LAFAYETTE — Holy Family girls basketball coach Ron Rossi wasn’t quite sure what he was watching during the first two quarters of his team’s league showdown at Peak to Peak, but it certainly wasn’t Tigers basketball as it typically has been recognized during Rossi’s tenure.
But the second half? Well, that was more like it.
Holy Family, ranked fourth in Class 3A this week in the Denver Post coaches poll, turned the Pumas’ upset bid into a surprisingly comfortable victory, recording a 58-43 win Friday in a Class 2A/3A Metro League showdown.
“I was like, ‘You’re Holy Family. What are you doing?'” Rossi said. “We have a lot of tradition, and I told them they’re part of this tradition. You have to have pride to play Holy Family basketball. Defensively, they knew we had to get back in the game and we knew we’d have to get stops. They were patient, and then we got a little hot.”
Peak to Peak led 20-13 but saw its advantage gradually slip away against a resurgent Holy Family attack led by the Tigers’ two leading scorers, sisters Lindsey and Katie Chavez.
Held to a combined six points in the first half, the duo exploded for a combined 26 points after the break. Holy Family pulled to within 38-32 after three quarters and completely dominated the final frame to take control.
Katie Chavez, a freshman, opened the fourth with a 3-pointer to get the Tigers within three points. After Peak’s Annette Warner recorded a basket to briefly re-extend the host’s lead, Holy Family promptly reeled off 15 consecutive points to pull away.
Holy Family (10-4, 4-1 Metro League) received timely contributions from senior Micaela Blanchard during the decisive run. Held scoreless through three quarters, Blanchard scored seven points during the 15-0 burst and helped the Tigers to post a 26-5 advantage overall in the fourth quarter.
Holy Family also knocked down 15 of 18 free throws in the final quarter.
“We just weren’t playing our game,” Katie Chavez said. “We were a little excited and we weren’t really playing as a team. But we know we’re better than that, and (Rossi) reminded us of past games where we played strong and played as a team. That really inspired us.”
Asked if it is inevitable if one Chavez sister gets on track for the other to follow suit, Katie Chavez responded, “Definitely. We always during the game talk to each other and give each other pointers. I really appreciate that she’s here for me.”
Katie Chavez made five of her final six field goal attempts and led the Tigers with 18 points. Lindsey Chavez shook off a 0-for-6 first half to finish with 14 points, going 6 for 6 at the free-throw line after intermission.
Three players tallied a game-high 11 points for Peak to Peak — Warner, Katharine Kia and Ivy DeVries. DeVries, the Pumas’ leading scorer, was saddled with foul trouble and was held scoreless after halftime before fouling out late in the fourth.
“We’re improving, and we know the teams that improve the most get it done in March,” Rossi said. “That’s kind of our goal, getting better each game. It was really pleasing that they didn’t lose their composure.”
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Holy Family 58, Peak to Peak 43
At Holy Family HS
HOLY FAMILY (10-4, 4-1)
Quinn 1 3-4 5, McGillin 0 5-6 5, K. Chavez 6 3-4 18, Pena 2 1-2 5, L. Chavez 3 7-8 14, Spitzer 0 1-2 1, Jaros 1 0-0 3, Blanchard 2 3-4 7, Wilson 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 23-30 58.
PEAK TO PEAK (8-5, 3-1)
Wetmore 2 0-2 4, Kia 3 3-5 11, Warner 4 3-5 11, Martinez 0 2-2 2, DeVries 4 3-5 11, Colgate 2 0-2 4. Totals 15 11-21 43.
Score by quarters:
Holy Family 7 6 19 26 — 58
Peak to Peak 9 11 18 5 — 43
3-point goals — Holy Family (4): K. Chavez 3, L. Chavez; Peak to Peak (2): Kia 2. Total fouls — Holy Family 18, Peak to Peak 21. Fouled out — DeVries, Kia.
