If there was any question as to just how good the Regis Jesuit Raiders were, it was answered when they held a talented Fossil Ridge team without a field goal in the first quarter.
The only thing that was missing from the start of the 5A semifinal match-up between Fossil Ridge and Mountain Vista was a celebrity telling everyone to start their engines.
The Grandview Wolves rode the wave of freshman Michaela Onyenwere to the state final four, but it was the senior leadership of Fossil Ridge’s Savannah Smith that would be their undoing.
Brandon Bodnar, Evan Smith and Alex Semadeni ignited a run that broke open the Class 5A state quarterfinal against Arapahoe and eventually led to a 68-58 victory at the Denver Coliseum.
Fossil Ridge turned it up a notch on Thursday, forcing 24 turnovers in advancing to next week’s state semifinals in Boulder with a 60-50 win over Dakota Ridge.
It was the type of back-and-forth affair typical in these later-round tournament games. The type of game Fossil Ridge coach Matt Johannsen thinks his guys don't get enough credit for being able to win.