Recapping the action for area teams as the girls' basketball playoffs began Tuesday for classifications 6A-4A.

4A

No. 14 TCA 41, No. 19 Summit 37

At The Classical Academy: Two free throws from Alaina Bonacquista with 5.3 seconds finally sealed a nailbiter for TCA in the 4A girls’ playoffs, which started with first-round action on Tuesday.

The Titans had led by 13 points in the first half, but Summit (13-11) kept chipping away at that advantage before finally tying it at 33-33 with 3:47 remaining.

A bucket from 6-foot-1 freshman Naomi Flowers on the following possession put TCA back in front, and a driving bucket from senior Mairin Carpenter helped protect the lead.

Finally, it was Bonacquista who had the chance to put it away. And the Titans couldn’t have chosen a better player to take the decisive foul shots. Bonacquista became the program’s all-time leading scorer this season was the first girls’ player in school history to surpass 1,000 points in her career.

On to the 4A girls second round for ⁦@TCATitans⁩ as they survive 41-37 in a thriller vs. Summit. pic.twitter.com/U50zVeeCY2

— Brent Briggeman (@BrentBriggeman) February 21, 2024

Bonacquista finished with a team-high 18 points for TCA (19-5), which has won 11 of 12. The lone loss in that stretch came on the road to 6A playoff qualifier Fountain-Fort Carson.

The Titans will travel to face No. 3 Riverdale Ridge on Friday.

No. 5 Pagosa Springs 40, No. 28 Manitou Springs 16

At Pagosa Springs: Manitou Springs (8-14) saw its season end in the first round of the playoffs.

The Mustangs scored just three points in each quarter in the second half as Pagosa Springs surged to its seventh consecutive victory.

The Pirates (20-4) have held three of their past five opponents to 16 points or fewer.

6A

No. 19 Doherty 65, No. 14 Rocky Mountain 42

At Rocky Mountain: Doherty outscored Rocky Mountain 22-8 in a dominant third quarter that propelled it into the second round

Rocky Mountain (17-7) stormed out to a 7-0 lead, but a barrage of Spartans 3-pointers — Tahlaya Biglow, Avery Blanc, Addison Leasure, Bri Mansanares each had a 3 in the first half — helped put them ahead 31-23 at halftime.

Biglow led Doherty (12-12) with 17 points.

The Spartans, who made a run to the 6A quarterfinals last year, will face No. 3 Legend on Friday.

No. 5 Pine Creek 41, No. 28 Fossil Ridge 32

Full recap from The Gazette's Marcus Hill

No. 1 Cherokee Trail 69, No. 32 Fountain-Fort Carson 28

At Cherokee Trail: Fountain-Fort Carson (13-9) fell behind 41-16 in the first half as it was eliminated by top-seeded Cherokee Trail.

The Cougars (22-2) haven’t lost to a team from Colorado this season and have won five games by 40-plus points.

5A

No. 1 Air Academy 79, No. 32 Widefield 44

At Air Academy: Lydia Flowers scored 26 points, Tatyonna Brown added 21 and Caitlin Kramer poured in 19 as top-seeded Air Academy overcame a feisty early effort from Widefield.

The Gladiators (16-8) hit six early 3-pointers (two apiece from Kasaya Krause and Isabella Monk and one each from Zariah Ortiz and Bailey Solano) as they were within 27-23 deep into the second quarter.

The Kadets (23-1) stretched the lead to 37-27 at halftime and outscored the guests 22-11 in the third quarter to pull away.

Monk led Widefield with 24 points.

Air Academy will host another area foe in the second round, as it will face No. 17 Palmer Ridge on Friday.

No. 13 Lewis-Palmer 34, No. 20 Cañon City 25

Full recap from The Gazette's Carson Field

No. 17 Palmer Ridge 49, No. 16 Evergreen 36

At Evergreen: Palmer Ridge (15-9) led 22-16 at halftime and snapped a two-game playoff skid, earning its first postseason win since Feb. 22, 2022.

Evergreen (16-8) closed the season with three losses in four games.

The Bears will face top-seeded Air Academy in the second round Friday.

No. 2 Roosevelt 61, No. 31 Falcon 31

At Roosevelt: Cobelyn Wiesner scored 10 points for Falcon, which never fully recovered from Roosevelt’s hot start.

The Roughriders (22-2) jumped to a 16-2 lead and the Falcons (15-9) were never again within single digits.