Tuesday's roundup: Discovery Canyon takes down 4A No. 1 Sand Creek in boys' hoops

Highlights from Tuesday’s high school sports scene around the Pikes Peak region.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Discovery Canyon 51, Sand Creek 50

At Discovery Canyon: Discovery Canyon continued its strong play at home Tuesday to slow down Pikes Peak 4A No. 1 Sand Creek and hand the Scorpions their first loss of the season.

“We played a tremendous game defensively and offensively. Our tempo was very good tonight,” said coach John Paul Geniesse. “Sand Creek is an explosive team, and we wanted to control the tempo and clock.”

Sand Creek (18-1, 10-1 4A Pikes Peak Athletic Conference) led 42-38 midway through the third quarter before Discovery Canyon (14-6, 5-6) was able to regain the lead and hang on for the victory, Geniesse said.

Brandon Nachbar led the Thunder with 20 points and four steals, and Andy Stauffer chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds. Nachbar entered the game averaging 19.5 points per game and has only scored fewer than 12 in one game this season.

The Thunder are 11-2 at home this year.

Josh Smith (22 points) and Bryan Jenkins (17 points) combined for 39 of Sand Creek’s points but the Scorpions received scoring from only five different players.

“It’s a tremendous win for our program,” Geniesse said. “The kids really played their tails off, and we are fortunate to get a win over Sand Creek.”

Lewis-Palmer 78, Air Academy 45

At Air Academy: The senior duo of Jordan Scott (26 points) and Justin Smith (20 points) helped 4A No. 3 Lewis-Palmer earn a share of the 4A Pikes Peak league lead with a victory over Air Academy.

Paul Fertig led Air Academy (8-12, 3-8) with 14 points.

The Rangers (17-3, 10-1) take on Falcon on Friday before hosting No. 1 Sand Creek on Feb. 19 in a game that may determine the 4A Pikes Peak league crown.

Lewis-Palmer and Sand Creek are tied atop the 4A Pikes Peak following the Scorpions’ loss to Discovery Canyon.

Sand Creek defeated the Rangers 67-64 on Feb. 5.  

Colorado Springs Christian 56, Buena Vista 27

At CSCS: Pikes Peak 3A No. 1 Colorado Springs Christian School stormed past Buena Vista in a 3A Tri-Peaks West league game.

The Lions (14-2, 9-0) remain undefeated in league play with the help of Austin Johnson (14 points) and Samuel Howard (12 points).

CSCS, which led 17-0 after one quarter, has not lost in 2013 and has won 10 straight since being blown out by Widefield 67-34 on Dec. 22.

Buena Vista (5-12, 4-6) received 11 points from Graham Bachman.

Liberty 61, Palmer 44

At Palmer: 5A No. 2 Liberty overcame a sluggish start to defeat Palmer in a 5A Metro League game.

Liberty (12-7, 5-2) outscored Palmer (2-18, 1-6) 51-29 after trailing the Terrors 15-10 through one quarter.

Four different players scored 10 or more points for the Lancers, including Sam Vieux’s team-high 12 points.

AJ Bohuslavsky, the Lancers leading scorer this season with 13 points per game, finished with four points. The junior has been held to six points or fewer in four of the last five games. 

No stats were reported for Palmer.

Manitou Springs 63, Salida 25

At Salida: Manitou Springs coach Ken Vecchio knows his No. 3 Mustangs can play better then they did Tuesday night.

Vecchio would like to see more from Manitou Springs (11-7, 9-2 3A Tri-Peaks West) despite defeating Salida (0-17, 0-10) by 30 points.

“We were just slow,” Vecchio said. “We were slow offensively and we missed a ton of open shots.”

Chase Megyeri finished with a game-high 21 points as Manitou raced out to a 21-7 first-quarter lead and never trailed.

“He shot the ball alright and got to the basket,” Vecchio said.

The Mustangs finish the regular season Friday against The Classical Academy.

Vista Ridge 62, Palmer Ridge 42

At Vista Ridge: Jerry Smith, Tyler Jackson and Pierre Copeland scored 10 points apiece to help Vista Ridge end a five-game losing streak.

The Wolves (6-15, 3-8 4A Pikes Peak) have won four of their six games at home this year.

Matt Cameron had a game-high 13 points for Palmer Ridge (7-13, 1-10). The Bears have lost eight straight.

Widefield 54, Woodland Park 38

At Widefield: Anthony Saunders (18 points) and Dominic Howard (15 points) teamed to lead Widefield to its sixth consecutive victory in a 4A Metro League game.

Widefield (15-5, 9-2) opened up a 17-6 first-quarter lead and never looked back.

Alan Herndon had a team-high seven rebounds for the Gladiators.

Evan Lays had 16 points in defeat for Woodland Park (6-14, 2-9).

Doherty 47, Rampart 41

At Doherty: Tynan Velasquez (16 points) finished 6-of-8 from the field and made two free throws to help Doherty end a two-game losing skid.

Doherty (12-8, 3-4 5A Metro) has been night and day when it comes to playing at home versus on the road. The Spartans are 7-2 on their home court versus 5-6 away from home.

No stats were reported for Rampart (11-9, 2-5).

Sierra 47, Mitchell 45

At Sierra: The Stallions used a 14-9 fourth quarter to take down Aaron Cooley and Mitchell (5-15, 2-9) in a 4A Metro League battle.

