CHSAANow

Month: March 2015

  • Sanford beats Resurrection Christian in OT to win 2A boys basketball title

    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
    Sanford won the 2A boys basketball championship in overtime on Saturday. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    PUEBLO – With the crowd roaring and a state championship on the line, Clayton Peterson slowed his heartbeat down.

    The senior calmly made two free throws with 11.7 seconds left, propelling the Indians to a dramatic 47-44 overtime victory over Resurrection Christian in the Class 2A state championship game between unbeaten teams at a packed Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Massari Arena.

    “I was pretty nervous with the game on the line,” said Peterson about his mindset before he stepped to the line for his first free throw attempts of the game. “I was confident with all the hard work I had put in at the line that I was going to knock them down. This is fantastic. It feels even better than the one we won last year.”

    Sanford finished the season 27-0 and claimed the school’s seventh state boys basketball title. A year ago, the Indians had a 26-1 record, culminating with their 58-53 victory over Akron in the finals. Resurrection Christian (25-1) was playing in its first boys basketball state title game in school history.

    “That was a great game against a great team, and I’m really proud of my guys,” veteran Sanford coach Rhett Larsen said. “We have a bunch of guys who play hard and I’m so proud of them. Clayton is a good free throw shooter and I was really happy he went to the line, and I had confidence he would make them.”

    Following Peterson’s second free throw, Resurrection had one last gasp to try and tie the game. The Cougars rushed the ball up the court and Tanner Ervin got the ball at the left of the top of the key. The talented sophomore was able to find some open space with Sanford’s Dustin Faucette guarding him.

    Ervin launched a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left, and the ball hit the front of the rim. The Cougars got the rebound, but couldn’t get another shot off before the buzzer sounded setting off a wild celebration for Sanford.

    “He Ervin was never too hot (Saturday) night,” Faucette, a senior, said. “I just figured I was going to stick in his hip pocket and do all I could to make sure he never got a shot off. That was insane that he got that good of a look on me and I was praying it wouldn’t go in and it went in our favor.”

    Bruce Dick, Resurrection’s coach, praised his team’s effort.

    “I’m so proud of those guys,” Dick said. “There was not a dry eye in the locker room and it means a lot to them. It was such a blessing to be around this team and I hurt for them. They wanted it so bad.”

    In overtime, neither team could get much separation, but when Miles Caldon made two free throws with 50.1 seconds remaining, the Indians went ahead 45-42.

    Ervin was called for a travel with 41.7 second left, but Sanford couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity as the Indians were called for a 10-second violation at 30.7 seconds.

    On Resurrection’s next possession, Luke Mondt rebounded an Ervin missed trey and put in a basket getting the Cougars within 45-44, setting the stage for Peterson’s heroics.

    Caldon paced Sanford with 15 points. Mondt and Luke Fick had 17 and 14 points in the Cougars’ loss.

  • Overland boys basketball win 5A title, school’s first

    Overland ThunderRidge boys basketball
    Overland won the 5A boys basketball title. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    BOULDER — It was quite a Saturday night for Overland senior Austin Conway.

    First, his future college — University of Wyoming — earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Mountain West Tournament championship with an upset of San Diego State. Then Conway scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Trailblazers to first boys basketball state championship in the 37-year history of the school.

    “To win two championships is a special day,” Conway said on the court after Overland defeated ThunderRidge 55-42 at the Coors Events Center in the Class 5A title game. “I’ll tell my kids about that.”

    Conway and fellow guard junior Reggie Gibson attacked the rim early-and-often in Overland’s first appearance in a basketball championship game since 1990. Gibson finished with 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting.

    Conway credited Overland coach Danny Fisher’s game-plan of using the Trailblazers’ speed to slash to the basket.

    “We knew we (Gibson and Conway) had to show up,” Gibson said. “With us having a big, ThunderRidge having a big we knew somebody needed to step up. Us guards stepped up and we came away with the win.”

    Overland ThunderRidge boys basketball
    More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    It was an anticipated match-up between two of the most dominant big men in the state. Overland junior De’Ron Davis (6-foot-10 and 240 pounds) and ThunderRidge senior Zach Pirog (6-foot-10 and 205 pounds) went toe-to-toe for four quarters.

    Davis and Pirog nearly cancelled each other out on both ends of the court. Davis still got the better of the match-up with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Pirog had four points and nine rebounds.

    “Zach is a good player, physical,” Davis said. “I wish him the best.”

