BOULDER — Broomfield’s road to redemption continues.
The Eagles’ girls basketball team, which last year lost a heartbreaker to Mesa Ridge in the Class 4A state championship game, was dominant Thursday in a 71-42 win over Cherry Creek in a 5A state semifinal at the Coors Events Center.
“We have had that game on our minds for the past year, so to be back is good,” said Broomfield senior Callie Kaiser.
Broomfield coach Mike Croell said he wanted to avoid a half-court game and push the pace to fully utilize his team’s athleticism, which is exactly what the Eagles did. They employed a suffocating full-court trap, which frustrated Cherry Creek. Broomfield jumped out to a 17-2 lead to start the game and never looked back.
“We figured if we can keep the pressure going and turn it into an up-and-down game, we’d be OK,” Croell said. “Luckily, we didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. It’s what we do.”
Kaiser led the way for Broomfield with 21 points. Brenna Fankell, who was tasked with slowing Cherry Creek star Molly Rohrer, added 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Rohrer had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Bruins.
“Molly Rohrer, I tell you, when she gets on that low block, she’s pretty slick,” Croell said.
Croell, who is coaching his last season with Broomfield, will be making his ninth state finals appearance in his 20-year career.
“We all have him in the back of our minds, and we all want him to go out on a win,” Kaiser said.
Cherry Creek 8 13 8 13 — 42
Broomfield 24 15 3 9 — 71
Cherry Creek — Dwinnell 0-1 0-0 0, Colter 0-1 0-0 0, Young 0-0 0-0 0, McMillen 0-2 2-4 2, McCann 0-2 2-2 2, Mech 3-6 2-2 8, Bivins 2-7 0-0 4, McNiff 2-4 0-0 6, Pranger 2-7 1-2 5, Rohrer 6-12 3-3 15, Ayers 0-1 0-0 0, Land 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-41 10-13 42.
Broomfield — Croell 0-0 0-0 0, Kaiser 8-16 6-7 23, Stirling 1-1 0-0 2, Reed 0-1 0-0 0, Kern 1-5 0-0 3, Lehrer 4-9 1-2 9, Chase 3-12 6-9 12, Fankell 6-12 8-8 20, Byrne 1-2 0-2 2, Malkin 0-0 0-0 0, Gilmore 0-0 0-0 0, Casasanta 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-58 21-28 71.
3-point goals — McNiff 2; Kaiser, Lehrer. Fouled out — None.
