BOULDER, Colo.—Jenessa Burke hit a 3-pointer with 48.9 seconds left and sunk a key free throw down the stretch Friday night as Highlands Ranch won its third straight Class 5A state championship with a 59-54 victory over Regis at the Coors Events Center.
The title marks the sixth in nine years for Highlands Ranch (25-3), which finished the season with an 18-game winning streak.
Trailing 52-50, Burke, who finished with eight points, took control at the top of the key, had a good look from beyond the arc and nailed the shot, giving the Falcons a 53-52 advantage.
Regis forward Kamile Nacickaite then committed an offensive foul, and Jade Davis hit one of two free throws with 29.1 seconds to play to give Highlands Ranch a 54-52 lead.
Regis was forced to foul Burke 10 seconds later, and the junior forward hit one of two shots for a 55-52 Falcons lead.
After Mary Bokenkamp converted a pair of free throws to pull Regis within 55-54 with 7.9 seconds left, Meagan Fulps was fouled and nailed her shots for a 57-54 Highlands Ranch lead with 7.7 seconds to go.
Regis had one final opportunity, but the Raiders threw the ball away.
Davis was fouled and sunk her last two shots to account for the final score.
Fulps led Highlands Ranch with 14 points, while Allysa Fressle and Taylor Johnson scored 13 and 10 points, respectively for the Falcons.
Nacickaite led all scorers with 20 points and Kelsey Roben poured in 10 for Regis (25-3).
The Raiders, in a title game for the second time in three years after losing in the 4A final to Mullen in 2005, erased a 10-point halftime deficit, 30-20, tying the game at 35-35 with 1:19 to play in the third quarter.
The game was tied four more times, the last being 50-50 with 3:11 remaining.
Nacickaite gave Regis its only lead of the game, 52-50, with a 6-foot jumper with 2:43 left, but the Raiders could not hold on to avenge their 74-49 regular-season loss to Continental League foe Highlands Ranch.
The Continental League has now won the Class 5A girls crown every year since 1999, when Jefferson County League participant Chatfield accomplished the feat.
ThunderRidge won the crown from 2003-05.
Highlands Ranch’s six trophies ties Boulder, which won six in 11 seasons between 1984 and ’94.
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