BOULDER — A mad dash from end-to-end in the final seconds gave Mesa Ridge its first trip to a girls basketball championship final.
More photos. (Pam Wagner)
Mesa Ridge senior Tiffani Jackson’s layup at the buzzer Thursday at the Coors Event Center in Boulder gave the Grizzlies a dramatic 40-38 victory over the defending Class 4A state champion Pueblo South Colts.
“I knew we only had five seconds,” Jackson said when asked if she knew how much time was on the clock with the game tied at 38. “I figured I had about two seconds when I got the ball. I just went straight in.”
The spectacular final play started when Mesa Ridge’s 6-foot-4 sophomore Kylee Shook blocked Pueblo South junior Sissy Hall’s shot from under the basket. Shook struggled offensively with just two points on 1-of-7 shooting, but her nine rebounds and final block were key.
“No matter what else she (Shook) does she can play defense,” Mesa Ridge coach Jeff Beatty said. “If she wasn’t the defender she is I would probably sub a kid like that out, but she does so much on the defensive end for us. She affects so many shots.”
After Shook’s block, senior Samantha Rudd grabbed the loose ball for the Grizzlies and fed it ahead to senior Gabby Purnell. Purnell, who finished with a team-high 12 points, stumbled as she crossed midcourt, but was able to feed a pass to Jackson near the free-throw line.
Jackson released the uncontested shot just before the buzzer sounded and the layup kept Mesa Ridge perfect on the season with a 27-0 record heading into the title game.
“It was so great, especially since (Pueblo South) beat us last year in the Great 8,” Rudd said. “We are so excited.”
Pueblo South (24-3) was attempting to punch its second straight ticket to the championship game to defend its title.
The first half was a struggle for the Colts. Not only did Mesa Ridge’s defense hold Pueblo South to 4-for-24 shooting in the opening half, but also senior Shannon Patterson picked up her third foul midway through the second quarter. The Grizzlies led 20-13 at halftime.
More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
“We hit enough free throws down the stretch maybe and kept (Pueblo South’s) scoring down enough to overcome our lack of scoring today,” Beatty said. “We play fairly good defense ourselves. We pride ourselves on that.”
Mesa Ridge’s trio of seniors — Rudd, Jackson and Purnell — all finished in double-digit points, combining for 33 of the Grizzlies’ 40 points. The Grizzlies were 14-for-20 from the free-throw line and held the Colts to 25 percent shooting from the field.
“Our defense has been phenomenal this year,” Rudd said. “That is what has taken us to the championship game on Saturday.”
Mesa Ridge plays in the 4A championship game scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the Coors Events Center in Boulder. The Grizzlies will face the winner of Valor Christian/Broomfield.
Mesa Ridge defeated Valor Christian by a point earlier in the season and scrimmaged Broomfield this year.
“It’s going to be a good game regardless of who we play,” Rudd said.
Patterson’s 14 points led Pueblo South. The senior was in foul trouble the whole game. Patterson picked up her fourth foul with 2:41 left in the third quarter, but never fouled out despite playing the entire fourth quarter.
“I know she (Patterson) has signed at Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo), but I think she could play D-1 if she wanted to,” Beatty said. “She is one of the best players in the state, regardless of classification. She has been special forever.”
Pueblo South senior Kendra Jesik finished with 11 points and junior Jaylyn Duran pitched in eight points for the Colts.
More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)