Pueblo – For a moment, Limon had a fight on its hands.
But only a moment.
By the end of the game, it seemed like an eternity since Swink led. By the end, second-seeded Limon assumed control and cruised, 51-30, in the 2A girls quarterfinals Thursday at the State Fair Event Center.
Limon faces Holyoke in a 5:30 p.m. game today at the Event Center.
Limon coach Mark Brown credited his team with getting back to the fundamentals it has worked on the entire season as the reason the Badgers outscored Swink 33-18 to end the game. A free throw by Swink forward Erika Bryant gave the Lions an 18-12 lead with 7:40 left in the second quarter.
From that point, until a Whitney Liggett basket for Limon with 7:32 left in the fourth quarter, the Badgers outscored Swink 29-6 to take a 41-24 lead. After 17 first-quarter points, the Lions scored 13 the remainder of the game.
“We got off to a slow start,” Brown said. “We just didn’t execute our offense the way I wanted to. … But after a timeout, I told them we need to pass the ball. We did that and we got some nice looks inside.”
Limon is looking for its third-straight state title. The Badgers were led by Camille Grimes’ 15 points, all of which she scored in the first half. Liggett picked up the scoring in the second half, scoring 11 of her 13 points after intermission.
Kacie Jacquart led Swink with five points.
“We talked about taking care of the ball,” Swink coach Mark Henson said. “I really thought we were patient like we were supposed to be in the first quarter-and-a-half. Then, we just got that itch in us and then turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.”
Swink 17 4 3 6 – 30
Limon 12 18 9 12 – 51
Swink – Jacquart 1 0-0 5, Graham 2 0-0 4, Ramsey 1 0-0 2, Klein 1 -0-0 2, Miller 1 1-2 4, 1 2-2 4, Whalen 0 2-4 2, Lopez 1 2-4 4, Bryant 1 1-3 3. Totals 10 8-15 30.
Limon – H. Naylor 4 0-2 8, J. Naylor 1 1-3 3, Haley 0 1-2 1, O’Dwyer 0 1-2 1, Head 1 0-0 2, Brown 2 2-2 8, Liggett 6 0-0 13, Grimes 5 2-2 15, Kollath 0 0-1 0. Totals 19 7-15 51.
3-pt. goals – Jacquart, Miller; Grimes 3, Brown 2, Liggett. Total fouls – Swink 17, Limon 13. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
HOLYOKE 61, PLATEAU VALLEY 44: Victoria and Vanessa Timm combined for more than half of Holyoke’s points and the Dragons were never threatened in an upset quarterfinal win over previously once-beaten Plateau Valley.
Victoria Timm finished with 20 points and Vanessa added 14 for Holyoke (15-9), which faces Limon today.
Plateau Valley (22-2) was led by Tarina Schumann’s 14 points.
Plateau Valley 8 10 8 18 – 44
Holyoke 19 14 16 12 – 61
Plateau Valley – Kromarek 1 0-2 2, Roberts 2 2-5 7, Smith 2 0-2 4, Bruton 3 0-2 6, Mumby 0 0-1 0, Hockett 3 5-6 11, Schuman 3 8-10 14. Totals 14 15-28 44.
Holyoke – Williamson 4 0-1 8, Vi. Timm 9 1-2 20, Olofson 2 0-0 5, Denny 1 0-0 2, Starkebaum 2 2-4 6, Va. Timm 5 3-4 14, Sullivan 1 2-2 4, Stroh 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 8-13 61.
3-pt. goals – Roberts; Vi. Timm, Va. Timm, Olofson. Total fouls – Plateau Valley 15, Holyoke 18. Fouled out – Williamson. Technicals – None.
SANGRE DE CRISTO 44, PAONIA 31: Jodi Beiriger made five 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 18 points as Sangre de Cristo held off Paonia.
Brittany Brown, who averages just under 14 points per game for the Thunderbirds, finished with 10 points. Briana Ridgway led Paonia with 17 points.
Sangre de Cristo 12 14 21 18 – 44
Paonia 8 8 9 6 – 31
Sangre de Cristo – Ja. Beiriger 1 1-2 4, Stoeber 1 0-0 2, Escheman 1 2-2 4, Jo. Beiriger 5 3-6 18, Crowther 1 2-2 4, Brown 5 0-0 10. Totals 15 8-12 44.
Paonia – Simpson 1 0-0 2, Reed 4 0-0 8, Wiggins 1 0-0 2, Ridgway 7 3-3 17, Venard 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 3-3 31.
3-pt. goals – Jo. Beiriger 5, Ja. Beiriger. Total fouls – Sangre de Cristo 8; Paonia 18. Fouled out – Reed. Technicals – None.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
At Pueblo Events Center
Sangre de Cristo 44, Paonia 31
Wray 50, Simla 49
Holyoke 61, Plateau Valley 44
Limon 51, Swink 30
TODAY
Final Four: (6) Holyoke (15-9) vs. (2) Limon (21-2), 5:30 p.m.
(1) Sangre de Cristo (22-1) vs. (5) Wray (20-3), 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Third place: 3:30 p.m.
Championship game: 7 p.m.
