Dakota Ridge sophomore Sydney Daniels (10) sprints up the court after forcing a turnover. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LITTLETON — Dakota Ridge will get its chance to score the biggest upset of the 2017 Class 5A girls basketball state tournament Friday, Feb. 24.
The Eagles grabbed a 54-38 victory over Grand Junction on Tuesday night in the opening round of the state tournament to earn a second-round date against No. 2 Grandview (22-1 record).
“Grandview is tough. We’ve got to have to pull some smoke and mirrors or something, and hope they don’t make any shots,” an honest Dakota Ridge coach Diane Thompson said after the win against the Tigers. “You just never know. That’s why you play the game. Win or lose you give it your all.”
Dakota Ridge (9-15) actually faced Grandview before the winter break on Dec. 15. The Wolves handed the Eagles a 88-16 loss. Junior Leilah Vigil scored 20 points for Grandview in the regular-season meeting.
Dakota Ridge freshman Emily Doolittle led the Eagles with 13 points Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The Eagles have gotten very familiar with Vigil over the past year.
Last season the senior-laded Eagles advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual state runner-up Highlands Ranch. Vigil, who transferred from Highlands Ranch to Grandview this season, scored 32 points for the Falcons in the playoff game that eliminated Dakota Ridge last year.
“I don’t know what we are going to do,” Thompson said of handling Vigil. “I’ll have to come out with some magic trick against Grandview to come out with that one.”
The Wolves are one of the clear favorites to win the state title, led by senior Michaela Onyenwere (UCLA recruit) and Vigil. Grandview’s lone loss this season came against Miami County Day at the Nike Tournament of Champions.
“I’m so excited to have that opportunity,” Dakota Ridge junior Skylar Lodice said of facing Grandview. “That’s what it’s all about. It’s what you put all the practice in for and all the hours you spend in the gym, to knock out a team like this. You never know.”
No. 31-seeded Dakota Ridge finished fourth in the Class 5A Jeffco League. Conference rivals Ralston Valley, Lakewood and Bear Creek received top-16 seeds that came with first-round byes.
On the Eagles’ home court Tuesday night, they looked to cruise past Grand Junction early on. Dakota Ridge’s full-court pressure defense created 14 turnovers in the first half. The Eagles led 34-11 a few minutes into the third quarter.
Grand Junction senior Tia Wright, left, attempts to get a shot off. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
However, the Tigers (4-18) made things interesting going on a 14-0 run over the span of 4 minutes to cut Dakota Ridge’s lead to single digits. The Eagles led 39-30 at the end of the third quarter.
Dakota Ridge freshman Emily Dolittle provided a much-needed lift with back-to-back 3-pointers 30 seconds apart to push the lead back to 15 points.
“Even if the bank is open at 9 o’clock at night we’ll take it,” Thompson joked about Dolittle’s second 3-pointer that banked in. “I just love Dolittle. She is a great kid. She works hard.”
Dolittle finished with a game-high 13 points. Sophomore Sydney Daniels, who spearheaded the Eagles’ tenacious defense, finished with a dozen points.
“I was very relieved,” Lodice said of Dolittle’s back-to-back 3-pointers. “It’s great to have players that just step up.”
Lodice finished with nine points and senior Celina Wilkerson led the bench scorers for the Eagles with eight points as the Eagles move onto the second round.
Thompson said she is encouraged with the progress of her young team that started the season with a 1-9 record.
“It was fantastic,” Lodice said of the first-round win. “We had a rough start to the season. It felt good to come out and get a big win at the start of the tournament.”
Grand Junction was led by senior Tia Wright’s eight points. The Tigers finished up their season losing 8-of-9 games.
Dakota Ridge junior Alexa Buchli, middle, looks for the room in the paint Tuesday night in the Eagles’ playoff opener. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)