    Pirog has signed to continue his basketball career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Despite being just a junior, Davis already has numerous Division I offers from the likes of Oregon, Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, Arizona, UCLA, Indiana, Colorado, Purdue and Arkansas.

    ThunderRidge never led, but made a late push in the fourth quarter. Senior Noah Szilagyi (15 points) and Austin Mueller (eight points) combined for three 3-pointers in the final quarter to close Overland’s lead to six points. However, Overland was clutch at the free-throw line in the final three minutes going 11-for-12.

    “No one forgot what ‘Overland versus everybody’ meant. We all went out there and contributed,” Conway said. “We all laid our hearts out on the line to win. We wanted to prove that our hard work wouldn’t be wasted.”

    Losing just two starters (Conway and Ryan Swan) to graduation, the talk of a repeat was already being discussed by the Trailblazers.

    “If he (Davis) stays I feel like we can go back-to-back,” Gibson said. “Win it all two years in a row.”

    Davis didn’t hesitate when asked if he would go to a prep school or return to Overland for his senior year.

    “I’m coming back for sure,” Davis said. “I’m coming back and trying to repeat this thing.”

    It was the fifth different 5A state champion in as many years. Denver East (2014), Eaglecrest (2013), Chaparral (2012) and Regis Jesuit (2011) won titles in the largest classification the previous four years to show a sign of parity recently.

    “To think about winning a state championship game in the last game of your high school career is something you dream about,” Conway said. “When it comes true it’s a blessing and overwhelming.”

    Conway and ThunderRidge junior Clay Verk (eight points) had their moments in the first half. Conway poured in seven points in the opening quarter, lifting the Trailblazers to a 15-7 lead after eight minutes.

    Verk came off the bench for the Grizzlies with a strong second quarter. The junior had six points as ThunderRidge closed Overland’s advantage to 21-18 at halftime. Both teams shot just above the 30 percent mark in the opening half.

    ThunderRidge was playing in its sixth 5A title games since 2002. The Grizzlies had back-to-back state championships in 2002 and 2003, but now has had to settle for state runner-up in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2015.

  • Photos: 2A boys and girls basketball’s championship games

    PUEBLO — The championship games for Class 2A boys and girls basketball are Saturday at the Colorado School of Mines.

    Find photos from each game below.

    Go to:


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    4A: (3) Akron 53, (4) Yuma 48



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    5A: (2) Sanford 47, (1) Resurrection Christian 44

  • Photos: Boys basketball’s 4A and 5A final 4

    BOULDER — The Final 4 of Class 4A and 5A boys basketball is on Friday at the Coors Events Center.

    Find photos from each game below.

    More coverage:

    Go to:


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    Class 4A

    (2) Air Academy 54, (4) Lewis Palmer 51



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    (1) Longmont 54, (2) Sierra 51



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    Class 5A

    (1) ThunderRidge 57, (1) Eaglecrest 47



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    (1) Overland 72, (6) Denver East 52

    20150313_OVERLANDvsDENVEREAST_0005
    Overland’s Ryan Swan (34) dunks on a fast-break against Denver East in a 5A semifinal at the Coors Events Center. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

     

  • Photos: 3A boys and girls basketball Final 4s

    GOLDEN — The Final 4s for Class 3A boys and girls basketball are Friday at the Colorado School of Mines. Scroll down for photos from each game.

    Go to:


    [divider]

    Girls: (1) Sterling 36, (4) Manitou Springs 34



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    Boys: (2) Colorado Springs Christian 40, (3) Lutheran 31



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    Girls: (2) Pagosa Springs 52, (3) Lutheran 45



    [divider]

    Boys: (4) Colorado Academy 73, (1) Faith Christian 67 (OT)

  • Air Academy boys basketball reaches first title game since 1989

    Air Academy Lewis Palmer boys basketball
    This block, by David Louthan, ensured Air Academy would advance to the 4A title game. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    BOULDER — A block at the buzzer by Air Academy senior David Louthan on a 3-point attempt from Lewis-Palmer sealed the Kadets’ first trip to a boys state basketball championship game since 1989.

    “Anything to not give up a 3-point shot was our motto,” Louthan said after Air Academy’s 54-51 victory over Air Academy in the Class 4A semifinals Friday night at the Coors Events Center. “If I had to foul I would have. I was doing everything I could not to give up a three.”

    Lewis-Palmer junior Sam Strasburger launched the 3-pointer at the buzzer that could have sent the game into overtime, but Louthan was able to get a hand on the shot and the ball fell well short of the rim.

