Pueblo – Amanda Brown has anything but a poker face.
The Limon Badgers’ senior guard smiles a lot on the basketball court, and why not? Her team won a Class 2A state championship for the fifth time in six years Saturday night, and Brown was one of the stars in Limon’s 65-58 double-overtime victory over Wray at the Colorado State Fair Events Center.
Brown’s overall play and game-high 28 points helped rescue the title against a valiant Eagles team that nearly won it at the buzzer in regulation. At the end, Brown slapped high-fives and laughed with her teammates, while many of the Eagles broke down on the bench.
“We’ve had experience being here, so we’ve learned not to panic,” Brown said. “They get better every time. We didn’t want to go to a third OT, so we did everything we could to keep it to two.”
Some big points and rebounds from Brown and junior forward Camille Grimes in the second OT made that a reality. Hurt by foul trouble and a controversial non- call on a shot at the regulation buzzer by Erin Neumann, the Eagles ran out of energy by the second OT. Grimes took advantage with a big 3-pointer and Limon never trailed from there.
Brown dominated at times, but nearly saw her stellar prep career end on a bad note at the hands of the dogged Eagles. Wray had the lead with a minute left in regulation, but Brown tied it with a basket in the paint.
“I’m so proud of my kids,” Wray coach David Reed said. “We were 6-15 last year and nobody expected anything from us. They battled so hard. It’s frustrating not to get it done, but we’ll be back.”
Brown’s father, Mark, is also the Badgers’ coach. The jubilation of a third straight state title and fifth overall was made bittersweet by it being his daughter’s last game as a Badger.
“It was a great way for her to go out,” Brown said. “Amanda and Whitney (Liggett) and Camille did it for us all year with their leadership.”
Brown went 10-for-10 from the foul line and made a couple of big steals in the decisive second OT.
Wray’s Neumann played a tremendous game with 17 points, as did the Eagles’ Stacy Post (16), but Brown was just a little too much.
“It was a really tough game,” Amanda Brown said, “but I think our experience paid off at the end.”
Wray 8 16 11 14 7 2 – 58
Limon 7 18 13 11 7 9 – 65
Wray – E. Neumann 6 4-5 17, Loyd 5 0-1 14, Ivers 1 0-0 2, E. Post 1 0-0 2, S. Post 5 6-7 16, K. Neumann 2 0-0 5, Reed 0 0-0 0, J. Cure 1 0-0 2, Odell 0 0-0 0, Lenz 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 10-13 58.
Limon – H. Naylor 3 0-2 6, J. Naylor 2 0-0 4, Haley 3 2-3 8, O’Dwyer 0 0-0 0, Meier, 0 0-0 0, B. Head 0 0-0 0, Brown 8 10-10 28, M. Kollath 0 0-0 0, Liggett 2 0-1 5, A. Head 0 0-0 0, Grimes 4 2-4 14, L. Kollath 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 14-20 65.
3-pt. goals – Loyd 4, E. Neumann, K. Neumann; Grimes 4, Brown 2, Liggett. Total fouls – Wray 19, Limon 15. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
THIRD-PLACE GAME
SANGRE DE CRISTO 45, HOLYOKE 38
Sangre de Cristo 7 16 9 13 – 45
Holyoke 0 6 8 24 – 38
Sangre de Cristo – Ja. Beiriger 1 0-0 2, Stoeber 0 0-2 0, New 0 0-0 0, Witherspoon 0 0-0 0, M. Beiriger 1 1-2 3, Dieckman 0 0-0 0, Escheman 0 7-8 7, McKinley 0 0-0 0, Jo. Beiriger 1 2-2 5, Crowther 1 0-0 2, Clair 3 3-4 9, Brown 5 7-8 17. Totals 12 20-26 45.
Holyoke – Smith 0 0-0 0, Williamson 3 1-1 7, Newman 0 0-0 0, Hoffner 0 0-0 0, Vi. Timm 5 10-15 20, Olofson 0 0-0 0, Denney, 0 0-0 0, Starkebaum 1 0-0 2, Va. Timm 2 0-3 5, Carper 0 0-0 0, Sullivan 2 0-0 4, Stroh 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 11-19 38.
3-pt. goals – Jo. Beiriger; Va. Timm. Total fouls – Sangre de Cristo 17, Holyoke 20. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP
SIMLA 48, PLATEAU VALLEY 47
Simla 13 15 6 14 – 48
Plateau Valley 12 13 9 13 – 47
Simla – Tucker 1 0-0 2, C. Alexander 1 0-0 2, Jenkins 3 0-0 6, Edmunds 1 0-0 2, Snyder 7 8-10 22, E. Alexander 2 0-1 4, Tompkins 4 2-6 10. Totals 19 10-17 48.
Plateau Valley – Roberts 0 1-2 1, Bouton 1 0-0 2, Smith 3 2-2 8, Bruton 3 0-2 6, Mumby 0 1-2 1, Hockett 2 1-2 5, Schuman 9 6-6 24. Totals 18 11-16 47.
3-pt. goals – None. Total fouls – Simla 18, Plateau Valley 15. Fouled out – Tucker. Technicals – None.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Amanda Brown, Limon, Sr.
Stacy Post, Wray, So.
Brittany Brown, Sangre de Cristo, Jr.
RaeLynn Snyder, Simla, Jr.
Erin Neumann, Wray, Sr.
MVP: Amanda Brown
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com.
