Colorado Springs – On paper, Hi-Plains appears to be overmatched.
As defending 1A state champions last year, the Patriots lost four all-state players, have only two seniors and start three sophomores.
But, as Pawnee High School found out in Thursday’s 1A quarterfinal matchup, the young team from Seibert could be a force in this year’s tournament.
With the help of 37 combined points from two of its sophomores and a little veteran leadership from its only returning starter, the Patriots rolled over the Coyotes 63-54 at the Air Force Academy.
“We had such a good year last year that I think some people forgot about us this year,” said senior starter Brock Benson, who added seven points in the win. “That’s been our motivation all season. Just because the team’s young doesn’t mean these guys don’t know how to play.”
Hi-Plains (20-4) faces a semifinal game today, meaning the team is only one win away from playing for its second boys basketball title in school history.
And only a win in the title game can remove the chip on these players’ shoulders.
“We’ve been challenging these guys right from that first practice, showing them (newspaper) articles about how it’s supposed to be tough for us to repeat,” Hi-Plains coach Dave Sheffield said. “You can see that motivation when these guys play.”
So did Pawnee.
Though the Coyotes (17-7) found themselves trailing 15-14 at the end of the first quarter, a mix of powerful inside offense and accurate jump shots from Hi-Plains bumped the one-point deficit to nine points by half.
The Patriots cruised from there, staving off brief comebacks with timely free-throw shooting in the final quarter. The Coyotes committed 27 fouls in the game.
“Our guys played pretty tight, and I think that’s what got us in the end,” Pawnee coach Tim Brunelle said. “Maybe it was nerves.”
Patriots sophomore Kent Herman scored 22 points, including shooting 8-for-10 from the free-throw line, and Kendal Rueb added another 15 from the field.
Pawnee junior Keith Shoemaker paced his team with 16 points.
“We’re ready for our next game,” Sheffield said. “You can feel that we’re building a tradition. “They know they’re not just playing for themselves or their school; they’re playing for an entire community.”
Pawnee 14 9 11 20 – 54
Hi-Plains 15 17 16 15 – 63
Pawnee – Shoemaker 5 6-7 16, Konig 5 1-6 12, Hayes 3 2-4 8, Light 4 0-0 8, Brunttelle 3 0-0 6, Miller 1 0-4 2, SchoetteIndrier 1 0-0 2, Anderson 0 0-0 0, Bridge 0 0-0 0, Burson 0 0-0 0, Caprara 0 0-0 0, Helgeson 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 9-21 54.
Hi-Plains – Herman 7 8-10 22, K. Rueb 7 0-0 15, N. Rueb 4 4-8 12, Bro. Benson 1 5-8 7, Tagtmeyer 1 1-1 3, Bry. Benson 1 0-0 2, Buncroft 0 2-6 2, Henry 0 0-0 0, McCullough 0 0-0 0, McCracken 0 0-0 0, Mills 0 0-0 0, Schultz 0 0-0 0Totals 21 19-32 63.
3-pt. goals – Konig, K. Rueb.Total fouls – Pawnee 27, Hi-Plains 20. Fouled out – Brunelle, K. Rueb . Technicals – None.
OTIS 51, CREEDE 40: Otis hit seven 3-pointers, including three in the third quarter, to put the game out of reach.
Guard Karson Kuntz and center Jon Paul Davis paced the Bulldogs (20-4) with 28 combined points.
Otis 11 12 17 11 – 51
Creede 10 8 12 10 – 40
Otis – K. Kuntz 4 6-10 16, Davis 5 2-2 12, McGrath 3 0-0 9, Anderson 3 1-2 8, McCall 1 0-0 3, Schoenfeld 1 0-2 2, Aughe 0 1-2 1, Carey 0 0-0 0, G. Kuntz 0 0-0 0, Patterson 0 0-0 0, Rogers 0 0-0 0, Ruiz 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 10-18 51
Creede – Small 8 0-2 17, Bell 4 2-3 10, Carpenter 2 0-0 4, Whitmore 2 0-0 4, Hosselkus 1 0-0 2, Tiley 1 0-0 2, Ussery 0 1-4 1, Carr 0 0-0 0, Gallegos 0 0-0, Nelson 0 0-0 0, Stroh 0 0-0 0, Vineyard 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 3-9 40.
3-pt. goals – McGrath 3, K. Kuntz 2, Anderson, McCall, Small. Total fouls – Otis 10, Creede 15. Fouled out – Carpenter.
CALICHE 72, GRANADA 46: Caliche opened up an early lead and never looked back. Sophomore Craig Debus led the Buffaloes with 23 points.
Caliche 19 22 18 13 – 72
Granada 14 14 7 11 – 46
Caliche – Debus 9 5-6 23, Zink 5 1-2 15, Weingardt 3 5-7 11, Stieb 3 2-3 8, Gillham 2 2-4 6, Stumpf 2 0-0 4, Gutierrez 1 0-2 3, Kippes 2 0-0 4, Chartier 0 0-0 0, Hendrix 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 0-0 0, Monheiser 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 15-24 72.
Granada – D. Morales 3 2-2 10, F. Morales 4 2-2 10, Thrall 4 5-6 7, Vega 2 0-0 5, Marquez 1 0-0 3, Schulz 1 0-1 2, Widener 0 1-2 1, Merritt 0 0-1 0, Dorenkamp 0 0-0 0, Esparza 0 0-0 0, Sigala 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 10-14 46.
3-pt. goals – Zink 4, Gutierrez, D. Morales 2, Marquez, Vega. Total fouls – Caliche 15, Granada 18. Fouled out – None. Technicals -Caliche.
KIT CARSON 96, LA VETA 29: Kit Carson remained undefeated this season by crushing La Veta. Five Wildcats scored in the double digits, led by Wade Jacobs’ 17-point performance.
The score was 57-9 at the half and 78-12 after three quarters in the lopsided contest. Kit Carson won the title in 2004 for the school’s first championship in any sport.
Kit Carson 29 28 21 18 – 96
La Veta 2 7 3 17 – 29
Kit Carson – Jolly 6 2-5 14, Deschant 7 0-1 14, Connelley 3 2-2 8, Maxey 4 3-4 11, Mitchell 2 0-0 4, Hammer 2 1-2 5, Jacobs 7 0-0 17, Trahern 5 1-3 12, Stephenson 3 0-0 7, Ball 2 0-0 4. Totals 41 9-17 96.
La Veta – Price 0 1-2 1, Thompsen 1 0-0 3, Andratta 1 2-2 4, Konkle 3 0-0 7, T. Brownlee 2 0-0 4, Geiser 1 0-0 2, Mason 2 0-0 4, S. Brownlee 1 2-4 4. Totals 11 5-8 29.
3-pt. goals – Jacobs 3, Stephenson, Trahern; Konkle, Thompsen.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
At Clune Arena, Air Force Academy
Kit Carson 96, La Veta 29
Otis 51, Creede 40
Caliche 72, Granada 45
Hi-Plains 63, Pawnee 52
TODAY
Final Four: (2) Hi-Plains (20-4) vs. (6) Caliche (18-6), 3:30 p.m.
(5) Otis (20-4), vs. (1) Kit Carson (23-0), 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Third place: 11:30 a.m.
Championship game: 2:45 p.m.
