Grandview rockets back to Colorado Class 5A semifinals

Wait, wasn't the Grandview (Aurora) girls basketball supposed to fade back to the pack?

The Wolves came tantalizingly close to a state-title appearance last season, but had to settle for playing vaunted Regis Jesuit (Aurora) to a 46-43 nail-biter in the semifinals. It appeared as though it was Grandview's best shot at a title for awhile, with standouts Adaeze Obinnah and Natasha Edge set to graduate.

But hold on a second. Take a peek at the Class 5A semifinals matchups for Thursday at the Coors Events Center, and there are the Wolves again. They'll bring a gaudy 24-2 record into the showdown against Fossil Ridge (25-1).

"I think based on the summer, we had an idea that we'd be pretty solid," Grandview coach Josh Ulitzky said. "But heading into the summer, if you told me we'd be right back here, I'd probably be pleasantly surprised."

Outsiders were wondering how a team that returned only two full-time players from last season was able to keep chugging along so prominently. Well, freshmen such as Michaela Onyenwere don't come along too often. The 5-foot-11 super athlete has averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 steals.

Onyenwere's proficiency, matched with the expansion of roles and production from holdovers Natalie Halbleib and Katie Cunninghman, have made the Wolves blossom to near the top of the state's hierarchy once again.

Ulitzky knew that Onyenwere, who this week earned the rare designation of a freshman selected to The Show all-star game, was going to be special. But even he didn't know she'd be so dominant so quickly.

"I saw her play in middle school and I definitely thought she'd be a key contributor for us," Ulitzky said. "But to say I envisioned this, I'd be lying."

"She has far exceeded what I first thought, and we keep pushing her to do different things. She just really wants to be coached and is a competitor. It's been really great and really just a good fit."

The Wolves will take on a Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) squad that has been dominant behind the talents of senior Savannah Smith, who has averaged 19.5 points a game. Brooke Pemberton and Kellee Willer also average double figures for SaberCats coach Chad Salz.

The town of Fort Collins is responsible for two of the final four teams, as Fossil Ridge is joined by Poudre (Fort Collins). Coach Curtis Glesmann's Impalas (21-5), led by CSU-bound senior Myanne Hamm and McDaniel sisters Ashley McDaniel and McKenzie McDaniel, will have the unenviable task of taking on Regis Jesuit.

The Raiders (24-2) are ranked third in the nation in MaxPreps' XCellent 25 and have six Division-I bound seniors. Carl Mattei's group has not lost an in-state game this season.

MaxPreps Colorado Class 5A state tournament brackets