Parker – The smile that never left the face of Chaparral coach Tony Speights proved he practices what he preaches to his players.
After spending three quarters shaking off the rust that built up over the holiday break, Speights’ Wolverines settled down and started having some fun in the fourth quarter. It was in those final eight minutes when Chaparral blew open a back-and-forth contest against visiting Air Academy for a 54-40 victory Wednesday night in the first round of the Regis Holiday Hoop Classic.
“One of the biggest things I’m trying to teach them is that close games like this are fun. They’re fun because you have to make plays to win,” said Speights, a former assistant in his first season as head coach.
Chaparral (6-1 overall) traded leads with Air Academy (5-1), a state quarterfinalist last season, and the game appeared certain to go down to the final buzzer.
But the Wolverines clamped down on defense and outscored the Kadets 21-6 in the fourth quarter behind the hot offensive hand of 6-foot-2 freshman Samantha Martin and one big 3-pointer from 6-1 junior Alyssa McGuinnis.
Chaparral’s Sarah Cleveland, who set a school record for most points in a season in 2005-06 with 282, led all scorers with 14 points, Martin finished with eight and Jessica Richardson came off the bench for nine.
Junior Wendy Sherman led Air Academy with 13 points and added seven rebounds, Kaeleigh Helsham also pulled down seven rebounds, and Meghan Hollenga scored eight points.
The game started even, if a bit sloppy, until Air Academy ended the first quarter on a 7-0 run capped by Sherman’s three- point play that put the Kadets ahead 16-10.
But Chaparral opened the second quarter by doing Air Academy one better with an 8-0 run highlighted by back-to-back baskets from Meghan Kelly. Junior point guard McKayla Gorman gave the Wolverines the lead with a steal and a layup at the other end, and Chaparral led 24-23 at the half.
Air Academy had the lead after the third quarter, 34-33, but that was its final hurrah.
“I’m going to have to look at film to figure out what happened,” Air Academy coach Ivan Chambers said.
“In the fourth quarter we had some key turnovers … and we didn’t handle it very well.”
Chaparral did handle it, and the Wolverines’ man defense thwarted the Kadets’ offense. Chaparral also helped itself by hitting all 12 of its free throws in the second half.
Air Academy 16 7 11 6 – 40
Chaparral 10 14 9 21 – 54
Air Academy – Sherman 5 3-6 13, H. Hollenga 2 3-4 7, Drescher 2 0-5 4, Staley 0 1-3 1, Helsham 2 1-1 5, M. Hollenga 3 2-2 8, Beale 0 0-0 0, Arney 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 10-21 40.
Chaparral – Gorman 2 2-3 6, Martin 4 0-0 8, Cleveland 3 6-6 14, Priest 2 0-0 4, McGuinnis 1 0-0 3, Richardson 2 4-4 9, Rommel 0 2-2 2, Reeves 1 0-0 2, Kelly 2 0-0 4, Smith 0 2-2 2, Hixon 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 16-17 54.
3-point goals – Cleveland 2, McGuinnis, Richardson. Total fouls – Air Academy 19; Chaparral 18. Fouled out – H. Hollenga, Helsham. Technicals – None.
