3A Girls Basketball: Fifth-Seeded Salida Secures First State Title
By Tracy Renck
Photo: Tracy Renck
DENVER – History doesn’t have to wait any more for Salida High School’s girls basketball program.
Braeden Johnson made sure that became a reality in the Class 3A state championship game Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Gymnasium at the University of Denver campus.
The senior guard poured in a game-high 22 points, powering the Spartans to a 48-38 win over Yuma, giving the school its first girls basketball state title.
“We have been together since seventh grade playing basketball and this is exactly how we wanted to put a cap on things in our senior year,” Johnson said. “This has never happened on the girls (basketball) side in Salida High School history, and this is what we wanted. Our banner gets to go in the gym, and we get to bring this trophy home. It is just amazing.”
No. 5-seed Salida finished its magical season with a 25-3 record, winning its final 13 games in a row.
The Spartans navigated their way into the finals by edging No. 4 Centauri (57-47) on Thursday and top-seeded Denver Christian (50-47) Friday in the semis.
“In the second half, I think the difference was our grit, we have no quit,” Salida coach Chris Bainbridge said. “Yuma is a great team that plays really good defense, and we came out and we were disciplined and came out hard in the second half and grinded our way to a win.
“To have these girls come out here and have this basketball team win it all is unbelievable and something I will never ever forget.”
Yuma closed its season with a 21-7 record and saw its four-game winning streak end.
The No. 3-seeded Outlaws entered the Great 8 and proceeded to defeat No. 6-seeded Colorado Springs Christian (31-27) Thursday and then beat No. 7 Resurrection Christian (32-23) Friday in the semifinals.
Yuma was aiming to win its fifth girls basketball state crown to go along with the ones the Outlaws captured in 1997, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Salida held a 19-18 lead at halftime and the teams traded baskets in the third quarter, and when Yuma’s Taryn Sheffield converted a three-point play with 3:39 on the clock the game was knotted at 25-all.
However, Salida stepped up its play – especially Johnson. She cashed in a floater in the lane with four ticks on the clock to put the Spartans ahead 33-27 heading into the final quarter.
Then, Johnson and Company stepped on the gas in the fourth.
Johnson added two more points from the line – her 17th and 18th points – at the 5:52 mark, giving the Spartans a 39-31 lead.
Then, Johnson’s bucket with 3:26 left gave her 20 for the game and put the Spartans ahead 43-31. That was more than enough for Salida’s stingy defense to hold on for state glory.
“We have been in tight games, and we know what it takes to win,” Johnson said. “We just didn’t give up.”
Johnson, who also finished with nine rebounds and five assists, is headed to play college basketball at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
“(Braeden) has been one of the best players in 3A since I took over the (Salida) girls program the last three years,” Bainbridge said. “Last year, she should have been 3A Player of the Year, and she’s going off to college to play.
“This is a team effort, but her ability to take over a basketball game – she better be the 3A Player of the Year this year. She had 36 points against Centauri and they are one of the best teams out there. She had 16 points against Denver Christian and then 22 points today, holy cow. She is an unbelievable basketball player and better than that, she is an unbelievable human.”
Salida’s Reagan Osnessa and Graysa Kindleadded 11 and 10 points, respectively in the win. Yuma’s Berkley Nighswonger had a team-high 17 points.
Saturday, March 14 at University of Denver
Saturday, March 14 at University of Denver
