Month: March 2015

Ball Fever: Great 8 recap, Final 4 preview in 5A/4A boys hoops
The Continental League arrived at the 5A Great 8 with five teams. Only ThunderRidge advanced to the Final 4. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Let’s get it out the way early — it was well earned: “CON-TI-NEN-TAL”!

Boy oh boy, were the Continental League supporters chanting their pride as five of the eight teams arriving at the Coliseum were from their league. But Centennial-strong Overland and Eaglecrest said “not so fast” while defending champ Denver East with DPL pride stated, “Hey, remember us?”

In 4A, the Great 8 was now being held at the higher-seed sites, but believe the packed gyms and last-minute excitement kept the crowds pleased and everyone salivating for Boulder. Longmont’s still undefeated, Lewis-Palmer’s “Steal” will be remembered, and Sierra and Air Academy continue the “southern flavor” in our 4A hoops.

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Week in review

Wednesday, March 3 (5A Sweet 16):
- Take a look at our Sweet 16 roundup by Ryan Casey with a couple “snoozers” as Overland and Thunderridge ROLLED, but there were also a couple of overtime games and down to the last-second endings that thrilled crowds!
- Montbello (Warriors) could not stop Ray Beresford and his 27 points for Mountain Vista. Check out Matt Mathewes report with photos here.
- Dennis Pleuss was treated to Chaparral’s senior duo of Jake Holtzman and Chris Moody combining for 50 “big ones!” to advance past Dakota Ridge.
- Fossil Ridge couldn’t quite finish it up at tough Eaglecrest but made tremendous advances after losing a lot from the runner-up squad last year. Tim Visser has the photos here.
- A little lower-scoring than expected, but Regis took care of business at home with 7-point win over Boulder and Jack Eberhard was in the house for action shots.
Saturday, March 7 (5A Great 8):

Brian Carey (11) and East are back in 5A’s Final 4. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
- Check out our 5A Great 8 roundup, highlighted by the Ross brother’s 42 combined points, Reggie Gibson’s getting some “oooh’s & ahhh’s” from the Coliseum crowd, big Zach Pirog’s 21 points, and Brian Carey capping the night with a huge 10 in the fourth!
- Ok players, need some action photos for that Twitter account? We have you covered.
Saturday, March 7 (4A Great 8):
- The 4A boys games were a little tighter and filled with excitement, last-minute action as well. Here’s our 4A Great 8 roundup covering shots that just missed at buzzer.
- Dennis Pleuss put in major coverage at the 5A Coliseum then made his way over to D’Evelyn for what might simply be called “The Steal” in Lewis Palmer’s upset.
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Final 4 preview

Eaglecrest/ThunderRidge promises to be good in Boulder. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Class 5A
- Our 7 p.m. game in Boulder on Friday has Eaglecrest, a No. 1 seed, vs. ThunderRidge, a No. 1 seed as well. It will be a classic matchup of size against speed. Big Zach Pirog made his presence felt at the Coliseum with 21 points, 8 rebounds against league foe Chaparral and he will have a size advantage again facing the Raptors. Eaglecrest’s combo of the Ross brothers “push the tempo” style of play with Blend Advili and Peter Anderson on the wing will certainly test the Grizzlies stout defense.
- The Boulder 8:30 p.m. finale couldn’t get any better as athleticism will be on full display with overall No. 1 seed Overland, who as simply been dominant of late, will tangle with No. 6 seed and defending champ Denver East. When the brackets were released many felt East was the scariest six seed in a long time and Brian Carey’s leadership didn’t disappoint as the Angels have the experience/heart/pride combo coach Rudy Carey has instilled in the Angels.
Class 4A
- Our first game on Friday (4:30 p.m.) will be two teams very familiar in No. 2 seed Air Academy vs. No. 4 seed Lewis-Palmer. These two “got it on” not that long ago with Air Academy handing the Rangers a 21-point loss in February. This is a more confident Lewis Palmer who have won four in a row since and will be looking for revenge. Lewis-Palmer also won the first game between these two squads in January. Can you say, “Rubber Match!” for all the marbles? One 4A from the south is guaranteed to march on.
- Game two on the slate, 5:30 p.m. Friday, will bring a nice contrast as Sierra’s southern pride will push tempo and test 4A overall No. 1 Longmont and their undefeated squad which has won low-scoring battle after battle. Both these squads marched through league play 14-0 and Longmont’s undefeated season is well documented. One thing few might have not taken note of is the Stallions are on a 21-game win streak of their own. Ke’Andre Lewis is the “motor” that makes Sierra go while Tevion Thompson leads scoring at 16 points per game. Longmont? One of the top 2016 juniors in Justian Jessup leads Longmont with 17 points a game and is a “stat stuffin” staple of Ball Fever each week.
Well, March 9, 2015, has arrived our Ball Fever brethren! The Fever Crew can’t tell you any more confidently now — just as it was in November — who will walk away with the Gold Ball next Saturday.

