LONGMONT — This was about more than two undefeated teams. According to Longmont guard Jamie Katuna, it was about representing a classification.
Katuna’s Trojans did just that Thursday night in upending Holy Family 76-61 in a matchup of the top-ranked teams in Class 4A and 3A.
“We had to make a point — 4A pride,” Katuna said. “The No. 1 team in 3A should not be able to beat the No. 1 team in 4A.”
Holy Family, the three-time defending 3A champ, came out sizzling but ultimately couldn’t keep pace with Longmont’s big three of Katuna (28 points), forward Tambre Haddock (18 points and 13 rebounds) and center Megan Carpenter (18 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots).
“I feel like when we’re all on our game, you can’t guard us,” said Katuna, who made four 3-pointers. “It’s almost like you have to make a decision of whether you want us to score inside or outside, but we’re going to score one way or another.”
Holy Family (15-1), coming off a win against 4A No. 2 Broomfield, drilled four 3-pointers in the first quarter and led 24-22 — a margin that would have been bigger if not for 15 first-quarter points from Katuna.
“We wanted to come out with high intensity, because we knew if we fell behind, it’d be hard to dig ourselves out of a hole,” Holy Family point guard Taylor Helbig said. “Which it obviously was.”
Longmont (17-0) blitzed Holy Family 37-17 in the middle quarters, strengthening ambitions of not only a 4A title but a perfect season.
“Being undefeated is definitely really important to us,” Haddock said.
Stephanie Giltner scored 19 points and Sarah Talamantes added 17 for Holy Family, which watched its torrid pace take a step back when Longmont asserted itself.
“At the beginning, we were playing really fast,” Haddock said. “It felt like a 3-point contest. We weren’t using our size to our advantage. Then we calmed down.”
Holy Family 24 6 11 20 — 61
Longmont 22 13 24 17 — 76
Holy Family — Helbig 4 0-0 10, Chavez 3 0-0 9, Talamantes 7 1-2 17, Giltner 7 5-7 19, Williamson 1 0-0 2, Gutierrez 1 0-0 2, Johannsen 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 6-9 61.
Longmont — Meier 2 4-4 10, Katuna 11 2-4 28, Haddock 7 4-6 18, Thornholt 1 0-0 2, Carpenter 7 4-8 18, Fallon 0 0-0 0, K. Canar 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 14-21 76.
3-pt. goals — Chavez 3, Helbig 2, Talamantes 2; Katuna 4, Meier 2. Total fouls — Holy Family 17, Longmont 12. Fouled out — Williamson. Technical fouls — None.
