How long has it been since Denver Christian beat Faith Christian?
“It’s been too long,” Crusaders coach Becky Mudd said with a smile Thursday night, partly because she now has a better answer.
The fifth-ranked Crusaders got off to a fast start but threatened to fall apart just before halftime, then executed a clinical finish to knock off the No. 2 Eagles 62-54 in a Class 3A Metropolitan League showdown.
Denver Christian (10-1, 5-0 league) got 17 points apiece from senior Kiley Gill and junior Chelsea LeFebre to extend its win streak to five games while beating the Eagles for the first time since March 2, 2002.
The Crusaders’ 13-point lead in the second quarter was reduced to 32-28 at halftime as the Eagles (9-2, 4-1) forced nine turnovers in the second quarter. Faith Christian took its only lead of the night with 2:31 remaining in the third quarter on Brittany Long’s layup.
Denver Christian retook the lead on its next possession and outscored the Eagles 17-10 in the fourth.
“In the third quarter, I thought we really weathered the storm,” Mudd said. “They came at us and we didn’t lose composure, we didn’t freak out, we just kept doing our stuff and it paid off.”
Caitlin Matthies and Lauren Baity scored nine points apiece and Laine Baity chipped in with five points in the fourth quarter. Lauren Baity also had 12 rebounds.
“I kind of had a feeling through the whole game,” said LeFebre, who also contributed 12 rebounds and blocked two shots. “My teammates definitely did their job. They were awesome tonight.”
The Eagles got 15 points from Long, who was 2-for-10 on 3-pointers, and senior Nicole Lukens scored 12.
The Eagles rebounded well during the second half, but missed 13 free throws and shot 2-for-20 from the field in the fourth quarter.
“We really hurt ourselves badly in the first half at the free-throw line,” Eagles coach Brian Wall said. “I mean, the fourth quarter, it’s true, we didn’t shoot real well, and that happens sometimes. But we had our opportunities; we didn’t convert in the first half.”
Faith Christian 11 17 16 10 – 54
Denver Christian 20 12 13 17 – 62
Faith Christian – Zevenbergen 2 1-4 5, Hoguta 3 1-2 8, Long 6 1-3 15, Bray 2 2-2 6, Lukens 4 4-8 12, Endes 3 0-2 7, Paulsen 0 1-2 1, Roundtree 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 10-23 54.
Denver Christian – Gill 5 5-5 17, Van Deren 1 0-0 2, Landhuis 1 0-0 2, Lai. Baity 2 1-1 5, Lau. Baity 4 1-2 9, Matthies 4 1-2 9, LeFebre 8 1-2 17, Van Denend 0 1-4 1. Totals 25 10-16 62.
3-point goals – Long 2, Endes, Hoguta; Gill 2. Total fouls – Faith Christian 20, Denver Christian 17. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
