HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — For the first time in school history, the Valor Christian High School boys and girls basketball teams won the state title in the same year.
Quinn VanSickle and Cole Scherer were both human cheat codes for their respective teams, winning state championship MVP. Scherer averaged 29 points in the last two games with just one turnover.
“I don't think there's anybody in the state of Colorado that's had a greater impact on their team from start to finish and a greater impact on their team success,” said boys head coach Jeff Platt.
VanSickle averaged 26 points in the final two games and shot lights out all tournament.
“Not only does she have the confidence to take the big shot and a tough shot and maybe even a shot that I'd be like oh, um that's a great shot," said girls head coach Jessika Caldwell. "I think that takes a lot of guts and grit.”
These state titles were extra special for both head coaches. For Platt, this is his first.
“It's just the greatest feeling," he said. "I was just so overjoyed for the players, knowing how much work they had put in throughout the season, and just being able to see the joy and the celebration. And for me, my greatest fulfillment is just to see how much fun they were having and how rewarding it was for them as a group.”
For Caldwell, this one’s for her late father, who passed away in June.
“He was the one that told me about the Valor coaching job," Caldwell said. "He coached me when I was little, and so to not have him there in the stands and look over my shoulder and be able to celebrate with him was pretty emotional. But it felt like he was there.”
The Valor students are already rooting for a back-to-back. Both VanSickle and Scherer are expected to return next year.
“Everyone's looking forward to it, and people at school have been asking if we are going to win again next year," Scherer said. "So we're all excited for that.”
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