CONIFER — The No. 2 Conifer Lobos missed 40 shots Saturday and finished with one fewer basket than No. 3 Montrose. Yet the Lobos still won comfortably.
Powered by 27 points from standout Alison Gorrell and a 31-10 advantage in points at the free-throw line, the Lobos took control early and cruised into the “Great 8” of the Class 4A state tournament with a 55-37 victory over the Indians (18-7).
The Lobos (24-1) committed just six turnovers, forced 19 by the Indians and played strong inside defense to keep Montrose standout Hanna Bowden in check.
“That’s been one of our huge goals this year; cut down our turnovers because we need possession of the ball in order to play the game,” said Lobos guard Cara Walderman, who had 10 points, six rebounds and a game-high five blocked shots.
Conifer advanced in the Tracy Hill Region and will play top-seeded Pueblo South next Saturday at Colorado Mines. A victory would put the Lobos in the final four for the first time in school history.
The Lobos trailed only once and built an early 13-3 lead despite Gorrell missing her first seven shots. Conifer eventually rolled, stretching its lead to 16 points by halftime and 19 points in the third quarter.
“We let them get out early. And we knew they were going to come out with a lot of intensity, a lot of gusto, playing at home,” Montrose coach Eric Sanchez said. “We tried to match it later in the first quarter, but then we had a pretty pathetic second quarter and that’s where they got a little separation.”
The Lobos made only 11 baskets overall, including just four baskets in the second half. But they attacked the rim, got to the foul line and converted 31-of-39 attempts.
“I was surprised we got that many,” Lobos coach Jon Marston said. “They do a great job of packing the defense in.”
Montrose 6 5 16 10 — 37
Conifer 13 14 19 9 — 55
Montrose — Horn 2 1-4 5, Cooling 1 0-0 2, Gurule 0 1-2 1, Walker 3 1-1 8, Bowden 3 5-10 11, Meisberger 1 0-0 3, Keltz 1 0-0 3, Hoelzer 1 1-3 3, Skoe 0 0-0 0, Garcia 0 1-2 1, Wright 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 10-22 37.
Conifer — Walderman 2 6-8 10, Mohrman 1 2-2 4, Sears 1 2-3 4, Gorrell 6 13-16 27, Midcap 0 0-0 0, Noriega 0 0-0 0, Ellerman 1 7-8 9, Taney 0 0-0 0, Vaggalis 0 0-0 0, Lederhos 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 31-39 55.
3-point goals — Walker, Meisberger, Keltz; Gorrell 2. Total fouls — Montrose 23, Conifer 15. Fouled out — None. Technicals — None.
