AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.—Kent Herman scored 20 points, including two late free throws to help Hi-Plains seal a 63-60 victory over Caliche for the 1A boys state basketball title Saturday.
With 6.1 seconds remaining in the way of a perfect season, Herman stepped to the free-throw line. His first shot hit the rim, bounced off the backboard, then down through the net to give Caliche (26-0) a 62-60 lead. Herman’s second shot swished through the net.
When a desperation 3-point shot by the Buffaloes (23-2) bounced off the rim, Hi-Plains took home its second 1A state championship in the past three years.
Perhaps fittingly, the game was decided at the line. With the title at stake, the game was physical. The intensity under the boards was exceptional, and several of the game’s big men were in foul trouble through much of the second half.
Herman, a 6-5 junior forward and a stalwart under the basket, made 6-of-6 from the line in the final minute of play.
Nathan Rueb, a 6-5 senior center, had 15 points for the Pioneers before fouling out with 2:08 to play, and Wes Henry added 11. Kraig Tagtmeyer also hit double digits with 10.
Craig Debus, playing with a bloodied nose through most of the second half, led Caliche in scoring with 17. Cody Zink picked up his fourth personal foul with 3:08 remaining in the third quarter and sat out much of the fourth, but collected 11 points for Caliche before fouling out with 50.5 seconds left to play. Derek Weingardt also had 11 for the Buffaloes.
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