COLORADO SPRINGS — Winning a state title means at time, fear has to go out the window. On the very first possession of the third quarter, junior Trista Marx picked up her third foul for Limon.
The logical move was to take her out. Considering she had scored 19 of the Badgers’ 30 first-half points, she was a crucial part of Limon’s championship chances. But she stayed on the floor and the gamble paid off.
This is the sixth girls basketball title for the Badgers (16-3 overall) and the first since 2007.
“We had eight seniors graduate last year and they didn’t get this chance,” coach Bart O’Dwyer. “It’s really special to have these kids do what they did. They believed in themselves and they really came through.”
It was a bit of a shaky start as the Eagles caused some havoc in their 2-2-1 press. They forced seven Limon turnovers in the first quarter and built a 10-6 lead.
“I think it was just nerves and being in a bigger gym,” Marx said. “We’ve had trouble with presses before but our new press break helped settle us down. After a little bit we figured it out.”
That’s when Marx got going. She scored all but four of Limon’s points in the first quarter and once the Badgers got the ball into their half-court set, she was seemingly unstoppable.
She helped the Badgers build a 10-point lead at halftime before picking up her third foul. Sending her to the bench was never an option unless absolutely necessary.
“I don’t worry about three fouls,” O’Dwyer said. “I’ll play them in the first half with two and if they get a third I’ll take them out. With three fouls, that’s how we’ve played that all year long. I’ve told these girls they have to learn how to play with fouls.”
She scored just five points in the third quarter but dominated the glass, pulling down five rebounds, three of which were offensive. She pulled down 10 boards to end the game with a championship double-double.
She couldn’t allow herself to be as aggressive as she was in the first half because of her foul count. It’s exactly what O’Dwyer is talking about when he says that she has to learn how to play with them.
“I have to back off a little bit,” Marx said. “I still try and play hard and if I get my fourth, it is what it is.”
While her offensive numbers were impressive, it was the overall team defense for Limon that changed the feel of the game late in the first quarter. Wray had trouble getting open looks and knocked down just 18 percent of their shots in the first half and 22 percent for the entire game.
Taby Jones and Karly Godsey usually combine for around 30 points per game, but were kept in check through the first three quarters of the game. Jones scored 14 before committing her fifth foul in the fourth quarter and receiving a well-deserved ovation from the Eagles fanbase in attendance.
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.”
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:
PUEBLO — Moments after Centauri narrowly wrapped up the team title, Eyan Chavez put an exclamation point on the night for the Falcons.
Tied 0-0 after three periods in the final match of the Class 2A boys wrestling state tournament, Chavez, a junior, earned a 2-0 sudden victory win against Peyton’s Clint Brown to win a championship in the 145-pound division.
Minutes later, Chavez and Centauri were posing with the gold trophy as they earned the program’s third title and first since winning back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
The title was only locked up after the second-to-last match of the event.
Heading into the placing matches, Centauri led the team race with 92 points. Cedaredge and Wray were just behind at 84, and Buena Vista also in the hunt with 81.5.
Things only tightened as the placing matches continued, wrestling two weights at a time. Through the first six weights of the final session, Centauri and Cedaredge were deadlocked with 95 points apiece. Buena Vista sat in third with 87.5 points, and Wray was fourth with 84.
Through eight weights, Centauri inched ahead of Cedaredge at 97-95. Through 10, the lead expanded to 100-95. Through 12 weights, the team race stayed the same.
Then, finally, as the 145- and 152-pound divisions wrapped up and the tournament concluded, the picture was finally clear: Centauri had won the title, The final margin? 104 points to Cedaredge’s 99.
Chavez was the lone individual title for Centauri, but the Falcons had seven wresters place. Included: Riley Valdez (2nd, 106); Jordan Martin (2nd, 152); Erik Mestas (2nd, 160); Mario Vigil (3rd, 113); Zach Buhr (5th, 170); and Byron Shawcroft (5th, 182).
The tournament also featured a number of standout individual performances.
The 132-pound match was a monster battle between two two-time champions: Rye senior Michael Atencio and Lyons senior Oran Huff. Huff took a tough 3-2 decision.
Huff won 126 as a junior and sophomore, after he finished fourth place in that weight as a freshman.
