The semifinals of the Colorado high school basketball state tournaments for Class 4A and 5A boys take place Friday at Denver Coliseum. Our staff will be there providing live coverage. Refresh this page for the latest updates and results.
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Updates
Class 5A boys final: No. 6 Windsor 71, No. 2 Mesa Ridge 62
Given a third crack at the kings, the Wizards finally made good.
Led by guard Brady Kingsley’s clutch shooting in the second half, and fellow junior Thales Price’s right-place-at-the-right time lay-ins, Windsor knocked off two-time defending champion Mesa Ridge in the Final Four to advance to its second consecutive title game.
The Wizards (21-6) turned a 33-29 halftime deficit into a 48-42 edge with a 19-9 third quarter, then held the Grizzlies (25-2) off the rest of the way, avenging back-to-back season-ending losses to Mesa Ridge in 2023 and ’24 in the process. Kingsley scored a game-high 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting, Price added 14 points on 7 of 9 from the field, and seniors Madden Smiley (17 points, six rebounds, three assists) and John Backhaus (12 points, 10 rebounds) filled in the blanks to advance.
Windsor’s lead grew to as many as 12 in the fourth quarter before Mesa Ridge clawed its way back to within four on Zander Iwanski’s 3-pointer with 79 seconds to go. But that was as close as the Grizzlies would get after star senior guard Bryce Riehl fouled out with 63 seconds remaining.
J’Marius Jones had 20 points and six rebounds for Mesa Ridge, while Iwanski had 13 points and Riehl 10 points on an uncharacteristically off night (3 of 11) from the field.
8:52 p.m.: The Windsor Wizards (21-6) hold on, eliminating the team that ended their season each of the last two years. Brady Kingsley was clutch. Fellow junior Thales Price knew exactly where to be. And seniors Madden Smiley and John Backhaus did a little bit of everything. The Wizards will be playing for the 5A state title for the second year in a row, while Bryce Riehl and the Grizzlies’ (25-2) three-peat bid is over. — Matt Schubert
8:44 p.m.: Bryce Riehl has fouled out. That might be the end of one of the most decorated basketball careers in Mesa Ridge basketball history. Brady Kingsley buries two straight freebies to give Windsor a 66-60 lead, then John Backhaus draws a charge on Mesa Ridge’s next possession. Following a Windsor turnover, Zander Iwanski sinks two free throws to make the score 66-62 with 45.5 seconds left. — Matt Schubert
8:41 p.m.: Madden Smiley goes 0 for 2 at the free throw line, and Mesa Ridge’s Zander Iwanski makes him pay on the other end with a triple. It’s now 64-60 Windsor with 1:19 to go. Good gravy, is this fun. — Matt Schubert
8:39 p.m.: Bryce Riehl’s steal and 3-pointer gives Mesa Ridge life. J’Marius Jones’ putback off a free throw miss gives the Grizzlies a little more. But Brady Kingsley’s got ice in his vanes. The junior guard buries a pair of free throws on the other end, and Mesa Ridge is running out of time. Even after another insane 3-pointer from Riehl, the Windsor lead is 64-57 with 1:32 left. — Matt Schubert
8:32 p.m.: Brady Kingsley buries a pair of free throws to give the Wizards their first double-digit lead of the game, 57-46, with 4:10 left. Then he feeds Thales Price for a backdoor layup on their next possession. After Isaiah Lucas’ putback on the other end, Windsor leads 59-49 with 3:10 left. — Matt Schubert
8:28 p.m.: The Windsor Wizards have led by as many as eight in the fourth quarter, with Brady Kingsley and John Backhaus both scoring big buckets. They now lead 53-46 with 4:41 left. — Matt Schubert
8:19 p.m.: Windsor takes a 48-42 lead into the fourth quarter. This one has been a barn-burner so far. I’d expect nothing less in the final eight minutes. — Matt Schubert
8:16 p.m.: Brady Kingsley’s first 3-pointer of the night gives Windsor a 39-37 lead, Madden Smiley scores in transition a couple of trips later, then Kingsley bangs another 3 from the corner. And now the two-time defending champion Mesa Ridge Grizzlies are suddenly on the ropes. Windsor leads 44-38 with John Backhaus about to step to the line for a pair of free throws with 1:09 left in the third quarter. — Matt Schubert
8:03 p.m.: As expected, a rematch of last year’s 5A final has delivered thus far. Mesa Ridge leads 35-39 early in the third quarter, but Windsor isn’t likely going away anytime soon. — Matt Schubert
Class 5A boys final: No. 16 Green Mountain 77, No. 21 Falcon 67
7:04 p.m.: Falcon has got as close as 10 with less than a minute to go, but just couldn’t get this game to single digits.
