The #5 ranked Rye High School Girls basketball team rolled through the regional tournament they hosted at Rye High School and will face #4 seeded Cedaredge at 8:45 a.m. this morning at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.
On March 4, the Lady T’s defeated Front Range Christian 51-14. Sydney Adamson scored 17 points, had six assists and four steals. Sophie Adamson had 10 points, five assists, and three steals. Jordan Holgerson-Rahl had seven rebounds, and five assists and Morgan Elarton had seven rebounds in the victory. Gracie Graham blocked a shot.
The Rye team shot 43% from the field and a perfect two for two from the free throw line.
In the other game on the 4th Yuma upset Heritage Christian 42-38 for the right to play Rye for the state berth.
In the Regional Championship game Sydney Adamson scored the first two of her 20 points at the 6:29 mark in the first quarter, giving Rye a 2-0 lead. Fourteen seconds later Yuma tied the game 2-2. It would be the last time Yuma was tied for the lead.
At the 4:33 mark, Rahl took a long pass and scored for a 4-2 lead. From that point on Rye was ahead and increasing their lead. Consistently throughout the game Rye threw long passes down court to breaking teammates who made easy buckets.
Rye led 8-2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Thunderbolt defense was superb the entire game – perhaps no more so than in the second quarter. For nearly 12 minutes Yuma was unable to score while Rye stole the ball and put it in the bucket. In the last 2:22 of the half Yuma finally made a three-point shot followed by a two-point shot. At halftime the scoreboard read Rye 21- Yuma 5.
The third quarter was almost even with Rye winning the quarter 7-6 and leading 28-11 at the end of that quarter.
The only uncontested shot Yuma managed in the entire game occurred with 3:15 left to play when a Yuma shooter scored a basket without at least one pair of hands in her face.
Rahl closed out the scoring with 1:28 left in the game adding point 43 and 44 to the 11 points Yuma had. Yuma did not score for the last 8 minutes and 50 seconds of the game.
Along with her 20 points, Sydney Adamson had three steals. Rahl had 10 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Sophie Adamson had 10 points and six assists. Elarton had ten rebounds. The team shot 49% from the field and 67% from the line.
“To win our regional bracket this year, with this group of girls, was very surreal, almost dreamlike. I know we still have some difficult games ahead and we all have high expectations going forward but winning this was most satisfying to me,” shared Head Coach Kermit Spencer.
“It took a lot to get where we’re at right now and now, I feel like this team is ready for the next step. We certainly know it won’t be easy, and we take each game as it comes. The team has a great sense of focus and desire to be better each day and game.
By the time this comes out, we’ll be in Loveland as a part of the Elite 8 and striving to become champions. It’s my hope that this team knows how much trust and confidence I have in them as individuals and as a team. I believe, with all I have, that they are capable of reaching the top. Now, I know the ball must occasionally bounce our way occasionally, but without a doubt, I believe in these girls. They are a phenomenal group and everyone, especially adults, could learn about trust and belonging from this group.
As you might tell, I truly enjoy, trust, and cherish this group and I hope that regardless of how this weekend transpires, that they have the time of their young lives. Enjoy each day. Enjoy each other and treasure this adventure. It’s been a ride with the “Magnificent Seven” I’ll never forget. And what's really great, I'll get to be with this team for what is bound to be one more exciting weekend of basketball.”
The winner of the Rye-Cedaredge game will face the winner of #1 seed Sanford and #8 seed Wiggins at 7:00 p.m. on March 11. Cedaredge (20-3) beat Hoehne in the regional finals 35-29. Rye beat Hoehne three times in league and district play.
Sanford enters the tournament 23-1 and Wiggins is 15- 9. Rye currently is 24-0 and the only 2A girls team without a loss.