Abraham Lincoln gave the Class 4A boys state tournament boat a slight rock, becoming the only team not seeded No. 1 to advance to the Final Four after knocking off Harrison 86-81.
No. 1 in the preseason, the Lancers (18-7) stopped Harrison’s bid to advance to its third consecutive Final Four behind 25 points from Jorge Gutierrez and 23 from Ruot Pal.
The home-court edge did wonders for 4A’s remaining top seeds as Broomfield (21-5), Widefield (21-4) and Ralston Valley (23-3) advanced.
Lincoln will face Broomfield and Ralston Valley will meet Widefield on Thursday at the Coors Event Center in Boulder, the site of Saturday’s 6 p.m. final.
For the 4A girls, Glenwood Springs got 21 points from Katrina Selsor to drop rival Rifle 65-58. The Demons (20-4) will face Harrison (23-3) in the Final Four. Broomfield (25-1) rocked Alamosa 57-30 and Berthoud (23-3) knocked out top-seeded Sierra 56-38.
In 3A boys, Kent Denver and Roosevelt were the only teams lower than a No. 2 seed to make the Great 8.
Third-seeded Roosevelt took care of upstart Bishop Machebeuf and Kent Denver hammered No. 2 Manitou Springs 53-29, holding the Mustangs to just 10 baskets.
Rye outlasted Valley 58-55 and Pagosa Springs ousted defending champion Denver Christian 56-51.
In 3A girls, four games were decided by four points or fewer. Holy Family upset Centauri 46-45, Denver Christian held off Buena Vista 40-38, St. Mary’s edged Roosevelt 48-44, and seventh-seeded Bishop Machebeuf upset No. 3 The Classical Academy 61-57.
In 2A boys, District 5 rivals Meeker and Grand Valley advanced Saturday, joining Evangelical Christian Academy. Sanford handled Rocky Ford 55-38 and defending champion Jefferson Academy dropped Akron 58-49.
In 2A girls, Swink and Paonia pulled off upsets. Swink downed Sargent 50-49 and Paonia got by Mancos 38-35.
In 1A boys, Pawnee outlasted Shining Mountain 62-55 in double overtime behind 17 points from Keith Shoemaker. La Veta upset North Park 54-53.
La Veta’s girls team avoided an upset by edging Crested Butte 55-53. Flagler went to overtime to beat Hi-Plains 43-35, and Haxtun eliminated Deer Trail 47-43.