Simon Lunsford, Tre Gutierrez Co. proved to be too much as the Rams (18-9) punched a ticket to their first title game trip in 31 years. A valiant run for Falcon (18-9) falls one win shy of the program’s first title game bid. — Matt Schubert
6:49 p.m.: Hold the phone. Falcon isn’t done yet. Tyler Cox’s and-one drive to the bucket draws the Falcons to within 62-51 with 5:34 left in the game. The Falcons haven’t been this close since the first half. — Matt Schubert
6:45 p.m.: Falcon has two buzzer-beaters to end quarters in this game, the last from Tyler Cox to close the gap to 60-42 at the end of the third quarter. But the Rams have dominated just about everything else. — Matt Schubert
6:37 p.m.: The Rams have not let go of the rope here in the third quarter. The lead is now 56-34 with 1:54 left in the frame. The program’s first championship game appearance in 31 years is within reach. — Matt Schubert
6:19 p.m.: Xavier Linville banks in a pull-up jumper at the buzzer to give Falcon a little life going into the break. Still, the Rams are in control with a 39-23 halftime lead.
Tre Gutierrez has 14 points and two assists on 5-of-7 shooting, while Jack Swanson has 10 points, five rebounds and two assists for a Rams team shooting 40.6% from the field and 88.9% (8 of 9) from the free-throw line.
Seven different Falcon players have scored, but the team is 0 for 6 from 3-point range and 37% overall from the field. That’s gotta change if they are going to make a game of this in the second half. — Matt Schubert
6:10 p.m.: The Green Mountain Rams, and Tre Gutierrez in particular, have taken over. Gutierrez’s third 3-pointer of the game gave the Rams a 28-13 lead with 4:58 left in the second quarter, then his second assist found Simon Lunsford alone on the wing for his first triple and a 31-13 edge.
Falcon is doing what it can to stay in this, but the Rams’ length and speed in transition are causing them problems. The Green Mountain lead is 37-21 with 1:02 left in the second quarter. — Matt Schubert
5:56 p.m.: A back-and-forth first quarter produced four lead changes and two ties amid a breakneck pace. Don’t call these two Cinderella. Early on, it’s clear both of these teams belong. Green Mountain leads 17-13 going into the second quarter. — Matt Schubert
Class 4A boys final: No. 10 Colorado Academy 67, No. 6 Coal Ridge 62
It was a Love-ly evening for the Mustangs inside the Coliseum — thanks to Clyde Love.
The senior guard caught fire early, then helped Colorado Academy (18-9) hold off hard-charging Coal Ridge late, scoring a game-high 27 points to secure the program’s first title game trip in 10 years.
Love sank all four of his 3s in the first half, then buried his fifth triple at the third-quarter buzzer, to lead Colorado Academy’s 9-for-12 night from long range. Fellow senior River Hamm sank four 3s of his own and finished with 14 points.
Still, with all that Mustangs firepower producing a 31-13 edge with 3:21 left in the second quarter, Coal Ridge refused to go away. The trio of Ben Simons (17 points, 13 rebounds), Gio Ervin (14 points) and LJ Herrera (12 points) led a group of nine scorers for the Titans (20-7).
