MONUMENT — Lewis-Palmer boasts one of the top big men in the state in junior Josh Scott. The Rangers also have developed the sort of offensive depth and balance that is showing signs of surpassing last year’s Class 4A Final Four team.
Yet head coach Russ McKinstry is adamant that defense is what makes his team click, a fact supported by No. 2-ranked Lewis-Palmer’s rugged effort Saturday.
Playing their first Colorado Springs Metro League game against neighborhood rival Palmer Ridge, the host Rangers flustered the Bears with a suffocating half-court defense, paving the way for a 62-43 victory before a raucous, standing-room only crowd.
It was the 14th consecutive victory for Lewis-Palmer (15-2, 9-0).
“That’s our bread-and-butter. That’s what we make a living doing in our program,” McKinstry said. “The kids, in the last two games, I do not think were as energized as we needed to be. This was our third game of the week, and I think what really helped us was the great support we had from the fans. The packed gym really energized us, especially at the defensive end.”
Lewis-Palmer used a 10-0 run in the first quarter to take a lead it would never relinquish. The Rangers forced 10 Palmer Ridge turnovers during the second and third quarters, outscoring the Bears 30-19 during that span to put the game away.
Scott led Lewis-Palmer with 14 points and 11 rebounds, though the balanced Rangers attack featured five players with at least nine points.
“I’m really proud of everyone,” Scott said. “Last year, I don’t think we were as talented offensively. Now I can score 14, and everyone else can score 10 or 12, and we’re still beating a good team by 20 points. That is a step up for us. Our first two games this week, we didn’t have enough urgency. Once we get urgent about it and play hard, we’re really hard to beat.”
Palmer Ridge 9 12 7 15 — 43
Lewis-Palmer14 13 17 18 — 62
PR — Tatman 4 2-2 13, Babcock 2 5-5 9, Hansen 1 0-0 2, Warwick 2 0-0 4, Marty 2 0-0 4, Fritzsche 0 0-0 0, Dyer 2 3-6 8, Schow 0 0-0 0, Suder 1 0-0 3, Kagarise 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 10-13 43.
LP — Grooms 3 1-3 9, Josh Scott 4 5-6 14, Jor. Scott 3 5-8 11, Cona 3 3-4 10, James 3 5-10 11, Owens 2 0-0 5, Riker 0 0-0 0, Holmes 0 0-0 0, Hollenbach 0 2-2 2. Totals 18 21-33 62.
3-pt. goals — Tatman 3, Dyer, Suder; Grooms 2, Owens, Cona, Josh Scott. Fouls — PR 23, LP 14.
