Broomfield sends Croell out with 5A girls basketball title
BOULDER — Broomfield senior Callie Kaiser went for a defensive steal with less than 20 seconds to play as if she was attempting to grab the Class 5A girls basketball state trophy.
In essence, Kaiser’s steal which led to a pair of free throws with 19.5 seconds left sealed a 47-42 victory over ThunderRidge on Saturday at the Coors Events Center.
“I knew we needed a stop right there,” said Kaiser, who finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds for the now six-time girls basketball state championship Eagles. “I just did what I needed to do. I knew I had to make the free throws too.”
ThunderRidge was looking to connect on a 3-pointer with less than 30 seconds to play trailing 45-42 after Broomfield senior Brenna Fankell sank a pair of free throws with 56 second left. The Grizzlies weren’t able to get off a shot before Kaiser got the critical steal.
“I’m not sure where the trophy is at, we’ll hunt it down,” Broomfield coach Mike Croell said with an ear-to-ear smile as he held the game-winning basketball in his hands after the game. “The girls are probably dancing with it in there (locker room).”
The Eagles (26-2) could celebrate the program’s sixth state title. This year was Broomfield’s first season playing in the largest classification.
Broomfield sent Croell, who retired after Saturday’s game after a 20-year run guiding the Eagles, a state champion along with Broomfield’s stellar senior class that played in the 4A
championship game in 2014 and advanced to the Final 4 in 2013 finished off its prep basketball career.
“It means so much,” Fankell said. “Being Croell’s last year we wanted to win it for him and our seniors that are amazing.”
It was the girls basketball championship game featuring two of the most successful programs in Colorado since the turn of the century. Broomfield dominated the 4A classification winning five straight titles from 2007-2011. ThunderRidge had an impressive stretch capturing three consecutive 5A trophies from 2003-2005.
ThunderRidge and Broomfield actually squared off twice early in the season. In the span of a week back in December, the Grizzlies took victories of 62-53 and 47-45 in tournament games. It was the Eagles’ only two losses coming into Saturday’s title game.
“All year long in the back of your mind you always kind of thought it would come down to us and ThunderRidge,” Croell said. “We always put that aside, but it came down to it. I was happy we were able to play and finish this time.”
The first half was a story of runs and tight defense.
ThunderRidge (25-3) opened up an early 6-1 lead, but Broomfield answered with a 7-0 run to take a brief lead. The Grizzlies responded with 8-0 run over a five-minute span to take a 17-7 lead.
Despite shooting just 30 percent from the field in the first half, Broomfield closed the first half with a 12-2 run to tie the game, 21-21 at halftime. Kaiser scored nine points in the final three minutes of the second quarter to lift the Eagles. She hadn’t done much offensively for the first quarter and a half.
“Before half she (Kaiser) saved us,” Croell said. “I pulled her aside during a timeout and told her, ‘You can’t play like this in a big-time state championship game. You’ve got to step up right now.’ The rest is history.”
Kaiser’s run included making three free throws with .2 seconds left when she was fouled trying to get off a half-court shot before the buzzer.
“I started out slow, but my teammates really built me up,” Kaiser said. “They helped me get going.”
Freshman Delaynie Byrne proved to be a key X-factor scoring 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Junior Breanna Chase had eight points and Fankell finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
ThunderRidge was led by juniors Taylor Rush (15 points and 11 rebounds), Jaz’Myne Snipes (10 points) and Alyssia Martinez (10 points). ThunderRidge had a rough shooting night going 13-for-44 for under 30 percent.
Grizzlies coach Paula Krueger should have ThunderRidge back in the mix next season with a handful of juniors returning for their senior season.
