(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY — The Rifle Bears are feeling like they’re flying high on their way home from the United States Air Force Academy.
The No. 13 team in the Class 4A girls basketball tournament was able to shut down No. 4 Air Academy and make the right baskets at the right time to come away with a 42-35 overtime win, living to fight another day.
“(The bus ride) is going to be phenomenal,” Bears coach Kristy Wallner said. “We get to go over the pass back to the Western Slope in the snow and probably have to drive again.”
From the start, Rifle (22-3 overall) had a clear defensive game plan. They wanted to slow the game down and specifically deny Katelin Gallegos the ball in the post. The senior was averaging over 14 points per game coming in and with the Kadets (20-5) not a strong 3-point shooting team on the year, as long as the game stayed close, it would play in favor of the Bears.
But they also needed enough on offense to give them a little spark. Off a missed Air Academy shot in the closing seconds of the second quarter, Katy Manueppella was able to get down the floor and connect on a layup to give cut the Kadets lead to 15-14 at the break.
“They had us knocked back on our heels a bit,” Wallner said. “They went on a run and it was just a heads up play. Of course that’s a huge momentum boost going into the locker room and coming out in the second half.”
It looked like it was going to carry over as Elly Walters got to the free throw line early in the third quarter and sank both shots to give the Bears a 16-15 lead.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Air Academy looked like it was finally turning a corner offensive, going on a six-point run after surrendering the lead. Brooke Sulski started it off then Mary Parchinski connected on back to back buckets forcing Rifle to take a timeout.
At that point, it felt the game was firmly in the Kadets’ hands.
“It seemed like we were in rhythm, it seemed like we were creating turnovers,” Air Academy coach Phil Roiko said. “Then we just couldn’t sustain it.”
The five-point lead would be the biggest of the game for Air Academy as the Bears were able to slow the scoring roll. In the fourth quarter, the Kadets finally got back to back baskets from Gallegos to take a 31-27 lead, but those would be the final points of regulation for them. Gallegos would finish with 14 points on the night.
After a Walters 3-pointer, Karly Manuppella made one of two free throws to tie the game. The Kadets had the ball at the end of regulation, but couldn’t get a shot to fall.”
“Defense is our bread and butter,” Walters said. “They gave us their best shot, but we were able to make the stop and go into overtime.”
Walters also scored 14, but to start overtime it was Peyton Caldwell got perhaps the most important basket of the game for the Bears, giving them a quick lead. The Kadets continued to struggle offensively and Rifle countered by getting to the free throw line often.
They went 8-10 from the charity stripe in overtime to come away with the win and an elated feeling of moving on in the playoffs.
“I can’t believe we made it to (the Great 8),” Walters said. “I’m just so happy for our girls. We knew we could do it coming in.”
With Windsor’s 49-43 win over The Classical Academy, the Bears will hit the road again on Friday as they’ll see the Wizards with a trip to the Final 4 on the line.