Littleton – An inch of iron separated elation from dejection in a game between Class 5A Continental League leaders Heritage and Highlands Ranch.
Heritage’s Beckett Brennan sank a free throw with 6.1 seconds left and Highlands Ranch sophomore Alyssa Fressle’s jumper at the buzzer rimmed out Friday to send the Eagles to an 80-79 league victory.
What looked like a blowout midway through the third quarter turned into a nail-biting finish for the surging Eagles.
“I knew if I make this, we win. It was a great feeling to hit that shot,” Brennan said. “It’s great to be the underdog.”
Kelsie Gourdin worked the paint for 22 points and nine rebounds, and Andrea Swanson also found room inside for 18 points and eight rebounds.
Unranked Heritage (14-5, 6-1) took a one-game lead in the Continental standings with four games to play, moving ahead of No. 2 Highlands Ranch (15-3, 5-2).
The Eagles led 52-34 midway through the third, but the quarter ended with the score 56-51 thanks to Thoman, Fressle and an intense Falcons team.
“We came out at halftime and said we don’t want to try to come back in the last two minutes like we did against Arapahoe (a 74-58 loss),” Thoman said.
Heritage turned the ball over on a five-second call while trying to inbound, and Thorderson hit a 3-pointer from the top of the arc, making it 76-72.
After trading free throws, Thorderson ripped the ball from the Eagles and sister Abby Thorderson dropped a jumper to bring the score to 78-76 Heritage with 25 seconds left.
Heritage made 1-of-2 free throws after a foul, and Abby Thorderson tied the score at 79 with a clutch 3-pointer with less than seven seconds left.
But Jade Davis fouled Brennan while going for a loose ball, sending Brennan to the line for the lead. She made 1-of-2 free throws to set up the finish.
With Thoman and Ali Thorderson having fouled out, Fressle brought the ball in, pulled up from near the free-throw line and let go. Her shot just missed.
“That was a great shot. I think next time she’ll hit it,” Thoman said.
Highlands Ranch 17 7 27 28 – 79
Heritage 20 20 16 24 – 80
Highlands Ranch – Fressle 8 2-5 19, Thoman 11 5-9 29, Al. Thorderson 5 0-0 11, Ryba 0 3-6 3, Davis 3 1-2 8, Ab. Thorderson 3 2-2 9, Glen 0 0-0 0, Burke 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 13-24 79.
Heritage – Haugen 3 1-4 8, Jackson 3 3-5 10, Brennan 3 2-4 10, Swanson 7 4-5 18, Gourdin 10 2-3 22, Dylla 2 0-0 4, Pfannenstein 1 0-0 2, Semin 1 4-4 6. Totals 30 16-25 80.
3-pt. goals – Thoman 2, Fressle, Al. Thorderson, Davis, Ab. Thorderson; Brennan 2, Haugen, Jackson. Total fouls – Highlands Ranch 23; Heritage 20. Fouled out – Thoman, Al. Thorderson. Technical – Thoman.
