ARVADA — Eaglecrest sophomore Avery Jones got the kind bounce to roll the Raptors in the Sweet 16 of the Class 6A girls basketball state tournament.
Jones made a mid-range jumper from the baseline just before the buzzer sounded to give Eaglecrest a 54-53 road victory over No. 16-seeded Ralston Valley on Saturday afternoon at Ralston Valley High School. The ball hit the rim twice before dropping through the net for the game-winner.
No. 17 Eaglecrest (18-6 record) will face the winner of No. 32 Boulder and No. 1 Cherokee Trail in the Sweet 16 on Wednesday, March 4. The Panthers and Cougars were scheduled for a 5 p.m. tipoff Saturday.
Photo by Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
Ralston Valley (15-9) had its season come to an end despite rallying in the fourth quarter after Eaglecrest took a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs took a 53-52 lead with 15 seconds to play with a pair of free-throws by senior Sammi Madden.
Madden, fellow senior Mia Alfaro and junior Evi Morwood all finished with 10 points apiece for Ralston Valley. Sophomore Sydni Gregory had a team-high 15 points, but the Eaglecrest’s defense did a solid job containing junior Santana Sabus.
The Mustangs’ leading scorer was held to a season-low 7 points. Sabus came in averaging 24.4 points per game.
Junior Kiarra Spellman led the way for the Raptors. Kiarra Spellman was held scoreless in the first quarter, but finished with a game-high 21 points. Senior Kennedy Spellman added 10 points in Eaglecrest’s third straight victory heading into the Sweet 16.
Photo by Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
