When The Classical Academy needed a big play, it looked to quiet leader Kaitlin Hanenburg.

Her 19 points and several key defensive stops spoke volumes Thursday as the host Pikes Peak No. 9 Titans defeated Colorado Springs Christian School 32-28.

“She doesn’t lead with her voice but on the court with what she does,” TCA coach Lisa Miller said. “She’s so strong mentally.”

With 27.4 seconds left and the Titans clinging to a 31-28 lead, Hanenburg grabbed the defensive rebound off a missed free throw and hit 1-of-2 free-throw attempts to make it a two-possession game.

Hanenburg finished 6-of-8 from the line, where the Titans (9-1, 2-1 3A Tri-Peaks West) scored all but two of their seven fourth-quarter points.

CSCS (6-3, 4-1) also was limited to only one field goal in the final frame.

Morgan Broekhuis, the Lions’ 6-foot-5 forward, wasn’t sure what to make of her team’s poor shooting (12-for-38).

“I think both teams played great defense,” she said. “It’s just the shots fell for them.”

Hanenburg certainly was hitting. The junior hit three jumpers in the last 4 minutes of the second quarter, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, to pull the Titans within 16-15 at halftime. The 3-pointer capped a seven-point run for TCA that came on the heels of a 9-3 CSCS run to start the quarter.

“We were really tired after the first quarter,” Hanenburg said. “I didn’t want the second quarter to get away from us.”

Hanenburg picked up where she left off in the second half, giving TCA a 23-18 lead after turning two steals into layups and hitting two more jumpers.

But CSCS closed the third quarter with an 8-2 run to take a 26-25 lead.

Both teams struggled to score in the fourth.

Down the stretch, Hanenburg and senior Katie Stephens, who finished with three points – all on free throws, sealed the game at the line.

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Contact the writer: 636-0360 or angie.disalvo@gazettedev.gazette.com.

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