(Kelsey Lowry/CHSAANow.com)
COLORADO SPRINGS — Evergreen girls basketball’s title defense will continue.
The Cougars, seeded No. 6 in the Class 4A state tournament, knocked off No. 3 Air Academy on the road on Friday, 50-36.
Air Academy led 15-10 after the first quarter that included a 7-0 start, but Evergreen rallied to make it 22-21 at halftime. thanks in large part to two 3-pointers from Hannah Kennedy.
“Our team usually steps it up,” Kennedy said. “I wasn’t worried with our first half because I believe and trust in my team to pick it up.”
And the Evergreen girls did exactly that. The Cougars’ defense stepped up, and their offense came out shooting. By the end of the third quarter, they had a lead of six points and continued to add to the scoreboard, and ultimately came out with a win.
Air Academy finishes the year 24-2 and had a great season that included a 21-game winning streak.
Evergreen was led in scoring by Claudia Dillon with 14 points. Kristina Schreiber, Baylee GalanBrowne, and Haley Dillion each added nine points.
“We really prepared for this game and we are just trying to repeat what we did last year,” said Kennedy. “This is just one more step to furthering that goal and making history with a repeat.”
Evergreen will face No. 15 Widefield at the Denver Coliseum on March 2.
(8) Mesa Ridge 66, (1) Pueblo West 63
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The Grizzlies knocked off the top-ranked Cyclones to move on to the Denver Coliseum next week.
Mesa Ridge trailed 53-43 heading into the fourth quarter, and chipped away at Pueblo West’s lead. Eventually, the Grizzlies tied the game at 61 with two minutes to play.
They closed out the comeback in the final minute to advance to the Final 4.
(15) Widefield 50, (10) Golden 49
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Aaliyah Ricketts hit the game-winning shot as the Gladiators pulled off the upset in the quarterfinals.
The game was close throughout with the two teams trading the lead, but Widefield built a 48-40 advantage with six minutes to play.
Golden rallied to go ahead 49-48 with less than a minute remaining before Ricketts hit the winning shot.
(12) Pueblo South 70, (20) Sierra 39
Gabi Lucero exploded for 40 points, as the Colts rolled into a Final 4 appearance.
Drea Nelson added 11 points for Pueblo South, and Maya Austin had 8.
Pueblo South built a 19-10 lead after the first quarter, and was up 41-22 at halftime.