Sand Creek players celebrate during their semifinal game with Longmont on Thursday. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
BOULDER — Defense wins championships, or so the cliché goes.
For the Sand Creek Scorpions, the old saying might just ring true after they defeated the Longmont Trojans 59-31 Thursday night at the Coors Event Center in Boulder to advance to the Class 4A girls basketball championship game this weekend.
One year after falling in the Great 8, Sand Creek never let this semifinal be in doubt. Behind the strong work of junior forward Liah Davis, the Scorpions defense tightened the noose early on the overmatched Trojans.
Davis finished with six blocks and a steal, and her presence down low allowed the rest of Sand Creek’s energetic defenders stay in the face of Longmont’s ball-handler, even when they overcommitted.
“Even sometimes when we over-played, we still got back into position,” said Davis. “I think we’re a really good defensive team where we can be out of position, and still have that second line helping out.”
More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Despite both sides turning the ball over in the first, it was the Scorpions defense that was really bearing down, and there was just no room for the Trojans to breath — much less advance the ball or get a shot off. The only Trojan who found any room to work with was junior Sydney Wetterstrom, had eight of Longmont’s nine points in the first.
Wetterstrom finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, the only Trojan in double-figures by a wide margin.
The Scorpions defense didn’t let up as the game went on either. The Trojans wound up turning the ball over 24 times and shot just 24.1 percent on the night. Already up 15 points at the half, Sand Creek shut out the Trojans completely in the third quarter, putting any doubts about their dominate performance to rest.
“Compliments to number 15 (Wetterstrom). She scared me when I watched video. So we had to try to do something to neutralize her. Our goal was to defend the passer and front her, because they love to lob it to her,” said Sand Creek first-year head coach Frank Haist. “Fortunately, it worked.”
Meanwhile, on the offense end, the Scorpions spread their attack around.
Leading the way again was Davis, who finished with 10 points and added 17 rebounds for good measure. The 6-foot-2forward was often the first one down the court for either squad, and worked her way into great position using not just her size, but her speed.
“She runs the court for a big girl very well, and the thing is, she’s getting rebounds and then she’s running to the low post most possessions,” said Haist. “And I didn’t take her out much. For being a big strong girl and having that type of cardio, where she can stay in the game and be effective, that’s a testament to her.”
Junior guard Oliana Squires also had a big night for Sand Creek, finishing with a team-high 16 points in just over 15 minutes after getting in early foul trouble. Just as importantly, all of Sand Creek’s guards kept finding Davis, who kept getting in perfect position.
“Sometimes guards don’t see opportunities to give it to the big girl. Our guards see it and are looking to get her touches,” said Haist. “So in that context, it creates an unselfish game where guards know she needs touches if we’re going to be successful, and Liah knows that when she’s triple-teamed to kick it out and get better shots.”
The win means the Scorpions will take on the Valor Christian Eagles — the team that defeated them 67-60 in last year’s quarterfinals, ending their season — Saturday night in the 4A title game. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at the Coors Event Center in Boulder.