AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.—Kendal Rueb scored 19 points to lead Hi-Plains to a 62-57 win over Peetz in Class 1A boys state high school semifinals Friday night at Clune Arena.
Peetz opened the second half by scoring 11 consecutive points to build a 39-27 lead before Hi-Plains made a run of its own. Evan Bancroft, a 5-10 guard, got Hi-Plains on the board in the second half with two baskets and a 3-pointer after Rueb sank pair of free throws.
Hi-Plains tied the game at 41-41 early in the fourth quarter, and a 3-pointer by Kent Herman put the Patriots ahead to stay.
Hi-Plains stretched the lead to 48-41. Peetz mounted a rally but could get no closer than two points.
With the Pioneers leading 60-57, a potential game-tying 3-point attempt with 2.4 seconds remaining bounced off the rim. Peetz fouled Rueb off the rebound, and he sank anther pair of free throws to clinch the win.
Bancroft finished with 14 points, and Herman was in double figures with 10.
Gage Roelle had 26 points for Peetz, and Sean Fehringer contributed 15.
The win preserves a perfect season for the Patriots, who are now 25-0 record. Peetz finished the season at 20-5.
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