Cougars Fall Short in Championship Rematch Bids
Resurrection Christian School’s basketball teams, fresh off their Class 3A state championship victories last season, saw their hopes for repeat titles dashed this past weekend at the University of Denver. While both the girls’ and boys’ squads reached the penultimate stages of the tournament, they ultimately fell just short of reaching the championship games.
Girls’ Team: A Strong Run Ends in Semifinals
The Resurrection Christian girls’ basketball team made a formidable push to the Final Four, fueled by a decisive victory over Patriot League rival Wiggins in the Great 8 (quarterfinal) round. Bethany Vrooman was instrumental in that win, pouring in 21 points to help the Cougars avenge a previous league loss to Wiggins.
However, their tournament journey encountered a significant roadblock in the semifinals against another familiar league adversary, Yuma. The Cougars and Yuma had a history of close contests, having split their regular-season matchups. Resurrection Christian had secured a 52-40 victory during the regular season, but Yuma retaliated with a 32-23 win in the league tournament. In the high-stakes semifinal, Yuma replicated their defensive prowess, securing a low-scoring 32-23 victory to advance to the championship game against Salida. Bethany Vrooman once again led the Cougars in scoring, contributing nine points in the tough loss.
Head coach Jason Conrad acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by Yuma’s defense. “Their zone is so good, and we just struggled against it for sure,” Conrad stated. “They are one of the best defensive teams I’ve seen in 13 years of doing this here. We didn’t shoot the ball well from three. I think we were 1 for 15 from 3-point range. When we got open looks, we didn’t always make them. Defensively, I think we played well enough to win that game but when you’re going against the Yuma zone, you have to move the ball quick and knock down some shots. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that the last two times we played them like we did the first time.”
Following the semifinal defeat, the Cougars found themselves in the third-place game, facing the top-seeded Denver Christian. This matchup was a rematch of the previous year’s state championship game. Unfortunately for Resurrection Christian, Denver Christian established an early and commanding lead, finishing the first quarter with a 17-6 advantage. The Cougars were unable to bridge the deficit, ultimately falling 63-40. Bethany Vrooman and Jenna Kennedy were the leading scorers for RCS in this final game, each tallying nine points.
Despite not reaching the championship game, the Cougars concluded their season with an impressive 19-9 record and secured a spot in the state semifinals for the third consecutive year. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given that the team had to replace all five starters from the previous year’s championship squad due to graduation.
“Even though we didn’t get to the game we necessarily wanted to get to, we got to the round of eight,” Conrad reflected. “The goal is always to compete for a championship in that game, but it doesn’t spoil what a great season we had. My message to them, especially once we made it to the round of eight was, ‘Don’t let anyone ever underestimate you and don’t understimate yourself.’ What they’ve accomplished this year, a group that’s never really played together, they just got better and better as the season progressed. They accomplished a lot more than what people expected of them outside of our locker room. To do what we did was a great season and it sets the foundation for next year.”
The girls’ team will have a strong core returning next season, as Bethany Vrooman was the only senior on the roster. This means four of their five starters will be back, providing a solid foundation for future success.
Boys’ Team: Overtime Heartbreak in the Great 8
The Resurrection Christian boys’ basketball team, entering the season with the momentum of back-to-back state championships (Class 3A last season and Class 4A in 2024), also exceeded expectations with their performance.
Their quest for a third consecutive title was abruptly halted in the Great 8 round. In a thrilling overtime contest, the Cougars narrowly lost 67-65 to Banning Lewis Academy. Resurrection Christian had built a comfortable 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. However, a strong surge from Banning Lewis, outscoring the Cougars 15-5 in the final frame, forced the game into overtime. In the extra period, the Stallions edged out the Cougars 11-9 to secure their hard-fought victory.
Eagan Koenig led the Resurrection Christian effort with 26 points. Reagan Cunningham contributed 16 points, and Dillon Koning pulled down 11 rebounds. Notably, Eagan Koenig, who reached his 1,000th career point during this game, was the sole returning starter from the previous year’s championship team, highlighting the significant rebuilding effort for the boys’ squad.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Cougars finished the season with a respectable 18-8 record and marked their fifth consecutive appearance in the Great 8.
The loss to Banning Lewis marked the final game for six senior boys from Resurrection Christian: Eagan Koenig, Reagan Cunningham, Dillon Koning, Asher Andre, Jaxson Pszanka, and Varick Hamel. Their contributions over the years have been significant to the program’s sustained success.
