COLORADO SPRINGS — It was the worst of times, it was the best of times for Chaparral.
In their bid to cement their standing among Colorado’s elite, the Wolverines had a first half Thursday night to forget, but responded in the second by doing what they do well: namely scoring, rebounding, defending and pushing the ball.
Behind Alyssa McGuinnis and McKayla Gorman, Chaparral is heading to its first Class 5A Great 8 after a 55-38 decision of upstart Columbine at the World Arena.
The Wolverines (21-4) go into Saturday’s round at the Denver Coliseum having learned they can recover if things don’t go well, and they didn’t throughout the first half when they trailed 23-22.
“I think my kids were a little nervous,” Chaparral coach Tony Speights said. “We didn’t scream at them at halftime.”
However, sophomore Courtney Gallo said, “we were wondering what was going on.”
The Wolverines had issues protecting the ball and made just 2-of-15 free throws while Columbine was putting forth a spirited effort, banging inside with the Wolverines, running down loose balls and depositing key baskets.
But after the break, it was all Chaparral. Gorman, who rolled to 12 points and six assists, led a wave of fast-break points or found open players in a halfcourt set. The Wolverines went on a 17-4 run. The Rebels (15-11), who began the season 4-8, were one of big schools’ stories down the stretch of the season, but their time to struggle came after halftime — they went cold, shooting an Arctic 2-of-27.
“We couldn’t buy a bucket,” Rebels coach Jim Bartok said.
ThunderRidge 69, Durango 42.
The Grizzlies ran to a 22-6 lead, fought through some lapses and had little trouble in advancing.
Instrumental in moving the ball, finding the open player and beating Durango (16-9) down the floor a few times, freshman Carlie Needles teamed with Brooke Jelniker and Rachel Messer to keep the Grizzlies (18-7) in command.
“She looks like she has been lifting weights since the sixth grade, and her skills are honed,” Durango coach Mary Psenda said of Needles.
Regis 59, Heritage 37.
The Raiders, in winning their seventh straight game, beat their Continental League foes for the second time this season. Eager to come through with a championship after flirting with winning the 5A and 4A levels in its first three years, color Regis (24-2) cautious.
“We’re just happy to be here,” Meghan Winters said after pacing the Raiders with 15 points.
