Thursday evening was the first round of the Bob Braithwait Arapahoe Holiday Tournament. Teams competing in the tourney are a trio of RPAC schools, Arapahoe, Southern Valley, and Wallace. Blue Hill is the fourth team rounding out the field.
We will have an RPAC matchup in both the girl's and boy's finals on Friday evening.
We begin with the girl's matchup in the south gym. Arapahoe played Wallace and lost 31-27. The Warriors started strong, up 7-0 in the first couple of minutes. Wallace countered with an 8-0 run of their own to keep it tight. And it remained close throughout.
The Warriors though did have a lead of 18-13 going into the intermission. And maintained a lead going into the fourth period up 24-21.
In the fourth quarter, Wallace's shooters came up clutch with some big shots to take the lead, and also secure it.
The Wildcats are 4-5 and they were led by Kendyl Flaming and her 12 points. Kaley Sauser had eight.
Arapahoe is now 4-5 and was led by Berkley Warner with nine points. Emma Strand and Clara Hilker had five points.
In the north gym, Southern Valley played Blue Hill. The Eagles, did what they have done so many times this season, dominated their opponent, and won 48-21. They used their pressure defense and patient offense to get the win.
The Eagles were led by Tori Bose who scored 17 points. Ann Bose pitched in 13. Southern Valley is now 9-1. They will face Wallace in the championship game on Friday evening at 5:30 P.M.
Blue Hill falls to 2-6 , they were led by Ellie Mangers with 10 points and will play Arapahoe in the 3rd and 4th place game at 5:30 P.M.
We caught up with Richard, McDonald, Head Coach of the Eagles, and got his thoughts.
Now for the boy's games, we begin with Southern Valley versus Blue Hill in the north gym. The Eagles used a late push in the fourth quarter, winning 52-42. The first couple of quarters were a struggle as the Eagles led 22-17. In the second half though both teams were able to get their offense going.
As mentioned, it was a late push by Southern Valley including a pair of three-pointers from Isaac Hamilton about halfway through the final quarter that created enough separation to get the win.
The Eagles moved to 5-4 and were led by Hamilton and his 21 points. Rian Grove added 10 points in the game too.
Blue Hill is now 1-7 and Kellen Schmidt had 16 in the game.
In the other boy's game, Arapahoe played Wallace and dominated the matchup 70-43. Arapahoe jumped out ahead in the first quarter, 18-12, and didn't look back. They led 37-21 at the half. The fourth quarter was huge, they led 48-32 going into the final period and then a 22-point outburst helped seal the win.
Arapahoe is now 5-4. Kade Fisher led the way with 20 points and Trenton Roskop had 15. Arapahoe will play Southern Valley at 7:15 P.M. on Friday evening.
Wallace is 4-5 and will play Blue Hill Friday evening at 7:15 P.M. Masen Messersmith had 15 points and Matt Lungrin had 13.