Photos: No. 1 ThunderRidge girls hoops outlasts No. 3 Grandview

HIGHLANDS RANCH — No. 1 ThunderRidge girls basketball was able to survive and pull out the win, 53-47, against No. 3 Grandview on Tuesday night.

The Grizzlies jumped out to an early lead thanks to a 6-0 run, but Grandview was able to work their way back into the game thanks to a frenzied, full-court press. The two teams went back and forth until Grandview took a 22-21 lead into halftime.

During a timeout in the second quarter, as her team was withstanding a relentless barrage of a defense, ThunderRidge head coach Paula Krueger encouraged her team to calm down, take a deep breath and not panic. She asked her team, “Who’s the best team in Colorado right now?”

ThunderRidge did their best to prove it, going on an 11-2 run in the third quarter to take a 10-point lead. They took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter which Grandview couldn’t overcome.

ThunderRidge’s Taylor Rusk led all scorers, dropping 17 points on the Wolves. Madison Ward added 11 points for the Grizzlies.

Michaela Onyenwere led the way for Grandview with 17 points, and Kennede Brown contributed 11.

: ThunderRidge stands for the national anthem during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge gets pumped up before a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Michaela Onyenwere (12) grabs a rebound over three ThunderRidge defenders during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Jessica Lohrenz (13) swats the shot of Grandview’s Alexus Gash (24) during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Michaela Onyenwere (12) tries to get past ThunderRidge’s Jessica Lohrenz (13) during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Michaela Onyenwere (12) shoots over ThunderRidge’s Jessica Lohrenz (13) during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Alexus Gash (24) and Grandview’s Kennede Brown (10) trap ThunderRidge’s Alyssia Martinez (14) during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge cheers after a basket during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Alexus Gash (24) defends the inbound pass of ThunderRidge’s Taylor Rusk (4) during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview head coach Josh Ulitzky encourages his team during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Kennede Brown (10) shoots past ThunderRidge’s Jessica Zweifel (24) during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge head coach Paula Krueger encourages her team during a timeout during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Kennede Brown (10) shoots during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Michaela Onyenwere (12) passes during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Kennede Brown (10) looks to shoot during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Hannah Hasstedt (4) shoots during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Jaz’myne Snipes (12) grabs a loose ball during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge head coach Paula Krueger talks to her team during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Taylor Rusk (4) gets trapped in the corner by Grandview’s Kennede Brown (10) and Grandview’s Alexus Gash (24) during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview’s Cristina Salazar (20) celebrates after a made basket near the end of the first half during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Jazzton Williams, an Eaglecrest basketball coach, holds up his son Jazzton Williams Jr., 1 years old, to help him dunk the ball during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Jaz’myne Snipes (12) shoots during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Taylor Rusk (4) puts up a shot during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Alexa Wiens (11) puts up an open layup during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: Grandview head coach Josh Ulitzky talks to his team during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Brittany Birdsey (10) shoots during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Jessica Lohrenz (13) shoots during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Jessica Lohrenz (13) shoots over Grandview’s Kayla Vallin (11) during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s student section erupts during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge players run through a tunnel of their students after winning a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

: ThunderRidge’s Jessica Lohrenz (13) tries to put up a shot in front of Grandview’s Kayla Vallin (11) during a high school girls basketball game between No. 1 ThunderRidge and No. 3 Grandview, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)