The championships of the Colorado high school basketball state tournaments for Class 4A-6A take place Saturday at Denver Coliseum. Our staff will be there throughout the day providing live coverage. Refresh this page for the latest updates and results.
Tournament info: Tournament brackets and results | More preps news
Updates
5A Boys final: No. 6 Windsor 60, No. 16 Green Mountain 49
9:05 p.m.: The Wizards win their first title in 101 years, ending the Runnin’ Rams dream season. Windsor finished 22-6 and Green Mountain finished 18-10. — Kyle Newman
8:38 p.m.: Windsor leads 42-38 going into the fourth quarter. The Wizards led by as many as 12 points, but the Runnin’ Rams have battled back. — Kyle Newman
8:08 p.m.: Windsor takes a 32-26 lead into halftime. The Rams are led by 16 points from Sam Mielenz, while Windsor’s John Backhaus has 13 points. — Kyle Newman
7:52 p.m.: Green Mountain leads 17-16 after one quarter. The Rams’ Sam Mielenz leads all scorers with eight points. — Kyle Newman
7:49 p.m.: The Rams opened the game up 10-3, but the Wizards went on a 13-1 run to take early control of the game via a 16-11 lead. — Kyle Newman
5A girls: No. 6 Mullen 56, No. 1 Air Academy 42
7:18 p.m.: The upset’s complete. Sixth-seeded Mullen has officially stunned Air Academy at the Coliseum to win the Class 5A girls’ title, authoring a scintillating defensive performance in dominating from tip to buzzer. It’s the Kadets’ third straight Final Four loss.
7:02 p.m.: Hang on, folks, this one’s not over. Air Academy’s suddenly streaked on an 8-0 run after a layup from Kinley Asp, cutting Mullen’s lead to 43-31 with a little over four minutes to play.
6:57 p.m.: What a turn of events at the Coliseum. Mullen, in all likelihood, is about to hand top-seeded and undefeated Air Academy their first loss of the season — and has taken a 20-point lead here in the fourth quarter. A nifty spin from Mullen sophomore McKenzie Jones has her up to 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, with seven steals and five blocks to boot.
6:43 p.m.: This one’s already dangling on the precipice, with just a few minutes to play in the third quarter. Mullen’s ball pressure and activity on the glass has frustrated Air Academy all night, holding the Kadets to sub-30% from the floor and forcing turnover after turnover. Mullen’s a couple buckets away from sealing this one, up 28-15.
6:26 p.m.: The defensive performance Mullen sophomore Makenzie Jones is putting on has to truly be seen to be believed. She’s got six steals and five blocks — in one half — as the Mustangs have roared to a 26-13 halftime lead on Air Academy. A possible upset is brewing here at the Coliseum.
6:12 p.m.: Only Audriana Nelson knew if she called bank. The Air Academy junior guard knocked a wing three off the window in the waning seconds of the first quarter to cut into Mullen’s lead, as the first frame ended with the Kadets down 12-7.
6:08 p.m.: Mullen’s surged to an early 10-4 lead on undefeated Air Academy, a quick punch in the mouth against the top team in the 5A girls’ bracket. The Mustangs are just playing with more energy, more fight on loose balls, and have already blocked four shots.
6 p.m.: As is often the case, we’re a little behind here in the Coliseum. Air Academy and Mullen are now set to tip off for the 5A girls title. For Mullen, it’s a chance to get back to the mountaintop for the fourth time since 2019. For Air Academy, it’s a chance to finish a perfect season and win the program’s first title since 2012. — Matt Schubert
6A boys final: No. 2 Eaglecrest 65, No. 5 Valor Christian 63
The Raptors reign supreme again.
