CSCS girls enjoy rout in home finale

Colorado Springs Christian School's three seniors enjoyed a fittingly triumphant farewell to their home court.

The Lions sped to a large lead early and coasted to a 55-34 win over Machebeuf to advance to the 3A state quarterfinals in Fort Collins next week.

Brianne VandeGriend led the Lions (24-0) with 22 points and 16 rebounds.

“This is just the game that gets us to state,” VandeGriend said. “We’re a team and we play like a complete team with everybody combining together.”

CSCS’s ball movement — particularly with passing from VandeGriend and fellow senior post Erika Heckman — helped it to uncontested shots throughout the game.

“We just try to get a good pass in to the post, and they work so hard down there that we get open shots,” said Becca Bultje, the third senior on the team.

Bultje finished with nine points, including two 3-pointers 10-0 run that started the game.

VandeGriend found little resistance as she was able to drive to the basket for easy layups and went 8-for-12 from the free-throw line.

CSCS didn’t quite cruise the way it did in a 40-point win the night before as Machebeuf (12-12) showed grit and was within 24-15 at the half.

“I think it’s good for us to play a game like this; Machebeuf is a great program but we worked together well today,” CSCS coach Lisa Guhl said. “We have three tremendous seniors and their last home game couldn’t be any prettier.”

CSCS will now head to Fort Collins, where it will play city rival St. Mary’s in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

“Our theme is ‘here and now,’ and we are just focused on the present,” Bultje said.

The Lions know that as the No. 1 seed they have the bulls-eye on their back.

“We are playing like we have nothing to lose, and we are just going to go into it with all our heart,” VandeGriend said.