The frenetic pace employed by Peak to Peak coach Tony Peters and his Pumas — which includes stopping and popping from wherever you might get open — is certainly fun to watch . . . but playoff-tested?
The Pumas put their experiment to work Friday afternoon against Salida, and while it wasn’t clicking early, the Metro League runners-up eventually wore down the Spartans and advanced to today’s Class 3A Sweet 16 with a 61-52 victory at Ranum High School in the Robert Chavez Region.
Peak to Peak (15-8) will play the host from Jefferson Academy (23-0), which beat Holy Family 74-62 in the second game. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
“They tried to slow it down on us, and we just kept pushing,” Peters said. “And they got tired.”
Salida (16-8), out of the Tri-Peaks League, couldn’t miss early. The Spartans hit their first three shots — all 3-pointers — and looked willing to run with the Pumas.
The Peak to Peak defense tightened up and forced the ball down low to the Spartans’ Ron Fore, who worked for his team-high 20 points.
Peak to Peak kept within striking distance in the first half and then turned up the defensive pressure in the third.
“There was a stretch there in the third, where all three shots we took on consecutive possessions came up short,” Salida coach Rocky Granzella said. “I don’t know if it was tired legs or what it might have been, but I also thought we were working a little harder on the defensive side than I wanted to.”
Peak to Peak senior J.P. Mile led all scorers with 21 points.
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
