Golden boys basketball edges Pueblo South in play-in game

GOLDEN — Survive and advance is the name of the game when it comes to the postseason.

Golden did just that Tuesday night with a 53-50 home victory over Pueblo South in the Class 5A boys basketball state tournament play-in game. No. 32-seeded Golden led most of the way, but No. 33 Pueblo South had a chance to send the game into overtime.

However, a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Pueblo South freshman J’rell Williams came up short and the Demons were able to celebrate the playoff victory.

“We knew it was going to be our last game if we didn’t do something here,” Golden senior Leif Hansen said of the Demons who had lost three in a row heading into the state tournament. “We gave it our all and ended up with the W.”

Golden (14-10 record) will get a crack at top-seeded Lutheran (20-3) in the second-round of the 5A state tournament at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, in Parker. 

“We are playing with house money now,” Golden coach Lou Vullo said. “I know Lutheran has a really, really good basketball program. We are playing with house money and can play freely.”

Hansen cashed in with a game-high 20 points against Pueblo South despite being in foul trouble in the second half. The 6-foot-5 forward picked up his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter, but was able to avoid fouling out.

The senior scored half of the Demons’ 26 points in the second half.

“Someone had to do it and I’m the leader of the team,” said Hansen, who made six of Golden eight field goals after halftime. “When I do my thing I think it gives confidence to everyone else.”

Golden held a double-digit lead at halftime, but Pueblo South (10-14) went on a 7-0 run early in the third quarter to make it a game. Williams came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points for the Colts.

Junior Sergio Salazar and sophomore Christian Vigil had 10 points each for the young Colts that didn’t have a senior on its roster this year.

Sophomore Zach Orser gave the Demons a lift with a trio of 3-pointers in the first half, but it was junior Sam Schillie playing in just his second varsity game of the season for Golden who made a huge difference. 

Schillie —  transfer from Arvada West High School — just became eligible to play varsity after sitting the required 365 days from his transfer to Golden. Schillie has played on the Demons’ junior varsity team until last week. The junior had 13 points off the bench against Pueblo South.

“I think he has helped tremendously,” Vullo said of Schillie, who had 11 points in his first varsity game last week against Standley Lake in the Demons’ regular-season finale. “He gives us another ball handler, another shooter, he can go downhill and take it to the hole. He is a great defender too.”

Sophomore Nick Goodspeed also had a key play late in the fourth quarter. Goodspeed’s layup with under 3 minutes to play gave Golden a 50-46 lead. Goodspeed was the only other Demon to make a field goal in the second half besides Hansen. 

It was actually the second meeting this season between the Demons and Colts. Golden traveled down to Pueblo on Jan. 14. The Demons took a 44-35 win in a defensive battle.

The next test for Golden to keep its season alive will be against the Lions, who have won 18-of-19 games heading into Friday’s second-round game.

“We are going to try our best. I still think we can beat anyone if we play our best,” Hansen said heading into the showdown with No. 1 Lutheran. “I’m not scare of them.”