BOULDER, Colo.—Shae Kelley scored 14 points, including 6 down the stretch, to lead the Denver East Angels to a 53-45 victory over the Heritage Eagles Wednesday night in the Class 5A state semifinals at the CU Events Center.
East was clinging to a 45-43 lead when Kelley hit a bank shot over two defenders with 1:38 to play. She then put her team up 49-43 on a similar play with 1:13 left. Raven Taylor and Samantha Sanders hit their free throws in the closing moments, sealing the win for the Angels (22-5).
Chelsea Small scored 13 points and Sanders added 10 for second-seeded East, the first Denver Prep League team to play for the girls Class 5A crown since Montbello won the title in 1999.
Heritage (20-7), the No. 3 seed from the Continental League, was led by Kim Lockridge, who posted a game-high 17 points and 18 rebounds.
The Littleton school led 21-20 at halftime, but trailed 38-33 at the end of the third quarter.
East, which outshot Heritage 37.8 percent to 30 percent, will play for the championship Friday night.
