Primero boys end successful year at Districts
by David J. Santistevan, Jr.
ALAMOSA — The Primero Bulldogs ended a successful (15-5) boys Class 1A basketball season last weekend in Alamosa in the District playoffs. Primero lost to Creede (19-3) by a score of 62-54 at Adams State University in the 1A District-6 Semifinal. On Saturday morning the Bulldogs lost in the District-6 third place game to Sangre de Cristo (18-4) 58-36. Sangre advanced to Regionals this weekend. The Bulldogs players, coaches and staff can be proud of the hard work they all put in this season, playing, aurguably, the toughest district in Colorado Class 1A Boys hoops. Four teams were ranked in the top ten and four in the top 11 in the RPI rankings all season long.
Kim/Branson ends season in Lamar
by David J. Santistevan, Jr.
LAMAR — The Kim/ Branson men’s basketball team advanced to the second round of district basketball action after defeating the Wiley Panthers 64-49 on February 20 with an explosive fourth quarter 28-17 run to move to the second round. Leading 24-17 at the half and 37-32, the Mustangs held onto their narrow lead for the win.
Round two was played at Lamar with four teams in the finals and Kim/Branson’s boys basketball team (10-12) had their season end at the Lamar Wellness Center last weekend, falling in the Colorado Class 1A District-3 playoffs.
First, the Mustangs lost 56-46 to the top ranked, unbeaten, and D-3 #1 seed Holly (21-0)in the D-3 boys hoops semi-finals. The next day, they lost to Walsh (12-10) in the third place game, 74-57, just one step shy of reaching the regional playoffs this weekend.
The Mustangs will lose two seniors. Senior forward 6’3” Cecil Shannon averaged 10 PPG and eight RPG while senior Zion Mason in 12 games averaged 17.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 3.1 steals a contest. Freshman Zephyn Mason, along with five sophomores, will return next season. In the coming season, Kim/Branson has a really good group of eighth graders who will help the Mustangs be competitive in 2018-2019.
Wiley 4 13 15 17 49
Kim/Branson 11 13 12 28 54
Kim/Branson 17 08 09 12 46
Holly 12 13 14 19 56
Kim/Branson 18 12 13 14 57
Walsh 24 17 12 21 74
La Veta Redskin boys season ends
by David High
LA VETA — The La Veta boy’s basketball team played host to the Moffat Cowboys in the District-6 play-in game on Monday February 19. The Redskins built a 12-6 lead early on in the first quarter, but the visitors came roaring back getting 12 straight points while completely shutting down the La Veta offense to come out on top 17-12 heading into the next quarter.
The home team stayed with the visiting Cowboys in the next eight minutes as the two teams went at it, and at the break the game was still up for grabs at 31-25 Moffat.
The third quarter was where the game was decided. The Cowboys came out determined and scored quickly, doubling the Redskin output to take the lead that they would never relinquish at 47-33. The Redskins did rally in the final period, but the deficit was just too great, with the final a season ending loss to the Cowboys at 58-48.
Eric Morgan finished his senior basketball season as the team’s top scorer in the game with 18 points followed by freshman Carson Miller with 13 points, two blocks and three deflections, and senior Alex Mondragon with 12 points, and nine rebounds. Freshman Gage Eddleman had seven assists on the night. Mondragon finished the year as the District-6 leader in total rebounds with 193.
Jose Aguirre, Mondragon, and Morgan all contributed their leadership during the season and will be missed next year. La Veta finished the season with a 5-15 record.
Moffat 17 14 16 11 58
La Veta 12 13 8 15 48
