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'Cat Girls, Colt Boys Claim S-CL Crowns

Posted on: Saturday, 18 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By Tom Purfield, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.

Feb. 18--The Central High School girls basketball team capped a historic season Friday by winning the South-Central League championship.

Junior Rachel Espinoza won her second consecutive S-CL scoring title by dropping 32 points to lead the tenth-ranked Wildcats to a 75-45 win over Canon City at the Central gym.

The S-CL title is the first for fifth-year Central coach Zach Odell, who said Central athletic director John Loia informed him this is the first Central girls team to win a league title.

"I think it speaks volumes about our team and being able to be consistent throughout the season," Odell said. "It's a great thing for our school and the entire community."

Central's league title gave the Wildcats the right to host one of 16 sub-regionals in the state playoffs next weekend and a bye in the first round.

Espinoza entered the night leading Pueblo County's Anna Lehne by a miniscule 0.4 points per game in the scoring race. Her 32 gave her a league-best 21.6 average, which is also tops in Class 4A.

"You wouldn't have thought she had 32 points because she did it so quietly and that's how she's done it all year," Odell said. "What an honor for her and what an accomplishment to do it two years in a row."

Canon City-Twilliger 0 1-2 1, Spencer 6 5-9 17, Carestia 2 0-0 4, Zickefoose 1 0-0 2, Clasby 6 2-2 13, Schnathorst 3 1-2 7. Totals: 18 9-15 45. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Schnathorst, Riley.

Central-De Herrera 2 0-0 4, Kochenberger 4 2-2 10, Toribio 5 0-0 11, Solano 0 1-2 1, Weiler 0 2-2 2, Espinoza 11 10-15 32, Vunovich 0 2-2 2, Leyba 0 2-2 2, Miles 2 7-10 11. Totals: 24 26-35 75. 3-point goals: Toribio. Fouls: 13.

Records: Canon City (0-14 S-CL, 1-19 overall), Central (12-2 S-CL, 18-3 overall).

JV: Central won.

Freshmen: Central won.

Colt boys cruise

The South boys put an exclaimation point on a dominating league season with a 92-41 win over Centennial at the Colorado State Fair Events Center.

The Colts, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, won the S-CL title by two games over Alamosa and secured a first-round bye next weekend in the state playoffs. South will host a three-team sub-regional pod at the Roncalli Middle School gym.

"It will be nice to see who we're going to play, get to scout them a little bit and turn around and play them the next night," South coach Dave Lockett said.

The 92 points was a season-high for the Colts, who led the S-CL in scoring at 70 points per game. Eddie Johnson led South with a game-high 19 points.

"The league title was one of our goals, but these kids didn't really bring that up," South coach Dave Lockett said. "I think they have some unfinished business, so they kind of gave each other a pat on the back and that was about it."

South-Marinucci 6 0-0 14, P.Dome 2 1-4 5, Wilhite 1 2-4 5, Sorenson 4 5-6 13, Johnson 8 2-4 19, Boggs 1 1-2 3, Barbera 4 0-2 8, Medina 2 3-4 8, Lockett 2 0-0 5, J.Dome 1 0-1 2, Cartwright 1 2-4 4, Haning 3 0-2 6. Totals: 35 16-33 92. 3-point goals: Marinucci 2, Wilhite, Johnson, Medina, Lockett. Fouls: 17. Technical foul: Sorenson.

Centennial-Arnold 2 0-1 4, Alarid 2 0-0 4, Fox 2 0-0 5, Reliford 2 3-4 7, Easton 1 1-4 3, Luellen 3 2-2 9, Bechina 2 1-2 5, Chavez 1 0-0 2, Phannenschmid 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 7-13 41. 3-point goals: Fox, Luellen. Fouls: 21.

Records: South (13-1 S-CL, 20-2 overall), Centennial (1-13 S-CL, 2-21 overall).

Colts stampede 'Dogs

South's girls broke out to a 21-point halftime lead and never looked back, beating Centennial 68-37 at the Colorado State Fair Events Center.

Kayleigh McKenzie scored a game-high 13 points for the Colts, who finished second in the S-CL, one game behind league-champ Central.

