BOULDER - Everything came full circle for the Highlands Ranch girls basketball team.

The Falcons began the season with a win against Legacy, and Friday night, they repeated that feat in the Class 5A state championship game.

The 69-54 triumph, highlighted by 23 points and 11 rebounds from senior point guard Jaclyn Thoman, marked the second consecutive title for Highlands Ranch and fifth in eight seasons under coach Caryn Jarocki.

It also marked the eighth consecutive season a Continental League team has captured the big-school crown.

"It's better," said Thoman, comparing the newest title to last year's. "It gets better every year. Last year was special, but I was a junior. You can't beat having this as your last game as a senior."

Despite their lofty credentials, the Falcons (25-3) were something of an afterthought entering the tournament. League- rival Regis had plowed through in-state competition - including Highlands Ranch twice - and appeared to be the favorite.

But as the Falcons vastly elevated their game in the postseason, Legacy dispatched Regis in the semifinals. So while Highlands Ranch didn't get the Regis rematch it wanted, the Falcons got another title.

"Every one is special and the quest for a new state title is always special," Jarocki said.

The Falcons also received 18 points from Alyssa Fressle and 12 from Jade Davis, while overcoming 25 points and 10 rebounds from Legacy senior Melissa Jones.

"We knew she was a great player and that she would get her points," Fressle said.

"We just tried to contain the rest of their players the best we could."

In the regular-season matchup, Highlands Ranch used a late comeback to win 84-79. The Falcons didn't need to wait until the final 2 minutes this time.

After Legacy darted to a 7-2 lead, Highlands Ranch scored 31 of the next 36 points and Legacy never recovered.

"We came out a little bit soft, but after the first TV timeout, coach reminded us about playing defense," Thoman said.

Each team took 25 shots in the opening half. Highlands Ranch converted 15; Legacy made six. Highlands Ranch also went 5-for-6 from three-point range in the first half en route to a 39-20 lead.

Legacy chipped away in the second half and twice cut the deficit to eight points, the last time with 57 seconds remaining when a Jones basket made it 62-54. Highlands Ranch, though, prevented a full-scale comeback.

"We matched them point for point or we would get a stop here and there," said Davis, whose team shot 52 percent from the field.

The contest marked the end of the line for the Division I-bound Thoman and Jones.

Thoman, selected the state tournament most valuable player for the second consecutive season, will play at Boston College. Jones, who averaged 29 points in five tournament games, is bound for Baylor.

Jones received scoring help from Mara Cosgrove (12 points) and freshman Quincey Noonan added 11 before fouling out with 4:11 to play. But Legacy couldn't quite overcome the early 21-point deficit.

"The first half, give Highlands Ranch credit," Legacy coach Jody Welch said. "They were able to do what they wanted to do."

The same can be said of the Falcons in regard to their ultimate goal.

Highlands Ranch......24	15	10	20	-	69
Legacy......12	8	19	15	-	54

HR - Alyssa Fressle 8 1-2 18, Brady Tsukamaki 0 0-0 0, Jaclyn Thoman 8 5-9 23, Melisa Ryba 3 2-2 8, Jade Davis 5 1-2 12, Meagan Fulps 0 0-0 0, Hannah Breidel 2 2-2 7, Jenessa Burke 0 1-2 1. Totals 26 12-19 69.

L - Breana Mathews 1 0-0 2, Mara Cosgrove 3 4-5 12, Cassie Long 1 0-0 3, Melissa Jones 9 6-9 25, Quincey Noonan 4 2-4 11, Kara Morton 0 1-3 1, Shelby Babcock 0 0-0 0, Kellen Wittkop 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 13-21 54.

Three-point goals - H, Thoman 2, Davis, Breidel, Fressle. L, Cosgrove 2, Long, Jones, Noonan. Fouled out - Noonan.

All-tournament team

Player, School Ht. Yr.

Alyssa Fressle, Highlands Ranch 5-10 Jr.

Melissa Jones, Legacy 5-10 Sr.

Mindy Nielson, Regis 5-11 Sr.

Jaclyn Thoman, Highlands Ranch 5-9 Sr.

Nikki Trujillo, Horizon 5-6 Jr.

• MVP: Thoman, Highlands Ranch.

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