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The silence of the Rams

Led by Lewis' 36, Sun Devils feast on Roaring Fork

Published March 9, 2007 at midnight

FORT COLLINS - Kyle Lewis isn't 100 percent, and there are still a lot of things he will not attempt on the basketball court.

But even with those limitations, Lewis still can put on a show.

Lewis, a senior at Kent Denver, scored 36 points to lead the Sun Devils to a 63-49 victory against the Roaring Fork Rams in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state basketball tournament Thursday evening at Moby Arena.

He hit eight three-pointers, including a stretch in the third quarter where he knocked down five in a row.

"I was hot," said Lewis, who also had four assists and two blocks. "The adrenaline, being a senior - I know this is my last chance to win a championship, and I want it so bad."

A little more than two weeks ago, Lewis' basketball future was in doubt after he took a crushing blow to his head that left him temporarily paralyzed and earned him a trip to the hospital in an ambulance. He was diagnosed with a strained neck and missed a couple of games while recuperating.

He was cleared to play last week, but this was the first time he showed the form that earned him a scholarship to the University of Denver.

"I promised my mom I wouldn't go diving on the floor if I played," Lewis said. "When I'm in the game and the adrenaline is flowing and the fans are cheering, (the injury) is the last thing on my mind."

After a quiet first quarter, Lewis found his rhythm in the second, pouring in 14 points to help the Sun Devils (19-6) open a 28-19 halftime lead. He erupted in the third quarter for 17 more, including the five consecutive three-pointers, as Kent Denver blew the game open.

Gunner Wiebe grabbed 11 rebounds for the Sun Devils.

Torrey Udall led the Rams (23-2) with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Kent Denver......10 18 22 13 - 63
Roaring Fork......10 9 11 19 - 49

KD - Michael Reilly 3 1-2 7, Kyle Lewis 12 4-4 36, Will Deevy 4 0-0 10, Gunner Wiebe 0 2-3 2, Ben Stewart 4 0-0 8, Duncan Kenney 0 0-0 0, Max Holz 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 7-9 63.

RF - Kade Giannetti 4 3-4 11, Trevor Hunt 3 0-0 9, Kyle Raaflaub 3 1-2 7, Tyler Hunt 3 2-2 11, Torrey Udall 4 6-7 11. Totals 17 12-15 49.

Three-point goals - KD, Lewis 8, Deevy 2; RF, Hunt 3.

C.S. CHRISTIAN 59, RYE 38 - Colorado Springs Christian junior Matt Baarts admits the Lions were pretty nervous when they hit the court at Moby Arena. And they played like it, misfiring on 10 of their first 13 shots.

But once the Lions steadied their nerves, they played like a team capable of winning it all, as they rolled over Rye in the quarterfinals.

Baarts was a calming factor for Colorado Springs Christian (24-1), scoring a game-high 19 points to go along with nine rebounds. His play in the second half, when he scored 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting, allowed the Lions to put some distance between themselves and the Thunderbolts (21-4).

"The first quarter, we had a lot of nerves and we were all kind of uptight," said Baarts, who went 9-for-18 from the floor. "We weren't having fun. Once we realized we needed to have fun, we played all right."

The Lions also received a big effort from 6-foot-8 junior Taylor Broekhuis, who had six blocked shots to go with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The size of Broekhuis and the 6- foot-6 Baarts caused problems for Rye throughout, as the Thunderbolts shot a dismal 17.5 percent (11-for-63) from the floor.

"Their big kids altered our shots inside a little bit," Rye coach Jim Hale said. "They got out on our shooters. Levi Hinson (nine points) didn't get very many good looks."

Rye......7 10 7 14 - 38
C.S. Christian......8 19 16 16 - 59

R - Levi Hinson 3 2-3 9, Andrew Harrison 1 3-3 5, Danny Branom 1 0-0 3, Aaron Rochester 0 2-2 2, Mic Davis 1 1-2 3, Morgan Minck 4 6-8 14, Chris Lewis 1 0-0 2. Totals 11 14-18 38.

CSC - Jeremy Mellema 2 2-2 6, Mike Shugart 5 0-1 11, Jake Selley 4 1-1 9, Spencer Smith 1 2-2 4, Taylor Broekhuis 3 4-5 10, Matt Baarts 9 1-1 19. Totals 24 10-12 59.

Three-point goals - R, Hinson, Branom; CSC, Shugart.

EATON 51, PAGOSA SPRINGS 46 - Eaton found its shooting touch from the outside just in time to pull away in a state quarterfinal win.

Eaton (22-3) missed its first 12 attempts from beyond the three-point arc, but the Reds hit their final three, including one that gave them the lead for good, 40-37, with 5 minutes, 35 seconds to play.

Pagosa Springs (19-4) led by as many as nine in the second half and had a 32-24 lead late in the third after a Kerry Joe Hilsabeck free throw.

But Eaton's Drew Geisick, who had missed his first six shots, including four three- point attempts, drained a three, which as was quickly followed by another by Lance Korrell to cut the deficit to 32-30 heading into the fourth.

"We just needed someone to knock one down," said Geisick, who scored all 10 of his points in the second half. "We just needed one spark to get us going, and then it was like, 'Here we come.' "

Despite all the early misses, Eaton coach Dean Grable told his players to keep shooting, because he figured they eventually would have to make one.

"I don't bail kids out when shots aren't falling," Grable said. "It was within our offense, so you keep shooting."

Seth Lobato took care of the inside game for the Reds, scoring a game-high 16 points, with nine rebounds. James Martinez led the Pirates with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Pagosa Springs......15 9 8 14 - 46
Eaton......14 5 11 21 - 51

PS - Jordan Shaffer 5 0-0 11, Kerry Joe Hilsabeck 4 1-2 10, Caleb Ormonde 4 0-2 8, Spur Ross 1 0-0 2, James Martinez 6 2-3 15. Totals 20 3-7 46.

E - Lance Korell 5 0-1 12, Drew Geisick 2 5-6 10, Drew Smith 6 1-4 13, Seth Lobato 6 4-5 16, Cody Ball 0 0-0 0, Cameron Stewart 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 10-16 51.

Three-point goals - PS, Martinez, Hilsaback, Shaffer; E, Korell 2, Geisick.

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