Greenwood Village – Color the Poudre Impalas as escape artists.
And that’s OK with them – the bottom line is the Impalas held off spirited Arvada 58-56 on Wednesday night in the opening round of the Class 5A state tournament.
Competing at Cherry Creek’s Kurby Lyle Gymnasium, Poudre improved to 16-7 and will take on the host Bruins Friday night in the Glenn Wilson subregional final. A year ago, Cherry Creek ended Poudre’s season in the round of 16, 60-52 in overtime.
“We didn’t shoot the ball at all tonight and we couldn’t find our rhythm,” Poudre coach Jeff Schelly said. “It was a pretty frustrating game as far as that goes.”
The Bulldogs, who finished 11-14, were in it until the end. They had three chances to take the lead in the closing minute, the last of which came on a 3-point attempt by Jeremy Jensen from the right wing with seven seconds to play. But it missed and the rebound resulted in a scrum that killed the final seconds.
“Bottom line is we won the game,” Schelly said.
While Poudre struggled to find its game, the Bulldogs got strong inside play by Sean Lofland and just enough perimeter shooting and transition baskets to keep it close.
Poudre, which settled for jump shots in the first half, then had a bunch of inside bids roll off the rim in the second, moved to a 53-43 lead down the stretch. But pesky Arvada managed to keep it close despite missing seven free throws after halftime.
“That’s been a problem for us all year,” Arvada coach Kurt Castillo said.
Still, Poudre had trouble closing. Dallas Elmore, who tied with Tayler Faust for team-high scoring honors (17 points), had only four points after halftime, but he put the Impalas ahead 55-47 inside four minutes to play.
Matt Fisher, a 6-foot-6 senior added 15 points for the Impalas.
Arvada got within 55-54 on a Lofland inside move with 1:41 remaining, but was hurt when Steve Walker was called for an offensive foul on the ensuing possession while trying to set a screen.
“At this time of year, no matter how you get it done, the most important thing is to move on to the next round,” Fisher said.
Said Castillo: “The kids played hard and as a team, and that’s all we could ask.”
Lofland’s 17 points paced Arvada. Jensen had 12 and Walker added 10.
Arvada 14 17 6 19 – 56
Poudre 11 16 15 16 – 58
Arvada – Lofland 6 5-6 17, Jensen 5 1-4 12, Rosales 2 2-2 6, Bueghly 1 2-4 4, Walker 4 2-4 10, Rice 1 0-0 2, Childress 2 0-0 5, Ostrom 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 12-20 56.
Poudre – Fisher 7 1-2 15, Fulgencio 1 1-2 3, Morrow 1 0-0 2, Elmore 7 3-5 17, Faust 5 4-4 17, Shaw 2 0-0 4, Casey 0 0-0 0, Rodriguez 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 9-13 58.
3-pts. goals – Childress, Jensen; Faust 3. Total fouls – Arvada 18, Poudre 18. Fouled out – Walker. Technicals – None.
FAIRVIEW 99, ADAMS CITY 62
The Knights had no trouble in advancing to the second round behind balanced scoring, a quick start and superior play by seniors.
Fairview (14-10), which frequently got to the basket, ran to a 14-0 lead as Adams City (12-12) made just one of its first eight shots and had four turnovers.
Eleven players scored for the Knights, whose first 20-point lead came midway through the second quarter on a three-point play by Michael Stone. Stone’s follow-up shot early in the third quarter pushed Fairview over the 30-point bulge, 59-28.
Stone’s 21 points paced the Knights, who will take on Colorado Springs’ Palmer on Friday in the other Wilson subregional final. Craig Towler added 15 and Nick Anastas and James Melillo each scored 12.
For Adams City, which did not have a senior on its roster, Demetreus and Wesley Johnson each scored 13. Tyler Cirwithian and Kyle Grady scored 12 apiece.
Adams City 13 10 25 14 – 62
Fairview 25 22 27 25 – 99
Adams City – Archuleta 0 2-4 2, Cirwithian 6 0-0 12, D. Johnson 4 5-6 13, Grady 4 3-6 12, W. Johnson 5 3-4 13, Beard 0 0-0 0, J. Mack 0 0-0 0, Loney 0 0-0 0, Medina 2 0-0 5, Z. Mack 0 0-0 0, Castillo 2 0-0 5, Rodriguez 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 13-20 62.
Fairview – Melillo 5 2-3 12, Fenton 2 0-0 4, Stone 10 1-2 21, Anastas 6 0-0 12, Towler 7 1-3 15, Quilling 3 1-2 7, Moore 3 1-2 7, Ciarella 3 0-0 8, Taydus 3 1-1 7, Flynt 0 0-0 0, Gamble 1 0-0 2, McGraw 2 0-0 4. Totals 45 7-13 99.
3-pt. goals – Grady, Medina, Castillo; Citarella 2. Total fouls – Adams City 14, Fairview 18. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
