(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
MONUMENT — Jonathan Scott once again paced the Lewis-Palmer Rangers by scoring a game-high 22 points in the 56-44 win over Palmer Ridge.
But it was Colin Cicere who scored arguably the most important seven points of the game. He started off the fourth quarter by knocking down a three-pointer for his first points of the game. Then, with the Rangers (10-5 overall, 5-1 4A Pikes Peak League) up 46-39, he scored two straight baskets, the second of which coming from a behind-the-back pass from Sam Strasburger.
Palmer Ridge (10-6, 2-5) called timeout. The Rowdy Rangers celebrated an all-but-sealed victory.
“That was awesome,” Cicero said. “I couldn’t hear anything after that. I couldn’t hear myself and I was screaming pretty loud.”
That moment was representative of the atmosphere at Lewis-Palmer High School. Wednesday was the first meeting of the season between the district rivals and it wouldn’t have been a surprise if the energy from the gym registered on the Richter Scale.
Both teams started the game running, hoping to impose their own will. Though there was plenty of movement in the first quarter, there were few baskets and Palmer Ridge walked away with a 8-6 lead.
The pace picked up significantly in the second quarter and was highlighted by a lob pass from Strasburger that Scott slammed home to give the Rangers a 15-12.
“We practice those plays all the time, that’s not just something we do for a rivalry game,” Scott said. “(But) with this many people here, it’s great.”
The Rangers looked to have momentum going into halftime, but Cole Hurford was fouled when heaving up a last-second three-pointer. He made all three free throws, sending the teams to the locker with the Rangers leading 21-20.
The opening possession of the second half also favored the Bears as Tyler Trego knocked down a three-pointer to give them a two-point lead. But that was the last lead they would hold as Scott and the Rangers seized control.
Scott scored seven of his 22 in the third quarter and Lewis-Palmer never looked back.
“If the focus turns to Johnny, it opens things up for other guys,” Rangers coach Bill Benton said. “If he’s having success I think other guys will feed off that.”
Trailing going into the fourth quarter, the Bears turned to their star forward Matt Cameron to try and get them back in the game. Cameron led the Bears with 19 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter. But in the end, Lewis-Palmer had built up too big of a lead, thanks in part to the Bears having a poor night shooting from the field.
“We shot (13) for 35,” Bears coach Nick Mayer said. “When you shoot like that from the field, you’re not going to win many games.”
Despite the loss, Mayer was happy to see his kids come out and compete with a team that is arguably the second-best in the Pikes Peak League. He’s anticipating the rematch that will close the regular season for both squads.
“Hopefully next time we play we’ll see this atmosphere again and it’ll be a different story with the outcome,” he said.