Sterling girls basketball moves into Great 8

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The Sterling High School girls basketball team has advanced to the Great 8 round of the Class 4A state tournament after defeating Rifle and Pagosa Springs in the regional playoffs. The No. 5 Tigers first beat No. 28 Rifle 63-39, then edged out No. 12 Pagosa Springs 37-35 in the regional championship game. They will now face No. 4 Holy Family in the quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum on Wednesday.

Why it matters

Sterling girls basketball has continued its strong postseason run, making it to the Great 8 round of the state tournament. This is an impressive achievement for the Tigers, who have proven their ability to win close games against tough opponents. The team's success has generated excitement in the local community and highlights the strength of the program.

The details

In the regional tournament, the Tigers first defeated Rifle 63-39, overcoming a slow start to pull away in the second half. The next day, they faced a tough test against Pagosa Springs, winning a close 37-35 battle to advance. Holy Family, the No. 4 seed, also won its regional games to set up the quarterfinal matchup with Sterling.

• The Tigers defeated Rifle 63-39 on March 7, 2026.
• The Tigers defeated Pagosa Springs 37-35 on March 8, 2026.
• The Tigers will face Holy Family in the Great 8 on March 12, 2026 at 11:45 a.m.

What’s next

The winner of the Sterling vs. Holy Family quarterfinal game will advance to the Class 4A state semifinals, which will be held on March 14, 2026 at the Denver Coliseum.