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Sweet repeat: Wolverines defend district tourney title

BHS hosting regionals this weekend

The third time was the charm.

Nine days after Alamosa senior Noah Romero sank two free throws with one second left on AHS Gymnasium's scoreboard clock to defeat Bayfield 41-39. the Wolverines returned to the scene Saturday, Feb. 24, and left a much more energized unit. Alamosa's win gave the Mean Moose a sweep of the teams' games, and the Intermountain League's regular-season championship outright.

Enjoying first-quarter success similar to what they'd managed (a 21-9 lead) against Monte Vista in semifinal action two evenings before, BHS led 19-12 after eight minutes. And after regaining a 27-24 halftime lead, via a 6-0 burst late in the second quarter, the visitors went into the final quarter still up 41-36. The Wolverines then matched Alamosa's intensified pace in winning 57-53.

Senior center Ryan Phelps, who'd tortured MVHS for 29 points and 20 rebounds in an 81-63 conquest, finished with 11 and 10, respectively, against the Moose.

BHS junior forward Hayden Farmer followed up his 10-point effort against the Pirates with 14 against AHS. Senior guard Dax Snooks netted 13 points in each contest and totaled 12 rebounds.

Junior guard Keyon Prior booked 12 points, seven assists and five boards against Monte Vista, then managed four points versus the Romero-led Alamosa backcourt. Having had one of his shoes humorously pop off in the first half while hurrying the ball towards midcourt against Romero in the teams' previous battle, Prior helped seal the postseason victory with two key fourth-quarter free throws (as did Phelps).

Junior Turner Kennedy logged 10 points against MVHS and eight against AHS, and the Wolverines totaled 14 three-point baskets in improving to 14-7 overall going into the 3A State Tournament's opening Round-of-32. Awarded the 7-seed and hosting duty for Region VII, Bayfield will first challenge #26 Brush (14-9) inside BHS Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 2.

The surviving side will then test either 10-seed Loveland Resurrection Christian (16-6 coming in) or Westminster-based #23 The Academy (16-6) at 1 p.m. Saturday for the right to reach the "Great Eight." State will be held March 8-10 inside the University of Denver's Hamilton Gymnasium.

"I think we will be very motivated," said head coach Jeff Lehnus. "Last year at our place, we all know what happened: We played a Delta team that got hot. We fought like mad but didn't pull it off. (The Panthers won 78-75). It's neat to have the opportunity to erase that memory."

Despite falling at home for the first time since losing 57-45 to 4A Monument Palmer Ridge on Day 1 of last winter's season-opening AHS Invitational, Alamosa (18-3) still received the No. 2 seed. Alamosa will host the Region II tournament, first facing #31 Cedaredge (9-12) on Friday at 5:30 p.m., with #15 Parachute Grand Valley (17-5) and #18 Colorado Springs Christian (15-7) the 7:30 pairing.

In losing to Bayfield, Romero managed 12 points. Via four three-pointers, senior guard Ry Adams did likewise, while senior center/forward Angelo Ramirez went 5-of-7 from the foul line and finished with a team-leading 15-nine coming in the back-and-forth fourth quarter.

Via a 70-50 win over Monte Vista in the district tourney's third-place game, M-CHS also reached the Round-of-32. Seeded 25th, the Panthers (12-10) will first face Region VIII-hosting Denver Science & Tech-Stapleton (18-4) at Bruce Randolph H.S., with #9 Strasburg (16-6) and #24 Federal Heights The Pinnacle (15-8) following.



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