Tuesday's roundup: Air Academy boys beat Falcon

Highlights from Tuesday's high school sports scene.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Air Academy 67, Falcon 55

At Air Academy: Air Academy’s Geno Bigelow hit four 3s and Paul Fertig went 6-for-8 from the field as both players finished with 14 points in the Kadets' win Tuesday.

“Everyone stepped up,” Air Academy coach Barry Clark said. “Everyone had to be on their game tonight and they were. Great all-around performance.”

Air Academy (6-4, 1-0) pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Falcons 23-13 in the frame.

Falcon (7-3 overall, 0-1 Pikes Peak) has dropped back-to-back games after winning its previous seven.

For the Kadets, Tuesday marked their second home game of the season, where they remain undefeated.

Liberty 55, Ponderosa 48

At Liberty: AJ Bohuslavsky scored 13, as Pikes Peak-area No. 5 Liberty (5-5) won its second-straight game of 2013.

Mike Ende added 12 points for the Lancers.

Liberty improved to 3-1 at home, with its only loss coming to the second-ranked team in the state, Mountain Vista, 76-69.

Tuesday, the Lancers led 19-6 after the first quarter.

Colorado Springs Christian School 52, Manitou Springs 38

At Manitou Springs: Austin Johnson scored a season-high 25 points for 3A No. 1 CSCS, as Manitou Springs went icicle cold in the middle of the game.

The Lions (5-2 overall, 1-0 Tri-Peaks West) continue to surprise this season without the majority of their scoring from last season.

They held the Mustangs (3-6, 1-1) to five-combined points in the second and third quarter.

Tyler Washington led Manitou Springs with seven points. Drew Wilbur and Josh Hildenbrand added eight points apiece for CSCS.

Cheyenne Mountain 46, Vista Ridge 33

At Vista Ridge: Cheyenne Mountain’s Christian Nehme scored eight points as the 4A No. 3 Indians remained undefeated (10-0 overall, 1-0 Pikes Peak).

The Indians stretched their lead over Vista Ridge (3-7, 0-1) when they outscored the Wolves 15-6 in the third quarter.

Jerrell Bellot scored 10 points to lead all Wolves players.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Manitou Springs 51, Colorado Springs Christian School 44

At Manitou Springs: Manitou Springs guard Meghan McGee scored a career-high 21 points, hitting 5-of-9 from 3-point range.

Mustangs coach Dan Gieck doesn’t think it’s a fluke either.

“She’s getting more and more confident with her shot each game,” said Gieck, whose senior guard’s career-high prior to Tuesday was 13. “She’ll continue to score and get more confident with her shot.”

It was the Mustangs (4-5 overall , 2-0 Tri-Peaks West) second-straight win following the winter break.

“We have changed things a little on offense and defense,” said Gieck, who took over the team in December. “We are just trying to put the girls in sets that they can be successful in.”

Against CSCS (1-6, 0-1), Manitou Springs ran out to a 12-2 lead, but found themselves in a back-and-fourth nail-biter early in the second half.

“They came back and tied it, I think, like three times or so, but we stayed strong,” Gieck said. “(In the fourth quarter) we buckled down and pulled away a bit.”

Despite the loss, the Lions scored a season-high 44 points. In the effort, Ryley Hoekert and Annika Anderson each scored 14 points, while Anna Marie Howard added 12 of her own.

For the Mustangs, Gabby Santos added 12 points, going 6-for-9 from the field, and Ali Thompson added nine points.

Air Academy 53, Falcon 42

At Falcon: Air Academy center Kassady Huffman turned her first career triple-double into the Kadets’ first road win of the season.

Huffman had 15 points, 10 blocks and 10 rebounds on Tuesday night.

“Girls just did a tremendous job tonight,” Air Academy coach Bob Wingett said.

While the Kadets (4-5 overall, 1-0 Pikes Peak) snapped their two-game losing streak, Falcon (3-7, 0-1) dropped its fifth straight game.

For Air Academy, Avery Downey added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Madison Rasmussen threw in 14 points.

Mesa Ridge 49, Legend 32

At Mesa Ridge: 4A No. 1 Mesa Ridge (9-0) remained undefeated.

The Grizzlies held their opponent to fewer than 40 points for the sixth time this season.

Ifti Dunne scored 16 points and Gabby Purnell added 10 for Jeff Beatty’s squad.

Mesa Ridge led 20-6 after the first quarter and never looked back.

Cheyenne Mountain 53, Vista Ridge 50

At Cheyenne Mountain: Cheyenne Mountain (2-6 overall, 1-0 Pikes Peak) rallied late for its first league win.

The Indians scored 37 second-half points to hand the Wolves (4-6, 0-1) their sixth loss in seven tries.

KK Mack led Vista Ridge with 16 points on 38 percent shooting.

Florence 35, Salida 29

At Salida: After a brutal open to the season, Florence’s schedule and its team are getting smoother.

Tuesday, Florence used stingy defense to win its second game in three tries. It’s been a journey to get here.

The 3A Huskies started the season against 4A foes Lewis-Palmer, Palmer Ridge and Pueblo East. And with a young core, and no Britney Warren (15.5 ppg in 2011-12), who now plays at Metro State, Florence lost four of its first five games.

Things are improving.

The Huskies (3-5 overall, 1-1 Tri-Peaks) host a resurgent Manitou Springs (4-5, 2-0) Friday.

Liberty 57, Douglas County 51

At Douglas County: Liberty’s Alex Rivas scored a season-high 16 points and passed along five assists to help the 5A No. 3 Lancers win their third straight.

Rivas, a senior captain, is leading the Lancers to one of their most successful years in memory.

The Lancers (7-3) travel to face Pueblo South (9-1) Thursday.

GIRLS' SWIMMING

Pine Creek 101, Liberty 84

At Pine Creek: Pine Creek’s Madison Cooper attached her name to four Eagles’ event wins in the dual match.

Individually, she eked out her competition with a fingernail win in the 50-yard freestyle at 26.55 seconds, beating teammate Sydney Galloway by .05 seconds. Then she rolled her competition in the 100 free, winning by more than 5 seconds at 56.65.

Cooper also anchored the 200 and 400 free relays, which both won with time to spare.

For Liberty, Courtney Reed pushed her team to the early lead, anchoring the 200 medley relay to a win at 1:58.73. She followed that with an individual win in the second event, taking the 200 free at 2:06.04.

Late in the dual, Reed also went on to win the 100 backstroke in 1:05.94.

Pike Creek won seven of the 12 events, despite dropping the first three of the meet.