“Wide Open” was our theme from the outset and these eight squads won’t let us down in creating more memories in this time of extreme parity in Colorado hoops! US-36 West here we come!
March 9, 2015

4A/5A basketball championships on Altitude this week

Legend Eaglecrest boys basketball — (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

AURORA — The Class 4A and 5A boys and girls state basketball championship games will be shown live by Altitude TV this week.

The girls games will be shown on Altitude at 1 and 3 p.m., with the boys games on Altitude 2 at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

CHSAA’s football championships were shown on Altitude during the fall season.

“We are thrilled that these games will be shown live, especially by a great partner like Altitude,” said Paul Angelico, CHSAA commissioner. “They did a outstanding job with football, and we’re certain the basketball championships will be another great production.”

“The CHSAA Football Championships were a great success, we are looking forward to the same for the Basketball Championships,” said Ben Boylan, President of Altitude Sports. “Colorado has some fantastic student athletes and we are excited to showcase both the boys’ and girls’ talent.”

Below is a complete schedule of live broadcasts for the weekend. These will be replayed a number of times in the two weeks to follow, as well.

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Broadcast schedule

Date	Time	Game	Network
Saturday	1 p.m.	4A girls	Altitude
Saturday	3 p.m.	5A girls	Altitude
Saturday	6:30 p.m.	4A boys	Altitude 2
Saturday	8:30 p.m.	5A boys	Altitude 2

Channel finder

Provider	Channel	SD	HD
DirecTV	Altitude	681	681-1
Dish Network	Altitude	413	5413
Comcast	Altitude	25 or 28	725 or 728
DirecTV	Altitude 2		681-1
Dish Network	Altitude 2	450
Comcast	Altitude 2	105	900

March 9, 2015

Here’s how to buy tickets for this weekend’s state basketball championships
AURORA — The state basketball tournaments in all classifications will play their final rounds this week. Below is a breakdown of how to buy tickets.

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Class 4A and 5A
- Boys brackets: 5A | 4A
- Girls brackets: 5A | 4A
- Location: Coors Events Center, University of Colorado
- Dates: March 12-14
- Tickets: Via TicketsWest at 1-866-464-2626, online at CUBuffs.com; or at a TicketsWest kiosk located in some King Soopers Stores or at Boulder’s Folsom Field Stadium, between gates 4 & 5 (walk-up only). Also on sale at Coors Events Center each day.
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Class 3A
- Brackets: Boys | Girls
- Location: Lockridge Arena, Colorado School of Mines
- Dates: March 12-14
- Tickets: All-session passes on TicketLeap; individual game tickets at the arena
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Class 2A
- Brackets: Boys | Girls
- Location: Massari Arena, CSU-Pueblo
- Dates: March 12-14
- Tickets: All-session passes on TicketLeap; individual game tickets at the arena
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Class 1A
- Brackets: Boys | Girls
- Location: Budweiser Events Center, Loveland
- Dates: March 12-14
- Tickets: All-session passes on TicketLeap; individual game tickets at the arena
March 9, 2015
Fossil Ridge girls tennis routinely among state’s best

For a high school that has been in existence for less than a dozen years, Fossil Ridge in Fort Collins has developed a quick reputation in athletic arenas.

Nowhere is that more evident than on the tennis court. The Sabercats have not only qualified for the Class 5A girls state tennis tournament in each of their 11 seasons, save for the school’s first year when the entire student population consisted of freshmen, they have finished in the top five. That includes four second-place finishes in the team race.

Much of the credit goes to the program’s coach for each of its 11 seasons, Mike Scimeca.

He developed a mission statement from the outset.

