Eads Coach Trey Eder called a time out to set up Eads' final shot. Eads brought the ball into play sending it around the horn until freshman Aspen Nelson saw Tailee Weeks-Johnson alone on the opposite side baseline. With just moments left Nelson heaved the ball across the Stratton zone to Weeks-Johnson who caught and shot as the buzzer went off. The 18 footer banked the board and went in. Bedlam ensued as the Eads faithful engulfed Weeks-Johnson after her winning shot.
After the contest that saw 8 ties and 15 lead changes, Coach Eder told
's Cory Forgue that he had definitely not drawn up an 18' baseline bank shot in the huddle, but he'd take it anytime. Eder pointed out that the third place game at state is the hardest game in the world to play. Both teams were coming off of disappointing losses from the semifinals and both had come to Greeley to be in the championship. And the third day on girls' legs is grueling for all of them.
"As physically and mentally challenging as it is, getting this win was absolutely huge for our program. I could not be more proud of this team. I'll remember that shot for the rest of my life," beamed Eder.
It was war between the two teams from the tip off as Eads' Anna Wollert and Stratton's Sophia Isenbart pounded against each other exchanging basket for basket throughout the four quarters. Stratton kept the pressure on the Eads guards and it took a complete team effort for the Eagles form Eads to keep control of the ball.
Stratton grabbed the lead 11-9 after the first quarter. But Eads answered back getting strong effort from Wollert , Weeks-Johnson, Alessandra Paez, and Lexi Shotton off the bench. By halftime Eads had gotten the best of Stratton leading by a single point, 22-21.
And the the final grueling half began as both teams struggled to score. Isenbart got a post bucket right away taking the lead back, 23-22. But Wollert answered with her own post points getting the lead again 24-23.
For most of the third quarter, Stratton would push and Eads would answer resulting in multiple ties and lead changes in that quarter alone. Freshman Aspen Nelson was a huge force in keeping Eads in the contest. She pulled down three boards in the third and stole the ball getting the layup giving Eads a three-point cushion with 1:55 left in the third.
Wollert was forced to sit for just under two minutes of the third when she pulled her third foul. During her absence the two teams exchanged free throws ending with a 37-37 tie going into the final quarter.
For most of the fourth quarter it was like a heavy weight boxing match in the 12th round as Wollert would score and Isenbart would answer. The teams tied things up at 40-40, 42-42, and 44-44, until Weeks-Johnson ignited the crowd with a three-ball with 2:45 left in the game, and Nelson got a put back with 2:24 left getting Eads the biggest lead of the night leading by five, 49-44.
But it didn't take long for the Stratton crew to work their way back into the contest as Eads committed a couple of turnovers that Stratton converted to points getting the lead 51-49 with :35 seconds remaining.
With :18 seconds left Nelson stole the ball for a layup tying the contest 51-51. Stratton called time out to set up their final play with :14 seconds left. But on the inbounds they threw it away and Eads brought the ball into their court where Eder called time out with 8.3 seconds left looking for one final shot.
With everyone on their feet the Eads offense moved the ball around the horn until Nelson saw Weeks-Johnson all alone across the zone. for the exciting win, 53-51.
Isenbart finished with 23 points and 7 rebounds, while Clare Miltenberger added 10 points, 5 steals and 5 rebounds.
Eads was led by Wollert with a double-double hitting for 22 points and 10 rebounds. Tailee Weeks-Johnson added 10 points and 5 steals.
The freshman Aspen Nelson was the difference maker for Eads as she came in off the bench and hit for 7 points, pulled down 5 crucial rebounds, and added 5 steals. And--- of course--- the freshman had the biggest assist of her young career to Weeks-Johnson in the final seconds of the contest.
Both teams struggled to hold on to the ball committing a total of 44 turnovers with Stratton having 24 and Eads 20. Probably the biggest key in the game for Eads was the fact that they out-rebounded Stratton in a big way, 42 rebounds to 28 rebounds.
Paez, the only senior on the talented Eads team, was thrilled about their accomplishment after the win. "There's so many emotions playing in a third place game, but I really wanted to win this one for the girls' future. They helped me grow as a player and an athlete this year."
Eder emphasized how proud he was of this group, "We told them that this third place game was huge for our future program and that they had to show up. It's not the game you came to play in and it takes heart, pride, and a lot of character to leave it all on the court like they did today. I couldn't ask for a better group."
Eads ended the 2024-25 season with a 23-4 overall record.
Photo Credits: Braylynn Eder and Wilson Photography