PUEBLO — It looked like it would be the Stacy Post and Kendall Babler show early in the girls Class 2A state championship game Saturday night.
In the end, Post and her Wray teammates emerged with a 48-47 victory over Babler and the Grand Valley Cardinals.
“They probably have the best guard in this tournament in Babler,” Eagles coach David Reed said of the Cardinals before the game.
Post scored 10 of Wray’s first 15 points. Babler poured in eight of her team’s first 12 points.
“We were really really emotional (coming out of the locker room),” Post said. “We were actually crying. Our coach gave us a heart to heart before the game about last year’s championship.”
Said Babler: “We were all excited (before the game), but I know our nerves were pumping. I don’t think it had hit us that we were playing for the state championship.”
With just over five minutes to go in the first half, Post drew a charge on Babler, giving Babler her second foul and sending her to the bench. Less than a minute later, Post earned her second foul and a spot on the bench.
Enter Cardinals sophomore Erin Vanderpool. With Babler and Post out, it was her time to shine with 10 points in the first half. That helped Grand Valley lead 23-19 at halftime.
“Erin’s been clutch all year,” Grand Valley coach Mike Johnson said after the game. “She’s really grown up as a sophomore. She was huge for us tonight.”
Vanderpool finished with a game-high 18 points.
The teams battled throughout the second half. The Cardinals saw an opening when Post fouled out of the game with only 27 seconds left, finishing with a team-high 16 points.
Wray held a 48-47 lead with 13 seconds left, but missed two missed free throws. The Cardinals had a chance to win the game, but Babler’s shot wouldn’t fall.
“Winning the championship is amazing. It’s just amazing,” Post said afterward. “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt in the world.”
WRAY 48, GRAND VALLEY 47
Grand Valley10 13 10 14 — 47
Wray11 8 16 13 — 48
Grand Valley — Ashcraft 0 0-5 0, Garcia 2 0-0 5, Babler 4 3-4 12, Schubert 5 0-1 10, Jensen 1 0-0 2, Vanderpool 5 5-8 18. Totals 17 8-18 47.
Wray — Oestman 2 0-0 6, Loyd 2 1-4 6, Bard 0 2-2 2, Post 7 2-4 16, Neuman 3 0-0 9, Cure 2 0-0 5, Twiss 0 0-2 0, Odell 1 0-0 2, Reeves 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 5-12 48.
3-point goals — Vanderpool 3, Babler, Garcia; Neuman 3, Oestman 2, Loyd, Cure. Total fouls — Grand Valley 19, Wray 17. Fouled out — Post, Vanderpool. Technicals — None.
All-tournament team: 2A girls
Stacy Post, Jr., Wray
Christa Loyd, Jr., Wray
Raelynn Snyder, Sr., Simla
Kendall Babler, Sr., Grand Valley
Erin Vanderpool, So., Grand Valley
MVP: Stacy Post
