Dakota Ridge girls basketball fends of Legacy’s upset bid in 5A Sweet 16

LITTLETON — Through the first half of Tuesday’s girls Class 5A third round playoff game, Legacy had visions of pulling off its third upset of the tournament.

Then Lauren Wood took over.

Wood, one of six senior veterans on Dakota Ridge, found her place underneath the basket and the Eagles advanced to the Great 8 with a 60-46 victory.

As is often the case, the game was closer than that final 14-point margin indicated, due in large effect to Dakota Ridge’s 12-for-16 effort from the free throw line.

Legacy figured out how to break the Eagles’ full-court press and half-court trap in the second quarter. Behind junior post player Courtney Smith, the Lightning forged a 29-22 halftime lead.

Dakota Ridge coach Rich Gavelda emphasized two things at halftime.

“We don’t like to rely on those jump shots,” Gavelda said of the factor that led to his team’s shooting 2-of-12 in the second quarter. “We pride ourselves on making the extra pass.”

At the receiving end of most of those passes was Wood, who hit three quick baskets in the first minute and a half of the third.

The other change was to take the other senior post player, Jae Ferrin, off Smith defensively.

“We relied on her to help with the other four (players),” Gavelda said.

“When we adjusted we started scoring on their big girls,” Wood said.

She did most of it, with 19 of her game-high 29 points coming in the second half.

The Eagles advance to play No. 1 seed Fossil Ridge in Thursday’s round of eight at the Coliseum.

“We believe we can go far in this tournament,” Wood said.

“We have to do what got us here,” Gavelda said.

That’s pressure defense and moving the ball around on offense.

Wood said the team believes.

“We rise up to the challenge in every game,” she said. ”We just are making the nonbelievers believe.”