CENTENNIAL — Regis Jesuit hockey scored twice in the final minutes to shock Cherry Creek with a 4-3 win on Friday.
The top-ranked Raiders got the tying goal from Wyatt Verity with 1:32 left, his second of the game, then took the lead 40 seconds later when Michael Baer scored what proved to be the winning goal.
The second-ranked Bruins had gone up 2-0 after the first period, and led 3-1 in the second before Shane Ott cut it to 3-2 for Regis late in that period.
Brandon Cyrus, Henry Raabe and Diego Lovato scored for Cherry Creek.
MANITOU SPRINGS — A one-point lead late in the game is never safe against Manitou Springs. So when Cassie Forgue stepped to the free throw line with 20 seconds, it was crucial for those shots to fall.
And they did. Lamar hung on to beat Manitou Springs 49-46 in the second battle of Class 3A CHSAANow.com top 10 teams for each team this week.
The No. 8-ranked Mustangs (7-8 overall, 4-3 Tri-Peaks League) fell to Colorado Springs Christian earlier this week while the Savages (13-1, 6-1) beat those same Lions on Friday night.
“I think we were all very nervous,” Lamar coach Erik Melgoza said. “This school is a class act. Every coach they put on the bench is a class act, their players are class acts. You never count them out. We were very fortunate today to come out on the winning side of this.”
But it was far from a sure thing.
Manitou got back-to-back 3-pointers from Shelby Megyeri and Ali Washington to take a 13-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Megyeri would score eight of her game-high 14 points in the second, but Lamar was able to regain the edge and head into halftime with a one-point lead.
The Savages had a distinct advantage in the post with the way that Cali Clark has been playing this season. But early foul trouble forced her to the bench. But with plenty of other weapons at his disposal, Melgoza put his trust in his players and they stepped up when it was most needed.
“We have a team of five on the court at all times,” Brecken Payne said. “When one is slacking or in foul trouble, the rest of the team picks it up and we do that very well.”
Payne led the Savages in scoring with 13. Clark added 12 and Forgue ended with 11, which included the two free throws late that turned the pressure up on Manitou.
“I was ready,” Forgue said. “We’ve been practicing a lot so we were really prepared for this.”
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
She sank them both, but with Megyeri on the opposing bench, there is always a looming 3-point threat. In the final 20 seconds of the game, all Lamar had to do was limit her ability to get a clean shot off.
“I don’t think you stop a player like that,” Melgoza said. “She’s put in the gym time and she’s been playing ball since she was little. You don’t stop a player like that, I think you slow her down and limit her touches.”
Meygyeri was able to get off a game-tying 3-point attempt, but the shot was long and the Savages came away with a win against a team that has not been easy to beat in recent years.
“We’ve been preparing for this team the whole season,” Payne said. “We knew this was a hard gym to play in once we got in here, we were all a team and understood what we wanted to do and we got it done.”
For the Mustangs, it’s the fourth single-digit loss of the year to a team ranked in the top 10. It’s only the difference of a possession or two, but it’s leaving Manitou a tad frustrated.
“It seems like every single game where we don’t make the stop and we need to,” coach Ed Longfield said. “Or don’t execute a play on our end when we need to. You think about the times that we’ve lost by two or three points and it’s not ultra-discouraging because we’re right there, but we have to figure out a better go-to set when we need those crunch plays.”
Both teams are in the top 15 of the 3A RPI. They could collide again next month in the Tri-Peaks district tournament.
COLORADO SPRINGS — Doherty’s entire starting lineup was forced out of the game due to a uniform violation. So when they re-entered moments later, they were all business in a 57-43 win over Liberty on Thursday.
The win gives the Spartans a two-game cushion in the Class 5A Colorado Springs Metro League and they are now winners of seven straight contests.
“We knew that if we came out slow on Liberty, there would be a good chance that it would be a close game,” Kalani Poloa said. “We knew if we came out hard and pressured them the way we did we could get a head start and push up the score the way we did.”
