BOULDER — Caroline Bryan knew she wasn’t going to be able to catch the outlet pass. So the Valor Christian senior put her head down, turned on the gas and volleyed the ball with one hand past unsuspecting defenders toward teammate Kendall Bradbury.
The first-half, highlight-reel play turned into an easy layup for Bradbury, and it provided a snapshot of the Eagles’ dominance as they ran past Sand Creek 73-47 in the Class 4A girls championship game at Coors Events Center.
“It’s been a crazy four years,” Bradbury said. “That pass (from Bryan) just shows that we know how each other play. It’s going to be hard to leave her next year.”
The stellar senior duo will be bonded by a legacy. The victory gave Valor Christian (26-3) its first girls basketball state title. It came under first-year coach Jessika Caldwell, whose team overcame a string of injuries during the season, including one that shelved Bryan for 13 games.
PHOTOS:
“These girls are special,” Caldwell said. “They’re special because they have something inside of them that is unmatched. It’s awesome to see that displayed on a basketball court.”
It was Bradbury and Bryan that led the run-and-gun march toward school history. Bradbury set the pace with nine of Valor Christian’s first 11 points and finished with 20. Bryan had 22 points and 16 rebounds, and she constantly put pressure on the Sand Creek defense by pushing the ball in transition.
The frenetic tempo led to a bounty of open shots, and the Eagles didn’t miss many. Valor Christian hit 9-of-18 shots from 3-point range. Heidi Hammond (16 points) was 5-of-7 from behind the arc.
“The depth perception in a big (arena) is supposed to affect you. It sure didn’t affect them,” said Sand Creek coach Frank Haist said, whose team finished 23-4 and made its first title-game appearance.
The Eagles also used relentless pressure on defense to neutralize Sand Creek’s top scoring option, junior center Liah Davis. With the Eagles locking down the Scorpions’ guards on the perimeter, entry passes to the 6-foot-2 Davis didn’t come easy. Davis finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds, but she managed only one field goal in the second half.
“We had two people on her at all times, and that really helped,” Bryan said. “… I’m just on cloud nine.”
Sand Creek: 16 13 10 8 — 47
Valor Christian: 23 15 18 17 — 73
Sand Creek — Zerwick 1-4 0-0 3, Curry 1-1 1-1 3, Thomas 3-8 0-0 6, Armstrong 2-5 0-2 4 Squires 2-14 2-2 7, Ceballes 3-6 4-6 10, Davis 5-12 4-5 14. Totals 17-52 11-16 47.
Valor Christian — McCoy 3-11 6-6 13, Hammond 5-9 1-2 16, Gibson 0-2 1-2 1, Roth 0-2 1-2 1, Bryan 8-16 6-8 22, Bradbury 6-14 5-6 20. Totals 22-54 20-26 73.
3-pt. goals — Squires, Zerwick; Hammond 5, Bradbury 3, McCoy. Fouled out — Hammond, Roth.
All-tournament team
Kendall Bradbury, Sr., Valor Christian
Caroline Bryan, Sr., Valor Christian
Liah Davis, Jr., Sand Creek
Sydney Wetterstrom, Jr., Longmont
Haley Simental, Sr., Pueblo West
MVP: Bradbury
