By Dan Mohrmann

DENVER – Grandview is back at the Denver Coliseum again and has designs on an extended stay.

After a season absence, the Wolves looked comfortable from the jump of its Class 6A Great 8 contest with Denver East, which hadn’t been this far in more than a decade. Grandview got off to a fast start from senior Deija Roberson, got plenty of impact from star senior Sienna Betts and played smart basketball all the way to the end of a 54-32 victory that sent it on to a March 13 matchup with No. 4 Cherry Creek or No. 5 Pine Creek.

“We knew what to expect and we felt pretty comfortable right off the bat,” said Roberson, who finished with 11 points as one of four players in double figures for coach Josh Ulitzky’s Wolves. “We really got the flow of the game going early.”

Denver East made a 3-pointer for the first points of the game, then played the remaining 15 minutes of the opening half without another field goal, as all eight points for the Angels came via the free throw line.

That wouldn’t be enough to keep pace with a Grandview offense that got six points apiece in the opening quarter for Roberson and Betts — who fought through constant double teams from a pair of Denver East e bigs — and five more from sophomore Ava Chang (who finished with a team-high 17) in her first trip to the Coliseum.

The Wolves’ lead reached double figures shortly before the first period ended and they allowed just three points — again all on free throws — in the second quarter for a 27-9 lead at the break.

The lead grew as large as 21 points in the third quarter and Grandview maintained the edge to the end.

Despite the win, the Wolves weren’t overjoyed as the final seconds ticked off, as they believed they still haven’t played their best game.

“We felt great, but we have such high expectations for ourselves that we don’t think we played to the level we want to,” Roberson said.

(5) Pine Creek 38, (4) Cherry Creek 33

(Eric Brown)

Depending on who is asked, either the first eight minutes of the game or the final eight minutes of the game were stressful beyond measure for Pine Creek.

Coach Janean Jubic was nervous in the first eight because she didn’t know how Cherry Creek would defend her star forward Brooklyn Stewart.

Stewart, a worthy representative for the Eagles on the court, was nervous in the final eight minutes because a program dream was on the verge of becoming reality.

“That’s when it comes down to the [finish] line,” Stewart said. “I’m so grateful we were able to pull it out.”

The 38-33 win over Cherry Creek came in the Eagles’ first time ever playing on the Denver Coliseum floor. And next week, they get another chance as they’ll face No. 1 Grandview.

But that’s a problem to worry about tomorrow. On a Saturday night in early March, they want to enjoy the win and savor the moment.

“I emotionally and physically feel everything,” Stewart said.

But it was anything but easy. Cherry Creek was determined to make the University of Oklahoma commit’s life difficult every time she touched the ball. That meant the Eagles were going to have to find production elsewhere.

That came from Brenna Hallam and LeeKaya Burke-Perryman who both matched Stewart’s 10 points.

Burke-Perryman gave the Eagles their first lead of the game on a slick curl move for a layup with about four minutes left in the game.

She had a chance to ice the game with with a pair of free throws with 29 seconds left, but she missed both. Luckily Hallam was there for the offensive rebound to allow the Eagles to maintain possession.

“There was pressure,” Burke-Perryman said. “I felt the pressure. But I know for my teammates, I have to keep playing defense and lock down. I’ll take those free throws an knock them down next game.”

She carries that confidence onto the court which is a big reason why the Eagles came away with the win. And for her to do it on the big stage of the Denver Coliseum was all the better.

“It was great to see her show up and show out,” Jubic said. “I hope this gives her the looks she deserves. Even though she’s only 5-3, it doesn’t matter. She has the heart of a freaking giant.”

And when the final buzzer sounded, Burke-Perryman and the rest of the team had giant smiles across their face.

They’ve made history for their school and are looking to make more when they return to the Coliseum next week.