PUEBLO — This is a shot Alex Herrera will never forget.
The 6-foot-7 center banked in an inside shot with 2.9 seconds remaining, vaulting Ignacio to a 55-54 victory over Heritage Christian on Thursday morning in a Class 2A state quarterfinal game at Massari Arena.
“I was confident I made the shot and I felt really proud when it went in,” said Herrera, who had a game-high 21 points.
Herrera was fouled on the shot, but he missed the subsequent free throw. Heritage Christian’s Zach Peterson retrieved the rebound and dribbled frantically upcourt and fired a desperation shot that missed just past halfcourt right before the buzzer.
“We called timeout with 8.9 seconds left and we designed a play to go in to Alex,” Ignacio coach Chris Valdez said. “We feel like Alex is the best post-up player in this tournament, and he made the shot and was fouled. Kids dream about making a shot like Alex did. This was a huge win for us.”
The Bobcats (23-1) won their first state basketball game in 20 years. Jonathan McGinley had 16 points in the loss for the Eagles (22-3).
Meeker 47, Sanford 43
This is rarified air for Meeker.
When Mitch Jacob made one free throw with three seconds left, the Cowboys secured their first win in a state basketball tournament game since 1967, when the Cowboys took fourth.
“They called that timeout after I missed that first free throw, but that didn’t bother me at all,” said Jacob, who finished with 11 points. “I knew I would make that second free throw. This is just a huge win for us.”
Meeker (24-1) trailed 38-37 after Sanford’s Kenneth Reynolds made a jumper in the lane with 3:24 left.
The Cowboys responded with an 8-0 run, taking a 45-38 lead after Brian Crowe made one free throw with 34.8 ticks remaining. Crowe had a team-best 13 points.
Reynolds kept Sanford’s hopes alive with a basket with 4.2 seconds left to cut the deficit to 46-43, but then Jacobs sealed the Cowboys’ win with his free throw.
Reynolds was the only player in double figures for Sanford with 11 points.
Holyoke 44, Sargent 35
This wasn’t the best performance for the top-seeded Dragons (24-1), but their state championship goal is still within in reach, thanks to Austin Tharp, who scored 24 points.
“We didn’t play very good,” veteran Holyoke coach John Baumgartner said. “Thank God Tharp showed up today.”
Colo. Springs School 50, Lutheran-Parker 41
Chris Dailey and Andrew Brown made four consecutive free throws in the final minute, propelling the Kodiaks to the win.
The Eagles (17-8) made things interesting when Andrew Bowers made an inside backet with 1:06 to play to cut the deficit to 44-41.
The Kodiaks kept their composure and Dailey was fouled on the next possession and he made two free throws at the 54.6-second mark. The Lions failed to score their next time down court and eventually fouled Brown with 39.8 seconds on the clock and he also sank two from the charity stripe to seal the win.
DeLovell Earls had a team-best 18 points for the CSS, and Andrew Bowers had 13 for Lutheran-Parker.
