FORT COLLINS -- A self-described "crazy season" finally ended they way Erin Doherty and the Machebeuf Buffs could only have hoped for.

The eighth-seeded Buffs did what almost no one expected Saturday night and completed a sweep through the Class 3A girls state basketball tournament with a 55-46 win against Basalt at Moby Arena.

"We ended on a 7-0 winning streak and it was nothing but hard work and believing in each other," Doherty said. "It's truly been a Cinderella season."

The Buffs were clearly playing their best basketball in the playoffs after losing four of their last five games entering the second round of districts. Once they played and beat Colorado Academy in that round, everything clicked for the team.

The run culminated with the victory against the Longhorns, and the Buffs (17-10) took their sixth title in the sport.

The Buffs rode the play of senior Cheri Palmer throughout the tournament. Coming off 23- and 28-point games the previous two nights, Palmer once again proved to be a lot for the Longhorns to handle.

She scored 17 points for the game and was instrumental getting Machebeuf back on its feet after the Longhorns had cut a 12-point halftime lead to five at 36-31 late in the third period.

Palmer, the Rocky Mountain News' tournament most valuable player, scored eight points in the quarter as the Buffs managed to rebuild their lead to 42-31 with a 6-0 run to end the period.

The Buffs didn't have to rely totally on Palmer in Saturday's win. Coming off the bench, Malaya Stamps and Melissa Powell put together their best games of the tournament.

Powell scored eight points and had two blocked shots, while Stamps contributed a couple key blocked shots and converted on three put-backs after getting offensive rebounds.

"I pounded on them all day," Machebeuf coach Ellie Kempfe said of Powell and Stamps. "(I said) 'I gotta have you on the boards, and today you gotta score points.' They came through for us."

Basalt, which finished 22-5, jumped out on the Buffs early but never established themselves. A four-point play by Katheryne Fitzpatrick helped them get up to a 9-3 start, but Machebeuf went on an 11-1 run to get back in the game.

Basalt scored just two points in the second on 1-of-8 shooting, and took a 5 minute, 21 second scoring drought into the third period.

The Longhorns, who were attempting to become the first team from the Western Slope to win a title since 1995, were led by Cassie Meyer's 14 points. Dayne Toney also pitched in 12, but the Longhorns shot just 24.1 percent for the game.

"We didn't push the ball and play Longhorn basketball," Basalt coach Carolyn Compton said. "The quicker we go, the more falls in. They didn't do anything to stop us, we made choices for ourselves."

After missing last year with the Buffs because of personal reasons, winning the championship in Palmer's senior campaign may mean more than anyone except her will ever know.

"Early in the season we couldn't find it, but ever since we found our niche we've been on our run," Palmer said. "They gotta respect us, we earned it."

Palmer's return to the team was also special for Doherty, a fellow senior.

"It was tough without her last year," Doherty said. "We knew she was going to be back as a senior, and to have her back was a huge relief for me. It's been just a crazy year, but it ended up where it should have."

All-Tournament team

Cortney Bray, Faith Christian, 6-0, Sr.

Erin Doherty, Machebeuf, 5-7, Sr.

Cassie Meyer, Basalt, 5-10, Sr.

Cheri Palmer, Machebeuf, 5-4, Sr. (MVP)

Dayne Toney, Basalt, 6-0, Jr.

Championship game

Machebeuf 16 12 14 13 -- 55

Basalt 14 2 15 15 -- 46

M -- Kelly Mapes 2 3-3 7, Cheri Palmer 7 3-4 17, Jamie Mora 2 1-2 5, Erin Doherty 2 5-6 10, Kelly Mathews 1 0-0 2, Ailena McDonald 0 0-0 0, Melissa Powell 3 2-2 8, Malaya Stamps 3 0-0 6, Claudia Ibarra 0 0-0 0. Team totals 20 14-17 55.

B -- Amy Lund 0 0-0 0 , Katheryne Fitzpatrick 1 1-1 4, Katy Mulcahy 1 3-4 5, Emily Peetz 3 1-1 9, Cassie Meyer 4 6-6 14, Esmeralda Saltavierra 0 0-0 0, Hailey Guglielmo 0 0-0 0, Dayne Toney 4 4-4 12, Melissa Stewart 0 0-0 0, Alia Munger 0 0-0 0, Michelle Miller 1 0-0 2. Team totals 14 15-16 46.

Three-point goals -- Doherty; Peetz 2, Fitzpatrick.

Third place game

Cedaredge 5 9 13 20 -- 47

Faith Christian 8 12 10 9 -- 39

C -- Shorty Ramos 3 3-4 9, Carrie Berger 4 7-8 17, Katie Eason 4 2-2 10, Katie Wright 0 2-2 2, Lexi Galvin 2 1-2 7, Ashley Breitnauer 0 0-0 0, Rachelle Litsheim 1 0-0 2. Team totals 14 15-18 47.

FC -- Cortney Bray 4 2-4 10, Brittany Long 2 2-2 7, Breann McBeth 1 2-2 4, Kayla Endes 4 0-0 10, Amber Roundtree 2 2-2 6, Holly Hoguta 1 0-0 2, Athena Lopez 0 0-0 0, Amber Weingartner 0 0-0 0, Ashley Savage 0 0-0 0. Team totals 14 8-10 39.

Three-point goals -- Berger 2, Galvin 2; Endes 2, Long. Fouled out -- Roundtree.

Fifth place game

St. Mary’s 14 11 9 11 -- 45

Colorado Springs Christian 19 11 19 21 -- 70

SM -- Christina Whitelaw 2 1-2 5, Cali Nutter 3 2-2 8, Julia Saenz 4 2-2 13, Samantha Cardenas 2 1-4 5, Rachel Niles 4 2-2 10, Mary Hazuka 0 0-0 0, Lauren Kuklenski 1 0-0 2, Naomi Drobeck 0 0-0 0, Kirsten Buneke 0 1-4 1, Katie Abeyta 0 0-0 0, Lauren Billing 0 1-2 1, Rica Molet 0 0-0 0. Team totals 16 10-18 45.

CSCS -- Katey Young 3 2-2 10, Lindsay Hestermann 4 3-4 11, Steph Friesen 10 1-2 24, LeeAnn Routt 2 2-2 6, 2 2-2 6, Bethany Beck 2 3-3 7, Becca Bultje 0 0-0 0, Steph Kenney 1 0-0 2, Jess Beach 0 2-4 2, Lauren Smitherman 0 0-2 0, Brianne VandeGriend 0 0-0 0, Morgan Broekhuis 2 4-5 8, Lauren Hammerstrom 0 0-0 0. Team totals 24 17-24 70.

Three-point goals -- Saenz 3; Friesen 3, Young 2.

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