Grandview boys and girls basketball come away with wins over Cherry Creek
GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Grandview basketball had a big-time sweep over Cherry Creek in a premiere Centennial League matchup.
Girls basketball kicked off the afternoon double-header and Cherry Creek came out ice cold to start the contest while on the other side, Michaela Onyenwere and the Wolves (13-1 overall, 6-0 Centennial League) came out fast and furious.
The tides turned a bit for the Bruins (9-5, 5-1) when freshman guard Jana Van Gytenbeek nailed back-to-back 3-pointers which ignited the Bruin faithful. The two teams dueled it out the entire first half with Grandview taking a 35-31 lead going into the break.
The Bruins came out of the locker room and struggled, not finding the net until just over two minutes remained in the third quarter. But in the little time the Bruins had to make it a game, they did, decreasing the deficit to eight entering the final break.
In the fourth quarter, the Wolves continued to pour it on showing the depth and endurance they have as a ball club finishing off the first game of the doubleheader 70-55.
“I knew they were going to be a great team,” UCLA commit Michaela Onyenwere said. “We tried to come out and keep our fouls down, it was a tough game and I’m glad we pulled it out.”
Onyenwere was also named a McDonald’s All-American recently.
“It’s an honor and a blessing, at the end of the day we need to work hard as a team to get to where we need to be, and I will worry about that game after the season,” she said.
The Wolves also came up just short of a state title last year losing to eventual champion ThunderRidge in the semifinals.
“We have really been focusing on the team aspect of things which we weren’t as focused on last year,” Onyenwere said. “That focus will make us successful, and if we keep working hard and working in practice, if we keep doing what we do, we will be successful.”
In the second game of the doubleheader, both Grandview and Cherry Creek came out firing. In the beginning, it looked like a preview of a game that could take place late in the playoffs with both teams being very physical.
It was hard for either squad to get open looks and they needed to convert on all the opportunities they were given. That hard fought play continued into the second quarter and Grandview (14-1, 5-1) went into the locker room up 34-26 thanks to a buzzer beating 3-pointer from Kain Mack.
The second half was a completely different story for the Bruins (12-3, 4-2). Only four points were scored by Cherry Creek in the third quarter, but Grandview kept up with their form, dropping 15 points giving them a comfortable 49-30 advantage.
The Bruins tried desperately to get back into the contest but it was too little, too late for Creek as Grandview took a 57-46 win. The Prim brothers both had standout performances as they combined for 38 points and had an impact on almost every play all game.
“It felt good to get this win,” Gaige Prim said. “This puts a big target on our backs, everyone is out for us, everyone wants to beat us.”
Prim has a lot of confidence moving forward into the season though.
“They can try but they aren’t going to beat us,” he said. “We play too solid on offense and too solid on defense and we are going to make a statement this year.”
The statement is pretty clear. The Wolves aren’t willing to settle for anything less than a state championship.
“We are looking to get to that 28th game and get that 28th win,” Prim said.
