In a high-stakes clash between top girls basketball programs from St. Vrain and Boulder Valley leagues, the Class 6A No. 4 Broomfield Eagles surged ahead in the fourth quarter to defeat the Class 5A No. 7 Mead Mavericks 63-45 at home on Tuesday night.
Intense Battle Through Three Quarters
The game remained tight for the first 36 minutes, showcasing the physical, fast-paced style and rebounding aggression of both teams. Broomfield jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening four minutes, but Mead freshman Kally Clark drained a 3-pointer to shift momentum. The Mavericks trailed 16-12 after the first quarter.
Mead grabbed its only lead of the night at 32-30 in the third quarter on a 3-pointer from sophomore Hayden Berglund, who tallied 13 points before fouling out early in the fourth. Broomfield regained control and never looked back.
Key Players Step Up After Injuries
Senior Paige Gilpatrick proved crucial for Broomfield after missing four to five weeks with a bone contusion on her foot. Returning on Jan. 27, she scored 10 points, mostly from the free-throw line, while anchoring the defense in the second half.
“It’s absolutely horrible,” Gilpatrick said of her injury absence. “I trust my teammates, but it’s really hard not being out there on defense and keeping them in check. My specialty is defense and rhythm—patching us up during rough patches, which I did from the line in the second half.”
Mead has battled injuries all season, including losing Maddy Wright for the year and Elena Gomez briefly. Hayden Berglund returned recently as a key scorer, while Clark added 11 points.
“Hayden and Payton Rothe stepped up big on defense,” Clark said. “We needed strong defenders after losing Maddy, who takes charges. Hayden’s return helps us score fast. This loss before playoffs will fire us up—we were on a seven-game win streak.”
Playoff Implications
Broomfield stays undefeated at 21-0, aiming to rebound from last year’s Class 6A tournament second-round loss to Riverdale Ridge and star Brihanna Crittendon, who recently broke Colorado’s high school scoring record.
“We’ve tested our skills against presses, ball movement, and defense,” Gilpatrick said. “We’re entering playoffs with a chip on our shoulders, ready to win it all.”
Mead drops to 16-6 and faces Holy Family on Friday.
