After #9 Lakewood defeated #1 Highlands Ranch and #12 Cherry Creek beat #4 Ralston Valley, Raider fans had hope for another upset as #11 Regis Jesuit went in taking on #3 Horizon. The game started with junior Noelle Cahill making the first basket of the game followed with an interception by Emma Wrede putting up another two points. The momentum stayed with Regis Jesuit the whole first quarter as they went into the second with the score 14-9. The Raiders received the ball to start the second quarter and went on to dominate the whole first half going into halftime with a score of 23-18.

Horizon started off the third with back to back 2 point field goals and the momentum started to shift. The first shot for the Raiders didn’t fall until Francesca Belibi made her second free throw with 6:17 left to go in the third quarter. With 1:13 minutes left in the third quarter, Horizon wanted to extend the lead and they did when Aly Jimenez made a three to put her team up 35-30. With a score of 35-32 and :30 seconds left in the third quarter, Noelle Cahill was sent to the line. She made both free throws and the Raiders were going into the fourth quarter down by one with the score 35-34.

The fourth quarter started with a steal by Belibi taking it for a layup, but Kylie Jimenez responded with a three. From there, the score was back and forth until Olivia Ayers made a key shot for the Raiders putting the team up by three with a score of 49-46 and 1:21 left to go. Horizon fouled Regis Jesuit three times within the last :57 seconds which helped the Raiders secure the 55-46 victory over Horizon.

“I just wanted to lead my team to victory, we had to play hard and keep our head in.” said freshmen Jada Moore after their 55-46 defeat over the Horizon Hawks. The Raiders advance to the final four and will be taking on #2 Grandview on March 9th at the Denver Coliseum.