Highlands Ranch – All Fairview was missing Thursday night was a round table for all its capable Knights.
Fairview got points from 11 players and forced Standley Lake into committing 27 turnovers for a 62-40 victory in the Carol Callan Region of the Class 5A state tournament at ThunderRidge High School.
“We have 11 girls that can really get after it and play strong,” said Fairview junior Melanie Pitkin, who came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points. “That’s a huge advantage on the press, because we can run through everyone and we never get tired.”
Fairview, seeded seventh in the 12-team region, snapped a four-game losing streak with its fourth win this season over a Jefferson County League opponent. The Knights (13-12) will face three-time defending state champion and No. 2 seed ThunderRidge at 3 p.m. today.
“It’s exciting to have that many girls (score), because they all feel a part of it,” Knights coach Rod Beauchamp said.
Thursday’s victory was especially sweet since the Gators knocked the Knights out of the playoffs a year ago.
“Every game in the playoffs is do or die, but this one was kind of special because we got knocked out last year by them,” said Fairview senior Jordan Puckett, who blocked two shots and scored 14 points.
The Knights never trailed against the No. 10 Gators (8-16) and methodically built upon an 11-2 lead with quick passes, strong shooting and a defense that trapped and pressed without mercy.
The Gators made just 10 baskets – three in the second half – as they struggled to get in any kind of half-court set.
“That’s a credit to their team, because our guards are really good,” Gators coach Chris Poisson said. “If they’re having troubles, then you’re playing great defense.”
Bailey Wilkins led the Gators with 16 points before fouling out. Brittany Jackson, who shot 3-of-6 from 3-point range, added 13 points.
Standley Lake 9 13 6 12 – 40
Fairview 18 17 17 10 – 62
Standley Lake – Mesch 1 1-2 4, Ryman 1 0-0 2, Wilkins 4 8-9 16, Lott 0 3-5 3, Jackson 3 4-4 13, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Carpenter 0 0-0 0, Thordsen 0 0-0 0, Zimmerman 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 16-20 40.
Fairview – Cabral 2 1-2 5, Puckett 6 0-0 14, Oviatt 1 1-4 3, Bailey 3 1-4 7, Litsey 2 0-2 4, Fuhrman 1 0-1 2, Pitkin 7 3-6 17, Watkins 2 0-0 4, Henritze-Hoye 1 0-2 2, Ellison 1 0-0 2, Thielen 0 0-0 0, Vinson 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 6-21 62.
3-point goals – Jackson 3, Mesch; Puckett 2. Total fouls – Standley Lake 18, Fairview 17. Fouled out – Ryman, Wilkins. Technicals – None.
PALMER 58, LITTLETON 43
Palmer shot 57 percent from the field and shut out the Lions in the third quarter to cruise into the second round of the 5A state tournament.
The sixth-seeded Terrors overcame 28 turnovers by holding Littleton to 26 percent shooting and easily advanced in the Carol Callan Region.
Palmer, winner of three straight, plays No. 3 Poudre (15-7) at 1 p.m. today.
“Everyone was pretty much moving the ball really well and just hitting open players, and that’s what we had to do to get past these girls,” said Palmer junior Ariane Brown, who scored a game-high 21 points.
Palmer led 30-23 at halftime and outscored the No. 11 Lions 11-0 in the third quarter to seize control of the game.
Littleton, which got 13 points from Andrea Pauline, finished its season 7-17.
Littleton 10 13 0 20 – 43
Palmer 15 15 11 17 – 58
Littleton – Pirnak 2 2-2 6, Beck 4 0-0 9, Pauline 2 7-10 13, Drennan 1 1-2 3, Smallfoot 1 1-2 3, Holtz 0 0-0 0, Hunt 0 0-0 0, Polster 0 0-0 0, Blake 1 2-2 4, Burson 1 0-0 2, Gregory 1 0-0 2, Anatuzio 0 1-2 1, Reed 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 14-20 43.
Palmer – Perko 0 4-5 4, Fitzgerald 5 0-4 10, Brown 9 3-3 21, Creech 0 0-0 0, Jacobs 0 0-0 0, Leaming 2 0-0 5, Berry 5 1-5 12, Fladland 1 0-0 2, Wyatt 1 0-2 2, McDougal 0 0-1 0, Leinweber 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 8-20 58.
3-point goals – Pauline 2, Beck; Berry, Leaming. Total fouls – Littleton 19, Palmer 15. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
