The bitterness of last year’s devasting defeat lingered, ultimately inspiring Sienna Betts and the Grandview Wolves.
“That loss really motivated us; we never wanted to feel that way again,” Betts said after No. 1 Grandview rallied to beat gritty No. 5 Pine Creek 39-35 Thursday in the girls Class 6A state tournament semifinals at the Denver Coliseum.
The UCLA-bound Betts, named a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year on Thursday morning, is chasing her third state title in four years. The chance for a rare four-peat was wiped out by a 49-45 homecourt loss to Mullen in last year’s Sweet 16.
“That was so hard, especially losing at home,” Betts said. “So it’s so special to get here again. We worked so hard this year and everyone wants this so bad. One more game to go.”
Grandview (24-3) will face the winner of Thursday afternoon’s Riverdale Ridge-Legend game in Saturday’s Class 6A championship.
Betts, playing in her penultimate high school game, scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. She became the fourth girl in state history to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in her career.
Pine Creek (24-3), led by Oklahoma-bound senior Brooklyn Stewart, landed the early punches but could never deliver a knockout blow. Before fouling out late in the game, Stewart scored a double-double, amassing 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She shot 2 for 3 from 3-point range and helped the Eagles grab a 20-10 lead in the second quarter.
“She’s an amazing player,” Betts said of Stewart, who’s one of her closest friends. “She’s the best teammate I’ve ever played with in my entire life. I’ve played with her since fifth grade.
“I wanted to give her a hug, but I know that if I just lost like that I wouldn’t want a hug.”
Pine Creek’s defense confounded the Wolves for much of the game, especially in a first quarter that Betts described as “our worst of the whole year.”
The Wolves would not have a chance for another title shot without the stellar play of senior Deija Roberson, who swished two foul shots with six seconds left to secure Grandview’s victory. Pine Creek senior point guard Leekaya Burke-Perryman, clutch down the stretch, had pulled the Eagles within two points with a driving, twisting layup. Burke-Perryman scored 13 points.
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“I am so proud of her,” coach Josh Ulitzky said. “She has really grown as a person and as a player over the last four years. She’s really coming into her own.”
Added Betts: “She’s so positive and so smart on the floor. She has become such a big person for us. We trust her so much and we wanted to get the ball to Deija at the end because she is such an amazing free-throw shooter.”
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