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Legend Titans head coach Darren Pitzner pumps up his team before the first half of their Great 8 game against the Horizon Hawks at the Denver Coliseum in the Colorado High School Basketball Tournament on Thursday, February 29, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver)
As Legends Women’s Basketball continues to make history, we want everyone to remember that you are enough.
That’s the philosophy of the Cason Pearson Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in memory of the former Green Mountain basketball player who died by suicide in January. The Titans have decided to use the publicity gained from advancing to the Denver Coliseum, where they will play Regis Jesuit in the Final Four, to promote the foundation’s cause and message.
“These girls wanted to use their time in the spotlight to do something bigger than themselves,” said legendary head coach Darren Pitzner, who previously coached at Green Mountain. did. “The funds raised by this foundation will go to future young baseball players and future college athletes. I’m proud of the girls I recognize.
“Cason was a very dedicated baseball player, so it’s important for all baseball players here and everywhere to understand that their coaches love them, their families love them and they have a lot to live for.” Whatever you’re going through, people are here for kids and we’re here to talk about it. …We want kids to know how important they are. I want to.”
Pearson, a 2022 graduate of Green Mountain College, passed away on January 5th. It was a tragic end to Mr Pearson’s 10-year battle with depression. In their grief, his family wanted to establish an organization that would honor his legacy for years to come.
The Cason Pearson Memorial Scholarship Fund awards five scholarships each year, with the first five awarded in the spring. Three of those he offers to local middle school or high school players for $500, which helps offset club basketball costs. The remaining two, valued at $2,500 each, will be given to local high school seniors who plan to play college basketball.
The family plans to hold a fundraising event on April 6, which would have been Pearson’s 20th birthday, with a fun run and knockout tournament at Green Mountain. Scholarship applications are ongoing.
Pitzner is a friend and colleague of Pearson’s mother, Jackie Pearson. He is the president and founder of JP Sports, which has operated youth basketball leagues and tournaments in the Denver metro area since 2001. Pitzner works as an umpire for JP Sports, where he makes thought putts. A scholarship fund at the forefront of the Legends’ postseason efforts would be a fitting way to help the family.
Jackie Pearson, who is still processing her grief, said the Titans’ support was “heartwarming and really moving.”
Jackie Pearson said, “When Cason was in a good space, he was the nicest kid I ever met.” “His smile, his light cheered everyone up. But then he would go home and just go to this dark place. He wrote a poem that we found only after spending the night. and how he hated the night and how he hated having to fight demons at night.”
Depression and suicide remain major problems in the United States, as the second leading cause of death among 10- to 14-year-olds and 20- to 34-year-olds, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To increase awareness, all Titans social media posts mentioning the playoffs also include mention of the Cason Pearson Memorial Scholarship Fund.
“Pitzner allows us to focus on the fact that everything we’re doing is for a greater purpose,” said legendary junior guard Ava Gabi. “Winning (our first league championship), it’s an accomplishment for everyone at the school. We have to stay humble and play for others. That’s what (promoting the Cason Foundation) is about. Everything I do is about more than myself and the game.”
Motivated by Cason’s story, the Legends (24-2) are on the court for a Final Four rematch against Regis Jesuit, which the Titans won 68-53 in the Continental League Championship on Feb. 16. It also focuses on enhancing the details. The Raiders have one of the top players in the Class of 2024, Hannah Belibi Sr. from Harvard, who averages 17.8 points.
The Legends’ only real loss this season was a 52-42 loss to top-seeded Cherokee Trail on Jan. 8. The other loss was a win-loss loss due to eligibility issues. Cherokee Trail is on the other side of the Class 6A bracket and will face Valor Christian in the Final Four.
“We came out scared in that game,” junior guard Marie Wilhelm said. “But then we understand what we have to do to grow into a better team and (in the big moments) play without too much fear of playing against great teams and winning. I was able to do that.”
After dominating teams all season, the Titans crushed their first 10 opponents before losing to the Cougars, winning by an average margin of 38 points. The Legends have always believed that making it to the Final Four was proof that they were the real deal.
They are led by senior captain Katie Lamb. Wilhelm, Gabi and junior Grace Stanley are showing dynamic guard play. They have a dual threat in the paint in junior forwards Mason Borcherding and Aubrey Cook. He has a stifling full-court defense that can break the will of his opponents.
And now they have a chance to win the school’s first basketball state title.
“I heard a lot of buzz on Twitter all season, so I didn’t have enough competition,” Borcharding said. “But we couldn’t do anything about schedule. And yeah, we were blowing teams out.
“But the fact that we’re here and we won (at the Great 8 Over Horizon) proves we should be here. Even though we’re here (at the end of the tournament) I heard all the talk about not being worthy and it was proven wrong.”
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