Twice Coal Ridge pulled within three points in second half — first on Herrera’s corner 3 with 11 seconds to go in the third quarter, then on Simons’ trey with 18 seconds left in regulation. But Love answered the former with that buzzer-beating 3 to spark a 10-0 CA run, and the Mustangs’ press break produced a Mikel Miller dunk as time expired after the latter.
James Claypool, who fed Miller for the game-ending slam, added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Colorado Academy, which will face Kent Denver for the third time this season in the 4A final. The Sun Devils won the first two meetings by a combined 50 points. — Matt Schubert
5:13 p.m.: Coal Ridge keeps hanging around. A putback cuts the deficit to 62-55 with 1:30 left. This is going to come down to what Colorado Academy does at the free throw line. — Matt Schubert
5:09 p.m.: James Claypool gets whistled for an intentional foul, but Coal Ridge gets only one point out of two free throws and possession. Big opportunity missed for the Titans, especially after Claypool converts a layin on the other end. It’s 59-47 with 2:59 left. — Matt Schubert
5:05 p.m.: Coal Ridge guard LJ Herrera can’t miss. Literally. His fourth 3-pointer, on four tries, keeps the Titans within striking distance down 55-46 with 4:04 to go. Colorado Academy had gone on a 10-0 run between the end of the third and start of the fourth quarters, but Coal Ridge refuses to go away. — Matt Schubert
4:58 p.m.: And now we’ve reached the point in the evening where Colorado Academy and Coal Ridge are landing haymakers. The two teams combined for six 3s in the final couple of minutes of the third quarter, the last a pull-up buzzer beater from Colorado Academy’s Clyde Love to push the Mustangs lead to 44-38 heading into the final eight minutes. — Matt Schubert
4:53 p.m.: Here come the Titans! An 8-2 run punctuated by a floater from Matthew Webber in the lane has whittled the Colorado Academy lead down to 35-30 with three minutes left in the third quarter. Buckle up, folks. — Matt Schubert
4:46 p.m.: Coal Ridge punches back early in the third quarter, with Gio Ervin’s corner 3-pointer making this a single-digit game at 33-25 with 5:18 left in the frame. — Matt Schubert
4:38 p.m.: Colorado Academy is in firm control of this one thanks to the efforts of Clyde Love, who has 16 points and is 4 for 4 from 3-point range. The Mustangs lead 31-17 and are now just two quarters away from the program’s first title game trip in 10 years. — Matt Schubert
4:12 p.m.: It’s all Colorado Academy early on, with the Mustangs leading 22-9 with 1:37 left in the first quarter. — Matt Schubert
Class 4A girls final: No. 1 University 53, No. 4 Holy Family 45
University’s perfect season rolls on.
The Bulldogs ousted perennial Final Four contender Holy Family on Friday at Denver Coliseum, using senior point guard Janay Kravig’s game-high 22 points to get to their third title game.
Both of University’s trips to the big game prior to this season ended in decisive double-digit losses, to Platte Valley in Class 3A in 2022 and to Lutheran in Class 2A in 1985. But this year’s team has passed every test thrown their way, including a Patriot League title and 28.8-point average margin of victory heading into Friday.
Holy Family was led by 13 points from Alexcia Oaxaca. The game was tied 30-30 at half, but the ball bounced University’s way across the final two quarters. The Bulldogs were helped by a 5 for 11 performance from 3 on the day and a slight advantage in rebounding (33-25) that helped make up for University’s 22-12 turnover deficit.
Junior Maddie McNair and senior Addison Harding both helped key the Bulldogs’ victory from the paint, as each forward finished with double-digit rebounds.
The Bulldogs improved to 27-0 and take on Delta in Saturday’s title, while Holy Family finished 17-9 and again just short of another title after falling in the championship last season to Riverdale Ridge.
