Mike Burkett waited nearly two decades for this exact moment.
Over the last 19 years as girls basketball coach at St. Mary’s High School in Colorado Springs, Burkett had placed all around the Class 3A state tournament: One second, two thirds, a fourth, a fifth and a couple sixths. But never a championship, at least, not until Saturday.
St. Mary’s defeated Colorado Springs Christian 44-38 to claim the title, and in the postgame glow of television cameras on the Ritchie Center at the University of Denver floor, Burkett soaked in his new place in school history.
“All I can say is it’s a great feeling,” he said. “It’s kind of close to the birth of a child.”
No. 3 St. Mary’s (26-1) only regular-season loss entering the tournament was against No. 4 CSC (23-4) — and the rematch lived up to the hype. St. Mary’s led by as many as nine points early in the second half, but CSC junior forward Megan Engesser willed her team back with a game-high 21, and the deficit was two points with under a minute left.
St. Mary’s never panicked. Its leading scorers — sophomore Josephine Howrey (14) and junior Makenna Bodette (15) — were instrumental in holding off the charge. Howrey hit all four of her free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter and Bodette added two key baskets late.
“I just knew I had to hit some shots for my team,” Bodette said. “I’m just so excited and proud of these girls.”
St. Mary’s players stormed the court at the final buzzer and held the championship trophy with tears streaming down their faces. “We worked so hard for this and I can’t believe we actually got it,” Howrey said. “It’s amazing. I’m so happy.”
Players were equally excited for their coach.
“To experience it is a dream,” Burkett said. “You’ve been doing this for so long and it’s so hard to do. I’ve got to give credit to all the players and God. … This team was one of the most cohesive groups I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot of great groups at St. Mary’s.”
St. Mary’s 6 15 11 12 — 44
CS Christian 7 7 16 8 — 38
St. Mary’s — Bodette 6 3-4 15, Howrey 4 5-6 14, Valdez 2 2-4 6, Hackley 1 4-6 6, Cummings 1 0-0 3. Totals: 14 14-20 44.
CS Christian — Engesser 6 7-10 21, Ingram 3 0-0 8, McGrath 2 3-3 7, Heisler 1 0-0 2. Totals: 12 10-13 38.
3-pt. goals — Howrey, Cummings; Engesser 2, Ingram 2
