FORT COLLINS — There’s a first time for everything, if you are lucky.
Like the first time you beat your archrival in your high school career, or the first time in 32 years of coaching you win your first state title, or the first time your program gets to hoist the gold ball.
The Holy Family Tigers ended years of frustration, not only at the state tournament but against Metropolitan League foe Faith Christian on Saturday night with a 38-33 victory in the Class 3A state championship game at Moby Arena.
“Thirty-two years, and I finally get to kiss the ball,” said Tigers coach Ron Rossi, who spent the first half of his coaching career at Lakewood coaching the boys program. “We talked about having to get that elephant out of our house, and that elephant was Faith.”
Holy Family’s only two losses this season were at the hands of the Eagles, the second in the district title game having plenty of similarities to Saturday’s game.
The Tigers (25-2), much like the last game, were up by four points in the final minute, but they learned their lesson this time. Freshman guards Taylor Helbig and Sarah Talamantes each came up with big baskets in the final minute.
After Faith standout Brittany Long missed a shot on the offensive end that would have cut the lead to 33-31, Talamantes hit a jumper that stretched the lead to five. Helbig stepped to the line and hit 3-for-4 free throws down the stretch to keep the Eagles at bay.
“They are very poised for freshmen, and control the game,” Rossi said. “I didn’t want Faith to have this magical moment like they did last time.”
The Eagles, which prevailed 50-49 in the district tournament, had chances to make it a one-possession game, but each time the chance literally slipped through their hands. A rebound of a missed Helbig free throw that went out of bounds with 20 seconds left was the last one.
“Give it to Holy Family, they’ve got a lot of weapons,” said Faith Christian coach Debbie Candaleria, who guided the Eagles to a 24-3 record. “We really felt like we were ready, but it is definitely hard to beat a good team three times in a row.”
Holy Family senior Jessica Giltner, who earned tournament most valuable player honors from The Denver Post, was the only player on either team to reach double figures, with 11 points. The 5-foot-11 senior also pulled down six rebounds.
“With them beating us twice this season, it gave us that much fire to want to beat them this time,” Giltner said. “Everything just went perfectly.”
Dori Gills and Talamantes each finished with nine points for the Tigers.
Faith Christian didn’t shoot the ball well during the tournament but managed to win games with its defense. Brittany Long made just 3-of-14 shots Saturday, and along with Holly Hoguta led the Eagles with nine points.
HOLY FAMILY 38, FAITH CHRISTIAN 33
Holy Family 14 9 4 11 — 38
Faith Christian 11 6 8 8 — 33
Holy Family — Helbig 1 3-4 5, Hengemuhle 1 0-1 2, Giltner 4 3-5 11, Gills 4 0-2 9, Szabo 0 0-0 0, Talamantes 4 1-2 9, Wilson 1 0-0 2, Carian 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 7-14 38.Faith Christian — Hoguta 4 1-1 9, Long 3 2-4 9, Lopez 1 3-4 5, McBeth 1 2-2 4, Weingartner 1 1- 3, Barth 1 0-0 3, Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 9-13 33.3-pt. goals — Gills; Long, Barth. Total fouls — Holy Family 15; Faith Christian 17. Fouled out — None. Technicals — None.
All-tournament team: 3A girls
Dori Gills, Sr., Holy Family
Jessica Giltner, Sr., Holy Family
Brittany Long, Sr., Faith Christian
Bre McBeth, Jr., Faith Christian
Sendy Valles, So., Roosevelt
MVP: Jessica Giltner
