AIR FORCE ACADEMY - Using a balanced offensive attack, Caliche outpaced and upset third-seeded Granada 72-46 Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the Class A boys state basketball tournament.

Sixth-seeded Caliche (19-6) has a roster dominated by sophomores, and three of them - Craig Debus, Derek Weingardt, and Cody Zenk - all scored in double-figures.

Debus led the way with 23, Zenk finished with 15 and Weingardt had 11.

"We know what we can do and how to play the game," said Zink, who hit four three-pointers. "If we stick to our game and give a team effort we can compete."

Granada (18-5) attempted to push the tempo early, but Caliche proved more than ready. The Buffaloes exploded in response, going on a 35-14 run from late in the first to the middle of the second quarter.

The defense went to work on the wary Bobcats in the third quarter, holding them to only seven points.

Caliche......19	22	18	13	-	72
Granada......14	14	7	11	-	46

C - Alan Gutierrez 1 0-2 3, Andrew Stieb 3 2-3 8, Craig Debus 9 5-6 23, Cody Zenk 5 1-2 15, Derek Weingardt 3 5-7 11, Brice Kippes 1 0-0 2, Cory Stumer 2 0-0 4, Scott Gilliham 2 2-4 6. Totals 26 15-24 72.

G - Tyson Thrall 1 5-6 7, Jesse Sigala 0 0-1 0, Daniel Morales 3 2-2 10, Ryan Schulz 1 0-1 2, Tyndan Marquez 1 0-0 3, Rumaldo Vega 2 0-0 5, Tyler Thrall 4 0-0 8, Riley Widener 0 1-2 1, Francisco Morales 4 2-2 10. Totals 16 10-14 46.

Three-point goals - C, Cody Zink 4, Alan Gutierrez. G, Daniel Morales 2, Tyndan Marquez, Rumaldo Vega.

HI-PLAINS 63, PAWNEE 52 - The defending champion Patriots ousted the Coyotes to advance to the state semifinals.

Last year's state experience proved to be the difference for Hi-Plains, especially for sophomores Kent Herman and Kendal Rueb.

Herman finished with 22 points and Rueb scored 15.

"Practicing against (the championship team) last year and having a great coach has worked out for us," Rueb said.

The Patriots (20-4) led by as many as 17 points in the second half, but the Coyotes made a push late in the fourth quarter.

Pawnee (17-7) closed the gap by scoring six points off turnovers, trimming the deficit to nine points.

The Coyotes couldn't close, though, hitting only four of eight free throws in the closing minutes. Pawnee finished 9-for-19 from the free-throw line overall.

Pawnee......12	9	11	20	-	52
Hi-Plains......15	17	16	15	-	63

P – Chris Hayes 3 2-4 8, Cody Brunelle 3 0-0 6, Kelby Koenig 5 1-4 12, Neil Miller 1 0-4 2, Shawn Light 4 0-0 8, Keith Shoemaker 5 6-7 16, Ryan Burson 0 0-0 0, Toby Schoetteindrier 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 9-19 52.

H – Evan Bancroft 0 2-6 2, Brock Benson 1 5-8 7, Nathan Rueb 4 4-8 12, Kent Herman 7 8-10 22, Kendal Rueb 7 0-2 15, Chase McCullough 0 0-0 0, Kraig Tagtmeyer 1 1-1 3, Bryant Benson 1 0-0 2, Geoffrey Mills 0 0-0 0, Wes Henry 0 0-0 0, Brad Schultz 0 0-0 0, Shelby McCracken 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 20-33 63.

Three-point goals - P, Koenig; H, K. Rueb. Fouled out - Brunelle.

OTIS 51, CREEDE 40 - Karson Kuntz scored 16 points to power the Bulldogs into the semifinals.

Center J.P. Davis, the usual focal point of Otis offense, added 12 points and three blocks.

Creede (18-4) keyed on Davis early, holding the 6-foot-8 senior to two points in the first half. That forced Otis (20-4) to the perimeter and Kuntz took advantage.

He opened the third with one of seven Otis three-pointers and took the pressure off of Davis. Davis scored six of his 12 points in the third.

"Our shooters felt really good out there and took a lot of the focus off of (Davis)," Otis coach Ken Bretz said.

"They took advantage of a lot of opportunities and wound up making opportunities for the inside game."

Otis......11

12	17	11	-	51
Creede......10	8	12	10	-	40

O – J. P. Davis 5 2-2 12, Zane Schoenfield 1 0-0 2, Devin McCall 1 0-0 3, Guy Kuntz 0 0-0 0, Jordan Anderson 3 1-3 8, Karson Kuntz 4 6-10 16, Jimmy McGrath 3 0-0 9, Ben Ruiz 0 0-0 0, Scott Aughe 0 1-2 1, Dillon Patterson 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 10-17 51.

C – Tanner Small 8 0-2 17, Dakota Vineyard 0 0-0 0, Kyle Carpenter 2 0-0 4, Kole Ussery 0 1-4 1, John Whitmore 2 0-0 4, Heath Bell 4 2-3 10, Miguel Gallegos 0 0-0 0, D.J. Tiley 1 0-0 2, Eddie Carr 0 0-0 0, Cameron Nelson 0 0-0 0, Chris Hosselkus 1 0-0 2, Tyler Stroh 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 3- 9 40.

Three-point goals - O, McGrath 3, K. Kuntz 2, Anderson, McCall; C, Small.

KIT CARSON 96, LA VETA 29 - Damon Dechant scored 14 points and Wildcats continued their dominance to advance to the semifinals.

Kit Carson (23-0) opened with a 17-0 run to start the game. The Wildcats held La Veta (15-8) to only two points in the first quarter as it built a 29-2 lead.

"We like to run," Dechant said. "We knew I we played a style they weren't comfortable with that we could take them."

Along with the 14 points, Dechant collected three blocks and 11 rebounds.

Dechant landed awkwardly going for an offensive rebound in the second quarter. The senior sat the next minute, but returned shortly after.

"It just locked up a little," Dechant said. "It wasn't anything serious. I just had to get it loose again."

Dechant sat out nearly the entire second half.

La Veta......2

7	3	17	-	29
Kit Carson......29	28	21	18	-	96

L - Trey Price 0 1-2 1, Dylan Thomson 1 0-0 3, Colton Taylor 0 0-0 0, Shane Brownlee 1 2-4 4, Brian Andreatta 1 2-2 4, Jon Christian 0 0-0 0, Dalton Mason 0 0-0 0, Jake Ferrari 0 0-0 0, Chase Konkel 3 0-0 7, Travis Brownlee 2 0-0 4. Totals 11 5-8 29.

KC - Damon Dechant 7 0-1 14, Curt Connelley 3 2-2 8, Andrew Maxcy 4 3-4 11, Ty Trahern 5 1-3 12, Stetson Mitchell 2 0-0 4, Josh Hammer 2 1-2 5, Joe Jolly 6 2-5 14, Wade Jacobs 7 0-0 17, Tom Rhoades 0 0-0 0, Tyler Stephenson 3 0-0 7, Antonio Arroyo 0 0-0 0, Jon Ball 2 0-0 4. Totals 41 9-17 96.

Three-point goals - L, Konkel, Thomson; KC, Jacobs 3, Stephenson, Trahern.

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