(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
COLORADO SPRINGS — Cal Zeb Roberson knew exactly what Rampart needed and when to deliver it.
He scored 12 of his game-high 21 points as the Rams topped Loveland 55-41 to advance to the second round of the Class 5A state tournament.
The Rams (17-7 overall) will play Cherry Creek Saturday with a chance to move on to the Sweet 16.
“I just came out and they left me open,” Roberson said. “It’s nothing I did, my teammates were the ones who got me open for those.”
He started the game by knocking down a couple of early 3-pointers to give Rampart a fast lead. The Indians struggled to put up points early, only registering three field goals through the first quarter.
But for the Indians (5-19), it was all about what shots weren’t falling. With a chance to keep the game tight, Loveland struggled at the free throw line, hitting only three of 11 attempts from the charity stripe, which put them in a 30-20 hole at the half.
“It was pretty much a 10-point ballgame the entire way,” Loveland coach Adam Anderson said. “It definitely affected us. I feel like if we made half of those, and we cut it to five, we have a chance.”
In the second half, just when it seemed like the Indians were gaining momentum, Roberson would get the Rampart crowd back into it with a breakaway dunk. But as the crowd rose to its feet, Roberson fell onto his backside, causing a very brief moment of silence.
“I was just going to fast and didn’t want to hang on the rim and get a technical,” he said. “It happens, but I guess as long as I put it in the hoop, I guess that’s okay.”
That slam increased the lead to 40-24 and gave the Rams total control for the rest of the way. The Indians were able to pull back to within 10, but another Roberson fast break dunk pushed the lead to 46-34 all but wrapping the game up.
For the Rams, it was a good win to get into the feel of the state tournament and they feel as though it will help them in the next round of the tournament.
“For the team that we have this year, this is perfect for us,” Rampart coach J’on St. Clair said. “We get a chance to play and we get the playoff jitters out. Last year our team earned a really good seed and that’s where I feel where we needed to be, but this is a different team.”
The Rams will get back to work on Thursday and have two days of practice before heading up to Cherry Creek for their next game.
And the players like that they’re now in the groove. To them, it’s a lot better than a full week of just going through the motions.
“Tonight wasn’t the best game,” Roberson said. “But we’re in the playoffs now and a win is a win. We have a little more experience now (this year) than they do.”