“Our goal was, we wanted to build a competitive program,” Scimeca said.

Realizing that there were a number of girls tennis programs in the state with rich histories, his first challenge was to develop desire.

“To do that, we knew we had to create passion,” he said.

He’s had solid numbers since he began the program. To help promote competition within the team, Scimeca typically rotates 18 players for his 11 varsity spots during the regular season. By doing that, more than half his team routinely letters by the end of the season.

His second challenge was to nurture his players’ skills.

“I’m a big technique guy, more along the college lines,” Scimeca said.

It also helps to have talented players who are motivated to improve their game on their own. Nearly a dozen of this year’s players work on their game year round.

Heading that list is Shawnea Pagat. A junior, she’s played No. 1 singles her entire high school career.

She got a good head start on the game, growing up in Hawaii until her family moved to Fort Collins five years ago.

“I started really young,” she said.

She could play 12 months a year. In addition, she realized, “It was something I was good at.”

Pagat had the added bonus of having her teammate, Kaitlyn Motley, to hit against on a daily basis in practice.

“She was a phenomenal tennis player,” said Pagat of Motley, who graduated last spring. “We pushed each other.”

Although singles tennis is often considered an individual sport, high school programs foster a team attitude.

“(Our success) is really cool because of our work ethic,” Pagat said. “Everyone wants to play. It’s just creasting that motivation, which is awesome.”

At under 5-foot-3, Pagat has found ways to compensate for her reach disadvantage against most opponents.

“I’ve hear that I’m pretty quick on the court,” she said modestly.

She uses that to her advantage.

“I try to run every ball down,” she said.

Pagat, one of the team’s year-round players, competes in USTA tournaments in the off-season, including a sectional tournament in Las Vegas last fall. That’s helped her improve on every aspect of her game.

“I’ve come a long way since my freshman year,” she said. “As I look back, I had to change everything – my grip, my backhand, my serve. I did everything wrrong.

“Looking back, I said, ‘Really, you did that?” she joked of reviewing past video.

Admittedly, the state tournament atmosphere was a little intimidating for her during her freshman season.

“I was freaking out,” she said of being overwhelmed at the Gates Tennis Center.

She took that lesson into last year’s state tournament.

“You can’t let the pressure get to you,” she said.

As for this year, “I would love to make it to the final four (at state),” she said of one of the goals she’s set entering the season.

That’s realistic for both her and for the Sabercats team, which always seems to be near the top of the team standings by the time the state tournament has wrapped up.

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Girls tennis preview

5A

Defending champion: Cherry Creek

Postseason: Regionals completed by May 2

Championships: May 7-9, Gates Tennis Center (Denver)

Returning all-state players: Tate Schroeder, Arapahoe, junior; Rebecca Weissman, Loveland, junior; Madeline Roberts, Cherry Creek, senior; Hanna Fernley, Cherry Creek, junior; Jessie Murphy, Cherry Creek, senior; Jessica Diamond, Cherry Creek, senior.

4A

Defending champion: Cheyenne Mountain

Postseason: Regionals completed by May 2

Championships: May 7-9, Pueblo City Park

Returning all-state players: Kalyssa Hall, Cheyenne Mountain, junior; Alex Weil, St. Mary’s Academy, senior; Caitie McCarthy, Pueblo West, junior; Casey Ahrendsen, Cheyenne Mountain, sophomore; Ally Arenson, Cheyenne Mountain, sophomore; Tory Louis, Cheyenne Mountain, senior; Claire Dibble, Cheyenne Mountain, sophomore; Megan Dibble, Cheyenne Mountain, senior; Chelsey Geisz, Cheyenne Mountain, junior.

March 9, 2015
Hockey committee recommends adding JV, changes to overtime rules
(Caden Colson/CadenColsonPhotography.com)

AURORA — High school hockey in this state is growing in a number of ways, but what the sport’s committee did on Friday is perhaps the biggest indication: The group unanimously recommended the addition of junior varsity teams.

The change will need to be approved by the Legislative Council in April. And, even if it does, the move won’t force programs to add a junior varsity team. Instead, it gives them the option to.

“What I see is the opportunity for you to add a subvarsity program,” CHSAA assistant commissioner Bud Ozzello told the committee. “It doesn’t force you to do it.”

