They were losing. Their team leader had just fouled out. Time was running out. It was then that the Wolves played their best basketball of the night.
In what was a thrilling, high-scoring game from start to finish, Grandview rallied in the final minutes to stun Regis Jesuit 67-61 and win its second consecutive 5A girls' basketball state championship.
With about five minutes remaining in the game, senior Leilah Vigil picked up her fifth foul and had to sit out the rest of the game. Trailing 57-52, the Wolves would have to win a state title without their leading scorer on the year.
Behind big performances from Addison O'Grady (14 points) and Alisha Davis (13 points) down the stretch, they did. Without Vigil on the court, Grandview outscored the Raiders 15-4 in the final four minutes to pull out the victory.
Well before that though, the two teams put together one of the most wildly exciting first halves we've seen in any state basketball game so far this year.
Grandview and Regis combined for 75 points in the first half, as the Wolves took a 38-37 lead into the locker room. This all came after the Raiders got out to a quick 12-0 start, and the defending state champs somehow were able to climb all the way back.
Before halftime even, the two teams went 11/16 from the 3-point line all together, and collectively only missed one of their 17 free throw attempts.
With a buzzer beater to end the second quarter, the Wolves had their first lead of the game. All of that was just part one of a two-part show that the two best teams in the state put on at the Denver Coliseum.
Behind 13 points from Jada Moore, 12 from Jasmine Gaines and 11 a piece from Francesca Belibi and Avery Vansickle, the Raiders were able to build a solid lead in the second half. Then the Wolves started their comeback.
They would pull within one point with just over a minute of play left to go, and that's when Davis stepped up big time for Grandview. The junior stole away the ball on a Raiders' possession and drove the length of the court before getting fouled under the basket. After sinking her two free throws, the Wolves would take a one point lead and would never look back.
Grandview held on for the remaining minute of play, heading to the line multiple times, and would win 67-61 to claim their second consecutive state title. The Wolves also avenged their loss to Regis from the regular season, when they lost by two points.
The lady Wolves stayed in attendance to cheer on the Grandview boys' basketball team, who was making their first appearance ever in the state championship game.
