LOVELAND —  A smattering of fingerprints left on the state championship trophy represented the only blemish to Merino’s season. 

Entering Saturday’s Class 2A girls basketball title game with a perfect 26-0 record, the top-seeded Rams secured their most important 27th victory by rolling past No. 3 Burlington, 61-45. 

“We took it a game at a time and every game was important,” said Merino head coach Dan Piel. “We didn't want to get the cart in front of the horse. Honestly, if we had lost this game, it would have been a special season. But what else could you ask for?”

The state title, which was secured at Blue Arena in Loveland, marks Merino’s fourth overall and its first in Class 2A. Merino previously won two 1A championships (2002, 1997) and one A-II title in 1989. 

For the Rams, their program is quite literally a family atmosphere. Piel’s daughter, Kya Piel, and his nieces, Makenna and Brooklyn Sutter, all comprise Merino’s core. 

“Coaching a daughter, two nieces and several other girls that I've coached since they were 10 years old, it's like a team full of daughters,” coach Piel said. “It's incredible.”

After falling to Sedgwick County in last year’s 2A championship game, this one meant a little more for everyone on Merino’s side of the court. 

“Last year, walking out with the silver trophy, that really fired us all up,” Makenna Sutter said. “I just didn't want to have that feeling again. We just came out here with the mindset to attack and play our game.”

It took Merino some time to get settled offensively but once the Rams did, they were near-unstoppable, especially late in the first half. Makenna Sutter scored nine of Merino’s 23 second-quarter points to give her team a commanding 39-20 lead entering the break. 

On the evening, senior Makenna Sutter led the Rams with 21 total points and Jade Powell dropped 15. Brooklyn Sutter also reached the double-digits with 10 points. 

“She's a special kid,” Piel said of his niece Sutter. “She's a great student, she's a great friend, she's a great teammate, she's a great leader and she deserves any accolade that could be placed upon her.”

Merino’s championship run included a quarterfinal win over No. 8 Mancos and a semifinal victory against No. 5 Simla.

For Burlington, which was playing in its first state championship game since losing in 1979, the Cougars were led by Trinitee Holmes’ 21 points and My Lee’s 10. Their season closes with a 21-5 record. 

In the Class 2A third-place game, No. 5 Simla beat No. 7 Wiggins, 35-22.