GOLDEN — With defense providing the impetus, the Broomfield and coach Terrence Dunn ended two years of Great 8 frustration with a 69-52 victory over Golden on Friday night at Lockridge Arena.
The win sends Broomfield (25-1) back to the Class 4A semifinals for the first time since 2008 and sets up a coaching matchup of Dunns – Broomfield’s Terrence and Sierra’s Terry, who are not related.
It was Broomfield’s 22nd consecutive win, which includes a victory over Lewis-Palmer, another semifinalist.
“Nick (Ongarato) and I were the only two juniors there last year, and we wanted this real bad,” said Broomfield point guard Austin Wood, the game’s leading scorer with 26 points.
The Eagles received a chewing out at halftime from Dunn, despite rallying late in the second quarter for a 28-23 lead at the break after a sluggish start.
Broomfield responded with a 10-0 run for a 40-27 lead with 5:19 left in the third quarter, and never looked back, though Golden (17-10), a No. 6 seed, got within seven points in the fourth.
“We didn’t want to disappoint him,” Wood said.
Said Ongarato: “We came out with intensity at the half like coach said to, and got turnovers and easy baskets.”
The Eagles outscored Golden 18-8 in the third quarter for a 46-33 lead and stretched the advantage to 53-39.
Golden, making its first Great 8 appearance since reaching the semifinals in 2005, led by nine points in the first quarter and eight in the second on the strength of five 3-pointer.
The Demons led 23-16 when Broomfield’s defense took control, sparking a 12-0 run for a 28-23 lead before the Eagles ended the half with their first basket in nearly 4½ minutes. Broomfield hit all five field goal attempts and forced four turnovers — including two offensive fouls — resulting in eight points.
Junior Dan Perse had eight points in the second quarter for the Eagles, four during the run.
Broomfield forced six more Golden turnovers in the third quarter, resulting in five points.
“Big time,” Wood said of Broomfield’s defense. “We knew we had to play defense on their (3-point shooting).”
Golden had just one 3-pointer in the second half.