The game got off to a clunky start with officials noticing that the CHSAANow.com No. 5-ranked Spartans (15-1 overall, 6-0 CSML) had the waistband of their shorts rolled up, a violation of uniform rules. The entire lineup had to be subbed out of the game.
When the starters got back into the game they took no prisoners on either end of the floor. They seemed to score at will, while their zone press gave the Lancers (10-6, 4-2) fits.
By the end of the first quarter, the Spartans built a 17-8 with Kalani Poloa scoring nine of her 17 points in the quarter.
Doherty was able to balance the offensive effort in the post, finding Aubrianna Noti in the post often. She scored a team-high 17 to and was able to limit the damage Liberty could in the paint.
“They can’t stop our big inside,” Doherty coach Pat McKiernan said. “Every time we went inside we got something good out of it.”
It looked like the bulk of the offense was going to come from 3-point range as Jordan Valentine knocked down two deep balls early. But the constant pressure on the Liberty offense limited her to only one basket the remainder of the game.
“At first we played a zone. We didn’t think Jordan was going to hit them right away,” Poloa said. “After we saw her hit those hit threes, we switched to a man and kept her away from the 3-point line.”
They were forced to get their points through another means and it was Jayda Lyon who stepped up, leading the all scorers with 21.
“The nice thing about our group is that we have a lot of different types of players that can do different things,” Liberty coach Kyle Spencer said. “We don’t have to put all the pressure on one player.”
But Lyon’s 21 weren’t enough.
By the time the game was headed into the fourth quarter, the Spartans had built a 41-27 lead. The Lancers were able to cut it to 11, but no closer.
The important takeaway from the game from Liberty’s standpoint was seeing one of the top teams in state. They’ll see Doherty again on Saturday, but if Liberty hopes to do some damage in the state playoffs, they know the level of play they have to maintain.
“We had a lot of growth against a team that is top-six right now in RPI,” Spencer said. “To be able to compete a little bit at that level, it’s good for us to know what it looks like.”
COLORADO SPRINGS — Doherty’s zone press gave Liberty trouble all night and Aubrianna Noti led the Spartans with 20 points in a 57-43 win over the Lancers.
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DENVER — No. 10 Strasburg boys basketball got 22 points and six assists from Conner Martin in a 65-38 win over Frontier Academy at the Pepsi Center on Thursday.
Brock Lane added 12 points and 11 rebounds for Strasburg, while Jacob Miller had nine points. Chase Starman added eight and five rebounds.
Members of Columbine and Dakota Ridge basketball teams visited patients at the infusion center at Lutheran Hospital on Friday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
WHEAT RIDGE — Basketball players from Columbine and Dakota Ridge high schools took time Friday to spend time with people fighting for much more than just a victory on the court.
Hours before the girls/boys varsity doubleheader between the South Jeffco rival schools at Dakota Ridge High School, 14 players from both programs — along with Dakota Ridge athletic director Matt Heckel, Dakota Ridge girls basketball coach Diane Thompson and Columbine boys basketball coach Clay Thielking — visited patients at the infusion center at Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge.
“I hoped to make them smile and try to make them forget about what they are going through for at least a little bit,” Dakota Ridge junior Drew Dominic said after spending time with some patients who were receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer. “Try to make them happy and put a smile on their face.”
Players handed out gift bags and had conversations about basketball and several other topics with patients.
“It was a great time. It was really good to come down here and see some patients who need some help and support from us, Columbine Rebels,” Columbine senior guard Marcus Tait. “It was good to get together with Dakota Ridge. Coming together like this is a really good thing for the community and for us.”
Tait admitted he was a little nervous, but it was definitely a positive vibe the high school students were able to provide the infusion center during their visit.
“You get in there and you see the people who are fighting really, really hard,” Tait said. “You kind of blend in and show them your support. It is eye-opening for sure.”
Dakota Ridge and Wheat Ridge has done join visits before to Lutheran Hospital during their cancer awareness football game during the fall. The theme for the varsity doubleheader basketball game Friday is “Fight Together”.