Eaglecrest won its third state title, and first since 2017, dethroning Valor Christian despite 35 points by Cole Scherer. Ant Nettles led the Raptors with 14 points. Eaglecrest finishes 26-2, with a 19-game win streak to close, while Valor Christian finishes 23-5. The Raptors did not lose with Nettles in the lineup, who became eligible at midseason after transferring from Douglas County. — Kyle Newman
5:26 p.m.: 38.2 seconds left. Eaglcrest up 59-56 and with the ball. Both teams in the bonus. Valor Christian big man Brady Wynja fouled out about 20 seconds ago. — Kyle Newman
5:19 p.m.: With 2:20 left, Raptors sophomore sensation Kris Coleman fouls out. Could be a big factor down the strech, as Coleman has been covering Cole Scherer all game. Shortly thereafter, Scherer hits a 3 to cut Eaglecrest’s lead to 53-52 with 1:52 left. — Kyle Newman
4:59 p.m.: Valor Christian takes a 46-41 lead into the final quarter. Eaglecrest’s Jason Noone missed a corner 3 at the buzzer that would’ve been big. — Kyle Newman
4:56 p.m.: The Eagles open up their biggest lead of the game, 46-38, thanks to consecutive Cole Scherer 3s. Eaglecrest takes timeout and attempts to regroup with 1:07 left in the frame. The Raptors’ offense hasn’t been in sync this quarter. — Kyle Newman
4:48 p.m.: Another run: Valor Christian opens the second half on a 10-4 push, tying the game 33-33 at the 4:31 mark of the third. — Kyle Newman
4:39 p.m.: The Raptors finished the first half on an 11-1 run to re-assert control of the game, 29-23. Mr. Colorado Basketball Cole Scherer leads all scorers with eight points, while Jason Noone, Ant Nettles and Garrett Barger each have six points for Eaglecrest. The Raptors have done a good job keeping the lid on Scherer so far, and same with Brady Wynja (seven points, six rebounds). They’ll need to continue to be diligent defensively in the second half. Scherer can take over a game at any moment.
Valor Christian is only shooting 32% (8 of 25) from the field, compared to 48.1% (13 for 27) for Eaglecrest. Plus, the Raptors are dominating in the paint, with a 20-6 points advantage there. — Kyle Newman
4:29 p.m.: Now, a 9-0 run by the Raptors highlighted by a ridiculous finish at the rim by Ant Nettles and then a Jason Noone 3 makes it 27-22 with just over a minute left in the half. — Kyle Newman
4:24 p.m.: Eaglecrest opened the second quarter on a 4-0 run and was up 18-12, but Valor Christian’s responded with a 10-0 run of its own. That included a pair of Cole Scherer to give the Eagles their first lead, 19-18, with 4:56 4:56 left in the frame. The next possession after an Eaglecrest miss, a Grant Stevens 3 made the lead 22-18 for the defending champions. — Kyle Newman
4:15 p.m.: The Raptors jumped out to an 8-2 lead, but Valor Christian is battling back. Still, the Eagles have yet to lead in a fast-paced game so far, and the Raptors take a 14-12 advantage into the second quarter. Senior center Garrett Barger made a nice spin move through the lane and then banked one home right before the buzzer. — Kyle Newman
6A girls final: No. 1 Grandview 61, No. 7 Legend 39
2:48 p.m.: Grandview rules. Again. For the third time in four years, the Wolves are the champions of Class 6A. Behind a powerhouse final high school performance by senior center Sienna Betts and 15 points from senior forward Deija Roberson, the Wolves dominated from start to finish.
Betts scored 21 points (7 of 10 from the field) and corralled 16 rebounds. Roberson 15 points on 6 of 7 shooting.
2:35 p.m.: Ava Gavi and Grace Stanley hit wide-open 3-pointers to give the Titans a tiny prayer of getting back into this game. With 3:55 left, Grandview leads 50-37. — Patrick Saunders
2:29 p.m.: Sienna Betts throws in a running one-hander at the buzzer to give Grandview a 42-28 lead after three quarters. The irate Legend fans thought Betts traveled. No matter, Betts has 15 points and is proving why she’s a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year. — Patrick Saunders
2:17 p.m.: Ava Chang’s baseline 3-pointer has the Wolves ahead 40-19 with 4 minutes left in the third quarter. Hard to imagine Grandview playing much better. It is shooting 57.7% from the floor. — Patrick Saunders
2 p.m.: The Wolves are two quarters away from snaring their third state title in the last four years. They lead Legend 33-17 at the half. UCLA-bound Sienna Betts has 13 points (on 5 of 6 shooting) with 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Senior forward Deija Roberson has hit all four of her shots and has nine points. Maya Smith has swished two 3-pointers for six points.
