2A girls basketball semifinal roundup: Lutheran edges Meeker
PUEBLO — When Chandler Sturms walked to the free throw line, her heart was pounding.
The Lutheran junior, however, didn’t get lost in the pressure of the moment.
Strums calmly sank two free throws with 15.3 seconds remaining, vaulting Lutheran to a dramatic 39-38 victory over Meeker Friday night in a Class 2A state semifinal girls game at Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Massari Arena.
“I was really nervous, but we have practiced free throws a lot lately, so I had a little more confidence than usual,” said Sturms, who had not shot any free throws during the game before walking to the line for the 1-on-1 opportunity. “I’m just so happy to come through for my team.”
Lutheran (23-1) moves on to the state championship game at 5:30 p.m. today against Yuma (25-1). Yuma, which defeated Peyton earlier Friday, ousted Lutheran in the state semis a year ago before losing to Akron in the finals. Meeker dropped to 22-3 on the season.
Once Sturms made her free throws, Meeker still had a chance to win.
Sydney Hughes dribbled down the middle of lane, but the ball was knocked loose. An alert Aly Ridings grabbed the ball and went up for a 10-foot jumper on the left side.
Riddings’ shot bounced off the back of the rim with 1.6 seconds left and Lutheran rebounded, securing the win for the Lions.
“My heart sank when she (Riddings) took that shot,” Sturms said. “I knew we had to keep playing and we were able to box out and get the rebound.”
Greg Chintala, Meeker’s coach, was left to digest a heartbreaking loss for his team.
“We got the ball and we went to the hole,” Chintala said. “We thought they would foul us and they didn’t and we didn’t hit our shot.”
Sturms’ clutch effort won praise from Lutheran coach Mark Duitsman.
“Those were big free throws by Chandler,” Duitsman said. “Right now, I just want these girls to recognize and enjoy this accomplishment.”
With 1:54 remaining in the game, Meeker appeared to seized control, taking a 37-32 advantage on Taylor Neilson’s two free throws. Neilson paced her team with 11 points.
Lutheran, however, didn’t quit.
Kayleigh Paplow, who had a team-high 15 points, made an inside bucket at the 1:29 mark to get Lutheran within 37-34.
Meeker’s Hughes stole a pass and was fouled with 48.5 seconds left and she made one free throw to give her team a 38-34 edge.
Lutheran’s Kristen Vigil then answered with a huge 3-pointer from the left of the top of the key to cut the deficit to 38-37 with 38 seconds left.
On Meeker’s next possession, Ridings was fouled with 25.9, but she missed two free throws, setting the stage for Sturms’ heroics.
Yuma 58, Peyton 48
This wasn’t Peyton’s place Friday. The Yuma girls basketball team made sure of that.
Logan Hixon poured in a game-high 21 points as the Indians led from start to finish to capture a 58-48 victory over Peyton in a Class 2A state semifinal game at Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Massari Arena.
“It was just hard defense,” Yuma coach Mike Neill said about the key to his huge win. “We had to work on our on-ball defense and we did a great job of doing that because Peyton does an awesome job of driving and kicking. Then, our guards hit shots the first half and our post players hit shots the second half.”
Yuma (25-1) advances to play the winner of the Meeker-Lutheran game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday for the state championship.
Yuma won a state girls basketball championship in 1997, but last year was the first time the Indians played in the state tourney in 15 years. This is the second year in a row the Indians are playing in the title game. A year ago they lost to Akron. Peyton (24-2) had its 18-game winning streak snapped.
“In the state championship we have to come work hard,” Neill said. “We have to box out and rebound and do everything the right way and just play Yuma basketball.”
Hixon set the tone for the Indians in the first half, nailing all five of her 3-pointers as the Indians held a 36-28 halftime lead. Hixon had 17 points in the opening 16 minutes.
Peyton did claw back into the game in the third quarter, thanks to Emily Green, who scored five of her team-high 13 points. The Panthers trailed 44-40 with eight minutes remaining.
Yuma, however, didn’t flinch. The Indians secured the win by making 8-of-10 free throws in the final quarter. Hixon, Peighton Roth, Marina Hansen and Caitlyn Murphy made two free throws each.
In addition to Hixon, Roth (13 points), Murphy (10) also scored in double-figures for the Indians.