If approved, programs will be allowed to field one varsity team and one subvarsity team.

The change would potentially bring in two new members, as well. Yampah Mountain High School in Glenwood Springs wants to add a junior varsity team, but that is pending CHSAA membership. The school has a visit with CHSAA officials scheduled for late May.

In addition, Crested Butte is considering adding a JV team.

Currently, there is a non-CHSAA-sanctioned club league that offers JV-type teams an option to play. Erik Austin, a member of the hockey committee and the coach at Cheyenne Mountain, estimated that “27 or 28 teams” currently play in that league.

“Philosophically, we have to grow the sport of hockey,” said Larry Bull, the district athletic director of Cherry Creek Schools, who also sits on the committee. “The high school piece, that’s what kids want. They want to wear the jersey. And I think we need to encourage and support them.”

The approval of JV would set off a domino effect, of sorts. Because Colorado doesn’t currently offer JV hockey, the sport was afforded certain state adoptions outside of the rules of hockey set by the NFHS. Namely, the maximum roster size was 25 players, and they played 17-minute periods.

Should JV be approved at Legislative Council, the maximum roster size will drop to 20 players. Additionally, the periods would be 15 minutes long — however, the hockey committee will ask to continue a state adoption to try to keep them at 17 minutes.

The committee recommended that players be allowed to play a maximum of 72 periods during the regular season. This really would only apply to so-called “swing” players, or those that play varsity and junior varsity. Football has a similar rule for quarters allowed.

Junior varsity teams will be allowed to play a maximum of 15 games. The hockey committee recommended that JV teams play 13-minute periods and only resurface the ice one time during the game.

Overtime rule changes

The hockey committee met at 10 a.m. Friday morning — or 12 hours after the six-overtime affair between Cherry Creek and Dakota Ridge in the semifinals ended on Thursday night. It meant that the postseason overtime procedures were fresh in the minds of the committee members.

And so they decided to look at them. Currently, in the postseason, teams play continuous five-minute overtimes until a winner is decided.

The committee recommended lengthening the overtime periods to eight minutes — the maximum allowed by the NFHS — and also moving to 4-on-4 hockey after two overtimes. The ice would be resurfaced after every two overtime periods.

This change, too, will need to be approved along with the hockey report at the Legislative Council.

The regular season overtime procedure would stay the same. That entails one five-minute overtime to decide a winner. If no one scores, the two teams tie.

On Saturday, the day after the committee met, Cherry Creek and Monarch went three overtimes in the state title game.

Notables
- The new programs at Castle View and Fort Collins were approved by the committee. Castle View will begin next season and play in the Peak Conference, while Fort Collins will start in 2016-17, but hasn’t yet been placed in a conference. Castle View’s home games and practices will be at Colorado Sports Center in Monument.
- One reason Fort Collins wasn’t placed into a conference is because the committee is looking at realignment ahead of the 2016-17 season. They want to move to four divisions instead of two conferences.
- The committee recommended that teams be allowed to play with four-person officiating crews during the regular season, if they so desire. All postseason games are done with four-person crews, while most regular season games have three-person crews.
- The dates for next season’s semifinals and championship are March 4-5, a Friday and Saturday, at the Budweiser Events Center. It’s possible the championship will be moved to a Monday due to conflicts with the Colorado Eagles’ schedule.
March 9, 2015
3A basketball roundup: Liberty Common continues run
Regardless of how it ends for the Liberty Common Eagles, this state tournament run has already been historical. Only a day after winning their first 3A playoff game ever, the Eagles once again advanced, this time taking down No. 9 St. Mary’s 58-51.

Needless to say, it’s the first time in school history that the team has advanced to the Great 8.

Their magical run now becomes a tad more difficult as they are set to face 3A No. 1 seed Sterling next week at Colorado School of Mines in Golden.

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(22) Brush 43, (6) Sterling 42

With their one-point win over Sterling, the Brush boys have outscored their opponents by a combined three points through the first two rounds of the 3A state tournament.

But it’s been good enough to get the No. 22 ranked Beetdiggers to the Great 8, where they will face No. 3 Lutheran.

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(3) Lutheran 77, (14) Trinidad 46

There may not be a more impressive team in the 3A girls bracket than Lutheran. After cruising by Eagle Ridge Academy in the first round, they kept their momentum going against the Trinidad Miners putting them in next weekend’s Great 8.