Cedaredge’s Lane Hunsberger, a junior, won the 120-pound championship in sudden victory, beating returning champion Brady Collins of Wray 5-3. Collins, a sophomore, won the 106-pound title last season.
Meeker senior Colby Clatterbaugh beat two returning champions in the 195-pound bracket to claim the title. Clatterbaugh beat previously unbeaten Fabian Lopez of Sedgwick County/Fleming in the semifinals with an 8-4 decision, and pinned Adam Schulz of Crowley County in 3:49.
Wray senior Tyler Collins won his second championship in defending his championship at 152. Collins got a 7-1 decision over Centauri’s Martin.
Wray finished third as a team with 95 points. Buena Vista (89.5) took fourth, and John Mall (69) was fifth.
The final boys basketball coaches polls of season are out as part of the process for seeding the state basketball tournaments.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. They are a factor in the postseason. Each vote went through an audit process.
Valor Christian 51, Doherty 19, Mullen 18, Overland 16, Rampart 15, Silver Creek 11, Chatfield 10, Horizon 8, Vista PEAK Prep 3, Arapahoe 2, Ralston Valley 1, Rocky Mountain 1
Dropped out
Valor Christian (11), Chatfield (14)
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Windsor (19)
12-1
309
1
3-0
2
Longmont
10-3
249
2
1-2
3
Lewis-Palmer
10-2
235
6
3-0
4
Mead
10-3
228
5
4-0
5
Montrose
14-0
220
4
2-0
6
Pueblo Central (1)
12-2
204
3
1-1
7
Pueblo South
12-2
145
14
2-0
8
Golden
12-2
143
10
2-0
8
Steamboat Springs (1)
14-0
143
8
4-0
10
Evergreen
11-3
139
8
2-0
11
Erie
6-2
111
7
0-0
12
Holy Family
9-5
109
12
3-0
13
Green Mountain
10-4
73
11
0-2
14
Thompson Valley
10-4
62
–
2-1
15
Centaurus
4-4
44
15
0-0
Others receiving votes:
Aurora Central 33, D’Evelyn 14, Coronado 13, Pueblo East 11, Thomas Jefferson 11, Sand Creek 8, Palisade 4, Canon City 4, Frederick 3, Elizabeth 2, Mountain View 1, Falcon 1, Pueblo County 1
Dropped out
Aurora Central (13)
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
St. Mary’s (14)
13-0
416
1
4-0
2
Lutheran (14)
12-1
407
2
2-0
3
Sterling (1)
13-1
363
3
3-0
4
Manitou Springs
13-1
321
4
2-1
5
Manual
11-3
256
5
3-1
6
Centauri
12-1
251
6
2-0
7
Faith Christian
8-4
203
7
1-1
8
Englewood
13-1
180
10
4-0
9
Aspen
12-1
160
13
2-0
10
Resurrection Christian
8-3
150
8
0-0
11
Highland
13-1
144
11
3-0
12
Colorado Academy
8-1
134
8
1-0
13
Coal Ridge
11-3
106
12
2-1
14
Kent Denver
10-4
85
14
2-0
15
Colorado Springs Christian
11-3
67
–
3-1
Others receiving votes:
The Pinnacle 58, Gunnison 50, Salida 32, Brush 28, Strasburg 24, University 11, Bishop Machebeuf 9, Alamosa 6, Estes Park 5, DSST: Conservatory Green 3, Fort Lupton 3, Eaton 2, DSST: College View 1, Middle Park 1, Basalt 1, DSST: Green Valley Ranch 1, Bennett 1, Buena Vista 1
Dropped out
The Pinnacle (15)
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Wray (19)
