Saturday's roundup: Mesa Ridge girls win Heritage Tournament, stay unbeaten

Highlights from Saturday's high school action in the Pikes Peak region:

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Mesa Ridge 42, Fort Collins 40

At Heritage: Mesa Ridge defeated its second 5A team in three days to win the Heritage Memorial Hoopla Tournament and stay perfect on the season.

Sami Rudd scored 17 points and added eight rebounds and freshman Kylee Shook added six points, 16 rebounds and five blocks as Mesa Ridge defeated Fort Collinson on Saturday. The Grizzlies (8-0) put two girls on the all-tournament team in Rudd and Gabby Purnell.

They beat Monarch on Thursday and 4A Valor Christian on Friday before toppling the Lambkins (5-3). Mesa Ridge will look to make it three in a row against 5A teams on Jan. 8 at home against Legend before starting 4A Metro conference play two days later.

“Our girls have come together and faced a tough nonconference schedule,” Mesa Ridge coach Jeff Beatty said. “We’re really excited. With the exception of one bad half against Valor, our defense is what has carried us through.”

But Beatty isn’t worried about his players getting overconfident with the great start to the season.

“It’s a challenge for the coach when you get off to good start, but our girls are used to the grind of the season,” he said. “When you don’t have any losses, it makes every team you play want to beat you even more.”

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Chaparral 68, Lewis-Palmer 60 (OT)

At Chaparral: Lewis-Palmer rallied from a four-point deficit after three quarters to force overtime against the 5A Wolverines (5-5), but the Rangers were outscored 13-5 in the extra period.

Jordan Scott led the Rangers (7-2) with 19 points and Dylan Tucker added 16, while Chase Stone chipped in 11.

This was the second loss in three days for Lewis-Palmer, which started the season 7-0. Next up for the defending 4A state champs is the start of 4A Pikes Peak League play at Discovery Canyon on Jan. 8.

Highlands Ranch 77, Fountain-Fort Carson 71

At Highlands Ranch: Highlands Ranch (6-3) used a three-pronged attack that was too much for the Trojans (6-4) to overcome. Evan Motlong scored 25 points, while Isaiah Parros added 22 points, six assists and six rebounds, and Zach Braxton scored 16 points.

No stats were provided for F-FC.

Thomas Jefferson 68, Pine Creek 46

At Cherry Creek: Pine Creek (2-6) got behind early and never recovered against one of the best 4A teams in the state in the Cherry Creek Holiday Tournament.

Thomas Jefferson (7-2), led by 15 points from Eric Andres, jumped out to a 19-8 advantage after one quarter and expanded the lead to 15 at the half.

No stats were provided for Pine Creek.

HOCKEY

Heritage 4, Lewis-Palmer 3 (OT)

At Centennial: After trailing 3-1 after two periods, the Rangers rallied to send the game into overtime. However, Heritage’s Connor Conroy finished up his hat trick with the game-winner at 7:42 of the extra period.

Cam Fraser, Casey McMullin and Dmitri Smith, who also had two assists, all scored power play goals for Lewis-Palmer (3-4), as the Rangers had numerous chances with Heritage (6-0) racking up 22 penalty minutes.

Lucas Palonen stopped 35 of 39 shots in net for Lewis-Palmer.

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

Cheyenne Mountain Invite

At Cheyenne Mountain: The Indians defended their home turf by defeating the 18 other schools at the meet with a score of 569.5 points.

Morgan Wice took first in both the 200 and 500 yard freestyle, while Katie Roach won the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke for Cheyenne Mountain. Sydney Buckley won the 100 butterfly and the Indians also took first in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Lewis-Palmer placed second in the meet with 482 points, led by a win in the 200 medley relay.

Doherty’s Sarah James won the 100 backstroke and Palmer’s Taylor Walsh took the diving title.

Other area teams in the top 10 of the standings included Rampart (fourth), Pine Creek (fifth), Doherty (seventh), Coronado (eighth) and Manitou Springs (10th).