The Lions will take on Moffat County, who has also looked impressive in the early rounds of the 3A tournament.

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(28) Bayfield 69, (12) Eaton 61

After topping The Pinnacle for the big upset on Friday, the Bayfield Wolverines showed that it wasn’t a fluke win.

The Wolverines got by the Reds on Saturday to advance to their first Great 8 appearance since 1986. They’ll face Colorado Academy who advanced by avenging an early-season loss to St. Mary’s.

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More boys results:

BRACKET
- (1) Faith Christian 62 (16) Pagosa Springs 46
- (8) Moffat County 55 (9) Jefferson Academy 57
- (4) Colorado Academy 61 (13) St. Mary’s 53
- (2) CSCS 81 (18) DSST Green Valley Ranch 35
- (7) Alamosa 52 (10) Grand Valley 44
- (3) Lutheran 77 (19) Bennett 56
More girls results:

BRACKET
- (1) Sterling 33 (16) Lamar 26
- (5) Eaton 59 (28) Faith Christian 51
- (4) Manitou Spriongs 54 (13) Valley 35
- (2) Pagosa Springs 69 (18) Colorado Academy 30
- (10) Centauri 48 (7) Olathe 45
- (6) Moffat County 73 (11) Bishop Machebeuf 54
March 8, 2015
Cherry Creek, after even more overtime, wins state hockey title

Cherry Creek players celebrate the overtime winner. More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

LOVELAND — It’s not often you get a championship that was 25 years in the making.

But after their hockey program was disbanded in 1987, not to be restarted until 2012, that is exactly what happened on Saturday. The Cherry Creek Bruins (19-4 overall) defeated the Monarch Coyotes (17-4-1) by a final of 3-2 in the state hockey championship on Saturday.

After so much time, what’s three overtimes to get it done, right?

In just their third season back as a program, head coach Jeff Mielnicki said he took extra measures to make sure that this team was ready for the season.

“Let’s put it this way,” Mielnicki said after the game, “we graduated basically a whole team last season. So before the winter, I took a bunch of the younger guys up to Chicago and played some of the best prep teams in the country. After that, I knew it would be a good year.”

Cherry Creek’s trip to the championship game was their first in 34 years. In 1981, the Bruins dropped a 3-1 championship to Arapahoe and six years later, the program was done. Their last championship came in 1979.

For Monarch, meanwhile, 17 of the players on their own roster were not on the team during last season’s run to the championship game.

Despite the Coyotes’ talent advantage up front that had been on display previously in the playoffs, the Bruins took it Monarch from the opening puck drop. Within the first 10 minutes, Creek had had a breakaway and two near misses in 10 shots against goaltender Hampus Akesson, who made 26 saves.

After a Blake Bride holding penalty gave the Bruins a productive power play, Monarch appeared to weather the storm. Shots, once 10-2 in favor of Cherry Creek, ended up a much more even 10-8 by the finish of the first period.

It was then that the self-professed “second period team” turned up the heat.

After killing part of an early penalty, Monarch caught a break as Cherry Creek’s Sean DeKramer took a five minute checking-from-behind major that carried with it a 10 minute misconduct. After a routine tripping call a few minutes later, Monarch used the full two-minute 5-on-3 to regain some of the momentum.

Despite their work, the Coyotes were uncharacteristically undisciplined in the second, getting whistled for three penalties in the frame and suffering from a general lack of communication that created scoring chances for the Bruins.

The final chance of the second came in one such situation, when a delayed call on Monarch led to Cherry Creek’s Chris Nitchen streaking down the left side of the ice and firing the puck low short side to beat Akesson for the first goal of the game with 40 second remaining in the period.

Both teams turned up the physical play in the third period, as two early hits by Bruins forwards put their Monarch counterparts on the ice, and the Coyotes responded in kind. Then with just over 11 minutes to go, Cherry Creek put home a second goal when a bad-angle shot by Nitchen careened off of Akesson and into the slot. There, Sean DeKramer buried it over the shoulder of the Monarch netminder for the 2-0 lead.

Monarch finally answered though, scoring two goals in 17 seconds in the final three minutes of regulation.

