Girls Basketball: Championship Participants to be Recognized in 50th Anniversary of State Tournament
AURORA – The Colorado High School Activities Association will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the girls basketball state tournament prior to state championship games at three sites on Saturday.
In the initial state championship games, in 1976, Campo defeated Prairie 53-42 in Class A, Wray beat Palisade 47-29 in Class AA and Golden topped Westminster 40-26 in Class AAA.
Before 1976, opportunities for girls to compete were limited and inconsistent. But with the momentum of Title IX and the vision of Colorado leaders, CHSAA officially sanctioned girls basketball for the 1976 season, creating a statewide championship pathway and opening doors for generations of student-athletes.
The momentum had begun during the fall season, with the state’s first volleyball championship. After that tournament, people started to talk about the potential of girls’ high school team sports.
Turn the page to the winter season, and the 4,000-plus fans that had packed Arvada High School on Saturday, March 20 to see Campo, Wray and Golden capture the first-ever CHSAA-sponsored girls basketball state championships knew that girls’ team sports had arrived.
Oblivious to lines of people waiting outside the building, Campo opened the inaugural championship by stunning previously unbeaten Prairie 53-42 in the Class A title game. Out-rebounded 33-16, Coach Gary Hartley’s Warriors cashed in on 25 of 35 free throws and 14 points from Natalie Perkins for their 18th win of the season against three losses. Campo advanced to the finals by defeating Plateau Valley, 40-32, in the quarterfinals and Deer Train, 43-34, in the semifinals. Deer Trail ultimately finished third that season, narrowly escaping Cheyenne Wells, 39-37, in the third-place game.
In AA, Wray completed a 17-2 season by beating Palisade 47-29 in the finals. Junior Brenda House and sophomore Anne Fonte each tallied 14 points, as the Eagles’ defense did the rest, holding Palisade to four points in each of the last two quarters. Coach Charlotte Jorgensen’s squad dominated play throughout the tourney, topping Walsenburg 72-26 in the quarterfinals and scoring a 68-8 win over Aspen in the semis. Burlington finished third that season, picking up a 61-26 win over Aspen in the third-place game.
Golden reversed the tables on Westminster, the only team to hand the Demons a loss during the season, in the AAA finale. Golden broke open a slim 16-14 halftime lead to post a convincing 40-26 win over the Warriors, as Sue Ellis, a 5-10 senior, completed an impressive tournament by scoring 18 points for Coach Al Morris’ team. Ellis scored 21 in a 52-32 opening round win over Sterling and 24 against Fairview in the semifinals, a 58-47 win for Golden. Fairview rebounded to post an 80-24 win over Heritage in the third-place game that season.
Over the next five decades, girls basketball in Colorado has grown from access… to equity… to excellence. Girls basketball in Colorado continues to build leaders, strengthen communities and inspire the next generation, and the Colorado High School Activities Association is honored to celebrate these inaugural championship participants this weekend.
