ThunderRidge girls basketball beat Grandview in the 5A Great 8. More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
BOULDER – Coming up just short of capturing a state title last March didn’t sit well with ThunderRidge’s girls basketball team.
But rather than focus on the negative, the Grizzlies had a different message to embrace before the 2016 postseason began. Former ThunderRidge and Duke standout Abby Waner spoke to the team and told them their goal had not been denied – it was just delayed.
The Grizzlies took those words to heart and Thursday night moved back into the Class 5A championship game for the second year in a row with a 69-67 victory over previously undefeated Grandview at the Coors Events Center in Boulder.
They’ll face Highlands Ranch at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
“We’ve kind of gone with that, playing for each other,” ThunderRidge coach Matt Asik said. “Playing for a different purpose than just playing basketball. Playing for something greater than us and understanding that our goal is still there. It just was delayed a little bit.”
After a 47-42 loss to Broomfield in last year’s title game, the Grizzlies (24-3) get their opportunity at redemption at 3 p.m. on Saturday against either Continental League rival Highlands Ranch or Ralston Valley.
“We’ve been playing together for so long and we have so much chemistry,” ThunderRidge senior Dallas Petties said. “This has been a goal for us since we were younger and watching other ThunderRidge players. We’re just so excited to be here.”
Petties finished with 12 points, one of four Grizzlies in double figures. Alyssia Martinez led the way with 21 points, Jaz’myne Snipes added 18 and Taylor Rusk scored 11.
The team withstood a second-hand surge from Grandview (26-1), weathering runs in the third and fourth quarters. After leading by 12 points in the final minute of the first half, the Wolves got to within three points a few times in the third quarter but could never get any closer.
It was more of the same in the fourth quarter, but the Grizzlies found an answer each time.
“I would have been surprised if they didn’t get closer,” Asik said. “We were up on (Highlands) Ranch by 12 or 13 at halftime and they came out and kicked our butts in the second half.”
Grandview cut the lead to 67-65 with 12.3 seconds remaining on a 3-pointer from Kennede Brown, but Petties knocked down a pair of free throws in the final 10 seconds. Michaela Onyenwere scored the last of her game-high 26 points to close out the scoring.
“I was nervous, but I just try to focus in because I’m here for my team,” Petties said. “I do everything for them and I know they needed me then.”
Onyenwere was a force in the second half, pouring in 22 points and hitting a handful of big 3-pointers. Brown added 11 points and Allyah Marlett scored 10.
“She’s very athletic,” Petties said of Onyenwere. “Just making sure we keep her off the boards, boxing her out – we knew she’s a great player.”
Grandview represented the second top overall seed that ThunderRidge eliminated after a quarterfinal victory over Lakewood.
“We felt we were as good as them. They’re a good team,” Asik said of the Wolves. “They beat us earlier and we felt that we could beat them.”
Video: The @TRidgeGrizzlies return to 5A girls basketball’s championship game. #copreps pic.twitter.com/B56dB3H7xW
— CHSAA (@CHSAA) March 11, 2016