Pressure could have cooked the young Highlands Ranch Falcons. But instead of melting down, they stood tall.
Late Saturday afternoon at the rowdy Denver Coliseum, the seventh-seeded Falcons hoisted the girls Class 6A championship trophy after hanging on to beat No. 5 Northfield, 54-51.
It was the eighth state title for Highlands Ranch under legendary coach Caryn Jarocki, but its first since 2011. The Falcons finished their latest championship chapter with a 25-3 record.
“This feels so amazing,” said sophomore guard Kimora Banks-Thomas, who led all scorers with 20 points. “Last year we made it to the Great 8 and couldn’t get the job done. This year, we played with a younger team and we were able to bring it home. We played hard from beginning to end. Not just today, but all season.”
The Falcons controlled the game most of the way, but the athletic, tenacious Nighthawks never went away.
With 52 seconds left, Northfield junior Paris Taylor swooped in for an offensive rebound and a put-back, trimming the Falcons’ lead to 49-47. When Paris’ twin sister, London, made two free throws and, a moment later, stole the ball and converted a 3-point play, Highland Ranch’s lead was down to one point, 52-51, with 4.7 seconds left.
But Falcons freshman guard Na ‘Ziah Newbins calmly clinched the game with two free throws.
“In my head, I was just trusting the work I put in,” said Newbins, who admitted she had to block out the noise from the raucous Northfield student section. “I just practiced and practiced free throws, as a freshman, just knowing I could knock these down for my time.”
All eight of Jarocki’s state championship teams are unique, but she didn’t hesitate when asked what made the 2026 title team special.
“This team was probably the most fun championship team I’ve ever had because they played freely and they played for each other,” said Jarocki, who won her first state title in 2000.
The Falcons received critical contributions throughout their lineup. Sophomore forward Jayda Rogers scored 11 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
Junior guard Kate Moon made 3 of 5 3-pointers en route to 15 points. Her back-to-back 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter gave Highlands Ranch a 42-34 lead, and the Falcons made just enough free throws in the closing minutes to win the game.
“I told our girls, don’t get sped up, control the ball, play our game, and control the tempo,” Jarocki said.
And what did she tell her girls during the multiple timeouts in the game’s closing minutes when the Nighthawks were swarming?
“Make your free throws. Make your free throws and we win,” she said, allowing herself a relieved smile.
The Falcons missed a few foul shots down the stretch but ended up sinking 17 of 27.
Jarocki had nothing but praise for the relentless Northfield girls who played in-your-face defense the entire game.
“They are very strong, athletic and physical girls,” she said. “It’s hard to play against them with my skinny, little toothpick girls.”
London Taylor led Northfield with 11 points and Paris added nine. Junior forward Delaney Dennis, who became an offensive force in the second half, scored 11 and added six rebounds. The Nighthawks finished their season 24-4.
The Falcons led 25-18 at halftime by answering every time the Nighthawks made a mini-run.
Case in point: Northfield’s Madison Bethel raced the length of the court for a layup, cutting Highland Ranch’s lead to 19-18. But the Falcons answered with six consecutive points, including a gorgeous 3-point play by Banks-Thomas. She put down a perfect drop-step in the lane, coaxed in a layup and then made the foul shot.
Plus, stone-cold shooting haunted Northfield in the first half. The Nighthawks shot 27.6% (8 for 29) overall and missed all seven 3-pointers. The Nighthawks heated up a bit in the second half and finished the game shooting 41.7%, but were 0 for 9 on 3-pointers. Highlands Ranch, meanwhile, made 7 of 20 from beyond the arc.