“We do fight together. There is a bigger battle than a rivalry (basketball) game,” said Coach Thompson, who lost her father from cancer. “I wanted the kids to understand that even thou we are rivals, we can come together on things like this.”
Thompson and her trio of players had an emotional visit with a couple where the wife was there with her husband who is fighting cancer.
“Our girls got a little teary-eyed the last couple we talked to,” Thompson said. “We told her she was being strong for him and we want to be strong for both of them.”
“You don’t know until you actually know someone who goes through it to know what cancer is all about. I just hope this is an experience they can take. It feels good to help the community and be apart of something.” Thompson added.
Prior to their girls/boys varsity doubleheader Friday night, Dakota Ridge and Columbine players handed out gift bags at Lutheran Hospital. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
AURORA — CHSAA’s Hall of Fame grew by eight members on Wednesday night with the induction of the Association’s 28th class.
Those inducted include athletes Jeff Campbell (Battle Mountain), Larry Farmer (Manual), and Mary Shea (Thornton); coaches Debbie Cook (Meeker), Donnie Day (Thomas Jefferson), and Ron Vlasin (Merino/Littleton Public Schools); athlete/official Ray Coca (Grand Junction); and significant contributor Judy Hildner (Pueblo).
The group was enshrined as the 2016 Hall of Fame class in a ceremony at the Radisson Hotel Denver Southeast.
Jeff Campbell (Battle Mountain) – One of the state’s finest athletes, Jeff Campbell could electrify those in attendance with his football kick returns or his track sprints. He was a two-time state champion in 1985 and 1986 in the 100 and 200 meters, along with being the Class 2A Co-Player of the Year in football in 1985.
He went on to have a spectacular career at CU, then played in the NFL for nine years with the Lions and Broncos. He, too, was an amazing ice hockey player, being the last man cut from the 1986 US Team.
Those who know him said he had his choice of professional sports in hockey, skiing and football. He chose football.
The state’s 2A leading rusher in 1985, Campbell ran for 305 yards and scored five times against Meeker. He electrified the state when, as a CU Buff, struck for a 60-yard punt return against Nebraska, leading CU to its first win over the Cornhuskers in 26 years.
Ray Coca (Grand Junction) – A three-time state wrestling champion at Grand Junction High School, Coca posted a career 59-1-1 mark. Of his 12 state matches, he won seven by pin. His only loss came when he moved up in weight to take the place of an injured teammate.
He went on to Western State where he again starred on the wrestling mat, going undefeated as a freshman and earning all-American honors in 1964 when his team won the national title. He officiated 10 district and one state championship tournaments. He remains active in the community as noted in his awards from the city as a Hometown Hero on at least two occasions.
He was also the sports editor for the local newspaper for a number of years, promoting prep sports at a high level for the schools on the Western Slope.
Debbie Cook (Meeker) – Cook’s teams posted a 393-125 mark in volleyball during her 22 years at the helm, winning nine conference titles and going to the state tournament nine times.
Noted for her work in health and wellness for the northwestern Colorado community, she taught elementary school PE for 30 years and helped with many community outreach health and education programs throughout her career. Her work in the community has earned over $100,000 for the community.
She was named coach of the year three times from the Colorado Coaches of Girls’ Sports and the North West League Coach of the Year eight times. Cook also coached track for 16 years and girls’ basketball for two years. She continues to teach and volunteer in Glenwood Springs several days a week, but maintains her residence in Meeker.
Donnie Day (Thomas Jefferson) – One of the legendary coaches and administrators in Denver Public Schools, Donnie Day coached baseball, basketball and football at TJHS from 1960 until 1969, serving as head football coach from 1964-69. He was an administrator for TJHS from 1964-89 and in Douglas County Schools from 1990-2002.
He also spent 4 years as a high school football official before working in the Western Athletic Conference for 14 years. He also officiated high school basketball.