Legend, down 9-0 early, is led by Grace Stanley with six points. –– Patrick Saunders
1:55 p.m.: Sienna Betts with a Nikola Jokic-style touch pass sets up Maya Smith’s baseline 3-pointer. Grandview is turning the team into a rout. The Wolves lead Legend, 29-14 late in the first half. — Patrick Saunders
1:43 p.m.: The Wolves’ dynamic senior duo of center Sienna Betts and forward Deija Roberson looks unstoppable thus far as the Wolves chase down their third state crown in four years. Roberson has nine points and Betts seven as Grandview takes a 16-7 first-quarter lead. — Patrick Saunders
1:38 p.m.: Grandview runs out to an early 12-7 lead — after a 9-0 start — with Sienna Betts scoring five points for the Wolves. — Patrick Saunders
1:32 p.m.: We’re moments away from tip-off in the Class 6A girls final. On one side is Sienna Betts and the Grandview Wolves, chasing their third state championship in four years. On the other are the upstart Legend Titans, who are playing in their first girls basketball title game. — Matt Schubert
4A boys final: No. 1 Kent Denver 71, No. 10 Colorado Academy 54
1:10 p.m.: Kent Denver is the Class 4A boys champ, knocking off Colorado Academy 71-54 behind a balanced scoring effort and 20 points from star junior Caleb Fay. — Parker Gabriel
1:03 p.m.: The party is starting early for Kent Denver. They’re 2:03 from a state title and leading Colorado Academy 66-50.
12:46 p.m.: Kent Denver can smell the title now. Tierney knocked in a 3-pointer to cap a run and put the Sun Devils up 14 points and the top seed leads 58-44 with a quarter to play. Every time Colorado Academy makes a run, Kent Denver answers.
Now, they’re closing in on avenging last year’s state title game loss and notching a second championship in school history.
12:18 p.m.: We’ve got a good one going here. Kent Denver leads 40-34 at the half, but Colorado Academy isn’t going anywhere. They used a big run late in the second quarter — punctuated by River Hamm’s third 3-pointer of the first half and a Clyde Love layup — to try to reel in the Sun Devils.
Kent Denver’s putting its depth and versatility on display. Eight players have scored and they’ve got balanced scoring from Elvis Lloyd (9 points), Gil Schayes (8) and Caleb Fay (7). Love leads all scorers with 13 so far. Buckle up. Should be a frenetic second half. — Parker Gabriel
12:02 p.m.: The “Run Devils” are doing their thing. Back-to-back buckets off turnovers to start the game and a torrid pace has helped them build a 24-16 lead over Colorado Academy after a quarter.
Elvis Lloyd has 7 points and Clay Tierney hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to beat the first-quarter horn. — Parker Gabriel
11:47 a.m.: Game 2 is about to tip off. We’ve got Kent Denver and Colorado Academy meeting for the third time this season. The Sun Devils won the first two games by a combined 50 points. But this is Championship Saturday, and this is Denver Coliseum. Expect drama. — Matt Schubert
4A girls final: No. 1 University 42, No. 6 Delta 35
Finally, the University Bulldogs are champions. And perfect ones at that.
Led by Addison Harding’s big day in the paint (16 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks), University survived an upset bid from upstart Delta to win the Class 4A title game and finish the season 28-0.
Janay Kravig added 11 points and four steals, while Maddie McNair had eight points and seven rebounds, including a game-deciding and-one putback late in the fourth quarter to stave off Delta.