The first came when defenseman Mattjis Ossorio snuck down the slot and buried a stray puck in front; the second on an excellent effort by the team’s two leading scorers, Andrew Pickner and Blake Bride, with the latter getting the tally on a pretty pass from his linemate.

Both goals were scored with Akesson pulled for an extra attacker.

After Thursday’s six overtime affair between Creek and Dakota Ridge, it was only fitting that the championship would go to overtime as well.

More photos. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

The first five minute stanza was very equally matched, but by the second overtime, the ice had started to tilt towards the Coyotes. Shots were 36-26 in favor of Monarch and the play was becoming one-sided.

But the zamboni break was all Creek would need. In the third overtime, a Chris Nitchen shot again created a juicy rebound, and Nick Chavez sealed it for the Bruins.

“I don’t even play on a line with Chris,” Chavez said after the game. “He was amazing tonight and I just happened to be out there with him and when he took that shot, I knew I just had to clean it up.”

In trips to the state championship game in 2013 and 2014, the Coyotes ran into the buzz saw that is Ralston Valley and fell 5-1 and 4-1 respectively. On Saturday they fell short again, but it was a lot closer than their previous two trips.

“I’m so proud of these guys,” Monarch coach Jimmy Dexter said. “At the beginning of the season, with just four seniors and 17 kids gone from last year, I didn’t think we’d be here.

“They never quit. Obviously we want to be on the other side of (the scoreboard), but these kids will be back.”

This season however, belonged to Cherry Creek. Goaltender Brady Mielnicki made 34 saves in the game, boosting the team as he had all playoffs long. And once it got to overtime, the Bruins knew it was all over.

“We thought if we got it to overtime we would win. It’s as simple as that,” Mielnicki said matter-of-factly. “We knew there were ebbs and flows. But we stayed disciplined, the kids were resilient, and in the end it was rewarded.”

March 8, 2015
4A boys basketball Great 8 roundup: Longmont wins in final moments
No. 1 Longmont snuck past Valor Christian 47-46 in a back and forth battle to move to 26-0 and more importantly, earn a bid to the Final 4 for the first time since 2010.

The Trojans’ Kolton Bachman drained a shot with 3.9 seconds remaining to edge out the No. 2 seeded Eagles. Longmont had made at least the Sweet 16 the past three seasons, but this was their first Great 8 since 2011.

Longmont will face Sierra, a No. 2 seed which claimed the Colorado Springs Metro crown, in the state semifinals.

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(2) Sierra 56, (4) Pueblo South 47

A seesaw battle in Colorado Springs saw the Sierra Stallions squeeze out a 56-47 win over Pueblo South in one of four outstanding 4A Great 8 games.

Tevion Thompson left the game with an injury in the second half, but returned shortly to give the Stallions a much-needed boost. The Stallions return to the Coors Events Center where they won back-to-back state championships in 2009 and 2010.

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(2) Air Academy 45, (1) Golden 41

Despite a scoring drought for most of the second quarter, the Air Academy Kadets hung on to topple No. 1 Golden and advance to next weekend’s Final 4.

Austin Dewing knocked down key free throws with the waning seconds to seal the victory for the Kadets. They’ll face Pikes Peak Athletic Conference foe Lewis-Palmer Friday for a chance to go to the state championship game.

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(4) Lewis-Palmer 57, (3) D’Evelyn 55

Lewis-Palmer got a late steal, and then two game-winning free throws with 7.2 seconds left to pull the upset on the road.

D’Evelyn led 55-52 with 42.6 seconds remaining. Jonathan Scott hit two free throws to make it 55-54. Then, Lewis-Palmer tied the game.

It marks a return to the stage that Lewis-Palmer is very familiar with. The Rangers won titles in Boulder in 2012 and 2013.

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Final 4 matchups

March 13, at CU, times TBD (Bracket)
- Longmont vs. Sierra
- Air Academy vs. Lewis-Palmer
March 8, 2015
Photos: No. 3 Valor Christian boys lacrosse beats Lewis-Palmer

MONUMENT — Third-ranked Valor Christian boys lacrosse opened its season with a 14-11 win over Lewis-Palmer on the road on Saturday.

