DENVER – Riverdale Ridge’s girls basketball team would love to have a do-over of a three-minute stretch of the fourth quarter against D’Evelyn Junior-Senior High School.
The Jaguars scored 11 straight points, kept the Ravens from scoring, broke open a close game and went on to a 54-47 win in the round of 8 in the state 4A girls basketball tournament March 3 at the Denver Coliseum.
“Our immaturity showed a little bit,” said RRHS coach Tim Jones. “We had a couple of lapses that you would expect from the experience we have.”
The two teams played the game within a 12-point window. RRHS’ biggest lead was seven points. The two teams traded baskets for much of the second half until the Jaguars started their game-winning run.
Freshman Brihanna Crittendon, who spent much of the game facing off against several Jaguars’ defenders, led RRHS with 28 points and eight rebounds. Gabby Herr was next with six points. The Jaguars’ Peyton Marvel scored a career-high and school best-ever high of 36 points. Macy Sheer added seven.
RRHS defense held the Jaguars in check through much of the contest. D’Evelyn managed a pair of 3-point shots. One of those came during the winning spurt in the fourth quarter.
“It’s been multiple games that we haven’t been shooting our 3s very well,” Marvel said. “We know we can win just doing our 2s. The 3s were a big help in the end. It’s hard to not shoot 3s and only shoot 2s. But we figured it out.”
The win moves D’Evelyn into a semifinal round match against either Eaton or University, The loss ends RRHS’ season. The Ravens posted a mark of 22-4. RRHS made its second appearance in the state tournament in as many years.
“We’re a tough team. We’re tough as nails. We’re young, and we’re scrappy,” Jones said. “We only lose one kid. Our mentality changes. That (the loss down the stretch) just encourages us and inspires the girls. The girls are excited to get back to work.”
“We knew Brihanna would score every time down,:” Marvel said. “It was amazing to have that 10-point lead (at the end).”
“The best thing was them coming together,”Jones said. “It’s an asset. We work nine to 10 months out of the year, private coaches. Then they come in and work together. This wasn’t a surprise. It makes our staff’s lives easier.”
