BOULDER — Is there a better time to be a Pueblo East Eagle?
They were 6-16 two seasons ago, and the school has never won a boys team title, a void in an otherwise-rich Steel City history.
But the Eagles and their followers will be here Saturday night to try to make amends — as well as history.
With an unselfish and efficient performance, and the usual gritty effort displayed by Puebloans over the decades, the Eagles handled Longmont on Thursday night in the Class 4A semifinals at the University of Colorado’s Coors Events Center.
“All of that time in the gym (in the summer) with no air conditioning was worth it,” Pueblo East junior guard Jordan Gregory said.
The Eagles will take a 25-1 record into the title game Saturday against defending state champion Sierra (25-2), which knocked off Eagles rival Pueblo South a year ago after overcoming a 20-point deficit.
Pueblo East displayed superior ball movement, consistently found the open player, particularly when driving the lane, and defended a physical Longmont team (24-3).
In winning their 10th consecutive game, the Eagles flew around all night. Gregory, who missed the Eagles’ only loss, to Pueblo Central, was brilliant with 17 points and seven assists, and his leadership out front was vital. Mike Fabrizio paced the Eagles with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and Mitch Secora added 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Coach Dave Ryder couldn’t have drawn it up much better,
“Absolutely, it was a team effort tonight,” he said. “We had some other guys step up to make some big shots and make some big defensive stops.”
After trading baskets, Pueblo East didn’t trail after the second quarter, and used Gregory’s penetration down the lane and Fabrizio’s perimeter prowess to eventually build an 11-point lead.
The Trojans stayed within range behind Cade Kloster (16 points), Nick Chopp (13) and Sydney Donaldson (11), but turnover binges to begin the final two quarters generated a tax it couldn’t pay.
“We just couldn’t get going,” Donaldson said.
Plus, the Eagles, who fared well scrapping for loose balls, had something to do with it.
“Gregory broke us down and took away the paint,” Longmont coach Jeff Kloster said. “(The Eagles) are a good team. We didn’t have an answer, and they were the better team tonight.”
Longmont 13 12 11 16 — 52
Pueblo East 12 16 13 18 — 59
Longmont — Martien 1 0-0 2, Kloster 4 6-8 16, M. Donaldson 2 1-2 5, S. Donaldson 3 3-4 11, McIntire 1 1-2 3, Knaus 0 0-0 0, Chopp 5 0-0 13, Edwards 1 0-1 2. Totals 17 11-17 52.Pueblo East — Fabrizio 5 4-4 18, Gregory 6 4-10 17, Sandoval 1 1-2 3, Kochenberger 2 1-2 5, Secora 8 0-0 16, Allen 0 0-0 0, Versteeg 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 10-18 59.3-point goals — Chopp 3, Kloster 2, S. Donaldson 2; Fabrizio 4, Gregory. Total fouls — Longmont 17, Pueblo East 13. Fouled out — Martien. Technicals — None.