South's defense held Centennial to just 21 points through three quarters. Freshmen Terra Sisneros and Laurisa Rodrigues led the Bulldogs with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Centennial-Gist 2 2-3 6, Schilling 2 0-0 4, French 0 2-2 2, Sisneros 4 4-6 12, Letofsky 1 1-1 3, Rodrigues 3 4-4 10. Totals: 12 13-16 37. Fouls: 13.

South-McKenzie 5 3-3 13, K.Thiebaut 4 0-0 8, Ducy 4 1-2 9, Housman 1 0-0 2, Hatton 2 0-0 5, White 2 3-3 7, Smith 3 1-2 9, Herrera 2 3-4 7, Kemling 2 2-2 6, M.Thiebaut 1 0-0 2. Totals: 25 13-16 68. 3-point goals: Hatton, Smith 2. Fouls: 19.

Records: Centennial (2-12 S-CL, 4-17 overall), South (11-3 S-CL, 18-5 overall).

Eagles outlast West

The East girls' zone defense gave Pueblo West a headache and gave the Eagles a 55-44 overtime win at the Pueblo West gym.

The Eagles outscored the Cyclones 12-1 in the overtime, earning them a share of third place in the S-CL standings, alongside West.

"East played a great game. Their zone forced us outside and we shot 11-for-41 from the field," Pueblo West coach Mike Wilkinson said. "When you can't score, it's hard to win."

East's Katie Eickelman (23 points), Karlee Gradisar (18) and Lauren Walters (10) combined for all but four of East's points.

East-Eickelman 6 9-13 23, Walters 3 4-7 10, Gradisar 5 7-8 18, Snyder 1 0-0 2, Deherrera 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 20-30 55. 3-point goals: Eickelman 2, Gradisar. Fouls: 17.

Pueblo West-Jubic 3 0-0 9, Schultz 0 4-4 4, Zinanti 3 5-6 11, Sherrill 2 1-3 5, Ottino 1 6-6 8, Allen 2 3-5 7. Totals: 11 19-24 44. 3-point goals: Jubic 3. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Schultz.

Records: East (9-5 S-CL, 14-9 overall), Pueblo West (9-5 S-CL, 17-6 overall).

JV: Pueblo West won.

Hornets survive Moose

ALAMOSA - The Pueblo County girls held off a late rally to beat Alamosa 60-58 at the Alamosa gym.

The Hornets won their last five games of the regular season to finish in fifth place in the S-CL standings.

"We were down by 12 or 13 and in the fourth quarter, we got on a roll," Alamosa coach Brenda Yohn said. "We had the last shot to tie or win."

The Mean Moose held Pueblo County senior Anna Lehne to 12 points, but Whitney Willbanks picked up the slack with a season-high 23 points. Lehne finished runner-up in the S-CL scoring race with a 20.3 points per game average.

Pueblo County-Lucero 1 0-3 2, Andenucio 2 5-7 9, Lehne 4 4-4 12, Willbanks 7 5-8 23, Baker 6 2-2 14. Totals: 20 16-24 60. 3-point goals: Willbanks 4. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Andenucio.

Alamosa-Bussey 4 2-4 12, Faucett 5 0-2 10, Loch 6 2-5 15, Bervig 1 0-0 2, Lara 3 0-0 8, Morin 2 3-7 7, Michlich 2 0-0 4. Totals: 23 7-18 58. 3-point goals: Bussey 2, Loch, Lara 2. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Bervig.

Records: Pueblo County (8-6 S-CL, 13-9 overall), Alamosa (5-9 S-CL, 8-13 overall).

JV: Pueblo County won.

Freshmen: Pueblo County won.

'Cat boys explode

CANON CITY - Central's boys cracked the 90-point mark for the fourth time this season and cruised to a 93-54 win over Canon City at the Tiger Dome.

Central sophomore Devon Manning scored a game-high 24 points to finish as the S-CL's second-leading scorer at 21.2 points per game. Taquan Nicholas led three additional Wildcats in double figures with a season-high 17 points.

"Central shot the ball really well obviously, if they're scoring 93 points," said Canon City assistant coach Kevin Marushack.

The Wildcats finished the regular season alone in fourth place in the S-CL, while the Tigers' season likely came to an end. Marushack said the coaches felt they needed at least five wins to be selected for the 48-team postseason tournament.

