PUEBLO — Friday’s win wasn’t pretty, but Holyoke coach John Baumgartner didn’t care.
Kyle Carper scored 15 points, powering the Dragons to a 43-33 win over Sanford in a Class 2A semifinal game at Colorado State-Pueblo’s Massari Arena.
“Our kids just know how to win close games,” Baumgartner said. “My guys just kept battling and fighting, and I have good guards who can dribble and take care of the ball. We just kept dribbling around them in the fourth quarter, and we made enough free throws to win.”
Holyoke (24-2) moves on to the championship game tonight against Ignacio (21-2).
Holyoke lost in the state finals a year ago, 42-39 to the Colorado Springs School. The Dragons won their lone boys state basketball crown in 1984, capturing the 2A title.
“Nobody gave us a chance to get back to the state championship game, and I can’t believe we are back,” said senior point guard Ryan Baumgartner.
Holyoke held a commanding 23-12 lead at halftime, but Sanford (19-5) made a frantic run to get within 29-26 on a basket by Ty Mortensen with 23 seconds left in the third quarter. After an intentional foul on Sanford, Reid Baumgartner made two free throws with 10 seconds left, giving the Dragons a 31-26 lead at the end of the third.
“That intentional foul was a big momentum swing for us,” Coach Baumgartner said.
Ignacio 56, Limon 37 • Led by Pedro Vigil’s 14 points, Ignacio had four players score in double figures as it advanced to the championship game.
Alex Herrera scored 12 points, and Tre Seibel and Shane Brooks added 11 points each in Ignacio’s balanced attack. The Bobcats also helped their cause by making 22 free throws and six 3-pointers.
Limon (22-4) could never get on track.
“Once we got behind 13-3 after the first quarter, we spent a lot of energy trying to catch up and that finally caught up with us in the fourth quarter,” Limon coach Dirk Pedersen said.