    “(Lewis-Palmer) had a pretty good designed play,” Air Academy senior Austin Dewing said of the final play. “David (Louthan) has got some long arms and good hops. He got out and got a hand on it.”

    The Kadets (23-4 record) play for their first boys basketball title in 26 years back in Boulder on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

    Air Academy Lewis-Palmer boys basketball
    More photos. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

    It won’t be the first title experience for several Kadets. Dewing, Louthan, Henry Yocum, James Sims and Mark Beatty were all key players for Air Academy’s boys soccer team that went 20-0 in the fall on the way to the 4A state championship.

    Despite experiencing the pressure of the postseason, Air Academy struggled offensively in the opening half.

    At halftime it was all tied up, 21-21. Air Academy’s full-court press yielded some easy buckets in transition, but the Kadets couldn’t capitalize with its opportunities from the free-throw line. Air Academy was just 2-for-9 from the charity stripe in the opening half.

    “The first half there were all sorts of jitters. We’ve got to work on that for tomorrow,” said Dewing, who had 34 goals and was named the 4A player of the year. “Some of us have been in state finals before, but we haven’t been in a state basketball final. We’ve got to come out a lot stronger.”

    Friday night was the third meeting between the Pikes Peak League rivals. Lewis-Palmer was victorious 61-53 in the showdown Jan. 23. Air Academy rebounded with a 68-47 win over the Rangers on Feb. 18.

    “Lewis-Palmer is a phenomenal team,” Dewing said of the third meeting. “I just glad we came out on top. It was close.”

    Free throw shooting nearly did in Air Academy. The Kadets finished the 8-for-20 from the line, including missing four free throws in the final minute when they could have put the game away.

    “It was ugly on our part,” said Louthan of the final minutes. He also admitted Air Academy must play better to win the championship game Saturday.

    Louthan and senior Paul Ambuul each finished with 16 points to lead the way for the Kadets. Ambuul dominated inside the paint going 7-for-8 from the field. Dewing contributed 10 points and six assists.

    Air Academy’s full-court pressure was broken by Lewis-Palmer at times, but did result in 17 turnovers for the Rangers.

    “You live or die by it in many ways,” Louthan said of the Kadets’ full-court pressure defense. “I think fortunately we got enough steals to pull off the win.”

    Lewis-Palmer hasn’t been a stranger to postseason success. Besides winning back-to-back 4A state titles in 2012 and 2013, the Rangers have advanced down to the Final 4 in Boulder five straight years before last season’s second-round loss to Thompson Valley ended their streak of advancing into the state semifinals.

    Rangers’ junior Jonathan Scott led the way for the Rangers (19-8). Scott had 15 points. Strasburger finished with a dozen points and junior Charlie Hovasse came off the bench for 12 points.

    A bright spot for Lewis-Palmer is it returns a host of key players who will be back for their senior season next year.

  • Longmont holds off Sierra to reach 4A boys basketball championship

    Sierra Longmont boys basketball
    Longmont is in the title game for the first time since 1997. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    BOULDER — In a game of inches, adjustments matter. And in Friday’s Class 4A boys basketball semifinal matchup between the Longmont Trojans and the Sierra Stallions, there was never much breathing room — on the court and on the scoreboard.

    So Longmont head coach Jeff Kloster’s decision to switch to a trapping, zone defense to start the second quarter paid major dividends, as the Trojans defeated the high-flying Stallions 43-36 to advance to the championship this Sunday at the CU Event Center in Boulder.

    “The biggest thing was making sure that we were always in what we call a contain situation, where everyone was accountable, and for the most part we contained them,” said Kloster after the game. “We knew they were very athletic and we needed to make sure we kept the ball away from the hoop.”

    Not that it as easy for the Trojans — in a game with seven lead changes and numerous momentum swings, the Stallions were able to keep the game tight after trailing by as many as nine in the second quarter.

    Sierra senior Keandre Lewis was a big part of the Stallions keeping the game close. Lewis finished with 15 points and four steals, part of 13 steals on the night for Sierra. The Stallions were able to convert those steals into fast-break points on the other end, the kind of easy points that were hard to come by against Longmont’s stout defense.

    The Stallions had other opportunities. They pulled down 13 offensive rebounds when they were able to get into the paint, but struggled to finish inside, converting just 31.1 percent of their shots from the field on the night.

