Pueblo South’s Balance Blows Out Wheat Ridge – Advance to Sweet 16

By Matt Langley

www. BasketballColorado.com

2/27/2015

Broomfield, CO – It took the Pueblo South Colts  a little bit to get it going Friday night at Holy Family versus the Wheat Ridge Farmers in the first around of the boys 4A state playoffs.  But once the Colts got going it was nearly impossible to rein them in as they stampeded the Farmers 80-57.

The first quarter was a mess for both teams until the Colts to a 10-5 lead after junior Dennis Ramos made a basket. The Farmers were lucky to be down 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. Wheat Ridge  had nearly double digit turnovers in the first quarter alone. Most of the turnovers were unforced and were simply occasions of players losing focus, making one pass too many or taking one dribble too many. Junior Isiah Pannunzio had an excellent first quarter being active on the boards and scoring five points.

The Colts looked poised to break the game wide open a couple of time in the first half. But Wheat Ridge struck fast after getting down 17-7. The Farmers rattled off a 14-5 run, spurred, by junior Damian Padilla’s 12 points in the second quarter.  The Farmers were their own worst enemy at the free throw line making 6/12 including missing free throws when they had cut the Colt lead to two points with 3:30 left in the the quarter. But the Colts responded with a three pointer by senior Dan Rankin that pushed the lead to 33-23 and it looked like the Colts were about to go on another run. But, the Colts had put the Farmers in the one and one  and sent senior Vedin Kozik and others to the line but failed to convert.

The second half started out just like the first half with at least five straight turnovers by the Farmers but this time South was converting every thing in the paint. Baros scored 9 points in the quarter and was instrumental in the Colts building and growing the lead. The Colts started the quarter on a 15-6 run that gave them a 50 -33 with 3:20 led tin the game . The Farmers attempted to answer but the enormous amount of turnovers and the lack of made three pointers was too much for Wheat Ridge to overcome.  The Farmers trailed 59-43 at the end of the third quarter.

The straw that broke the Farmers back was the  old fashion three point play completed by Pannunzio with 6:00 left in the game. The Farmers could not hit anything from outside the three point arch and because they were behind, they had to gamble with the press. The Farmers  had to  press up giving the Colts wide open lanes to drive.  The Colts eventually build a 30 point lead and took their regulars out with  2:00 left in the game.

South next plays Saturday 2/28 at 2:30 vs Holy Family  at Holy Family

Double Digit Scorers

Wheat Ridge

Kozik – 22

Padilla – 14

Pubelo South

Trey Parker 12

Maleek Johnson 13

Pannunzio 14

Baros 17