12-0
285
1
0-0
2
Limon
13-1
258
2
3-0
3
Peyton
11-1
244
3
3-0
4
Denver Christian
12-2
194
4
3-1
5
Yuma
7-3
192
6
0-0
6
Holly
13-1
179
7
1-0
7
Sanford
9-4
165
5
1-1
8
Mancos
12-2
145
8
2-1
9
Ignacio
12-2
143
8
3-0
10
Sedgwick County
10-4
113
10
1-0
11
Del Norte
11-3
100
–
2-0
12
Fowler
8-6
50
12
0-2
13
Meeker
10-4
45
11
2-1
14
Wiggins
9-5
43
13
2-1
15
Thomas MacLaren School
6-2
25
–
0-0
Others receiving votes:
Monte Vista 18, Crested Butte 17, Lake County 14, Vail Christian 11, Lyons 10, Atlas Preparatory School 10, Vail Mountain 5, Byers 4, Dayspring Christian Academy 4, Holyoke 2, Custer County 1, Cedaredge 1, Rye 1, Golden View Classical Academy 1
Dropped out
Crested Butte (14)
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Belleview Christian (12)
12-0
213
1
0-0
2
De Beque (1)
13-1
199
2
3-0
3
Merino (1)
10-4
157
5
3-0
4
Granada (1)
13-1
153
6
2-0
5
Cheraw
13-1
151
3
1-1
6
Primero
11-1
146
4
3-0
7
Mile High Academy
8-2
131
8
2-0
8
Caprock Academy
11-3
123
7
0-2
9
Briggsdale
10-2
97
11
2-0
10
Haxtun
9-5
81
10
1-1
11
Denver Jewish Day
8-2
70
13
2-0
12
Evangelical Christian
9-4
62
8
1-2
13
Sangre de Cristo
9-3
59
12
1-0
14
Genoa-Hugo/Karval
10-3
31
–
2-0
15
Kim/Branson
10-4
29
–
2-1
Others receiving votes:
Eads 27, Longmont Christian 12, Simla 10, Flatirons Academy 10, Sierra Grande 8, Rocky Mountain Lutheran 7, Elbert 6, Denver Waldorf 6, Fleming 4, Cheyenne Wells 4, Pikes Peak Christian 2, Hi-Plains 1, Dove Creek 1
The final girls basketball coaches polls of season are out as part of the process for seeding the state basketball tournaments.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. They are a factor in the postseason. Each vote went through an audit process.
Fruita Monument 23, Fountain-Fort Carson 22, Columbine 19, Horizon 18, Castle View 12, Ponderosa 10, Broomfield 10, Arvada West 8, Pueblo West 7, Poudre 5, Lakewood 5, Westminster 4, Air Academy 2, Rocky Mountain 1, Mountain Vista 1, Vista PEAK Prep 1
Dropped out
Fruita Monument (14)
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Holy Family (5)
10-1
311
2
2-0
2
Green Mountain (4)
14-0
307
1
2-0
3
Mullen (13)
12-2
293
3
3-0
4
Windsor
12-1
263
6
3-0
5
Falcon
13-1
250
4
2-1
6
George Washington (1)
12-1
231
5
2-0
7
Erie
11-3
166
13
3-0
8
The Classical Academy
12-2
153
7
1-0
9
Palmer Ridge
10-3
110
11
1-0
10
Grand Junction Central
11-3
96
10
2-1
11
Canon City
10-2
88
8
0-1
12
Weld Central
12-2
83
14
2-0
13
Northridge
12-2
78
8
2-1
14
Thompson Valley
11-3
72
12
2-1
15
Mead
7-3
71
–
2-1
Others receiving votes:
D’Evelyn 48, Roosevelt 45, Glenwood Springs 17, Coronado 16, Berthoud 10, Thornton 9, Pueblo County 7, Battle Mountain 7, Palisade 7, Severance 6, Rifle 4, Evergreen 3, Lewis-Palmer 3, Littleton 2, Aurora Central 1, Frederick 1, Durango 1, Northfield 1
Dropped out
D’Evelyn (15)
