It was quite a run for the McClave Lady Cardinals as they took their fourth gold ball in the past six years in this year's State Basketball Tournament held in Greeley.
McClave's state championship was topped off by two exciting wins in both the semifinals over Stratton, 42-39, and the finals with a nip-and-tuck 39-38 win over rival Kim.
The Saturday night championship was a battle from the get-go, as Kim held a narrow lead for most of the first half.
The Lady Mustangs jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and led most of the half.
Behind seven points from tournament MVP Jerrica Mallard, McClave knotted the score at 11-11 after one period. Despite shooting poorly the entire night, and especially the first half, McClave trailed only 18-15 at halftime.
"Our defense was key! We really suffered shooting the ball, but we stayed close and gave ourselves a chance in the first half was our defense," said head coach Dick Peecher.
The Cards closed the gap immediately in the second half and it was back and forth the remainder of the game.
With 13 lead changes in the second half alone, it came down to the final minutes of play. Down two with under two minutes to play, it was a big three-pointer from junior Anna Kuhns, her second of the half, that gave McClave a lead at 37-36. But Kim's Danielle Lewis wove through the McClave defense for a layup on Kim's next possession.
With 1:07 on the clock, it was a runner down the lane from Mallard that gave McClave the lead at 39-38. Kim had a final look after a McClave turnover, but senior Shelby Coen pulled down the crucial rebound and dribbled to halfcourt where she was fouled. Two inbound plays later and Mallard dribbled out the clock, as McClave players and coaches rushed the court. Mallard led the way with 21 points, while Kuhns contributed an important eight.
McClave began their state tournament run with a 49-18 blowout of Holly. The Wildcats came out in a stall and had McClave fans anxious for the first quarter. After missing their first two attempts, the Cards didn't score their first basket until the four minute mark of the first period. The Cards played patient but tenacious defense to prevent Holly from scoring in the first period. With an 8-0 first quarter lead, the Cards leaped out to a 20-2 halftime edge and the rout was on. It marked the fourth time the two teams had met this season, with McClave winning all four. Mallard with 18 and Karlee Stuart with 14 led the way for the Cards offensively.
It would be a different story in the semifinals when the Lady Cards matched up with Stratton. Led by Morgan Fox, the Eagles stormed back from a 21-12 deficit at halftime.
With Fox scoring 17 of her game high 24 in the second half, the Lady Eagles still trailed 33-26 at the end of three periods. Stratton continued to inch closer. After another Fox putback, Stratton took their first lead with just more than a minute to play. But Mallard, not to be denied again this year, scored on an isolation play from the left side with just 21 seconds remaining to give McClave the lead back at 40-39. Then her steal and layup with just eight seconds remaining sealed the 42-39 win. Mallard was again the leading scorer with 19, while Stuart chipped in 12 points, along with her 14 very important rebounds.
"I am so happy for these girls. These girls have lived in the shadow of the three straight state championships and 78-game winning streak of two years ago. No matter what you try to do as a coach, there's always that shadow hanging over you. It was hard for the teams after the winning streak. And that is what I am most happy about for these girls - they have their own identity now," Peecher told reporters after the game.
After an opening game loss, the Cards ran off 25 consecutive wins and won a gold ball - quite a season!
Greeley,, Colo. —