— Kyle Newman
3:36 p.m.: In a game that was tied 30-30 at half, the Bulldogs have had the slight edge in the second half and hold a 47-43 lead with 1:37 to play. University senior point guard Janay Kravig leads all scorers with 21 points. — Kyle Newman
2:41 p.m.: University, behind 10 points from senior Allizzey Madrigal, leads Holy Family 19-15 after the first quarter. — Kyle Newman
2:02 p.m.: The top-seeded Bulldogs are about to tip against the Tigers, who are looking for redemption after losing in the title last year to Riverdale Ridge. — Kyle Newman
Class 4A boys: No. 1 Kent Denver 84, No. 4 Prospect Ridge Academy 70
1:59 p.m.: The Sun Devils, who lost in the title to Resurrection Christian last year, are on the doorstep of their first crown since 1997. The advance to Saturday’s championship with a thrashing of the Miners, who could not match Kent Denver in size, skill or discipline. Kent Denver improves to 24-3 and Prospect Ridge Academy finishes 20-7. — Kyle Newman
1:42 p.m.: After three quarters, the Sun Devils are on a bee-line back to the title game, leading 70-43. — Kyle Newman
1:18 p.m.: The Sun Devils, heavy favorites in the Class 4A bracket, are dominating. They lead 45-29. Kent Denver found an early offensive rhythm and stuck to it, while the Miners have 16 turnovers that the Sun Devils have converted into 22 points. Kent Denver also has a 30-12 advantage in points in the paint. — Kyle Newman
12:58 p.m.: Kent Denver leads 23-15 after one quarter. It looked like the Miners were going to get run out of the gym early, but they hung in to keep the game close. The Sun Devils’ Caleb Fay leads all scorers with 9 points. This is a rematch from earlier this season, when Kent Denver won 91-72 on Feb. 11 in Broomfield. — Kyle Newman
Class 4A girls final: No. 6 Delta 56, No. 2 Timnath 46
12:21 p.m.: Delta pulls away to book its first state title appearance. Breezy Huff led all scorers with 27 points, while fellow senior Taylor Somers had 15. Delta improves to 19-6, while Timnath’s historic season ends at 23-4. Gretchen Deines led the Cubs with 17 points. — Kyle Newman
12:01 p.m.: Delta leads 37-36 entering the final quarter. If the Panthers get to their first title game, it will be on the back of senior point guard Breezy Huff, who is absolutely balling with 25 points. — Kyle Newman
11:37 a.m.: At halftime, Timnath leads Delta 27-21 after opening up a lead in the second quarter. Gretchen Deines (12 points) and Sage Raymond (11) lead the Cubs, while Delta’s Breezy Huff leads all scorers with 15 points. — Kyle Newman
11:21 a.m.: Delta leads 15-12 after one quarter. Both teams have gone on runs, and both teams have responded to keep the game close. — Kyle Newman
10:55 a.m.: It’s time to decide the last of the championship contenders in Class 4A and 5A, with the 4A girls and boys Final Four up first inside drafty Denver Coliseum. That starts with the second-seeded Timnath girls, fresh off a 60-38 drubbing of Pagosa Springs, taking on upstart Delta, which has won 15 straight since a 5-6 start to the season. Neither program has played in a state championship game, so whoever emerges victorious today will be breaking new ground. — Matt Schubert
Schedule and results
Class 4A boys
No. 1 Kent Denver (23-3) vs. No. 4 Prospect Ridge Academy (20-6), 12:45 p.m.
No. 10 Colorado Academy (17-9) vs. No. 6 Coal Ridge (20-6), 4 p.m.
Class 4A girls
No. 1 University (26-0) vs. No. 4 Holy Family (17-8), 2:15 p.m.
No. 2 Timnath (23-3) vs. No. 6 Delta (18-6), 11 a.m.
Class 5A boys
No. 16 Green Mountain (17-9) vs. No. 21 Falcon (18-8), 5:45 p.m.
No. 2 Mesa Ridge (25-1) vs. No. 6 Windsor (20-6), 7:15 p.m.
