AURORA >> This winter’s girls basketball season was a special one at Niwot High School.

A year after winning just five games in 2023-24, the Cougars’ most recent campaign marked the first time the program won double-digit games in eight seasons. That accomplishment awarded the Cougars the No. 34 seed in the Class 5A state tournament and the opportunity to face No. 31 Aurora Central in Wednesday’s play-in round.

The Niwot girls nearly took their emergent season a step farther, falling just short, 35-33, on the road. The season-ending loss was tough to swallow.

Despite the postgame heartbreak, Niwot head coach Todd Trobaugh encouraged his team to find solace in how the competitive spirit it displayed throughout Wednesday’s long-awaited postseason appearance — and each game that preceded it — was a huge step forward for the program.

“They’re hurting,” Trobaugh said. “We’ve got five seniors in there, and this was a big moment for them to get to the playoffs. And they’re obviously a little crestfallen. But we tried to remind them that no Niwot team has been here in a decade or more. Shots didn’t fall today for us but they never quit playing. I couldn’t be prouder of them.

“Had they won, I wouldn’t be prouder of them.”

Aurora Central (14-8) opened the game on a 13-0 run and held Niwot (10-14) scoreless until 1 minute, 56 seconds remained in the first quarter. The Cougars were down 15-3 after the first quarter and trailed 22-9 at half- time.

The second half was a different story, as the Cougars’ defense helped them outscore Aurora Central, 15-8, in the third quarter.

“We need to score baskets off of pressure,” Trobaugh said. “We are not gonna be the prettiest shooting team around, but that (defense) is part of our DNA, our bread and butter. That was a huge difference. We started using our pressure to get our hands on the ball.”

Down 30-24 to start the fourth quarter, the Cougars cut the lead to 33-32 with 1:35 left in the game. With only a few seconds left to inbound the ball at their own end, the Cougars had a chance to launch a long potential game-winner from just inside half court, but it didn’t find the mark.

Seniors Thalia Almaraz and Jiselle Sales, who scored seven points in the third quarter to help pace the Cougars’ comeback effort, led Niwot with 10 points apiece. Freshman Alaina Loomis scored seven points.

No. 2 Mead will host Aurora Central in the first round on Saturday.