top-4 of either weight class. Cosme finished her undefeated season 20-0 to claim the 127-pound title.
    Pomona’s strong trio — Perseus Gomez, Jayden Lange and Alicen Dillard — guided the Panthers to a second-place finish in the team standings. Gomez won the 105-pound title and Dillard was the state champion at 136 pounds.

  • No. 2 Green Mountain girls hoops begins playoff journey with win over Battle Mountain

    Green Mountain senior Courtney Hank (33) scored eight points in the final 2 and 1/2 minutes of the first half to extend the Rams’ lead to 39-11 at halftime over Battle Mountain. Green Mountain went on to win 55-32 in the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    LAKEWOOD — Green Mountain’s girls basketball knows how to deal with things being taken away from them.

    It was pretty clear Tuesday night in the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament that No. 31-seeded Battle Mountain wasn’t going to allow the Rams’ inside duo of senior Courtney Hank and junior Avery Oaster to have their way in the paint.

    Green Mountain junior Shea Murphy (14) helped get the Rams’ offense going in the first half pouring in a dozen points and three 3-pointers in the first half. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “Great job by Battle Mountain to work hard and collapse on the inside and make us beat them from the outside,” Green Mountain coach Darren Pitzner said after the No. 1 Rams took a 55-32 first-round victory over the Huskies. “Luckily we have the kind of balance that can do that. They made us earn it. Congrats to Battle Mountain on a great season.”

    Green Mountain (15-0 record) continued it season thanks to some early 3-point shooting by junior Shea Murphy and sophomore Jayda Maves. The two combined for six 3-pointer in the opening half with both pouring in a dozen points by halftime.

    “We knew (Battle Mountain) was going to play a 1-3-1 zone defense,” said Maves, who finished with a game-high 15 points. “We were open and we take our shots when we are open.”

    Murphy came into Tuesday’s playoff game with just six 3-pointers on the season. She put in a little extra time working on her shooting from long range for the Rams’ playoff run.

    “I’ve built more confidence with my shot this season,” Murphy said. “I went and did some shooting on my own to get prepared for the playoffs so I could knock those down.”

    Green Mountain junior Avery Oaster (24) is guarded by Battle Mountain senior Gabriela Caballero (14) during the first half Tuesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Hank dropped the hammer on Battle Mountain (8-6) to end the first quarter. Last year’s 4A Jeffco League MVP scored eight straight points in the final 2 and 1/2 minutes of the opening half to extend Green Mountain’s lead to 39-11 at halftime.

    “When we are more discipline in our possessions that is when you see those nice inside, outside, cutting and dynamic possessions,” Pitzner said. “When we are rushed we get impatient with our shots.”

    The Rams were able to work in some time for their bench in the second half. Green Mountain will have a quick turnaround to face No. 15 Thompson Valley in the round of 16 Thursday night at Green Mountain High School.

    “Thompson Valley is very quick getting to the basket,” said Pitzner of the Eagles that defeated Evergreen 42-27 on Tuesday night. “They are a tough match-up.”

    While Pitzner had his team zeroed in on Thompson Valley, the Rams can draw from their experience last year when Green Mountain advanced all the way to the 4A state semifinals.

    “After what we did last year and saw what it took, this year we are so excited and we know what is there,” Murphy said. “We are excited to do it.”

    Green Mountain junior Olivia Sears (2) guards Battle Mountain junior Mia Betts in front of the Warriors’ bench Tuesday night in the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Green Mountain boys basketball clamps down on Frederick in first-round victory

    Green Mountain senior Blake McKibbin (1) soars to the basket during the first-round playoff game. The Rams joined fellow Class 4A Jeffco League members Golden and D’Evelyn to advance to the Sweet 16 of the 4A state tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    LAKEWOOD — Green Mountain boys basketball team didn’t want its season to end Tuesday night on its home court.

    The No. 14-seeded Rams dominated No. 19 Frederick to the tune of 64-32 in the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament.

    “I put a lot on them when it comes to this might be the last time we are together,” Green Mountain coach Mike Puccio said of his Rams that entered the state tournament on a 2-game losing streak. “It’s the nostalgia of why we coach high school basketball. It is a beautiful thing. You play for that guy next to you. We were good tonight.”

    Green Mountain senior Allen Ortiz (33) was one of four Rams to reach double-digit points in the postseason win over Frederick. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    The six Green Mountain seniors for sure didn’t want to lose a third straight game and end their high school career with a loss on their home court.

    “Those two losses were probably the two most sour losses I’ve ever experienced,” Green Mountain senior Allen Ortiz said of back-to-back losses to 4A Jeffco League rivals Golden and Evergreen last week to close out the regular season. “For me personally, there was no way we were coming out of here with a loss.”

    Green Mountain (11-4 record) methodically built its lead to 20 points by midway through the third quarter. Extending it to 30 points when senior Austin Peterson heated up with a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

    Frederick (10-5) was held to a season-low 32 points, scoring single-digit points in the final three quarters. Junior Bryce Conniver led the Warriors with 11 points.

    The Rams had tremendous scoring balance with seniors Blake McKibbin, Darius Padilla, Dylan Green, Ortiz, Peterson and junior Corbin Jantzer all scoring between 9 and 12 points on the night.

    Big the biggest story was Green Mountain’s defense and rebounding.

    “We knew if we could control the boards we would definitely come out on top,” Ortiz said. “Dylan Green is phenomenal on the boards. We just try to do our part.”

