MONUMENT — The congratulatory handshakes began with about 35 seconds left in overtime, but the grins on the faces of Sierra’s players contained a sigh-of-relief quality.
The top-ranked Stallions, who looked to be cooked at halftime, rebounded for a gritty, 63-53 overtime win at No. 5 Lewis-Palmer that clinched the Class 4A Colorado Springs Metro League.
It was difficult to discern which was the more impressive feat by the reigning boys basketball champions: wiping out a 13-point halftime deficit or defeating the Rangers (16-5, 11-2) without leading scorer Kamryn Williams, who was ill.
“Knowing that we got it done without Kamryn — and especially winning here — it feels good,” Sierra guard Jahmall Fountain said. “Coach (Otis Johnson) told us there’d be a time we go through something like this, and we hadn’t been there in a while.”
After a lackluster first half, Sierra trailed 35-22 and was nearly outscored by Rangers 6-foot-8 sophomore center Josh Scott, who had 18 points before intermission.
The Stallions (19-2, 13-0) forged themselves back into contention by scoring the first 10 points and grabbing the first 10 rebounds of the second half — and by limiting Scott to one point after halftime.
“We started communicating more to where, when they passed it down to him, we’d double-team him,” said Sierra senior Chris Fielder, who led the Stallions with 17 points.
After several tense moments to end regulation, including a technical foul and a missed shot at the buzzer by Fountain, Sierra blanked the Rangers 10-0 in the extra session, getting a backdoor layup from Mark Hatcher while drilling 8-of-10 free throws.
Lewis-Palmer also received 17 points from Kyle Engel-hardt, but had a nine-game winning streak snapped, a stretch that began after a 58-45 loss at Sierra on Jan. 12. Sierra is reaching thorn-in-the-side status for Lewis-Palmer after also defeating the Rangers in the semifinals last season.
Lewis-Palmer players were unavailable for comment after the postgame talk went so long that folks were booted from the gym.
Calvin Brown added 14 points for Sierra, including a 3-pointer that tied it 49-49 late in the fourth. Lewis-Palmer nearly eked out a win when, trailing 53-52, Brandon Lane stole an inbounds pass and was fouled. He made 1-of-2 free throws with 13 seconds left in regulation.
Sierra 9 13 16 15 10 — 63
Lewis-Palmer 17 18 6 12 0 — 53
Sierra — Hatcher 3 1-1 7, Fountain 2 6-6 10, Fielder 7 2-3 17, Saunders 1 2-3 4, Gordon 2 5-6 9, Brown 3 6-6 14, Martinez 1 0-0 2, Charlston 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 22-25 63.
Lewis-Palmer — Ververy 1 2-2 4, Snyder 2 0-0 4, Lane 0 1-4 1, Engelhardt 6 5-6 17, Scott 8 3-8 19, Hiser 0 0-0 0, Cavera 3 2-4 8. Totals 20 13-24 53.
3-point goals — Brown 2, Fielder. Total fouls — Sierra 14, Lewis-Palmer 18. Technical foul — Fielder.