March 8, 2015
Lewis-Palmer boys hoops rallies to snatch ticket to 4A’s Final 4

Lewis-Palmer junior Charlie Hovasse (15) looks for an open teammate while being guarded by D’Evelyn junior Cameron Brown in the first half Saturday night. Hovasse had the biggest play of the night with a steal in the final seconds and then made two free throws to give the Rangers their first lead of the night. Lewis-Palmer won 57-55 to advance to the Class 4A Final 4 next week in Boulder. (Dennis Pleuss)

DENVER — In Lewis-Palmer boys basketball lore it might just be know as “The Steal” for years to come.

Lewis-Palmer and D’Evelyn were tied at 55-55 with 16.5 seconds left in the Class 4A boys basketball Great 8 on Saturday night at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. D’Evelyn had possession, but Ranger junior Charlie Hovasse came up with the most important steal of his prep career, which led to Lewis-Palmer’s come-from-behind 57-55 victory.

“I saw one of my teammates going to go trap,” Hovasse said recounting the steal. “Coach (Bill Benton) always tells us to keep our hands out, but don’t foul. I just put my hands out, grabbed the ball and took it.”

Hovasse snagged the steal near the sideline at mid-court and raced toward the basket. He was fouled going to the rim with 7.2 seconds left. He made both free throws to give Lewis-Palmer its first lead of the game.

“I tried to keep myself calm and keep my composure,” Hovasse said of knocking down both free throws.

D’Evelyn had one last shot to send the game into overtime. Senior Grant Witherspoon, who scored a game-high 21 points, drove down the left side of the court and put up a layup in the paint. The shot hit the short side of the rim and junior Kyle Owens grabbed the rebound. Owens was fouled with 1 second left to seal the win and trip to the Final 4 for the Rangers (19-7).

“Give Lewis-Palmer credit. They came out and made plays,” D’Evelyn coach Troy Pachner said. “We couldn’t execute down the stretch and that was it.”

The Jaguars led 42-31 midway through the third quarter, but Lewis-Palmer kept chipping away at the lead. A 3-pointer by junior Jonathan Scott and a bucket by Hovasse in the final minute helped cut D’Evelyn’s lead to 50-45 going to the final quarter.

Lewis-Palmer junior Jonathan Scott goes up for a shot during the first half Saturday at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. (Dennis Pleuss)

Scott picked up a third foul with 3:02 left in the second quarter. Despite the danger of having to take a seat on the bench again, the junior guard never picked up a fourth foul.

“I just did my job and covered the guy I need to,” said Scott, who led Lewis-Palmer with 16 points. “My teammates did a good job on the other players. That’s what happened.”

The Rangers’ defense was tenacious in the final quarter creating several turnovers while holding D’Evelyn to just five points in the final eight minutes. The Jaguars were also shorthanded in the final minute at the guard position with senior Christian Denton (11 points) and junior Cameron Brown both fouling out.

Lewis-Palmer had four players reach double-digits. Scott, junior Joe DeCoud (13 points), Hovasse (11 points) and Owens (10 points). The Rangers now prepare to face Pike Peak League rival Air Academy in the state semifinal. It will be the third go-around with each team having a win under their belts.

“Alright, back with Air Academy,” Scott said when he was told the Kadets upset No. 1 seed Golden. “They are a really good team. We didn’t play well against them last time. We need to come out faster and more aggressive.”

Witherspoon came out forceful in the first half with 19 points for D’Evelyn, but the Rangers limited him to just a pair of free throws in the second half. Denton finished with 11 points and junior Jack Draeb had 10 points off the bench for the Jaguars.

D’Evelyn finished its season with a 17-9 record, but with another disappointing loss in the state quarterfinals to end it season. The Jaguars haven’t been able to make it to the Final 4 since their state 3A championship run in 2004.

“It’s great to be here (Great 8) four years in a row,” Pachner said. “It’s a successful season, but we are going to have to figure out at some point when the opportunity is there you have to seize it.”

D’Evelyn senior Grant Witherspoon (24) is guarded by Lewis-Palmer junior Jonathan Scott (5) during the second half Saturday night. Witherspoon had a game-high 21 points, but Scott led Lewis-Palmer with 16 points and an eventual Rangers’ victory in the Great 8 playoff game. (Dennis Pleuss)

D’Evelyn junior Cameron Brown (2) gets double-teamed by Lewis-Palmer’s Joe DeCoud and JT Shepherd (31) during the second half Saturday night. (Dennis Pleuss)

March 8, 2015