AIR FORCE ACADEMY — The Pagosa Springs girls basketball team struggled mightily to find the bottom of the net in the first half of Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal game.
Fortunately for the Pirates, according to coach Wes Lewis, their defense kept it close against Sterling.
That allowed Pagosa Springs to creep back in the third quarter and overtake the Tigers in the fourth en route to a 41-29 victory.
“I felt our defense kept us in the game,” Lewis said.
While the Pirates hit just three of 19 field goal tries through the first two quarters, they held Sterling to just 17 points to stay within striking distance, trailing by six at the half.
Then Taylor Strohecker took over.
The Pirates’ 6-2 senior post went to work underneath, scoring three quick baskets to help Pagosa Springs pull to within one.
“My mind-set was, we are not going to lose this game,” Strohecker said.
When Emily Bryant hit a jumper 35 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Pirates had their first lead since early in the first.
Back to that defense, it held Sterling to just four field goals in 20 tries in the second half.
Or, as Lewis implored his team, “Get a stop, get a score – get a stop, get a score.”
That allowed the Pirates top slowly pull away.
“We just held our composure,” said Strohecker, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.
“We had some kids step up and make plays,” said Lewis, who feels confident going eight deep in his rotation.
For the Pirates, it’s all about taking home the gold bold, symbolic of the state title. They get their chance at 4:30 Saturday evening.
Holy Family 54, Lamar 45
The Tigers had their hands full in their quest for the school’s sixth state title in seven years.
The Savages were within four points with 1:18 remaining before Holy Family, which had struggled from the free throw line, began hitting charity shots.
Lamar stayed close when Tigers point guard Katie Chavez got in foul trouble in the second quarter. That’s when her sister Lindsey took over.
“That’s one good thing about Katie and I,” Lindsey said. “When one of us isn’t working right the other picks it up.”
The senior point guard did so to the tune of 22 points, including four crucial free throws in the final quarter.
Katie Chavez stayed out of foul trouble in the second half long enough to chip in 17.
Lamar got a solid effort from Taylor Wertz, who scored 16 points.
The style of Lamar kept the Tigers off balance.
“It caught us off guard how physical it was,” Lindsey Chavez said.
“We found a way to keep our lead,” Holy Family coach Ron Rossi said.
That was due in part to Claudia Pena, who pulled down eight rebounds and, more importantly, helped bring the ball up the court with Katie Chavez sidelined for half the game in foul trouble.