    Green finished with 22 rebounds on the night to go with his eight points. He actually was double-digits in offensive (10) and defensive (12) rebounds as the Rams had 50 total rebounds on the night.

    Green Mountain senior Austin Peterson (2) battles for the ball with Frederick junior J.J. Heil (3). Peterson heated up with 11 points in the second half. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “That was the focus and that was the focus all year,” Puccio said of rebounding. “Sometimes we execute and sometimes we don’t.”

    Padilla had an outstanding final game on the Rams’ home court with a game-high 12 points. It has been a long road for the multi-sport athlete.

    Padilla had an emergency appendectomy after his appendix ruptured during the middle of the basketball season last year. Then had to deal with an infection after the surgery. He missed more than a month of action dealing the medical issues.

    “I call him the Comeback Player of the Year,” Puccio said of his starting point guard. “The kid was 105 pounds last year after the second infection. He is the toughest kid we have had here in a long time. He is our engine.”

    Padilla was Green Mountain’s starting quarterback this past football season and will transition over the baseball field this spring to conclude his high school career.

    “Honestly, I didn’t think I would recover as well as I did,” Padilla said. “It was a rough, rough six weeks. To be able to play this year is a blessing. You have to be appreciative of everything. That is how I was raised and have been coached.”

    Next up for Green Mountain is a trip to undefeated Montrose (15-0) to face the No. 3 Indians on Thursday night in the Sweet 16.

    “We are looking forward to it,” Puccio said. “Those are great moments to remember forever and great bounding. I don’t mind going over the pass. We’ll have some fun with it.”

    The Rams hope this year’s playoff experience on the Western Slope goes better than last season.

    “Last year we went over the pass,” Padilla said of the Rams’ playoff loss to Glenwood Springs last year. “This year we are ready.”

    Green Mountain junior Corbin Jantzer, left, attempts to get a shot off despite the effort of Frederick junior Alex Sturn during the first half Tuesday night. The Rams doubled-up the Warriors 64-32 in the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Columbine girls hoops finishes strong with win over No. 13 Chatfield

    LITTLETON — It’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish.

    Columbine girls basketball team had a tough start to the season missing the first week of the regular season due to a COVID quarantine. The Rebels held a 4-4 record after back-to-back Class 5A Jeffco League losses to Valor Christian and Chatfield two weeks ago.

    However, the Rebels (8-4 record) grabbed its fourth straight victory Friday night with a come-from-behind 44-36 road victory in the rematch against rival Chatfield, ranked No. 13 in the CHSAANow.com 5A girls basketball rankings.

    Columbine junior Jessica Bollwahn (12) scored a game-high 19 points for the Rebels in their 44-36 victory over No. 13 Chatfield. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “You never know what you are going to get walking in here,” Columbine coach Greg Bolding Jr. said. “They (Chatfield) is missing two of their big players and I think mentality we weren’t ready for that.”

    The Chargers (11-3) were without leading scorer Grace Talbot and fellow junior Peyton Shepard in the regular-season finale for both squads. However, Chatfield held a 20-10 lead when senior Madison Shepard buried a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter.

    Shepard and junior Millie Hubbell combined for 18 points in the first half to pace the Chargers, but the Rebels went on a 9-0 run to close out the final 3 minutes of the first half to cut Chatfield’s lead to 23-22 at halftime.

    “It was just desire,” Bolding said of the Rebels turning things around after falling behind 20-10. “Our base is our defense. We had to be more disciplined on the defensive side. We had some young kids come in and change the tempo a little.”

    Junior Jessica Bollwahn was the huge difference maker for Columbine. The junior forward scored a season-high 19 points to bolt the Rebels past the Chargers.

    Bollwahn’s biggest basket came with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter. The junior spun the ball off the backboard for a layup from a tough angle and was fouled. She completed the 3-point play to give the Rebels their largest lead of the game at 40-27.

    “Honestly, when it went in I was like, ‘Thank god.’ We really needed that,” Bollwahn said of the 3-point play. “We have really been focusing on finishing our shots.”

    Chatfield senior Courtney Bidwell spots up from 3-point range Friday night against rival Columbine. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Bollwahn had one more strong basket inside the paint before senior Adrienne Harnum had a steal and layup to seal the victory for the Rebels.

    “I’ve been on her about the finish mindset,” Bolding said of Bollwahn. “It took the air of out Chatfield I thought when that went in. She leads us on and off the court.”

    Shepard finished with a game-high 13 points for Chatfield. Hubbell finished with four 3-pointers for her dozen points off the bench for the Chargers. The hope is Talbot will be back for the playoffs next week.

    The Chargers and Rebels now await the state brackets, which are scheduled to be released by CHSAA on Monday, March 8.

    “Of course you are hoping for a home game no matter what,” Bolding said of the playoff seeding. “We have no control over that. I’ve been preaching to these kids to play defense. We can control that.”

    The state bracket was trimmed down to a 32-team tournament in 5A this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shortened season. The state tournament is normally a 48-team bracket with the top 16 seeds getting first-round byes. There will be no first-round byes this season. All teams will have first-round games Tuesday, March 9.

    “Beating Chatfield on their home court is a big goal for us,” Bollwahn said. “This good mentality and adrenaline will help us going into playoffs.”

    Chatfield senior Madison Shepard (3) drives between Columbine freshman Elizabeth Gentry, left, and junior Jessica Bollwahn in the regular-season finale for the Chargers and Rebels on Friday night. Columbine won 44-36 for the Rebels’ 4th straight win going into next week’s Class 5A state tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)