The Panthers (21-7) had University on the ropes in the third quarter, with Breezy Huff scoring all 11 of her points in the second half. Taylor Somers added 10 points and 12 rebounds. But in the end, the Panthers didn’t have enough answers for University’s size in the paint. — Matt Schubert
11:25 a.m.: Janay Kravig hits a pair of free throws, Delta gets a bucket on the other end, and then Natalie Trujillo sinks two more from the charity stripe. The Bulldogs’ first state championship is within reach leading 42-35 with 25.2 seconds left. –– Matt Schubert
11:20 a.m.: Addison Harding goes 1 for 2 at the free-throw line, but Maddie McNair rebounds the miss and sinks an and-one lay-in. The Bulldogs have their biggest lead of the half up 38-33 with 1:42 to go. The Bulldogs’ size is starting to wear down the Panthers. — Matt Schubert
11:17 a.m.: University tries to burn clock with a one-point lead. A missed lay-up is followed by a turnover, and Delta gets the ball back trailing 34-33 with 2:31 to go. — Matt Schubert
11:13 a.m.: Janay Kravig swishes a baseline floater to give University a three-point lead. Delta answers right back with Breezy Huff finding Ava Martinez for a bank shot. University leads 34-33 with 4:13 to go. Nothing but tense possession from here on out folks. — Matt Schubert
11:05 a.m.: Allizzey Madrigal knifes into lane and feeds Addison Harding for a lay-in and brief one-point lead. Breezy Huffs sinks a pair of free throws on the other end. Then Harding finds Janay Kravig under the basket for another lay-in. University and Delta are trading punches, and the Bulldogs lead 32-31 going into the fourth quarter. — Matt Schubert
10:57 a.m.: Addison Harding’s back-to-back buckets inside have pulled University to within 27-26 with 2:53 left in the third quarter. We got an instant classic on our hands in the Coliseum. — Matt Schubert
10:52 a.m.: Janay Kravig opens the third quarter with a 3-pointer from the wing that briefly ties the game. Breezy Huff answers on the other end. Two possessions later, Huff scores inside for an and-one bucket. The Delta lead is 25-20 with 5:25 left in the third quarter. — Matt Schubert
10:40 a.m.: We’ve got an upset brewing in the 4A girls final.
The Delta Panthers lead 20-17 at halftime after Taylor Somers’ jumper late in the second quarter. Somers has six points and Paige Kehmeier has six as well. More importantly, the Panthers have done this with Final Four hero Breezy Huff in foul trouble and 0 for 4 from the field.
Unbeaten University has struggled offensively against the swarming Delta defense, hitting just 7 of 22 from the field. The Bulldogs need someone other than Addison Harding (nine points) to step up. — Matt Schubert
9:59 a.m.: Championship Saturday hath arrived!
We’ll be here all day covering all six championship games between Class 4A, 5A and 6A, and we begin with one that should be a dandy: No. 1 University (27-0) looking to put the finishing touches on a perfect season against No. 6 Delta (19-6) in the 4A girls title game.
University has twice reached the championship game, including in 2022 when it lost to Platte Valley, 70-50, but has never cut down the nets. Neither has Delta, which is playing in its first title game in program history. — Matt Schubert
Schedule
4A Girls: No. 1 University (27-0) vs. No. 6 Delta (21-6), 10 a.m.
4A Boys: No. 1 Kent Denver (24-3) vs. No. 10 Colorado Academy (18-9), 11:45 a.m.
6A Girls: No. 1 Grandview (24-3) vs. No. 7 Legend (22-5), 1:15 p.m.
6A Boys: No. 2 Eaglecrest (25-2) vs. No. 5 Valor Christian (23-4), 4 p.m.
5A Girls: No. 1 Air Academy (26-0) vs. No. 6 Mullen (18-9), 5:45 p.m.
5A Boys: No. 6 Windsor (21-6) vs. No. 16 Green Mountain (17-9), 7:15 p.m.
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