Saturday's roundup: Air Academy boys' hoops win on night of honor

Highlights from Saturday's high school sports scene.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Air Academy 57, Pueblo South 48

At Air Academy: For the first time all season, the Air Academy boys’ basketball team got to play at home.

The Kadets made the most of it.

On a night the school raised banners honoring last season’s four state champions in various sports, the boys’ basketball team took advantage of the charged crowd to defeat Pueblo South.

Geno Bigelow scored a team-high 16 points, and Bobby Davis and David Louthan each added 11 for the Kadets (5-4).

“It was a good atmosphere,” Air Academy coach Barry Clark said. “All the success from last year was there, so it really overshadowed a little, (like) you better succeed because here’s all the state champs in the house. They answered the bell and did a good job.”

Bigelow scored most of his points in the first half. So when Pueblo South keyed on him to open the third quarter, Davis took over.

“And then they were confused as to who they had to guard,” Clark said.

Louthan also grabbed nine rebounds for the Kadets, who used a 21-9 third quarter to pull away for good.

“We just executed defense,” Clark said. “We were able to turn them over a bunch of times. It doesn’t hurt to be playing at home for the first time to make shots.”

Doherty 52, George Washington 51, OT

At George Washington: Doherty (6-4) edged George Washington (7-4) by one in overtime after rallying in the fourth to force the extra period on Saturday.

It was the Spartans third win in their last four games. Doherty next travels to Douglas County on Friday.

Harrison 54, Vista Ridge 46

At Harrison: Five players scored for Harrison (6-2) and all but one of them hit double figures, and the defense shut out Vista Ridge in the first quarter.

Quincy Harding scored a team-high 16 points and Darrius Graves notched a double-double with 11 points and a team-high 15 rebounds. Anthony Deshazor scored 14 and Thomas Jackson added 12 for the Panthers, which have won four of their last five.

Vista Ridge fell to 3-6.

Harrison outscored the Wolves 17-0 in the first period and took a 30-13 lead into the half.The Wolves tried to rally with a 12-5 third-quarter performance, but couldn't overcome the first-half decifit.

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

La Junta Invitational

Manitou Springs 445, La Junta 361, Salida 252, St. Mary’s 147

At La Junta: Freshman Veronica Morin won the 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly, Sheridan Decker won the diving competition and the Mustangs’ 200 free and 400 free relays took first to lead Manitou Springs to the invitational victory.

The Mustangs took the top two spots in three events.

St. Mary’s Meghan Harder won the 50 and 100 freestyles in the La Junta pool that was meter length rather than yards.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Lewis-Palmer 58, Ponderosa 56

At Ponderosa: Down 18-2 in the first quarter, Lewis-Palmer never gave up. Instead, they made the necessary adjustment and came out with the fifth victory of their season, matching last season’s total.

“We just plugged our way back in the game,” L-P coach Joel Babbitt said.

Did the Rangers (5-4) expect to match their win total so soon?

“Maybe not this quickly,” the third-year coach said. “We’re wining ones this year we think we should win.”

Behind Kaila Baca’s first start of the season, the Rangers found a ball-handler they could trust to break a press. Baca, a freshman, carried the ball often for the Rangers and finished with 15 points.

Sophomore Alexa Smith scored a team-high 22 points against the Mustangs (2-7).

The young players have the Rangers set for the next couple seasons.

“My gang are starting to come around,” Babbitt said.

Castle View 54, Rampart 48

At Rampart: On Thursday, Pikes Peak 5A No. 2 Rampart looked like it was ready to join the elite. Two days later, the Rams (7-4) had dropped back-to-back games in the New Year's Classic, including a six-point loss to Castle View on Saturday.

The Rams dominated Falcon on Thursday, but lost to Montrose on Friday and Castle View a day later.

The Rams held a 25-21 halftime lead over the Sabercats (7-2), before Castle View dominated the third quarter 18-8.

Macy Myers led the Rams with 15 points, Megan Kavalec added 12 and Lucia Archuleta 10.

Vanguard 60, Woodland Park 19

At The Vanguard School: Vanguard (8-0) continued its unbeaten season with a 41-point victory over Woodland Park.

Bailey Haist scored a game-high 18 points for the 2A No. 1 Coursers, and Caitlin Bower added 11. Cassandra Sulski scored eight points and dished out five assists.

The Courses nabbed 25 steals to hamper the Panthers (1-8) all night, holding Woodland Park to single digits in every quarter and capping it off by limiting the Panthers to two points in the fourth.

Palmer 79, Mitchell 19

At Palmer: Three players scored in double figures for 5A No. 1 Palmer (7-1) and seven others registered on the score sheet in the Terrors' blowout victory.

Jasmine Green and Lensy Hardy tied with a game-high 11 points, and Shanah Leaf added 10.

Jenn Urbaniak scored seven points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Terrors out-rebounded the Marauders (2-6) 36-13.

WRESTLING

Denver East Tournament

Coronado 62, Fort Lupton 18; Coronado 56, Cherry Creek 21

At Denver East: Coronado went 4-1 over the course of the two-day tournament to capture second place overall, trailing only Windsor, which defeated the Cougars on Friday.

The Cougars defeated Fort Lupton and Cherry Creek on Saturday. Four teams went 4-1 during the tournament, but Coronado captured second by virtue of its individual tournament team points. Windsor scored 108, while Coronado finished with 92. Mountain Range was in third with 67 points.

Trent Watson (106 pounds) and Devin House (132) won both of their matches by pin on Saturday.

HOCKEY

Air Academy 4, Valor Christian 3

At Highlands Ranch: Travis Hinton scored midway through the third period to give the Kadets (4-1-1) a 4-2 lead that would stand up and vault the Kadets above Valor Christian in the Peak Conference standings.

Hinton scored 10:14 into the third and the Kadets held on.

Nick Lehman and Logan Haverstrom scored 36 seconds apart in the second period to spot Air Academy a 3-1 lead over the Eagles (6-3).

Cherry Creek 7, Rampart 4

At Cherry Creek: Cherry Creek (2-5-1) scored three goals in both the first and second periods to build an insurmountable lead over Rampart (0-6).

The Rams got goals from Trey Williams, Tyler Adams, Ian Johnson and Evan Greenhaw. Byron Johnson had a game-high three assists.

Palmer 6, Coronado 5, OT

At Ice Hall: Hayden Hoover’s scored with 33 seconds left in overtime – his first goal of the season – to give Palmer (1-6) its first victory.

The Terrors scored four consecutive goals in the second period to build a 5-1 lead. But Coronado (1-6) answered with three in the second before forcing overtime on Cody Johnson’s power-play goal in the third.

Sam Horning, who assisted on Hoover’s game-winner, netted two goals and three assists.

Ralston Valley 6, Fountain Valley 2

At Ice Hall: Ralston Valley scored five times in the second period to blow open the game a night after Fountain Valley () beat Lewis-Palmer in a conference showdown.

Trevor Shott gave the Danes a 1-0 lead in the first period, before the meltdown in the second. Shott added his second of the game in the third.

Bishop Machebeuf 3, Liberty 2

At Big Bear North: Tanner Shouse’s goal with 1:24 left thwarted any chance at Liberty earning its first victory of the season.

Sam Mayberry’s power-play goal in the second period gave the Lancers (0-8) a 2-1 lead. But Jack Longenecker answered just over 2 minutes later to send the game into the third knotted at 2.

To report high school sports scores and stats, email The Gazette preps department at preps@gazette.com or call 636-0250.