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The week that was: A wrap-up of CCSD Athletics for the week of March 6
Girls Basketball: Grandview is the 6A Girls State Champion
For the second year in a row, the Grandview Wolves girls basketball team won the State Championship; last year in 5A and this year in the new 6A category. The 11th-seeded Wolves defeated the 26-1 and No. 4 Monarch Coyotes 38-28 in the 6A final on March 11 at the Denver Coliseum.
Head Coach Josh Ulitzky’s charges overcame the challenges of graduation from last year’s championship team, a tough Centennial League schedule and naysayers throughout the season on the way to the 2023 state crown.
In the Final Four on March 10, the Wolves defeated Centennial rival and 2nd-seeded Cherry Creek 31-28 in an epic defensive battle. Grandview trailed at halftime, but came back to advance. The Bruins finish a great season at 22-5 and a perfect 7-0 in league regular season play.
“Improbable is the best way to say it,” Coach Ulitzky said. “I can’t credit these kids enough. They worked so hard and they gave everything that they had. They have been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to coach.”
The Wolves were paced by sophomore Sienna Betts. The newly named Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year led all scorers in the championship contest with 22 points and 20 rebounds.
“I’m in shock, I’m not even crying because I’m just so happy,” Betts said. “I’m so proud of these girls and so proud of my team.”
Betts said being down at halftime was nothing new for her club.
“Just like the other two games, (vs. Highlands Ranch and Cherry Creek), we were down at halftime and we said ‘It’s not over yet, we’re a better third quarter team,’ and I just knew we could come back,” Betts said. “I think we just wanted it more in the second half. We realized that we kind of figured out the team we were playing against, how to beat them, focused on that, and eliminated the negatives and focused on our positives.”
In attendance on Saturday was Betts’ older sister, 2022 Grandview State Champion and Stanford freshman Lauren Betts, which made the victory even more special.
The Wolves finish the season at 19-9.
Congratulations to the 2023 State Champion Grandview Wolves!
Girls Basketball: Grandview’s Sienna Betts named Gatorade Player of the Year
Grandview sophomore Sienna Betts was named the Gatorade Colorado Girls Basketball Player of the Year on March 8. This is the third consecutive year a member of the Betts family has won the award. Older sister and Stanford freshman Lauren won the honor in 2021 and 2022.
You can see more on the award here.
Congratulations to Grandview’s Sienna Betts!
All-City Urban League Basketball: Endeavor Academy is Gold Division Champion
The Endeavor Academy boys basketball team took top honors in the Gold Division at the All-City Urban League Championships on March 7 at Gold Crown Foundation Fieldhouse in Lakewood.
The Panthers defeated Contemporary Learning Academy 52-9 in the semifinal contest, and then took on Emily Griffith High School in the championship game.
Endeavor trailed EGHS 15-13 at halftime. However, the Panthers hung in and won the game with a clutch 3-point basket by senior Jakobe Charles with 20 seconds left, for a thrilling 30-29 win.
“Oh man, it was a nail-biter,” said Panthers Head Coach Yakini Cetaways. “You know, our guys stuck in there, they persevered, and they didn’t doubt themselves. We worked for this and we planned for this moment.”
Coach Cetaways said his kids worked extremely hard to get to the title game.
“Our students have faced a lot of challenges,” he said. “To have them in this position, going up against extreme competition, and to see them keep their heads about them – their wits, their tenacity – and to totally execute was phenomenal. I’m so very proud to be coaching all of them.”
Congratulations to the Endeavor Panthers boys basketball team!
Posted 3/13/2023.