Central-Nicholas 8 1-2 17, Smith 1 0-0 3, Aguilar 1 2-2 4, Chavez 7 1-2 15, Hoover 2 1-2 6, DeLao 0 3-4 3, Romero 2 0-0 4, Manning 9 4-5 24, Benabedes 6 0-0 12, Montelongo 2 0-0 5. Totals: 38 12-17 93. 3-point goals: Manning 2, Hoover, Smith, Montelongo. Fouls: 16.

Canon City-Gangel 2 3-3 7, Kerr 1 0-0 2, Schwab 1 4-5 6, Gorham 5 3-4 14, Ary 4 2-2 10, Short 1 0-0 2, Bukowski 5 0-5 10, McTaggart 1 1-2 3. Totals: 20 13-21 54. 3-point goals: Gorham. Fouls: 15.

Records: Central (8-6 S-CL, 13-9 overall), Canon City (2-12 S-CL, 2-17 overall).

JV: Canon City 68, Central 43.

Freshmen: Central 52, Canon City 33.

Eagles finish third

The East boys hit 10-of-11 free throws in the fourth quarter to finish off a 71-61 win over Pueblo West at the Mel Spence gym.

The Eagles' fourth win in their last five games capped a third-place finish in the S-CL standings. Senior Mike Sanchez scored a season-high 21 points to lead East.

"In the third quarter, a nice run gave us a lead and we hit our free throws down the stretch," East coach Dave Ryder said.

Pueblo West senior Andrew Ravenkamp won the S-CL scoring title going away with a 23.4 points per game average. He capped his high-scoring season with 23 points against East.

Pueblo West-Carson 3 0-0 8, Fillmore 3 1-1 7, Moser 5 0-0 13, Ravenkamp 10 3-8 23, McGuire 2 0-1 4, Vaughan 3 0-0 6. Totals: 26 4-10 61. 3-point goals: Moser 3, Carson 2. Fouls: 17.

East-Bue 5 2-2 12, Spradley 4 0-0 10, Carbajal 2 2-2 6, Sanchez 7 6-6 21, Gonzales 0 2-2 2, Sandoval 1 0-0 2, Secora 4 3-5 12, Severance 3 0-0 6. Totals: 26 15-17 71. 3-point goals: Spradley 2, Sanchez, Secora. Fouls: 17.

Records: Pueblo West (3-11 S-CL, 4-19 overall), East (10-4 S-CL, 13-9 overall).

JV: Pueblo West won.

Freshmen: Pueblo West won in overtime.

Hornets nab big win

The Pueblo County boys capped a late-season turnaround by beating Alamosa 54-50 in overtime at the Hornets' Nest.

The Hornets, who started the season 0-7, won their fifth game out of their last six to finish in a tie with Central for fourth place in the S-CL. Pueblo County is the only team other than league-champ South to deal the Mean Moose a loss in league play this season.

"I think this team has really matured and we came together. I really feel they trust each other now as a team," Hornets coach Roger Martinez said. "I want to give all the credit to my kids for listening, staying together and getting better."

Five of Pueblo County's seven overtime points came from the free-throw line and the Hornets' held Alamosa's Jason Espinoza scoreless in the extra period.

"Espinoza is such a nice player and the kids made the defensive adjustment on him in the overtime," Martinez said. "This was a really nice win for us."

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Alamosa, which finished in second place in the league standings.

Alamosa-Espinoza 6 5-5 19, Caffey 1 0-0 2, Bolt 4 1-3 9, McDaniel 6 3-5 15, Garcia 1 2-2 5. Totals: 18 11-15 50. 3-point goals: Espinoza 2, Garcia. Fouls: 15.

Pueblo County-Miller 4 1-1 12, Ingo 3 1-1 8, Comfort 5 6-6 19, Andenucio 3 5-6 11, Meserve 0 2-4 2, Cresswell 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 15-18 54. 3-point goals: Miller 3, Ingo, Comfort 3. Fouls: 15.

Records: Alamosa (11-3 S-CL, 16-5 overall), Pueblo County (8-6 S-CL, 8-11 overall).

JV: Alamosa won.

Freshmen: Pueblo County won.

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Source: The Pueblo Chieftain

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