    And with the game tied at 35 and five minutes remaining, Longmont had one more trump card left in their back pocket. According to Kloster, Longmont’s ability to pull away late didn’t involve much coaching on his part; he just had to let his best player — junior Justinian Jessup — be himself.

    Sierra Longmont boys basketball
    More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    “J.J. is J.J. He’s a special player, the best two-way player I’ve ever had in the last 24 years of Longmont high school,” said Kloster. “He’s just one of those kids where you just allow him to do his thing.”

    Jessup certainly did that and more down the stretch, with eight of Longmont’s ten points in the final frame. He got things started with a nifty pickpocket in the backcourt which he turned into two points at the rim, and with Sierra trying to prolong the game, he converted all four of the free throws to help grow the gap.

    “Their speed and quickness on the perimeter, those kind of teams you have to be patient with the ball and try and get good shots,” said Jessup. “We didn’t do a good job of that all the time but during those last four minutes we did a really good job.”

    Jessup finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocked shots, all game-highs. Longmont junior forward Kevin Mitchell added ten points of his own as Longmont’s second-leading scorer.

    In the end, the work of Jessup, plus a suffocating defensive effort in the fourth — the Trojans held Sierra to just four points in the final frame — was enough to move Longmont on to their first state championship title game since 1997.

    “It took everyone, a great team effort when we had to buckle down late. Defense is what won the ballgame. The composure of us in the last three, four minutes — tremendous composure,” said Kloster. “The thing I’ve got to say about my kids, they compete. Down the stretch, they showed their grit.”

    With just one game left to go, Longmont will try and keep their undefeated season alive and win their first title game since 1942 against Air Academy on Saturday in Boulder. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m.

  • ThunderRidge boys hoops earns 5A title shot with win over Eaglecrest

    Eaglecrest Thunderridge boys basketball
    ThunderRidge boys basketball is on to the 5A title game. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    BOULDER — ThunderRidge had no time to celebrate Friday night at the Coors Events Center.

    Despite a 57-47 victory over Eaglecrest in the Class 5A state basketball semifinal to send the Grizzlies into the championship game for the first time since 2008, ThunderRidge coach Joe Ortiz was already thinking about Saturday night’s 8:30 p.m. title game back in Boulder.

    “It feels great, but you don’t get to enjoy this. You really don’t celebrate the semis,” said Ortiz who guided the Grizzlies to back-to-back 5A state titles in 2002 and 2003. “You have 24 hours to get ready for the final. The coaches will meet after this game and then in the morning. We’ll meet with our players at 10 a.m. and do the best we can to get ready.”

    ThunderRidge (24-3) came out prepared in the opening minutes against Eaglecrest (21-6). The Grizzlies jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the opening quarter. Senior Zach Pirog did his damage on the inside and three different Grizzlies (Noah Szilagyi, Clay Verk and Nick Varto) connected on 3-pointers in the first quarter.

    “They would get it into me and if Eaglecrest double down our shooters … would get the kick out and bang the shots down,” said Pirog, who scored poured in 22 points. “We had trust in them and they had trust in me.”

    ThunderRidge’s lead was a much as 13 points in the first half, but Eaglecrest closed the gap to 29-22 at halftime thanks to a strong 10-0 run. ThunderRidge went scoreless for more than five minutes in the second quarter, but Szilagyi hit his third 3-pointer in the first half with 26 seconds before halftime to end the Raptors’ 10-0 run.

    ThunderRidge Eaglecrest boys basketball
    More photos. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

    The Grizzlies were 6-for-9 from 3-point range in the opening half. ThunderRidge finished 8-for-13 from long distance for the game.

    Eaglecrest used its tenacious trapping defense to slow down ThunderRidge in the second quarter. Sophomore Colbey Ross scored 10 points for the Raptors in the first half to keep Eaglecrest within striking distance. Ross finished with a game-high 26 points.

    The Raptors went on an 11-0 run in the third quarter to trim ThunderRidge’s lead to 39-35. However, junior Austin Mueller made his lone basket at a critical time. His 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter stopped Eaglecrest’s run and allowed the Grizzlies a little more breathing room with a 42-35 lead entering the fourth quarter.

    “The great thing is the kids found a way to deal with the adversity in that third quarter,” Ortiz said. “That 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter was huge.”

    Szilagyi hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game early in the quarter and Pirog went to work inside to push ThunderRidge’s lead to double-digits. The Grizzlies’ defense was impressive holding Eaglecrest to just over 30 percent from the field for the game, including 2-for-19 from 3-point range.

