Kyle Mills/Post Independent
Down three points with just 20 second to go, the Grand Valley High School girls made it close with a put-back after the long 3-point attempt fell short. But time ran out, ending the Lady Cardinals season in a 62-61 loss to Brush in the regional round of the 3A state basketball playoffs Friday night in Parker.
Other close games at different regional sites across the state Friday also saw area 3A boys and girls teams on the losing end of the final score, ending the seasons of the Coal Ridge boys and girls teams, the Roaring Fork girls and the Aspen boys.
The Grand Valley girls drew the highest seed among the local teams for the regionals, entering the 32-team field at No. 15.
Up 32-27 at the half, the Cardinals saw the lead slip away in the fourth quarter behind a Brush dribble attack that resulted in a 21-16 scoring edge through the final 8 minutes of play.
“They are pretty fast,” Grand Valley coach Isaac Pittman said of the Beetdiggers. “It came down to free throws again. They made a few and we missed a few at the end.”
Leading the Cardinals’ offensive attack was senior Loghan Teter, who had 19 points on the night, including 11 in the fast-paced fourth quarter.
Grand Valley closes the season at 16-7. The game marked the final in a Cardinals basketball jersey for six seniors, including Teter, Jordyn Pittman, Ryley Sackett, Kirstin Medina, Taygann Schoeppner and Megan Olinger.
Coal Ridge boys drop 59-51 decision to DSST: Green Valley Ranch
Playing in Loveland at the home of top seeded Resurrection Christian, the No. 16 Coal Ridge boys dropped a tough one, 59-51 to No. 17 DSST: Green Valley.
The Titans led 26-22 at the half and were up for the better part of the game, but saw the Raptors come storming back with a 25-15 scoring run in the fourth.
“The guys played with passion and resolve, but most importantly they play as a team,” coach Paul Harvey tweeted afterward @coalridgehoops.
1/3 The end is never easy, but the journey and the friendships last a lifetime. The team dropped a tough one tonight 51-59, after leading most of the game. The guys played with passion and resolve, but most importantly they played as a team. pic.twitter.com/aVGFM4I0uq
— Coal Ridge Hoops (@Coalridgehoops) March 7, 2020
“They left it all on the court to try to get one more game for our lone senior, Austin Gerber. Thank you Austin for all of the hard work, dedication and class that you brought to the team.”
Gerber was the second-leading scorer for the night with 21 points to 24 for Raptors senior Timothy Huston. The Titans conclude their season at 14-7.
One other Western Slope League boys team bowed out in the opening night of regional play Friday, as No. 27 Aspen fell 51-36 to No. 6 DSST: Byers.
On the girls side, No. 26 Coal Ridge fell 67-28 to regional host No. 7 Lutheran, concluding the Lady Titans season at 11-10.
It was the final game for Coal Ridge seniors Vanessa Gonzalez, Taylor Roberts, Lyanna Nevarez and Yanice Quezada.
And, a low-scoring affair between No. 20 Roaring Fork and No. 13 Platte Valley in Delta saw the Rams on the short side of the 25-20 final.
Roaring Fork concludes its season at 13-10. It was the final game for seniors Emily Broadhurst, Isabella Hernandez, Caroline Wisroth and Kira Ettelson.