Highlands Ranch – Regis stole the thunder.
The Raiders’ girls basketball team dropped three-time defending Class 5A state champion ThunderRidge 54-24 in a Continental League game on Tuesday night and put an end to three long streaks.
Regis (11-2, 2-0 league), the top-ranked team in 4A, ended the Grizzlies’ in-state winning streak of 69 games, home winning streak of 47 games and conference winning streak of 35 games. The previous time ThunderRidge lost to a Colorado opponent was Dec. 13, 2002, against Monarch,
“We are so proud, especially in their own gym,” Regis’ Mindy Nielson said.
Nielson was a big reason the Raiders won. She scored a game-high 17 points, all in the second half, and finished with 10 rebounds. Guards Katie Mihalco and Mariah Williams combined for 23 points.
“This game has been on our minds since we lost to them (100-53) last season at (home),” Mihalco said.
ThunderRidge (10-2, 1-1), No. 2 in 5A, struggled mightily. Hannah Breidel led the Grizzlies with five points, including the team’s only two free throws, and Jayna Hartig was the only player to hit more than one field goal.
The Grizzlies made just 1-of-10 shots from the floor to start the game, 4-of-21 in the first half and 9-of-48 for the night.
“It wasn’t about the streak; it was about how we didn’t come to play. … They just came out so aggressive and we were on our heels the whole time,” Hartig said. “I’m still proud of the streak, but at the same time you can’t focus on the past.”
Hartig is the lone returning starter from the team that featured standouts Abby Waner and Emmy Fox.
Even without much production from 6-foot-3, University of Colorado-bound Aija Putnina (four points, two rebounds), Regis dominated.
“Our defense is what did it,” Nielson said. “You could see it in their eyes, and you knew they were down.”
Regis 13 13 10 18 – 54
ThunderRidge 7 5 5 7 – 24
Regis – Putnina 2 0-0 4, Mihalco 4 2-3 12, Williams 4 2-2 11, Rolniak 1 0-0 2, Nielson 8 0-0 17, Johnson 2 0-0 4, O’Dorisio 1 0-0 2, Winters 1 0-0 2, Bokenkamp 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 4-5 54.
ThunderRidge – J. Hartig 2 0-0 4, Evans 0 0-0 0, Breidel 1 2-2 5, Luedtke 1 0-0 3, K. Hartig 1 0-0 2, M. Malcolm-Peck 1 0-0 3, Amos 1 0-0 2, Miller 1 0-0 3, Messer 0 0-0 0, B. Malcolm-Peck 1 0-0 2, Dederick 0 0-0 0, Davis 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 2-2 24.
3-pt. goals – Mihalco 2, Williams, Nielson; Breidel, Luedtke, M. Malcolm-Peck, Miller. Total fouls – Regis 9; ThunderRidge 24. Fouled out – Putnina; K. Hartig. Technicals – None.
