5A girls basketball: Grandview catches fire to claim first title since 2018

DENVER – Considering the program’s consistent excellence in recent years, a championship has felt like a long time coming for the Grandview girls basketball team.

That elusive title is now securely in hand.

On Saturday evening at the Denver Coliseum, the third-seeded Wolves won 52-40 over No. 1-seed and defending champion Valor Christian to claim the 2021-22 championship. After losing in the 2019 title game, missing out on a chance to play in when the 2020 championship game was canceled because of COVID-19 and being upset in the Final Four in 2021, the Wolves seniors finally captured that elusive title.

“It’s just so, so amazing,” Grandview senior Lauren Betts said. “This is what we’ve wanted for so long. All season, we went out of state and we took some really hard losses. We learned from all of it and we came out today and we won it. I just couldn’t be prouder of my team.”

Betts and senior teammate Marya Hudgins combined for 17 points in the first half and Grandview (18-9) held Valor Christian (23-4) to build 26-15 halftime lead. As a team, the Wolves shot 55.5 percent from the field in the first half.

The Wolves continued to extend their lead after halftime, outscoring the Eagles, 13-7, in the third quarter. They led by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter on their way to closing out the victory.

“It just doesn’t feel real yet,” Hudgins said. “It doesn’t feel like it’s my last game at all with all these girls. It feels awesome. I’m so excited.”

Hudgins led all scorers with 17 points. Betts finished with 13, sophomore Sienna Betts scored nine and senior guard Amaya Charles scored eight. The Betts sisters also combined for 18 rebounds, leading the Wolves to a 33-24 rebounds advantage, and five blocked shots.

Senior forward Raegan Beers led Valor Christian with 14 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard Macey Huard

“I’m just happy for our kids that they got the experience they worked so hard for,” Grandview head coach Josh Ulitzky said. “We took some lumps early and then just to not even have the chance to play two years ago, I’m really happy for them.”

While the wait may have felt like forever for this year’s group of Grandview seniors, the Wolves have won three titles in the last six seasons.

Grandview and Valor Christian have each now won three girls basketball titles.