Salida girls win first basketball state championship, Banning Lewis boys take third

Salida Spartans defeat Yuma 48-38 to claim their first ever girls basketball state title, while Banning Lewis Stallions take third place.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:53pm

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In the Class 3A Colorado high school basketball championships, the Salida Spartans girls team defeated Yuma 48-38 to win their first ever state title. Meanwhile, the Banning Lewis Stallions boys team took third place after defeating St. Mary's 54-40.

Why it matters

This is a historic achievement for the Salida girls basketball program, which has never won a state championship before. The win caps off an impressive 25-3 season for the Spartans. For Banning Lewis, the third place finish is a strong showing for the Stallions boys team.

The details

Salida trailed for only 5 seconds in the first quarter before taking control of the game. They led 19-18 at halftime and extended their lead to 33-27 by the end of the third quarter. Salida's Braedon Johnson had a game-high 22 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, while Graysa Kindle recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. In the boys third place game, Banning Lewis rallied from an early deficit to defeat St. Mary's 54-40 behind 15 points each from Zander Muna and Cruz Artecheverria.

  • The girls championship game was played on March 14, 2026.
  • The boys third place game was also played on March 14, 2026.

The players

Braedon Johnson

A standout player for the Salida Spartans girls basketball team, scoring a game-high 22 points in the state championship win.

Graysa Kindle

The Salida Spartans girls basketball player recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds in the state title game.

Zander Muna

The point guard for the Banning Lewis Stallions boys basketball team, he scored 15 points in the third place game.

Cruz Artecheverria

The leading scorer for the St. Mary's Pirates boys basketball team, he also had 15 points in the third place game.

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What they’re saying

“This is such an accomplishment for our program. The girls have worked so hard and they deserve this championship.”

— Salida Head Coach

What’s next

The Salida girls basketball team will look to defend their state title next season, while the Banning Lewis boys team will aim to build on their third place finish.

The takeaway

The Salida Spartans girls basketball team's first ever state championship is a testament to the dedication and talent of the players, as well as the strength of the program. Meanwhile, the Banning Lewis Stallions boys team showed their resilience in bouncing back to take third place.