Cooley had his second consecutive triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. The 6’5 senior had 17 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocks in Mitchell’s 57-53 victory over Harrison last Thursday.

No stats were reported for Sierra (13-7, 8-3).

Cheraw 68, Colorado School for the Deaf & Blind 54

At Cheraw: Jacob Gilbreth put up 32 points for the Colorado School for the Deaf & Blind but it was not enough for the Bulldogs.

Colorado School for the Deaf & Blind falls to 3-12.

No stats were reported for Cheraw (8-8).

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Palmer Ridge 73, Vista Ridge 31

At Vista Ridge: 4A No. 3 Palmer Ridge scored a season-high 73 points to storm past Vista Ridge in a 4A PPAC game.

It is the second time in the last three games the Bears (17-3, 9-2) have eclipsed the 70-point threshold.

Madison Thomas had a game-high 20 points and Rhyley Lane chipped in with 16 points.

Ali Meyer registered a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Felicia Jacquez and Monique MacFarlane each scored nine points for Vista Ridge (5-15, 1-10).

Air Academy 43, Lewis-Palmer 23

At Lewis-Palmer: Air Academy overcame an 18-15 halftime deficit by using a stifling defense to hold Lewis-Palmer to five points in the second half and end a two-game losing streak.   

“We really got off to a slow start and they came out with a little energy and we didn’t match it,” said coach Bob Wingett. “In the second half, we really put the clamps down on defense and started putting the ball in the basket.”

Kassady Huffman led the way for Air Academy (11-9, 8-3 4A PPAC) with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

 “She is just solid. She makes life difficult for people going to the basket,” Wingett said. “She is (6-foot-2) and has an understanding of where to be and how to create problems for everyone else.”

The Kadets outscored Lewis-Palmer (9-11, 4-7) 28-5 in the second half.

Hayley Rhein also had an impressive game with a team-high nine assists and seven steals.

Sand Creek 50, Discovery Canyon 25

At Sand Creek: J’nae Squires had 13 points and Mikayla Reese had seven assists to lead

4A No. 2 Sand Creek to its 12^th consecutive victory.

Nine different players scored for Sand Creek (16-3, 11-0) and the Scorpions remained undefeated in the 4A PPAC.

The 25 points allowed is the second lowest by the Scorpions this year. Sand Creek held Cherokee Trail to 16 on Dec. 13.

No stats were reported for Discovery Canyon (8-12, 6-5).

Doherty 51, Rampart 40

At Rampart: 5A No. 2 Doherty reigned supreme for the second time this season in a battle between these 5A Metro League foes.

Once again Doherty (12-8, 6-1) was led by senior Angela Vigil and her 23 points. Two of the point guard's three best offensive performances this season have come against Rampart (11-9, 3-4). Vigil scored 24 points against the Rams in Doherty’s 49-48 victory on Jan. 24. Her best game of the season came on Nov. 30 when she dropped 27 points on Pueblo County.

Rampart’s Cassidy Budge registered a team-high 11 points.

Palmer 70, Liberty 24

At Liberty: 5A No. 1 Palmer held a team below 25 points for the fifth time this season.

Sophomore Jenn Urbaniak shot 57 percent from the field and finished with 17 points as Palmer (18-2, 7-0) remained undefeated in the 5A Metro League.

The Terrors have won 10 in a row.

No stats were reported for Liberty (11-8, 3-4).

Sierra 54, Mitchell 39

At Mitchell: Sierra Barnes’ double-double led Sierra to a 4A Metro victory against Mitchell.

Barnes had a team-high 20 points and 11 steals.

Sierra (14-6, 9-2) has won three consecutive games.

No stats were reported for Mitchell (6-14, 3-8).  

Harrison 46, Wasson 31

At Harrison: Ashley Register had her second consecutive double-double to lead Harrison to a 4A Metro win.

Register finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead Harrison (11-9, 8-3) to its third straight victory.

No stats were reported for Wasson (2-17, 0-11). The Thunderbirds have lost 14 straight.

Widefield 50, Woodland Park 30

At Woodland Park: Widefield earned a 4A Metro League victory on the road.

No stats were reported for Widefield (9-11, 7-4).

Alexa Garrick had 11 points in defeat for Woodland Park (3-17, 2-9). The Panthers have lost three in a row.

Florence 59, Fountain Valley 38

At Florence: The Huskies picked up a 3A Tri-Peaks West victory at home.

No stats were reported for Florence (7-10, 5-5).

Delia Brekken finished with 17 points for Fountain Valley (1-13, 0-10). The Danes have lost 12 in a row.

Hockey

Pueblo County 7, Cheyenne Mountain 2

At Pueblo: Pueblo Country stormed out to five unanswered first-period goals and never looked back against Cheyenne Mountain in a Peak Conference game.

The Hornets (8-10, 4-9) received two goals apiece from CJ Nitchen, Matt Peters and Anthony Maurello to end an eight-game losing streak.

Nitchen’s two goals and three assists were season-highs.

Doug Klopenstein scored his seventh goal of the season in the second period for the Indians (4-13-1, 4-9) and Ryan Case cut the deficit to 6-2 with a power-play goal 2:20 into the third period.

Marcus Martin-Wegryn assisted on both Cheyenne Mountain goals for his first two helpers of the season.

Cheyenne Mountain’s Jeremy Hamerquist suffered the loss after surrendering seven goals on 41 shots.

Ty Beaver picked up the victory with 22 saves.