BOULDER — What a special time it is for Dave Lockett and Pueblo South.
Lockett will call it a career Saturday night after the Colts (27-0) meet Sierra to decide Colorado’s Class 4A championship.
Pueblo South earned the right by defeating Sterling 50-35 in 4A’s final four Thursday at the Coors Events Center, although the next several hours will be interesting for Lockett.
“I just hope I can sleep,” he said.
What probably will keep him wound up will be analyzing an athletic Sierra team as well as reflecting on 20 years of coaching, advancing to his fourth final — his teams won in 1995 and 2001 — coaching his third and last son, winning 13 league titles, and compiling a career record of 376-175.
No. 377 would be sweet.
“I’ve been so blessed. These kids are great,” Lockett said.
This season’s Pueblo South team has three ballboys from the 2001 team, including starter Kameron Wilhite, who wants nothing less than a title in his former coach’s going-away party.
“He deserves it, and we’re going to try to give it to him,” Wilhite said.
Pueblo South controlled the backboards, played inspired defense, enjoyed good ball movement and competed at a high level.
Josh Dome (14 points) and Tyrell Williams (10) handled the majority of the scoring.
Pueblo South 12 10 14 14 — 50
Sterling 8 8 6 13 — 35
Pueblo South — Hall 0 0-0 0, Wilhite 2 3-6 7, Cartwright 1 1-4 3, Williams 4 2-4 10, White 0 0-0 0, Dome 3 6-6 14, Kliesen 0 2-2 2, Lockett 3 0-0 7, Zufall 3 1-2 7, Collins 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 15-24 50.
Sterling — Reyes 1 0-0 2, Janda 4 0-0 10, Appelhans 4 1-1 11, Savolt 0 0-0 0, Mertens 2 0-2 4, Talton 2 0-0 6, Lesock 0 0-0 0, Meier 0 1-2 1, Lock 0 0-0 0, Avila 0 0-0 0, Kurtzer 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 3-7 35.
3-point goals — Dome 2, Locket; Appelhans 2, Janda 2, Talton 2. Total fouls — Pueblo South 14, Sterling 17. Fouled out — None. Technical — Lock.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
