COLORADO SPRINGS — The state basketball championship games for 1A boys and girls, 4A boys and girls, and 5A girls are on Saturday at World Arena.
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COLORADO SPRINGS — The goal for Belleview Christian is always to hold its opponent to single digits each quarter. In the Class 1A boys basketball state championship game, the Bruins went above and beyond that goal.
They allowed De Beque to score just seven points in the entire first half and cruised to a 69-35 win to capture the state championship, the first for the school since winning back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000.
They knew in order to come away with that coveted championship win, the important thing was getting out to a fast start and limiting what Jaden Jordan and Wes Ryan could do for the Dragons (16-2 overall).
More photos. (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)
“It was extremely important,” senior Logan Owen said. “We knew we had to come out and hold them under 10 points (apiece). Our goal is single-point quarters. We executed and came out and got that done.”
It wasn’t much of a surprise to see sophomore standout Assane Diop dominate in multiple fascets of the game. He finished his day with a game-high 22 points and 20 rebounds. He also dished out seven assists and blocked four shots.
It’s been a theme for Diop all season and has made him one of the most talked about players throughout the entire state. Perhaps what’s most impressive is his ability to push forward even on the rarest of days when he has an off game.
“If I have a bad game, if I pass poorly or don’t do my job, (my team) always pushes me,” Diop said. “That’s the most important thing.”
He had 12 points and 12 rebounds in the first half as the Bruins (16-0) built a 36-7 lead. Those first two quarters took the pressure off the Bruins and allowed them to play the game on their terms in the second half. It also gave them relief that their game plan to slow down Ryan and Jordan was working.
“We knew coming in that Wes is a great player and we knew that he had to be our focus the whole game,” coach Timothy Owen said. “If he gets hot their whole team gets hot and thrives on his play.”
Ryan and Jordan accounted for all seven of the Dragons’ first-half points. Jordan ended the game with 13 while Ryan had seven.
Belleview Christian got points from just four players as Diop led with 22, Davin Hunter had 20, Logan Owen had 14 and Nathaniel Owen had 13.
Logan Owen will be leaving as a senior this year, but the overall outcome excites him for what this team will look to do in future years.
“I have full faith they can get it again next year,” he said.
The Bruins’ 34-point win is the biggest margin of victory in a 1A championship game as pointed out by Kevin Shaffer of ColoradoPreps.com. The previous was 31 points when Kim beat Ridgway 61-30 in 1996.
More photos. (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)
COLORADO SPRINGS — The state basketball championship games for 2A boys and girls, 3A boys and girls, and 5A boys are on Saturday at World Arena.
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COLORADO SPRINGS — Junior Arambula made one bold declaration to his coach and his teammates. He was going to have to be dragged out of the Broadmoor World Arena if he didn’t have a state championship trophy in his hands.
Luckily, he gets to walk out on his own. And he’ll be carrying history with him. Arambula was all heart and emotion and his 13 points helped Wray beat Limon 56-50 to claim the Class 2A boys basketball title, the first in the school’s history.
“This is only my third year (playing basketball),” Arambula said. “I came over from wrestling after my freshman year. Anytime I step on this court, or any court, I carry it with me that the only way you’re going to beat us is if you drag every one of out of here, whether we’re broken, bleeding or dead.”
They were nearly dead in the water.
The Badgers (16-2) jumped out to a 34-24 lead heading into halftime as Tory Tacha broke out for 11 points, the most of all players in the first half. As the Eagles (16-0) made their way to the locker room, they felt a mixture of disappointment and anger with their play in the first half.
“When we went to the locker room, we were all pretty mad,” Bryant Schoenthal said. “Our heads were down.”
More photos. (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)
By the time they took the floor to start the second half. They clamped down defensively and allowed just one Limon basket in the third quarter and took a 37-36 lead heading into the fourth.
Camden Smithburg scored at will in the fourth quarter to Limon take a two-point edge late in the game. He finished with a game-high 18 points. A timely steal and bucket pulled the Eagles even at 45, sending both teams to overtime, which gave Wray a shot of energy heading into the additional four minutes.
“We have so much trust in each other,” coach Karson Kuntz said. “Our team chemistry is real. We talk about real energy versus fake energy. We have real team chemistry and these kids genuinely love each other.”
They put that trust and that love in each other on display in overtime, grabbing a quick lead and never looking back.
They were solid from the free throw line all night, going 12-for-14, the two missed shots coming when they were up six with less than 10 seconds left on the clock.
That effort gives this team the honor of doing something that has never been done in the school’s history.
“I’m so proud of them,” Kuntz said. “This has been a five-year journey. The seniors were in eighth grade when I moved to Wray. We won a junior high championship – also the first in school history – and we knew this could be something special.”
It was special just in the way the boys fought for it. Arambula boldly told his teammates that he wasn’t leaving the World Arena without a championship. Minutes later, he had trophy in arms.
And as he carried it out, he could only think of one thing:
“It’s heavy,” he said.
More photos. (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)
More photos. (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)
Montrose boys basketball is headed to the 4A championship game following its 48-33 win over Longmont.
Spectator information for the 2021 state basketball championship games, set for Saturday and Sunday at World Arena in Colorado Springs, has been announced.
Schools will each have the ability to have 75 spectators each. Due to capacity limitations, there are no tickets available for the general public at the state basketball championships.
Tickets for qualifying teams will be distributed through each school’s athletic director.
ThunderRidge boys basketball beat Chaparral 62-47 in the 5A Great 8 on Tuesday.
No. 3 Rangeview had to battle, but the Raiders beat No. 11 Rock Canyon 66-55 to reach the Class 5A boys basketball Final 4.
No. 7 George Washington boys basketball went on the road and beat No. 2 Regis Jesuit 54-52 in the Class 5A Great 8 on Tuesday.
(Josue Perez)
MONTROSE — For the first time since 1992, Montrose boys basketball is headed to the Final 4.
In a matchup of unbeaten teams, Montrose topped Steamboat Springs 61-47 in the Class 4A Great 8.
“Great team win tonight,” Montrose coach Ryan Voehringer said. “I thought our team defense was outstanding. Steamboat is very well-coached and very hard to guard. A credit to my guys.”
Aside from an early 6-4 Steamboat lead, Montrose controlled the game from the start. It was 16-9 after the first quarter, 31-21 at halftime, and 43-32 after three quarters.
“I thought we did a nice job of executing on the offensive end and putting guys in nice positions to score against a very good defensive team,” Voehringer said. “I’m so happy for these guys. They’ve worked so hard for this opportunity. I told them on the way out of the locker room enjoy the moment and take nothing for granted.”
Luke Hutto scored 24 points and aded four assists and five rebounds to lead Montrose.
“I think it was our best team win of the season,” Hutto said. “Everyone brought something to the table and we all scored and defended when we needed too. I’m excited to play in the Final 4 and we’ve definitely earned it.”
(Josue Perez)
Ashden Oberg added 18 points and nine rebounds.
“It was a physical game and they were a good team and we came together as a team and played our game,” Oberg said.
Trey Reese scored 11, had five rebounds, and three assists.
“That was one of the best games we ever had,” Reese said. “I think Luke and Oberg had big possessions in the game. We got to the line and made our free throws. Another step closer to what we all been working on all year.”
Steamboat was led by Cade Gedeon, who had 17 points, and Parker Lindquist, who had nine.
“It wasn’t our night,” Steamboat coach Michael Vandahl said. “The more aggressive team. I am extremely proud of our seniors.”
(Josue Perez)