Nighthawks Outlast Kadets in OT, Headed to State Championship

James Scott, Northfield '27

Denver, CO, March 8, 2024

The Northfield Nighthawks girls basketball team trailed most of the game against the #1 seeded Air Academy Kadets, in the Colorado High School Activities Association State Semi-Finals on March 7th. Throughout the game, they had to fight back from behind. After a poor-shooting first half, they were down 11 points. However, by the start of the fourth quarter, the game was tied. Then, midway through the fourth quarter, the Kadets had opened up another 11-point lead. Again, the Nighthawks fought back into the game, tying it on a three from Junior Alena Vondracek with 15 seconds left. 

In overtime, the Kadets scored six quick points, putting Northfield behind again. However, that deficit was quickly erased as the Nighthawks scored 8 unanswered and took a two point lead. Northfield would end up winning 70-66 with four clutch free throws down the stretch. Junior Aliyah Herron led the way with 22 points while three others scored double digits: freshman Laporsha Allen, freshman Madison Bethel, and Vondracek. The difference for Northfield turned out to be shooting. After shooting 8 of 43 from the field in the first half (just 19%) and 3 of 15 from 3 (20%), they flipped the script, shooting nearly 40% from three in the second half. Northfield will play in the state championship Saturday, March 9 at 10:00 AM against Roosevelt.