FORT COLLINS — Usually it’s the teams that are playing their best at the end of the season that make the most noise at the state tournament.
Shh … here comes Estes Park. The Bobcats fizzled at the end of the season and finished a disappointing fourth in the Patriot League tournament. But they have quickly turned it around.
The Bobcats (19-6) defeated Buena Vista (23-2), the once-beaten and Class 3A top seed, 60-56 on Thursday morning at Moby Arena to advance to today’s semifinals.
“We certainly didn’t finish very strong,” Estes Park coach Dave Kiser said. “But we are real happy that we’ve rallied a little bit.”
Estes Park had to rally after a sluggish start, and did so by implementing a press.
Junior standout Jeri Pikul, who scored 15 points in the first half, was the focal point of the Bobcats’ defense and was held to just six points in the second half.
“We knew we were underdogs, but we also knew they were kind of a one-man show,” Estes Park “If we could at least contain Pikul, we’d have a good chance at beating them.”
Said Buena Vista coach Robert Crowther: “They came out and the got all over (Jeri), we really needed somebody at that point to pick it up. This one is tough, especially when you work hard all year, you don’t come up here to lose a close game.”
Estes Park’s Kimmy Hansen led all scorers with 24 points.
St. Mary’s 64, Jefferson Academy 43
St. Mary’s (22-3) beat top-seeded Jefferson Academy (20-5) for the second time this season.
The Pirates shot lights out, 23-for-36 (63.9 percent), and buried the youthful Jaguars before they had a chance to get adjusted to the big stage.
Carly Cloud led St. Mary’s with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Jefferson Academy got 13 points from Nicole St. Clair and 11 from Madison Page.
Holy Family 78, Brush 64
The defending champions took another step to becoming the first Class 3A girls team to repeat.
Taylor Hilbig led the Tigers (24-1) with 21 points. Alex Wilson (20) and Dori Gills (19) also did some damage.
Sophomore Erin Berg had 23 points for Brush (18-7).
Eaton 47, Gunnison 40
Lauren Woods scored 16 points for the Reds (23-2), who pulled away late. Gunnison, led by Katie Vader (20 points), finished 19-6.