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
The Vanguard School (18)
13-0
298
1
3-0
2
Centauri
13-1
263
2
2-0
3
Lutheran (2)
12-1
250
3
2-0
4
Platte Valley
12-1
239
4
3-0
5
Delta
12-2
207
6
2-1
6
Eaton
10-2
196
5
1-1
7
University
10-4
169
7
2-0
8
The Academy
9-1
147
8
4-0
9
Brush
11-3
144
8
2-1
10
Pagosa Springs
10-3
108
10
0-1
11
St. Mary’s
12-2
98
11
3-1
12
Kent Denver
9-3
69
12
1-1
13
Moffat County
9-3
48
15
2-0
14
Resurrection Christian
10-4
42
–
3-0
15
Coal Ridge
11-3
30
–
3-0
Others receiving votes:
Manitou Springs 21, Lamar 18, Peak to Peak 13, Ellicott 9, Sterling 9, Basalt 7, Faith Christian 5, Colorado Academy 3, The Pinnacle 2, Valley 2, Prospect Ridge Academy 1, Salida 1, Middle Park 1
Dropped out
Peak to Peak (13), Manitou Springs (14)
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Holyoke (3)
14-0
258
3
2-0
2
Sanford (5)
13-1
253
1
2-0
3
Cedaredge (6)
13-1
250
2
2-0
4
Rye (3)
13-1
232
4
2-0
5
Heritage Christian (2)
13-1
196
6
2-1
6
Rocky Ford
11-2
186
5
1-0
7
Paonia
12-2
154
7
2-0
8
Wray
10-3
153
8
1-0
9
Sedgwick County
12-2
130
11
1-0
10
Limon
11-3
117
8
2-1
11
Ignacio
9-4
77
10
1-2
11
Soroco
10-2
77
12
1-1
13
Lotus School for Excellence
13-0
55
13
3-0
14
Burlington
10-4
43
14
1-1
15
Del Norte
9-5
36
15
1-1
Others receiving votes:
Olathe 19, Center 19, Mancos 9, Sargent 7, Gilpin County 6, Monte Vista 1, Hotchkiss 1, Fowler 1
Dropped out
None.
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Briggsdale (19)
12-0
326
1
2-0
2
Kit Carson (3)
13-0
306
2
2-0
3
Sangre de Cristo
10-2
266
3
0-1
4
Kim/Branson
13-1
202
6
2-0
5
Flatirons Academy
10-4
199
4
3-1
6
South Baca [Campo/Vilas/Pritchett]
12-2
185
5
1-1
7
Fleming
9-3
176
12
3-0
8
Shining Mountain
11-3
142
10
1-2
9
Simla
11-3
134
8
2-0
10
McClave
10-3
132
8
1-2
11
Cotopaxi
12-2
128
11
2-0
11
Dove Creek
13-0
128
13
3-0
13
Elbert
8-3
93
7
0-2
14
Merino
9-5
65
14
3-0
15
Lone Star
9-4
46
15
3-1
Others receiving votes:
Haxtun 32, Kiowa 12, Sierra Grande 12, Springfield 12, Belleview Christian 11, Idalia 9, Eads 9, Evangelical Christian 8, North Park 5, Cheraw 1, Longmont Christian 1
Tim Yount of On The Mat provides weekly wrestling rankings for teams and individuals in all weight classes. To see individual rankings, you can subscribe to On The Mat’s full rankings.
To subscribe via PayPal, choose your subscription option on this page click on the corresponding PayPal button. To subscribe by mail or fax and pay by personal check, click here for a printable subscription form. Email Tim Yount at tim@onthematrankings.com with questions.
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After going 3-0 last week, Wray has moved up to No. 1 in the Class 2A boys basketball rankings.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. They are a factor in the postseason. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.
