(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
DENVER — Alisha Davis held the game in her hands. Grandview was trying to wind the clock down and take the last shot of the game and it was Davis who grabbed the offensive board and had a put-back opportunity.
She got fouled.
She made one of two free throws and Highlands Ranch couldn’t convert in the last nine seconds. The Wolves came away with a 57-56 win and are back in the Class 5A girls Final 4.
“I knew I had to make it, but I knew I had a great team behind me,” Davis said. “I don’t know what to say other than we work so hard in practice and we’re such a good defensive team.”
The Wolves held a lead for much of the first quarter, but Tommi Olson and the Falcons clawed their way back to take a 10-7 lead. The quick pace that both teams established early held through the second quarter and it wasn’t until Landri Hudson buried a 3-pointer for the Wolves that they were able to regain the advantage.
“I give my kids credit,” Grandview coach Josh Ulitzky said. “We haven’t been in that situation a ton and they showed some good discipline. It was great to see.”
Heading into the locker room at halftime, the Falcons held a 31-30 advantage, despite Grandview shooting with better efficiency and having a 16-13 rebounding edge.
The difference was in the Wolves’ ability to take care of the ball. The turnover margin was just enough to give Highlands Ranch the lead, a lead that they extended to seven by the end of the third quarter.
Having only connect on the one 3-pointer from Hudson, Grandview needed to start knocking them down from long range so that’s what Allyah Marlett did. Her two long range shots pulled the Wolves to within two.
Leilah Vigil worked her way to the free throw line with 2:56 left and hit one of two to finally pull the Wolves even. Vigil, a former student and player at Highlands Ranch wore her emotion on her sleeve as the Wolves took the lead and looked like they were in a position to get the win.
“To me, I thought about it the whole week, it’s just another game,” she said. “A lot of emotions went into leaving. For me to win this was a statement.”
With the score finally even again, a steal and score by Alisha Davis gave Grandview the lead, forcing a Falcons timeout.
Olson made her own way to the charity stripe to to tie the game at 54 with two minutes remaining.
The teams traded baskets and with less than a minute left. Davis was fouled with nine seconds left and sank one of two free throws. Highlands Ranch couldn’t convert on the final possession and the defending champions live to fight another day.
The Wolves will face Fossil Ridge next week in the Final 4. The winner of that game will meet the winner of Lakewood and Regis Jesuit. The Final 4 and championship games will be played at the Denver Coliseum.