DENVER – With a season like this, head coach Mike Hall and the Panthers never wanted the ride to end.
In their first state tournament appearance in seven years, the Panthers hoped their postseason ride would stretch to championship Saturday. Instead, on Wednesday night, M-CHS ran into a University squad that mirrored the same pressure and energy the Panthers had used to overwhelm opponents all season.
A second‑half Bulldogs surge, powered by high‑press turnovers, turned a 43–37 M–CHS lead into a 15‑point University advantage. The No. 10 Bulldogs held off one final push to secure a 72–63 win in the 4A state tournament at the Denver Coliseum.
M‑CHS (25‑1) faced early turbulence under the bright lights of the historic arena, falling behind 15‑6. The No. 2 Panthers answered with one of several extended runs, building momentum late in the first quarter and into the second to take control.
M-CHS (25-1) could easily have been overwhelmed under the bright lights of the historic arena - and an early 15-6 deficit might have given them major cause for concern. The No. 2 seed responded with one of several major runs, extending a run through the late first quarter and into the early second stanza that eventually lifted the Panthers into the lead.
Junior Trey Hall and senior Trace Hartsoe combined for 22 first‑half points, including during a burst that lifted M‑CHS ahead 22‑19 midway through the second. Sophomore Royce Watts and senior Wyatt Oliver each hit a three as the Panthers outscored University 23‑14 in the quarter and carried a 34‑31 lead into halftime.
Sophomore Justin Bane added four of his six points during that second‑quarter stretch, then scored again as M‑CHS pushed its lead to six midway through the third.
University countered with transition layups that shifted momentum. Senior Coehn Nitzel, stationed at the top of the Bulldogs press, repeatedly turned steals into quick baskets as University intensified its pressure.
By the end of the third, the Panthers’ lead had vanished. University held a 50‑49 edge, then opened the fourth with 10 straight points to put M‑CHS in trouble.
After the deficit grew to 15, the Panthers mounted one last comeback attempt. Oliver sank his third three of the night, Hartsoe scored on a putback and junior Asher Bennetts added a basket to trim the margin to 68‑63. That was as close as M‑CHS would get, as University closed out the game at the free‑throw line.
Head coach Mike Hall subbed in his bench late to ensure the full roster experienced the program’s first state‑tournament run in seven years.
Hall finished with 22 points, while Hartsoe added 16. Oliver scored nine, and Watts and Bane contributed six apiece.
Nitzel led University with 26 points, including 22 after halftime. Classmate River Sawyer added 19, with 13 before the break.
M‑CHS ends one of the winningest seasons in program history at 25‑1. The Panthers won the IML title and earned their first regional championship since 2019. Seniors Hartsoe, Oliver and Eli Slim close out careers that saw the program rise from a seven‑win freshman season to one of the best years in school history.
University advances to face Peak to Peak in the semifinals. Defending champion Kent Denver meets Timnath in the other 4A semifinal.
