Her career ended and her team didn’t win a coveted state championship two weeks ago, but Faith Christian’s Brittany Long still managed to take something significant with her into her post-high school years.
Long, standing beyond the top of the key, had a loose ball come her way. She grabbed it and launched a 3-pointer that fell through the net with three seconds to play Saturday, lifting the White team to a 72-71 win over the Blue team in The Show All-Star Game at the Pepsi Center.
Scoreless in two of the previous three quarters, Long, who made four two-pointers in the second quarter, then drained one that should seem like a fresh memory for years.
“I just hit it,” Long said. “You keep telling yourself you’re going to make the next one, you’re going to make the next one.”
In truth, she added, “I had no idea” the game was going to end that way.
“It was just a blessing,” she said.
Long and the White team led 40-34 at halftime but needed a 21-15 edge in the fourth quarter to win it, although the meaning of the game, including as a showcase for the state’s elite players, was enjoyed by all participants. “It was a lot of fun,” said Highlands Ranch star Alyssa Fressle, who led the White team with 14 points.
Interesting combinations abounded for both sides and seemed to work — Fressle, who led Highlands Ranch to the Class 5A championship, not only teamed with the Falcons’ Jade Davis (13 points) and Taylor Johnson (12), but also Long (12) and 4A Pueblo East’s Maleah Gregory (eight).
Blue 18 16 22 15 — 71
White 18 22 11 21 — 72
Blue — Bussey (Alamosa) 2 0-0 5, Malcolm-Peck (Horizon) 6 2-2 16, Lambrecht (Golden) 4 3-5 11, Prins (Broomfield) 4 2-2 11, Hicks (Lakewood) 1 2-2 4, Hansen (Eads) 0 1-2 1, Sewell (Broomfield) 2 2-4 6, Workman (Moffat County) 3 2-3 8, Williams (Regis) 3 3-3 9. Totals 25 17-23 71.
White — Long (Faith Christian) 5 1-2 12, Johnson (Highlands Ranch) 5 2-2 12, Davis (Highlands Ranch) 6 0-0 13, Gregory (Pueblo East) 3 2-2 8, Fressle (Highlands Ranch) 6 1-4 14, Leeper (C.S. School) 2 0-0 4, Pendergraft (Dakota Ridge) 2 0-0 4, Kame (Central G.J.) 1 0-0 2, Hilbig (Douglas County) 1 0-0 3, Fitzgerald (Palmer) 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 6-10 72.
3-pt. goals — Malcolm-Peck 2, Prins, Bussey; Davis, Long, Fressle, Hilbig.