Doherty 36, Overland 24, Rampart 23, Douglas County 23, Smoky Hill 17, Mullen 13, Silver Creek 12, Ralston Valley 10, Gateway 9, Columbine 4, Arapahoe 4, Boulder 4, Air Academy 1, Vista PEAK 1, Horizon 1
Dropped out
Doherty (13), Overland (14)
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Windsor (17)
9-1
364
1
1-0
2
Longmont (1)
9-1
346
2
1-0
3
Pueblo Central (1)
11-1
276
4
2-0
4
Montrose (3)
12-0
252
6
3-0
5
Mead (2)
6-3
240
3
0-1
6
Lewis-Palmer
7-2
232
5
3-1
7
Erie (1)
6-2
192
8
0-0
8
Evergreen
9-3
178
7
1-1
9
Steamboat Springs (1)
10-0
165
8
2-0
10
Golden
10-2
163
10
2-0
11
Green Mountain
10-2
122
12
2-0
12
Holy Family
6-5
101
15
1-1
13
Aurora Central
10-1
98
11
2-0
14
Pueblo South
10-2
95
13
3-0
15
Centaurus
4-4
67
14
0-0
Others receiving votes:
Thompson Valley 54, D’Evelyn 28, Frederick 21, Pueblo East 20, Sand Creek 20, Palisade 20, Severance 16, Thomas Jefferson 14, Mountain View 11, Canon City 11, Wheat Ridge 3, Denver North 3, Elizabeth 2, Summit 2, Widefield 1, Falcon 1, Grand Junction 1, Durango 1
Dropped out
None.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
St. Mary’s (20)
9-0
482
1
1-0
2
Lutheran (12)
10-1
431
2
2-0
3
Sterling
10-1
383
4
2-0
4
Manitou Springs
11-0
376
3
2-0
5
Manual
8-2
262
6
1-0
6
Centauri
10-1
256
5
1-1
7
Faith Christian
7-3
246
8
2-0
8
Colorado Academy
7-1
213
7
1-1
9
Resurrection Christian
8-3
200
8
1-1
10
Englewood
9-1
171
14
2-0
11
Highland
10-1
169
11
3-0
12
Coal Ridge
9-2
149
10
1-1
13
Aspen
10-1
118
15
3-0
14
Kent Denver
8-4
96
12
1-1
15
The Pinnacle (1)
11-1
93
13
2-1
Others receiving votes:
Colorado Springs Christian 56, Strasburg 55, Gunnison 37, Salida 26, Estes Park 22, Brush 18, Alamosa 15, Buena Vista 13, University 10, Bishop Machebeuf 9, DSST: Montview 9, Bennett 8, Basalt 5, Eaton 4, Moffat County 4, Eagle Ridge Academy 3, Arrupe Jesuit 3, DSST: Conservatory Green 3, Banning Lewis 3, Pagosa Springs 3, DSST: College View 2, Platte Valley 1, Lamar 1, DSST: Green Valley Ranch 1, Fort Lupton 1, Middle Park 1, The Vanguard School 1, Prospect Ridge Academy 1
Dropped out
None.
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Wray (21)
12-0
329
2
3-0
2
Limon
10-1
302
1
1-1
3
Peyton (1)
8-1
275
3
1-0
4
Denver Christian
9-1
227
4
2-0
5
Sanford
8-3
226
6
1-1
6
Yuma
7-3
216
5
0-0
7
Holly
12-1
197
8
3-0
8
Mancos
10-1
178
7
3-0
9
Ignacio
9-2
133
10
2-0
10
Sedgwick County
9-4
108
11
2-0
11
Meeker
8-3
99
8
2-2
12
Fowler
8-4
84
12
2-1
13
Wiggins
7-4
44
13
1-1
14
Crested Butte
6-3
41
15
2-1
15
Thomas MacLaren
6-2
35
–
2-1
Others receiving votes:
Del Norte 33, Monte Vista 27, Vail Mountain 21, Center 14, Holyoke 14, Byers 8, Lake County 7, Dayspring Christian Academy 6, Cedaredge 5, Vail Christian 3, Soroco 2, Clear Creek 2, Calhan 1, Dolores 1, Rye 1, Rocky Ford 1
Dropped out
Monte Vista (14)
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Belleview Christian (19)
12-0
345
1
2-0
2
De Beque (1)
10-1
299
2
2-0
3
Cheraw (2)
12-0
295
3
3-0
4
Primero
8-1
262
4
0-1
5
Merino (1)
7-4
216
5
2-0
6
Granada
11-1
192
11
3-0
7
Caprock Academy
11-1
187
8
2-0
8
Mile High Academy (1)
6-2
176
7
3-1
9
Evangelical Christian
8-2
153
6
0-0
10
Haxtun
8-4
136
12
1-1
11
Briggsdale
8-2
135
10
1-0
12
Sangre de Cristo
8-3
102
13
2-1
13
Denver Jewish Day
6-2
100
8
2-0
14
Genoa-Hugo
8-3
71
15
2-0
15
Eads
9-3
61
14
2-1
Others receiving votes:
Cheyenne Wells 34, Kim/Branson 28, Flatirons Academy 27, Simla 18, Rocky Mountain Lutheran 14, Longmont Christian 8, Elbert 6, Hi-Plains 4, Sierra Grande 4, McClave 2, Fleming 2, Denver Waldorf 1, Prairie 1, Dove Creek 1
