PUEBLO, Colo.—Justin Tjaden scored 22 points to lead No. 8 Sedgwick County past seventh-seeded Paonia 43-28 Saturday night for the 2A state boys basketball championship.
Sedgwick County (21-5) used an electric second-half shooting display and a stifling defense.
“We just played like state champions in the second half,” Tjaden said. “This is just incredible. We played like we knew how and we came through. I’m at a loss for words.”
The history of Sedgwick County High School is all of two years. The school is a sports co-op for students at Julesburg and Revere high schools.
“I don’t know what hit us,” said Steve Swartzendruber, coach at Paonia (21-6). “They came out in the third quarter and started hitting shots and we missed some free throws and then we panicked and we should not have. We got away from what we do well and started shooting 3s and the game got away from us.”
———
On the Net:
Colorado High School Activities Association:
———
Information from: The Pueblo Chieftain,
