It was all about advancement for Highlands Ranch.
Never mind that the Falcons had passing and ball-control issues, and forget they got beat on the boards like a drum.
They survived Air Academy 68-61 on Saturday evening at the Denver Coliseum in Class 5A’s Great 8 to advance to Wednesday’s Final Four at the University of Colorado’s Coors Events Center.
Highlands Ranch’s return toward the top of 5A took a difficult step, although coach Caryn Jarocki would just as soon not have another.
“I’m glad that’s over,” Jarocki said. The Falcons (21-3) built an early lead and did just enough to get past the Kadets (22-4).
“We need to get on the boards, don’t we?” Jarocki said.
Yes, they do after getting outrebounded 52-35 and being caught napping and flat-footed at times.
“If we don’t rebound, we can’t run,” Jarocki said. “We gave up 52 rebounds. That’s sick.”
But Highlands Ranch, the Colorado big-school champion in 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02, and a semifinalist last season, had enough of its game in sync to fend off Air Academy.
Superior in speed and quickness, the Falcons used two key stretches fueled by sophomores. First was a seven-point binge by Jade Davis in the third quarter, then a six-point splurge by Alyssa Fressle in the fourth.
Both came as the Falcons built their first double-figure leads.
Fressle and Davis tied for team scoring honors with 15 points, and the Falcons offered balance with Jaclyn Thoman (12), Melisa Ryba (nine) and Ali Thorderson (eight).
But the pesky Kadets clearly frustrated the Falcons at times, something Highlands Ranch hopes to use as motivation in the next round.
“It was a little bit frustrating, especially in the first half, because we didn’t come out like we thought we would,” Fressle said. “We were able to come out on top.”
Ten Highlands Ranch turnovers in the first quarter helped keep the Kadets close, and the Falcons nearly blew a 22-13 lead in the second quarter. Even after Fressle and Davis had their sprees, Air Academy rallied in the closing minutes. But Thoman had two nice passes through traffic for layups that helped keep the Kadets at bay.
Air Academy 11 13 13 24 – 61
Highlands Ranch 14 11 23 20 – 68
Air Academy – R. Smidt 0 4-6 4, Maloney 2 0-0 5, Sherman 2 0-0 4, H. Hollenga 6 1-2 14, Helsham 3 1-2 7, L. Smidt 1 0-0 2, Scott 5 3-4 13, Kent 1 0-1 2, Drescher 2 6-6 10, M. Hollenga 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 15-21 61.
Highlands Ranch – Fressle 7 1-4 15, Thoman 3 5-7 12, Al. Thorderson 4 0-0 8, Ryba 2 5-6 9, Davis 7 0-1 15, Ab. Thorderson 2 2-2 6, Glen 1 1-1 3. Totals 26 14-21 68.
3-pt. goals – H. Hollenga, Maloney; Davis, Thoman. Total fouls – Air Academy 17, Highlands Ranch 18. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
