BOULDER — Years from now, when Anna Prins looks back on Broomfield’s considerable legacy in Class 4A girls basketball, she already knows what she’ll remember.
Her final game is forever embedded in her memory, a tough 49-47 victory challenged to the last second by a game Mullen on Friday night to win Colorado’s 2009 4A championship at the Coors Events Center.
Recalling her team’s three consecutive titles and winning streaks of 41 and 40 games will be no problem. And she’ll always know her class that entered Broomfield four years ago ended with a remarkable 106-4 record.
But above all, the thing that will stay with the 6-foot-6, 200-pounder will be the people.
“I’ll just always remember this team, the seniors who I’ve played with since eighth grade, everybody associated with it,” said Prins, an Iowa State signee who was The Denver Post MVP of the tournament.
In the final, Prins scored 15 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, had seven blocks and two assists.
And the Eagles, who finished 28-0, needed every one of them against the Mustangs (23-5), who got the game they wanted.
“I told you they were battle-tested,” Broomfield coach Mike Croell said of the Mustangs. “We just hung in there and did a great job.”
Ultimately, four key free throws by Alex Biegner in the closing minutes and eight points in the fourth quarter by Prins lifted the Eagles, who trailed frequently. Even with Broomfield leading 49-44 in the final seconds, Mullen’s Kirsten Hess made a 3-pointer as time ran out and was fouled. Her free throw could have made it a one-point game, but was ruled inconsequential.
“There couldn’t be a more-deserving group. We hung in there,” Croell said.
At one point this season, the Eagles had been crushing opponents by an average of 48.5 points. But the Mustangs would have none of it.
Hess and Laura Palmere headed a determined group that also used seven consecutive points by Autumn Burt to hold a 30-21 lead with 5:58 remaining in the third quarter.
However, Broomfield’s decisive run evolved around two 3-pointers by Sarah Hix and two baskets by Renae Waters.
Broomfield had 15 turnovers in the first half as well as questionable shot selection when holding a late lead. Plus, senior Chaundra Sewell fouled out with just five points.
All the while, Mullen was steady, ran some on the Eagles and defended, but also had 20 turnovers and was 16-of-27 at the free-throw line.
“I’m so proud of the girls. They left everything out there,” Mustangs coach Frank Cawley said. “They just did a great job. We’re young and we’ll be back.”
Waters contributed eight points for the Eagles. For Mullen, it was Hess (14) and Palmere (11).
Broomfield 13 7 14 15 — 49
Mullen 10 11 15 11 — 47
Broomfield — Prins 2 11-18 15, Chase 1 3-4 5, Biegner 1 4-4 6, Nehf 0 0-1 0, Rhodes 1 2-3 4, Reeves 0 0-0 0, Hix 2 0-0 6, Sewell 2 1-2 5, Waters 3 2-2 8, Burgesser 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 23-34 49.
Mullen — Thompson 2 1-2 6, Burt 3 3-3 9, Hess 4 5-11 14, Claybaugh 0 0-0 0, Curneen 0 0-1 0, Holland 0 1-2 1, Crump 1 0-0 2, Holland 0 1-2 1, Scott-Benson 2 0-0 4, Palmere 2 6-8 11. Totals 14 16-27 47.
3-point goals — Hix; Hess, Palmere, Thompson. Total fouls — Broomfield 22, Mullen 26. Fouled out — Sewell, Crump. Technicals — None.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