A graduate of Denver South, Day played football, basketball and baseball, earning all-state honors in football and baseball twice. His football teams posted a 56-5 mark, winning two city titles. He guided TJHS to its first ever city football championship and his teams never lost more than one game in a season.
As an athlete, Day was an all-state quarterback and baseball player at Denver South where he also played basketball.
Larry Farmer (Manual) – One of the state’s top basketball players from 1966-1969, Farmer helped the ‘Bolts to the state finals in 1969 where they lost to South in one of the state’s epic title games.
Farmer went on to play for the legendary John Wooden and Farmer’s teams lost just one game in three years, winning three national titles. Farmer wanted to be a high school teacher and coach, but fate intervened. After a short stint playing overseas, Farmer was tabbed to join Gene Bartow’s staff at UCLA. Bartow had taken over for Wooden. And, when Bartow left, the job became Farmer’s.
He has coached at the professional and collegiate levels ever since. He won 166 games as a head coach, serving at UCLA, Weber State and Loyola-Chicago. He has spent the last five years on the Western Michigan staff. Farmer, in spite of winning three national championships, almost quit basketball after his sophomore season at Manual. He persevered and the one game he remembers most of all the games he played (including collegiately) was the 1969 Manual-South state title game where his Thunderbolts lost.
It’s a game, he says, that has stayed with him forever.
Judy Hildner (Pueblo) – The reigning matriarch of Colorado media, Judy Hildner is held in the highest esteem throughout the state. A founding member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame committee, she is a member of the Greater Pueblo Sports Hall of Fame and has been honored many times for her work with high schools.
She remains one of the most knowledgeable media persons in the state and had oversight on one of the country’s finest newspapers with their coverage of southern and southeastern Colorado, along with the San Luis Valley. She is considered to be the state’s first-ever female sports editor, serving in that capacity from 1990-2012.
She is a member of, and has chaired the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee, is a two-time member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame selection committee and has served, on the Pueblo School #60 District Strategic Planning Committee and others.
Hildner graduated from Pueblo Catholic High School, earning Outstanding Senior honors, and then went on to CSU-Pueblo (then SCSC) where she worked at the Chieftain while completing her degree.
Mary Shea (Thornton) – A three-sport athlete at Thornton High School, Mary Shea played volleyball, basketball and tennis for the Trojans. Shea was such a gifted athlete that she started in all three sports and earned all-conference honors from the beginning.
As a sophomore in tennis, she made the No. 2 singles position despite having never played competitive tennis before high school and made the state tournament. She was the No. 1 player the next two years but bowed out in regionals each time.
In volleyball, she led her team to the final 8 in state as a junior and the final 4 as a senior. She was all-state as a senior.
In basketball, she was all conference and all-state, leading Thornton to a final 4 appearance as junior and to the 1980 state title as a senior. She also coached the Thornton volleyball team in 1996 and 1997.
After high school, Shea was one of the top volleyball players in the High Country Athletic Conference/Western Athletic Conference for the University of Wyoming. She was the first female elected to the Wyoming Hall of Fame.
Ron Vlasin (Merino/Littleton/Arapahoe) – One of the state’s top basketball coaches, Ron Vlasin built some of Colorado’s top hoops programs for 30 years, including 5 teams that went unbeaten. He also coached football for two years (Merino) and baseball for six years (Arapahoe).
His basketball teams were 546-165 over 30 years, while his AHS baseball program went 96-23 in his six seasons. His teams won nine state basketball titles, including five straight at Merino, and finished second four times. His MHS football team had two runners-up finishes.
Vlasin’s teams held several lengthy winning streaks over the years, including streaks of 57, 46 and 40 at Merino. He was a nine-time Colorado Coach of the Year, including six times at Merino and twice at the AAAA level.
He is a member of CHSCA Hall of Fame (2010) and the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame (2014). He held several offices in the CHSCA during his career.
Many of his players went on to play in college, including Ken Shaw, who set numerous Colorado prep scoring marks and now coaches at Regis Jesuit.
