BOULDER — The pursuit of perfection is exhausting and unforgiving. With every attempt to remain unblemished, pressure mounts and competition stiffens.
Longmont had met that daunting challenge 27 times this season, but with a chance to cap off an undefeated season with the school’s first state basketball championship since 1942, the Trojans finally ran out of magic.
Air Academy spoiled Longmont’s bid for a perfect season with a thrilling 64-59 victory in overtime in Saturday’s Class 4A boys title game at the Coors Event Center.
It was the first state title since 1989 for the Kadets (24-4), who built two big leads, watched Longmont storm back twice, then nailed 9-of-10 free throws in overtime to survive.
“This is probably one of the best moments I’ve ever had in my life,” said Air Academy senior Paul Ambuul, who scored 19 points, many of them with early transition buckets. “We had nothing to lose. They had everything to lose. They had a perfect season on the line, and we didn’t. We came in with more fire, and we won it.”
PHOTOS:
The victory was especially sweet for the six Kadets who also were part of a dominant Air Academy soccer team that won a state title in the fall.
“This one was a little closer,” said one of those double champs, David Louthan, who finished with 21 points and hit 5-of-6 free throws in overtime. “We knew what it was like to play as undefeated team, as we did in soccer, so we knew the pressure they were under.”
Air Academy sprinted to a 30-16 lead in the first half by turning Longmont turnovers into transition buckets. After Longmont (27-1) rallied to tie it at 34-34, the Kadets ripped off another big run and led by nine late in the third.
But Longmont junior Justinian Jessup (16 points) nailed two big shots before fouling out late in the fourth, and David Speidel hit a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime tied 53-53.
Air Academy had been just 12-of-21 from the free-throw line in regulation, but in the extra session Ambuul and Louthan combined to hit all but one attempt.
“I just feel bad for our kids and my coaches because we had such a tremendous season, but they really wanted a state championship,” said Longmont coach Jeff Kloster.
Air Academy 13 17 6 17 11 — 64
Longmont 8 12 14 19 6 — 59
Air Academy — Dewing 1-1 1-3 3, Louthan 5-6 9-12 21, Sims 5-10, 2-5 13, Brown 2-2 2-4 6, Renfrew 1-1 0-0 2. Ambuul 6-8 7-7 19. Totals 20-28 21-31 64.
Longmont — Sullivan 2-8 1-2 5, Jessup 5-13 4-5 16, Speidel 2-5 0-0 6, Bachman 1-3 0-1 2, Sigg 1-1 0-0 2, O’Grady 3-12 5-11 11, Mitchell 6-8 4-4 17. Totals 20-50 14-23 59.
3-pt. goals — Louthan 2, Sims 1; Jessup 2, Speidel 2, Mitchell. Fouled out — Dewing, Brown; Jessup, Bachman.
All-tournament team
Paul Ambuul, Air Academy, Sr.
Justinian Jessup, Longmont, Jr.
Keandre Lewis, Sierra, Sr.
David Louthan, Air Academy, Sr.
James Sims, Air Academy, Sr.
MVP: Louthan