    “It was our defense as always,” Pirog said. “We took away their best players in Elijah Ross and Blend Avdili. We got that done. That was our job.”

    The other Ross brother had just three points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Avdili was held to 10 points.

    It was ThunderRidge’s seventh Final 4 appearance, but first since 2009. ThunderRidge had to settle for runner-up trophies in 2004, 2005 and 2008.

    “This is great, but we’ve got to win tomorrow,” Pirog said of getting back to the championship game.

    The Grizzlies came into the state tournament a little shaky. ThunderRidge dropped back-to-back Continental League games to Chaparral and Mountain Vista to finish the regular season. Despite the late-season losses, the Grizzlies still grabbed a No. 1 seed.

    “I would say for sure they helped us,” Pirog said of the two losses before the start of the postseason. “We were kind of riding high and those brought us down to Earth. Now we are back. We are back for sure.”

    Eaglecrest raised the 5A state trophy in 2013 defeating Denver East 63-44 in the championship game. Elijah Ross and Avdili both saw action in the title game as sophomore two years ago.

    ThunderRidge Eaglecrest boys basketball
    More photos. (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

  • 2A girls Final 4 roundup: Yuma basketball upsets Peyton to earn title shot

    PUEBLO — With the game deadlocked after three quarters, Yuma’s Tara Traphagan seized the moment for her team.

    The junior scored nine of her 13 points in the final quarter, vaulting the Indians to a 56-44 victory over previously unbeaten Peyton Friday in a Class 2A semifinal game at Colorado State University’s Massari Arena.

    “We just came together as a team,” Traphagan said. “We knew we wanted this more than anything and we kept our heads and pulled out the victory.”

    Yuma (21-4) moves on to its third state championship game in row. The Indians lost to Akron (2013) and Lutheran (2014) in the finals the last two years.

    Yuma will get a chance to avenge its loss to Akron as it meets the Rams (24-2) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

    The Indians are trying to win their first girls state basketball championship since 1997. Peyton (24-1) saw its season end for the second-consecutive year with a state semifinal loss to Yuma.

    “This was a great, classic semifinal game and the girls kept their composure and that’s when it is nice that we have been to the finals the previous two years,” Yuma coach Mike Neill said. “The girls stepped up and showed their maturity and did a very good job.”

    This will be the fourth meeting between Akron and Yuma this season. Akron has a 2-1 record against the Indians, including winning the last two.

    “We are going to finish this year, I know it,” Traphagan said. “I think it is good we are playing them again. We have confidence against them and this is our redemption game. We are coming back stronger than ever.”

    Against Peyton, Yuma slowly pulled away in the fourth.

    Traphagan’s jumper put her team up 41-39 with 7:20 on the clock and she hit another bucket, gave the Indians a 47-43 advantage with 3:57 left.

    After Peyton came up empty on its next several possessions, she essentially put the game out of reach with two more free throws at the 1:04 mark, stretching the Indians lead to 51-43. Peyton would get no closer than eight points.

    Traphagan (5-for-7) and Logan Hixon (4-for-4) were clutch at the free throw line in the final stanza for the Indians.

    “You have to hit free throws at the end or they could have won and we hit the free throws when it counted the most,” Neill said.

    Hixon (15 points), Peighton Roth (14) and Katrina Terrell (14) rounded out Yuma’s balanced-scoring attack. Emily Green was the only player in double-figures for Peyton, finishing with 12 points.

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    (3) Akron 41 (2) Hoehne 26

    Akron Hoehne girls basketball
    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    The Rams will have a chance to win their third state title in four years, Jordan Baer help make that a reality Friday.

    Baer poured in a game-high 19 points, powering Akron to the win over the Farmers.

    Akron improved to 24-2 overall and have now won 14 games in a row. The Rams won state in 2012 and 2013.

    Hoehne (26-1) saw its unbeaten season and chance to win state end abruptly.

    “They are probably my favorite to win the tournament,” said Cedaredge coach Ryan Hildig after his team lost to Akron 68-46 in the first round Thursday.

    Baer has fueled in the Rams in the first two tourney games as she had 26 points against Cedaredge.

    With the game tied at 6-6 after the first quarter, Baer went to work, scoring seven of her team’s 12 points in the second. The Rams went to locker room with an 18-12 edge and in the final 16 minutes they never took their foot off the gas pedal.

