Sweet 16 roundup: Monarch girls basketball edges Fossil Ridge

A back-and-forth game all night, Monarch edged Fossil Ridge 51-47 in the Class 5A girls basketball Sweet 16 on Tuesday evening.

The game was tied at 47 with just under a minute left, but Monarch’s Peyton Carter, a sophomore guard, hit two free-throws for a 49-47 lead with 12 seconds to play. Fossil Ridge had a chance to tie things up with its own free throws moments later, but missed.

It is Monarch’s first time in the Great 8 since the 2012 season, when the Coyotes advanced to the title game. That season marked the program’s fourth-straight year in the Great 8, so this is a return to familiar territory.

Monarch was up 24-17 at the break, but just 32-31 after three quarters. The game only stayed tight from there. It was a one-point margin with two minutes to play.

Raegen Rohn led Monarch with 13 points. Carter finished with 12. (Find photos of the game here.)

Fossil Ridge was last season’s runner-up in 5A, losing to Regis Jesuit.

(6) Fairview 56, (7) Fruita Monument 46

The Knights booked their first trip to the Great 8 since 2011.

Fairview led 32-24 at halftime and then 47-31 going into the fourth quarter. Fruita put up a fight in the fourth, but the Knights were able to hold off a rally.

The last time Fairview was in the Great 8, the Knights fell to Highlands Ranch. This trip is a mark of distinction for Fairview, though. Prior to this season, the girls team has only been in the Great 8 once since 2003.

(1) Broomfield 73, (4) Pine Creek 53

Broomfield is no stranger to the Great 8. But this is the program’s first trip as a member of 5A.

The Eagles have been an annual participant in the 4A Great 8 in the past decade-plus, and have now made 20 straight quarterfinals, but moved up a classification this season. They reached 4A’s title game last year, falling to Mesa Ridge, but didn’t skip a beat in the jump.

On Tuesday, Broomfield led 36-30 at the half, and started to pull away with a 48-39 lead after three quarters.

(3) Ralston Valley 53, (2) Rampart 41

The Mustangs went on the road and pulled the upset. It means the Mustangs return to the Coliseum for the second time in three seasons.

Ralston Valley was up 37-32 after three quarters, and gradually grew that lead to 11 points midway through the fourth.

Rampart cut it to 46-35 late in regulation, but RV was able to seal the game with free throws.

Ashley Van Sickle led Ralston with 17 points, while MaKena Prey added 12. Nicea Eliely had 18 points to lead Rampart.

(1) ThunderRidge 46, (5) Mountain Vista 26

ThunderRidge Mountain Vista girls basketball

Both teams started slow — it was just 16-8, a ThunderRidge lead, at halftime — but the Grizzlies pulled away with a big third quarter and never looked back.

ThunderRidge outscored Mountain Vista 16-4 in the third quarter to build a 20-point lead, a margin that stayed the same at game’s end.

ThunderRidge returns to a very familiar spot after one year away. From 2002-2013, the Grizzlies were in every Great 8 but one (2010), and won championships in 2004 and 2005.

Find a photo gallery from the game here.

(2) Cherry Creek 58, (3) Grand Junction 54

Cherry Creek earned a return ticket to the Great 8.

The Bruins led 25-18 at halftime and 31-26 after the third quarter.

Prior to going to the quarterfinals last season, the Bruins hadn’t been since 2004. Last year, Cherry Creek fell to Poudre.

(1) Highlands Ranch 64, (5) Castle View 53

The two Continental League foes went at it again, with Highlands Ranch ultimately returning to the Great 8 after one season away.

Highlands Ranch has now been in the Great 8 10 of the past 11 seasons. The previous nine trips have resulted in seven final four appearances.

(2) Lakewood 86, (3) Grandview 83

Lakewood returned to the Great 8 with a gritty win over a very talented Grandview bunch.

The Tigers rallied from an early hole with an 8-0 run to start the second quarter, and led 33-32 at halftime. That lead grew to 62-50 after three, but Grandview started to claw its way back in the final frame.

Find a complete recap of the game here.

Last season, Lakewood lost to eventual champion Regis Jesuit in the Great 8.