Top-seeded Air Academy survives scare, advances to first Final Four in five years
Caitlin Kramer woke up Friday prepared for remote possibility that this could be it for her storied high school career.
Thanks to a second-half surge from Kramer and her Air Academy teammates, the end will wait until next week. In the Final Four.
“You never know,” said Kramer, the Colorado State commit who helped the top-seeded Kadets overcome a nine-point deficit and beat No. 8 Frederick 45-39 in a 5A girls’ quarterfinal at Denver Coliseum. “Any team can beat any team on any given day. We really needed to make sure that this wasn’t going to be our last game together.”
The Golden Eagles sure made things interesting, and that in itself was something new for Air Academy. Tke Kadets have outscored opponents by an average of 64-39 this season. No one had played them within single digits during the 18-game winning streak they carried into Friday.
So, it was unusual when Frederick found itself on top 25-16 after the first half.
“We had first-half jitters,” said Kramer, whose 13 points gives her 1,936 in her career. “We were really nervous, obviously. Every playoff game is like that, you have to expect the unexpected. They came out with just a ton of intensity.”
The Kadets (25-1) opened the second half on a 10-0 run, moving in front. But Frederick responded, as each team continuously did in a game that saw 11 lead changes.
The Golden Eagles (19-7) led 39-36 with 2:45 remaining when junior Lydia Flowers made shots on consecutive possessions to put Air Academy in the lead for good.
“This was the most fun I’ve ever had, and I think it was the most fun because we did it as a family, we did it together,” said Flower, who scored nine points. “I think it was just an amazing experience.
“My teammates helped me get open and get good shots, I think I just tried my best to stay calm and shoot the shots that I needed to take.”
Tatyonna Brown also scored nine points for Air Academy, while Ramah Khammash added eight to go with a team-high seven rebounds.
Who knows what this game will do for Air Academy moving forward. It has now faced a test and learned it could respond.
“We try to replicate situations in practice, but it’s not the same,” said coach Phil Roiko, who will take the program to its first Final Four since 2019 as it chases its first title since 2012. “I’m just proud of our girls for being in that situation, not panicking and executing down the stretch, getting some stops.”
“We’re moving on.”
Caitlin Kramer blocks a shot by Gabby Jima as The Air Academy Kadets take on The Frederick Golden Eagles in 5A girls basketball quarterfinals at The Denver Coliseum on Friday, Mar. 1, 2024. The Kadets beat the Golden Eagles 45-39. (Liz Copan / special to The Gazette)
Kadet’s Tatyonna Brown tips off against Kaylee Gardner and the Golden Eagles as Air Academy plays Frederick in 5A girls basketball quarterfinals at The Denver Coliseum on Friday, Mar. 1, 2024. The Kadets beat the Golden Eagles 45-39. (Liz Copan / special to The Gazette)
Ramah Khammash fights for control of the ball as Air Academy plays Frederick in 5A girls basketball quarterfinals at The Denver Coliseum on Friday, Mar. 1, 2024. The Kadets beat the Golden Eagles 45-39. (Liz Copan / special to The Gazette)