    In the third quarter, A.J. Miller scored seven of her 10 points to put the Rams up 31-20 heading into the fourth.

    Hoehne, which was coming off an emotional 42-34 win over Ellicott in the first round, could never mount a threat in the final quarter as the Farmers only scored six points.

    Janessa Ramey added 10 points for Akron and Aspen Anderson had 12 points in the loss for Hoehne.

  • 3A girls Final 4 roundup: Unbeaten teams to play for basketball title

    Lutheran Pagosa Springs girls basketball
    More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    GOLDEN – For the past eight years, the Metro League has owned the Class 3A state girls basketball tournament.

    That’s about to change.

    When the state title game gets underway at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Lockridge Arena on the Colorado School of Mines campus, two public schools will be dueling to bring home the trophy. Sterling and Pagosa Springs will battle to become the first program outside of the Metro to win it all since Centauri in 2006.

    The only two undefeated teams in the field advanced to Saturday’s finale with hard-fought victories. Pagosa Springs upended Lutheran 52-45, and Sterling held off Manitou Springs 36-34.

    “I think we’re both two very good programs – obviously Lutheran is too. With Holy Family moving up, they were the commandant for a long time,” Pirates coach Wes Lewis said of the Tigers, who claimed six out of the last seven titles. “But I’m glad to see it’s going to go to a public school, no disrespect to any of the privates. We’re excited, we know we have a big challenge ahead of us tomorrow.”

    That comes after another big challenge Friday. Pagosa Springs (25-0) trailed Lutheran by four points going into the fourth quarter. Payton Shahan cut it two before Taylor Lee Hammer stole a pass and drove the length of the floor for a bucket and the foul. Her three-point play gave the Pirates the lead and some much-needed momentum.

    “Once I saw my chance, I took it,” Hammer said. “I don’t regret it.”

    Lutheran briefly regained the lead at 40-39, but Pagosa Springs outscored the Lions 12-5 the rest of the way. Morgan Schaaf and Morgan Lewis knocked down baskets, and the Pirates were 9-of-16 from the free-throw line down the stretch.

    Shahan led Pagosa Springs with 16 points. Schaaf added 13 and Hammer had 12.

    “I am so stoked and so excited,” Hammer said. “We’ve come a long ways and this is where we want to be right now.”

    The Pirates defeated Sterling in the state semifinals a year ago before falling to Holy Family in the championship game.

    “A lot of people kind of doubted this group of girls. We lost three really good players last year, and it motivated these kids,” Lewis said. “It fired these kids up. We’re probably better in some ways and maybe not as good in some other ways, but we’re a different team for sure.”

    Kristen Vigil led Lutheran (24-2) with 18 points and Chandler Sturms added eight. The Lions won the 2A state title last season but moved up to the 3A classification for 2014-15.

    [divider]

    (1) Sterling 36, (4) Manitou Springs 34

    Sterling Manitou Springs girls basketball
    (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)

    One night after scoring 26 points, Jenna Knudson made a bigger statement Friday with her defense.

    With the game tied at 30-30, the Sterling junior came up with a key steal that led to a basket on the other end by teammate Taylor Knudson. The Tigers (26-0) never relinquished the lead on their way to a berth in the state title game.

    “She’s been our rock on our team all year,” Sterling coach Kent Chrisman said. “Trust me, she’d say ‘get me a win and I’ll score no points and I’ll be happy.’ That’s just the mentality that she has.”

    Knudson finished with 13 points and Kylie Chavez added 10 for the Tigers, who have the chance to avenge last year’s semifinal loss to Pagosa Springs.

    “The bottom line is it’s nice that we get that opportunity,” Chrisman said. “We got here last year and played Pagosa Springs in the Final 4. At that time, they were a better team than we were – we got beat by a better team. The kids have learned from it.”

    Sterling led by six points in the third quarter Friday, but Manitou Springs (23-3) fought back to eventually take a one-point lead. After the Tigers got back into it and Knudson put the team back on top, Sterling closed it out at the free-throw line.

    The Tigers didn’t get to the line until less than three minutes remained in the game but were a perfect 6-for-6 down the stretch.

    “We put pressure on the kids on shooting free throws,” Chrisman said. “We try to put them in as many game situations as we can. Trust me, we turn the P.A. system up and make as much noise as we can to get the kids to focus.”

    The Mustangs received a game-high 16 points from sophomore Shelby Megyeri and McKenzi Petrico added 10. Manitou Springs was among the youngest teams in the field without a single senior on the roster.