DENVER – Six Colorado high school girls basketball teams were crowned state champions Saturday, culminating the 2026 tournaments hosted by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA). Salida High School secured its first-ever title in Class 3A, defeating Yuma 48-38, even as Lutheran High School claimed its sixth championship in Class 5A, besting Green Mountain.
The championship games, played across six classifications, also saw victories for McClave (Class 1A), Simla (Class 2A), Highlands Ranch (Class 6A), and Holy Family (Class 4A). For McClave, it marked their second consecutive state title, and for Simla and Highlands Ranch, the wins represented their first championships since 2011. Holy Family secured their eighth state title, and first since 2023.
Salida’s victory was particularly notable, as the fifth-seeded Spartans overcame Yuma with a strong performance led by senior Braeden Johnson, who scored a game-high 22 points. Johnson’s key three-pointer in the first half helped establish Salida’s lead, a momentum they maintained throughout the game. Junior Reagan Osness contributed 11 points, and senior Graysa Kindle added 10 for Salida. “It’s surreal. It’s unbelievable,” said Salida coach Christopher Bainbridge. “This hard work that we started three years ago with one goal paid off.”
In the 5A championship, Lutheran defeated Green Mountain to secure their sixth state title. The 4A final saw Holy Family pull away for their eighth state championship, defeating Kent Denver. Highlands Ranch surprised Northfield to win the 6A title, claiming their eighth overall state championship. Simla rose to the top in the 2A title game, defeating Merino, and McClave continued their dominance in 1A, winning their sixth overall and second-straight championship by defeating Flagler.
The tournaments concluded Saturday with championship games held across the state. Bracket information and box scores from all six classifications are available on the CHSAA website.
