Cherry Creek upsets top-seeded Highlands Ranch for bid in 5A title game

Cherry Creek Bruins Bella Sparaco (3), left, and Cherry Creek Bruins guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (4) celebrate their victory over the Highlands Ranch Falcons winning the Colorado State girls 5A semi-final at the Denver Coliseum March 07, 2019. Creek won 53-52 to move on to Saturday's final against the Grandview Wolves.

Kyle Fredrickson, denverpost.com, March 7, 2019

A clash of blue jerseys collided near midcourt inside the Denver Coliseum on Thursday night in an explosion of celebration.

The cause: Upset city for the Class 5A girls state basketball tournament. The victors: No. 4 Cherry Creek over No. 1 Highlands Ranch. So, the Bruins deservedly let their voices rise to the rafters.

Sophomore guard Abby Wrede hit a corner 3-pointer with 48 seconds left as the dagger in Cherry Creek’s 53-52 victory. The Bruins advance to face Grandview on Saturday night in the championship game.

“Our bond as a team is the best,” said Cherry Creek junior guard Jana Van Gytenbeek, who led all scorers with 21 points. “It feels amazing.”

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