BROOMFIELD — Things were tidily in place for a marquee finish to the Holy Family Tiger Tip-off, as the bracket was aligned for seemingly predestined No. 1 vs. 2 final.
The host Tigers and Estes Park were sure to square off in tonight’s title game in a rematch of last season’s Class 3A girls state championship game, right?
One problem: Colorado Springs Christian didn’t cooperate.
The No. 8 Lions upended Holy Family 41-34 in the semifinals Friday, earning their own trip to the final by staging the classification’s first large-scale upset of the season.
“We wanted to show them that we really could beat them,” C.S. Christian center Brianne Vande Griend said. “We lost to them last year in the regional championship but didn’t really leave it all out on the floor. This game, I think we really left it all out on the floor.”
Vande Griend (15 points, 12 rebounds) teamed in the post with Erika Heckman (10 boards) to give the Lions a size and aggression advantage against Holy Family, a two-time defending 3A champion (and favorite for a third) that went 26-1 last season.
The Lions (2-0) held a 38-21 rebounding edge against a Holy Family squad that simply couldn’t get much to fall through the hoop.
“I just told everyone in the locker room that I’m glad this happened here and not at (state) tournament time,” Holy Family junior Taylor Helbig said. “Hopefully this is the last time this happens.”
In fairness, the Tigers (2-1) were playing without guard Sarah Talamantes, one of their top three players, with the junior in Atlanta for a national soccer tournament. The Tigers trimmed the deficit to 37-34, but C.S. Christian salted away the game at the free-throw line.
Estes Park 49, Valley 43. The No. 2 Ladycats advanced behind 27 points from Kimmy Hansen, which included a layup at the third-quarter buzzer that broke a 33-33 tie. Estes Park held off a late flurry by the No. 9 Vikings, who received 17 points from Ashley Ray.
“This will be a good test early in the season to see where we’re at,” Hansen said of tonight’s final.
C.S. Christian 10 11 7 13 — 41
Holy Family 5 7 7 15 — 34
C — J. Guhl 0 3-4 3, Kenney 3 5-8 13, Vande Griend 6 3-8 15, Bultje 1 4-8 7, Heckman 0 3-4 3. Totals 10 18-32 41.
H — Helbig 0 4-6 4, Wilson 5 1-2 12, Giltner 2 2-4 6, Williamson 0 2-2 2, Chavez 2 0-0 6, Coogan 1 0-0 2, Gutierrez 0 2-2 2. Totals 10 11-16 34.
3-point goals — C, Kenney 2, Bultje. H, Chavez 2, Wilson. Fouled out — Vande Griend.
Estes Park 8 9 18 14 — 49
Valley 9 16 8 10 — 43
E — Hansen 11 4-8 27, Carner 2 0-0 5, Lawrence 1 0-0 2, Holler 0 1-2 1, Morris 1 0-0 3, Fonken 2 0-2 4, Stark 3 1-4 7. Totals 20 6-16 49.
V — Odenbaugh 3 6-8 12, T. Hutton 0 1-2 1, Bennett 0 3-7 3, Franco 2 0-1 4, H. Hutton 1 0-0 2, Ray 8 1-7 17, Benzor 2 0-0 4. Totals 16 11-24 43.
3-point goals — Hansen, Carner, Morris.
